4th Annual Drukpa Council Held at Ladakh

Bhutan's Home Minister, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji arrived on 27th October in Leh, officially representing the Bhutanese government's participation in the ADC. From Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh, Rigzin Spalbar, District Commissioner Tsering Angchuk and Executive Councillor of Tourism, Gyurmed Dorje are among the local government representatives supporting the 4th ADC.

Bhutan's Home Minister, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji arrived on 27^th October in Leh, officially representing the Bhutanese government's participation in the ADC. From Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh, Rigzin Spalbar, District Commissioner Tsering Angchuk and Executive Councillor of Tourism, Gyurmed Dorje are among the local government representatives supporting the 4^th ADC.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the Drukpa Lineage said, "The ADC provides a platform for different global cultures to come together and inspire each other to work towards common good. It is time for humanity from different backgrounds to put aside all differences and find a common ground to work for the benefit of everyone."

"The enthusiasm shown by the organising team has been extremely touching. And the effects are already showing. In spite of a record gathering of over a lac followers, supporters and well-wishers, the entire event so far has gone through seamlessly and without any concerns", His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche said. He further added, "This enthusiasm gave us he confidence that we were able to achieve a record tree planting drive and we brokethe Guinness World Records for 'Most Trees Planted Simultaneously'."

Key highlights of the ADC are:

About ADC

The Annual Drukpa Council (ADC) is a yearly event for the teachers and followers of the Drukpa Lineage to come together, exchange views and spiritual knowledge. The teachers give teachings and share their wisdom and experience during the ADC, which aims to provide a platform for building and nourishing of multi-lateral and inter-group relationships within the Drukpa Lineage as well as introducing the richness of its spiritual heritage to others. It provides an annual gathering for the followers of the Drukpa Lineage to meet once a year, thus nourishing a firm bond and strengthening the relationship among the individuals and groups within the Drukpa followers. ADC included not only traditional rituals and practices, but also open discussions and exchange of views regarding the practical use of spirituality to resolve today's difficulties. It also functioned as a forum to increase the ability to work more productively together in a harmonious way. One of the key driving forces of the ADC is to promote Live to Love which is the practical aspect of inculcating loving-kindness and compassion in the world today.

About Drukpa Lineage:

The Drukpa Lineage follows the Mahayana Buddhist tradition in philosophy, i.e. the philosophy of "getting enlightened for the benefit of others" and the methods are based on the Tantrayana teachings passed down from the great Indian saint Naropa, who was born in 1016 in a West Bengal royal family. It acquired the name Drukpa in the twelfth century when, assuming the human form, Avalokiteshvara - the Great Lord of Universal Compassion - manifested as the outstanding disciple of Mahasiddha Lingchen Repa. This sublime being was called Drogon Tsangpa Gyare, the meaning being: Drogon - the Protector of Beings; Tsang - born in the land of Tsang; Gya - from the noble clan of Chinese (Gya) origin; Re - a cotton-clad yogi. "Druk" in Tibetan means "Dragon" and it also refers to the sound of thunder. In 1206, more than 800 years ago, Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje saw nine dragons fly up into the sky from the ground of Namdruk, and he named his lineage "Drukpa" or "lineage of the Dragons" after this auspicious event. In this way, Tsangpa Gyare became the founder of the Drukpa lineage and was known as the First Gyalwang Drukpa. The present Gyalwang Drukpa is the twelfth incarnation of the founder of the Drukpa Lineage.

For more details, please visit his blog: http://www.drukpa.org

For more information on the ADC please visit: http://www.drukpacouncil.org

For further press information please contact: Ms Shreeya Roy, [email protected], +91-9350335761