Following the Symposium, a lively Silent Auction was held in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Here, attendees bid on beautiful art objects, photographs, jewelry, crafts, vacations and services generously donated by local friends and business owners – all of the proceeds going to sponsor the Symposium and keep the day free to the general public.

The evening culminated with a Gala 10 Year Anniversary Dinner – a sold-out celebration of the first 10 years of the Rangjung Yeshe Institute, and the launch of the new building expansion project for the Monastery, beginning in 2008.

Participants were not only treated to wonderful food, but also to performances by the young monks of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery, chant offering by the world-famous nuns of Nagi Gompa, and to speeches by both Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche remarked on the great historical importance of what was happening at RYI, and urged people to participate by helping in the construction of the new building facility. During his talk, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche reflected on the basic principles of Buddhist training and remarked on the great sense of "harmony" that was present in the room that night. Harmony created by people from all walks of life, and all corners of the world coming together with a single purpose in mind – that of training in Buddha's dharma.

That harmony was also represented in the closing performance of the evening – a fusion of traditional Nepali music performed by local favorites, Sur Sudha, and uplifting harmonic chant offered by American-born composer and performer, David Hykes.

The 10 Year Anniversary Celebration was a moving and inspiring day-long event, and has set the stage for a new phase of growth and expansion at Rangjung Yeshe Institute and at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery.

Watch a review from the Rangjung Yeshe Institute 10 Year Anniversary Dinner (7min)

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