The Third International Gongchig Conference was held from March 12 to 16, 2011 at the Kagyu College, Dehradun. His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, presented the first day of the conference.

Samdhong Rinpoche arrived at Songtsen Library the morning of March 12, welcomed by many important people. Around 9:30am he was received by the staff and students of the Drikung Kagyu Institute, Songtsen Library, Samtenling Nunnery, and Kagyu College. There was a long queue from the Library gate to Kagyu College, and all were holding Khataks to pay respect to Samdhong Rinpoche. There were many delegations from various monasteries and societies around Dehradun including His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang’s mother and his younger brother Dr. Paljor Tsarong.

Summary of the first day’s program

Khenpo Konchog Monlam gave the welcoming speech. Afterward, the Honorable Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, the chief guest of the inauguration of the Seminar, H.E. Tritsab Rinpoche, and H.E. Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen Rinpoche, all lit butter lamps and gave their blessings.

1. Khenpo Konchog Rangdol, the principal of the Kagyu College, gave the introductory speech about the conference.
2. H.E. Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche then gave a speech about the origin of the Great Gongchig text.
3. His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche gave a speech about the importance of the Buddhist teachings and in particular the Drikung Kagyu lineage.
4. Lastly, Khenpo Nyima Gyaltsen gave a speech thanking the participants.
5. At 12:30pm, lunch was served to all the guests and monks and nuns. There were around six hundred people gathered to attend the inauguration of the convention.
6. At 2:00pm, the first section of the conference began, and Professor Samdhong Rinpoche kindly accepted to be the chief guest, giving a speech about the importance of the views of Drikung Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon.
7. After a tea break we took a group photo with Professor Samdhong Rinpoche. Afterward, he left to return to Dharamsala.
8. At 3:30pm, the second session started. It was chaired by Professor Wangchug Dorje, the principal of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies in Leh, Ladakh.

The program of the first day was thus successfully completed and the seminar carried on for four days. There were many scholars who came from various Tibetan Buddhist traditions such as Sakya, Karma Kagyu, Jonang, Gelug, as well as many Khenpos from Drikung Kagyu monasteries. We were very grateful that Professor Sempa Dorje also participated. Altogether there were 14 sections and 28 papers were presented by various scholars followed by marvelous discussions. Many papers on the Gongchig had been submitted from all over the world. In the afternoon of the third day, we took all the participants sightseeing on two buses.

In the afternoon of the last day of the conference, we celebrated the closing ceremony and all the staff members and students of Drikung Kagyu Institute and its branches attended. Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen Rinpoche was the chief guest of the closing ceremony. Khenchen Rinpoche, Professor Sempa Dorje, Wangchug Dorje and Khenpo Konchog Rangdol, all gave speeches. Thereafter, Khenchen Rinpoche handed over certificates to the scholars and on behalf of the managing committee of Kagyu College, Khenpo Konchog Rangdol offered a Khatak and Buddha Statue to Khenchen Rinpoche, as he was the sponsor of the Third International Gongchig Conference. He also offered Khataks to many local Tibetan people who came to work voluntarily during the seminar. Thereafter, Khenpo Urgyen gave a speech thanking everyone who was involved in the Gongchig Conference. We are very pleased to have had such a successful program and to have had so many honored guests in attendance. Lastly, the program ended with the prayers for the victims of the recent disaster in Japan.

From the Office of the Gongchig Conference
Kagyu College