The lowing of the conch shell sounded from various points the temple grounds like a soft foghorn. It overlaid the patter of hammers as stupa construction continued. Sometimes the sound wavered and spluttered out, and Jetsunma would laugh, lowering the conch. She was practicing for the enthronement ceremony the following day and had been told at the last minute that she would have to blow the conch. She never had before, at least not in this lifetime. She wiped her mouth and joked to her students, “I’m never going to get this down.”

She gamely tried again, continuing her gradual circumambulation of the temple. The sound came out clear and strong and hung in the air. After a moment of stillness, the students cheered.

On September 24, 1988, the temple filled with cameras and mics angled in every direction. Jetsunma sat quietly humble on the throne, and straightened the brocades draped over her shoulders, blinking at the lights. The temple had never been so brightly lit. To the blare of Tibetan horns and ringing bells, NBC filmed while His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, Throne Holder to the Palyul Lineage of the Nyingma School of Vajrayana Buddhism, formally enthroned Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo as a tulku, or reincarnate teacher.

According to tradition, ceremonial items were carried from H.H. Penor Rinpoche to Jetsunma, empowering her to teach and formally represent the Palyul Lineage. When the time came for her to blow the conch on camera, the sound came clear and then wavered. Not as good as the night before. She shared a wry smile with her students, tipping her head, Oh, well. Then one of the monks had to blow the conch. His Holiness chuckled and Gyaltrul Rinpoche translated his comment, ”They should have had Jetsunma do it.”

The news spread via Associated Press, and world newspapers printed photos of the spectacle of a western woman with long dark hair on a Tibetan throne. Her enthronement came at a time when Vajrayana Buddhism was relatively unknown in the US. The year before, an obscure Tibetan monk, H.H. the Dalai Lama, spoke at the National Cathedral to a scattered audience of about a hundred. At Buddhist temples in the late 1980s, teachers were universally Asian.

It was openly questioned whether Westerners could accomplish this Eastern religion.

H.H. Penor Rinpoche, who never shirked what was needed, answered with a resounding “Yes.” As he enthroned her, he said, “People have asked me why there are no American tulkus. And people have asked me why there are no female Lamas. Now you have both. So you should be very happy.”

“This is for you,” Jetsunma said later to her students. “It’s for all of us really. This is your own enthronement, your own future accomplishment that you’re seeing.” She explained that the enthronement meant that not only can Dharma be accomplished, it can be accomplished by Westerners, even in this day and age. “Yes, even you.” And she wrinkled her nose impishly at her students, and laughed.

It was a great party—and we’d like to share it!  At least the entertainment part:  you can see select performances here.

Before the performances, the audience joined in Amitaba Practice together.  (Yep!  It was 7 p.m.:  time for worldwide prayer.)

Then KPC member Anne Kanengeiser, an actress and singer who has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, performed several songs a capella.  In this picture, she’s showing that she downloaded the words to “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” by Rogers and Hammerstein, to sing by special request.

Anne was not the only professional:  singer/songwriter Tara Middleton, an alumna of the KPC Children’s Program, performed a number of songs.  Here she accompanies herself on the guitar.

And, in her debut at KPC, an amateur violinist surprised us all with a deft rendering of a Hungarian Dance by Bela Bartok. Keep practicing, Elizabeth!  We’ll be depending on you for future performances!

Other performances were more spontaneous.  Here young Siddhartha demonstrates the full-length prostration, then monitors a newcomer’s attempt at a five-point touchdown.

We enjoyed seeing old friends again, and new ones too—one man who had followed the webathons with friends in Pennsylvania, disappointed when they decided not to drive down for the party, came by himself, his first visit to KPC!  Others, not Buddhists, came because they make use of the Peace Park or the Mani Jewel Giftstore.  All enjoyed mingling and sharing stories.

And Leslie Mulvilhill’s cakes, of course!

The “Keep the Lights On for Dharma” telethon was a lot of fun! We raised $1990, in addition to the $2,250 we raised in an internal appeal. Thanks to everyone who participated! We enjoyed it so much that we’re planning another one in a couple of months. In the works: A “KPC Comedy Quiz Show.”

We DO still need to raise $2000 to avoid the cut-off. You can donate here. Or send a check to KPC/ P.O. Box 88/ Poolesville, MD 20837. Thanks!

To who our appreciation, we are offering the following gifts:

For donations of $100 or more:

White Tara, Audio CD by Sarah Patterson

Inspired by Buddha White Tara, this beautiful CD weaves together new devotional chants and Irish-inspired music with traditional Tibetan mantras and prayers. It is a simple, joyful, and profound listening practice.

OR

Pure Light, Video CD or DVD

Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche chronicles the evolution of Palyul, from Tibet to southern India, where the Golden Temple at Palyul Namdröling is the largest in the region and attracts visitors daily by the thousands.

For donations of $500 or more:

All Pervading Melodious Sound of Thunder: The Outer Liberation Story of Terton Migyur Dorje, by Karma Chagme, translated by Lopon Sonam Tsewang and Judith Amtzis

Synopsis:
A translation of the biography of the great Nyingma master Terton Migyur Dorje composed by Karma Chagme. Penor Rinpoche made the request that this terton’s namthar, or liberation story, be translated into English. The namthar is not just the tale of one extraordinary terton, or treasure revealer, revealing as it does the deep personal relationship that existed between two great masters: Migyur Dorje and Karma Chagme Rinpoche. It also contains considerable information on the nature of liberation stories themselves, how authentic tertons and tulkus can be identified, the importance and significance of treasure teachings and sacred places, the nature of the guru-disciple relationship and other crucial topics.