One of the most senior figures in Bhutan’s Central Monastic Body, His Eminence Ven. Sangay Dorji the Laytshog Lopen, has embarked on a campaign to promote and educate Bhutanese devotees about the events being held at the Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF).* The GPPF is being promoted as a “transformative spiritual gathering in Thimphu, which will bring together eminent lamas, scholars, and practitioners from all schools of Buddhism to unite in prayer for global peace, healing, and happiness.” (Global Peace Prayer Festival) Eminent masters and leaders from most of the Vajrayana Buddhist schools will be in attendance, along with representatives of the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. Sangay Dorji is one of the principal organizers of the Festival.
Meanwhile, the Central Monastic Body has adjusted the dates of the Festival’s events. The festival as a whole is set to be held from 4–19 November. According to the most recent information on the Festival’s website, there will be a total of six events, consisting of:
- Jabzhi; to be held from 4–10 November at Kuenselphodrang;
- Global Peace Prayer; to be held from 4–10 November at Changlimithang;
- Public blessings; to be held on 10 November at Changlimithang;
- Bazaguru; to be held on 11 November at Changlimithang;
- Kalachakra empowerment; to be held from 12–14 November at Changlimithang; and:
- Nuns’ ordination; to be held from 15–19 November at Tshalumaphey.
In one of his lectures, delivered on 22 September and uploaded on the festival’s YouTube channel on 12 October, Sangay Dorji explained the significance of the first two major events happening under the umbrella of the Festival: the Jabzhi and the Global Peace Prayer. His aim was to help local Bhutanese understand and appreciate the rarity and preciousness of these events in the country. His attendant, Ven. Choten Dorji, served as a translator throughout the lectures.
The Jabzhi or gyabshi ritual in Vajrayana Buddhism is respected as a powerful, efficacious ceremony that involves a host of offerings to clear major obstacles and misfortunes of diverse origins, from the spiritual to the material. Sangay Dorji explained that the Jabzhi is meant to attack four specific “Maras” or demons representing four obstacles: the “Mara of Aggregates” (representing delusion), the “Mara of Destructive Emotions” (representing desire), the “Mara of the Lord of Death or Yama” (representing the fear of death and change), and the “Mara of the Sons of the Gods” (representing addiction to pleasure).
In another lecture, uploaded on 13 October, Sangay Dorji discussed the Kalachakra empowerment (abhisheka) to be held from 12–14 November. This empowerment, to be led by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, initiates practitioners into the Kalachakra Tantra, a key tantric text that became important in Tibet and is believed to be associated with the mystical kingdom of Shambhala. It is a rich, complex, and multilayered text revealing the sacred interplay between individual microcosm and universal macrocosm, and the realization of gnosis through recognizing the inherent enlightened bliss in all beings.
A “Guru App” will also be launched during the Festival. The app is described as “a sacred digital companion” that can help track participants’ Bazaguru (Guru Rinpoche; Padmasambhava) mantra recitations on 11 N0vember. It will invite participants “to join in building a national offering of wellbeing that transcends borders and generations.” (Global Peace Prayer Festival)
The nuns’ ordination event is going to be the second mass ordination of new bhikshunis since the first milestone dual ordination held under the rules of the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya in 2022. On 21 June of that year, 142 nuns were fully ordained under the supervision of His Holiness the Je Khenpo. Sangay Dorji believes that Bhutan has set the standard for acting on the need to gradually correct the patriarchal institutions of Vajrayana Buddhism by overseeing the revival of bhikshuni ordination in the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya. With the country’s female ordination platform now established and renowned the world over, Bhutan is in a stronger position to foster an environment more conducive to female leaders.
* Government of Bhutan to Host Landmark Global Peace Prayer Festival in November (BDG)
See more
Global Peace Prayer Festival
His Eminence Laytshog Lopen on Moenlam Chenmo delivered on September 22, 2025. (YouTube)
His Eminence Laytshog Lopen on Kalachakra delivered on September 22, 2025
Jabzhi (YouTube)
Related news reports from BDG
Government of Bhutan to Host Landmark Global Peace Prayer Festival in November
142 Buddhist Nuns Receive Full Ordination at Landmark Ceremony in Bhutan
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H.E. Sangay Dorji’s Vision for Global Buddhadharma: Bhutan Steers Buddhism Toward the Future
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