On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, a meeting was held in Bodh Gaya of the Nyingma Monlam Committee and other eminent persons connected to the Nyingma lineage regarding the matter of appointing a Head of the Lineage.

Following a round of discussions and the suggestions of Kyabje Rabjam Rinpoche, it was decided by the gathered assembly that the Nyingma lineage would go back to the system in Tibet wherein there was no specific head per se of the Nyingma lineage. Kyabje Rabjam Rinpoche said that, “There is a danger that with the insistence of a continued appointment of a ‘head of a tradition’ that it may bring more harm than benefit to the Nyingma lineage.” He went on to add that there does not seem to be a need to appoint a Head of a Tradition, but rather, seeing as the Nyingma Monlam involves all Nyingmapa organisations, and as the appointed head of the Nyingma Monlam Committee is already engaged in virtuous activities for the benefit of beings and the teachings of the Buddha, it would be adventitious if they would also assume the duties previously undertaken by the Lineage Head.

The Monlam Committee and the gathered group of persons released a statement saying that, “It has been decided to implement the suggestions Kyabje Rabjam Rinpoche, and from now on the organisation committee of the Nyingma Monlam, in addition to its work and commitment to the welfare of beings and the teachings of Buddha, will take the responsibility to continually select and request high lamas and respectable individuals from various Nyingma institutions to lead the Monlam Committee and act in accordance with the above.”

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Monlam Nyingma Committee Announcement 2020