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His Holiness Karmapa Returns to IndiaJune 4th, 2008
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MONASTERY |
NAME |
|---|---|
| NEPAL | |
| 1. Phulhari | Khenpo Sherab Gyaltsen |
| 2. Phenchen Monastery | Lhakpa Chophel |
| 3. Thrangu Monastery | Khenpo Lobzang, Tashi Tsewang |
| 4. Dilyak Monastery | Karma Rabgye |
| 5. Palngya Monastery | Lama Obug |
| 6. Legshyeling | Khenpo Namgyal |
| 7. Chakme Monastery | Karma Sonam |
| 8. Samtenling Monsatery | Zamling |
| 9. Tsongni Monastery | Namdul |
| 10. Techenling Monastery | Karma Zopa |
| 11. Thrangu Tara Nunnery | Ani Tsomo, Ani Karma Dolma, Ani Pema Dolma, Ani Kardo |
| 12. Thechokling Nunnery | Ani Dechen Palmo, Ani Samten Tsentsok |
| 13. Karmapa Sewa Samiti | Karma Phuntsok, Tashi Galay |
| INDIA | |
| 1. Lhaday Tsokpa | Lhari Gaden |
| 2. Joint Action Commite | Tashi Dadul, Bharat Tenzing |
| 3. Palchen Choeling Monastery | Chazod Sherab Tarchen, Chutrimpa Karma Dawa |
| 4. Rumtek Sanga | Dr. Drubgye |
| 5. Nalanda Institue | Nagwang Woden |
| 6. Rumtek Lay Committee | Daychang Lama Chap |
| 7. Phodong Monastery | Chutrimpa Lama Jigme |
| 8. Ralang Monastery | Lama Jyamtso |
| 9. Rumtek Monastery (old | Lama Wanchuk |
| 10. Bermek Monastery | Lama Orgen |
| 11. Kalu Rinpoche Monastery | |
| 12. Bokar Nadon Chokhor Monastery | Omzi |
| 13. Palpung Sherab Ling Monastery | Omzi Kalzang Yeshey |
| 14. Gyuto Tantric University | Chazod Jampe Gayatso |
| 15. Kagon Thupten Shedrub Janglhubling | Ayang Rinpoche |
| 16. Ripa Barma Samdrub Choekhor Ling | Bakyod Rinpoche, Khandro Chime, Lhatso Ani Kunga, Gamo |
| 17. Nalanda International Institute | Ogyen Samten Lingpa Rinpoche, Thamchoe Phuntsok |
| 18. Dupkar Thoesam Dhargyeling | Mr.Tshering Dorje |
| 19. Jang Tara Norbu Choeling | Karma Zopa |
| 20. Dechen Choeku Ling | True Lhamo, Achi Palmo Gerutshang |
| 21. Karma Shedup Phelgay Ling | Lama Passang Dorjee |
| 23. Karma Drubgyu Dhargya Ling Trilokpur Nunnery |
June 3rd, 2008
In the late hour at night, the New Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport) is jostling with many people eagerly waiting with scarf and banners expressing their warmest "home coming" welcome to the Gyalwang Karmapa from his successful historic first visit to America.
His Holiness was received by a large reception at the airport which includes many prominent persons;
1. Ven. Chomphel Zopa, Member, National Commission of Minorities of Government of India.
2. Mr.Tsering Samphel, Member, National Commission for Schedule Tribes, Government of India.
3. Ven. Bante Vishwa Bandhu, Indian Buddhist Leader.
4. Mr. Karma Tobden, Former Member of Parliament, Former Indian Ambassador and retired IAS
5. Mr. Sherab Tharchin, Kagyu Member of Parliament, Tibetan Govt. in Exile Dharamsala.
6. Mr. Tamdin La and Mr.Topden Tsering,Welfare Officer, Tibetan Samyeling Colony, Majnukatilla, Delhi.
7. Mr.Gaden Lhari, President, Denzong Lhadey Tsogpa, Sikkim.
8. Representative of Joint Action Committee of all Sikkim Buddhist Organizations.
Later His Holiness retired at Radisson Hotel.
Karmapa In America: Daily Journal Entries Continued
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Today His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, made his first visit ever to Seattle, Washington, where he was greeted by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, the principal organizer of Karmapa in America ’08, at Rinpoche’s main center of activity in the United States, Nalanda West. At the tea and rice reception at Nalanda West, at which Ponlop Rinpoche and other representatives of dharma centers offered His Holiness a mandala and representations of body, speech, and mind, His Holiness and his party were also presented offerings of delicious coffee by Starbucks. Starbucks baristas presented His Holiness with a latte, which His Holiness said he enjoyed. Starbucks generously sponsored the offerings to His Holiness and his party.
Monday-Wednesday, May 26-28, 2008
From Monday, May 26, through Wednesday, May 28, His Holiness Karmapa visited two of the state of California’s most famous cities as part of a rest and recreation segment of his historic first visit to the United States. On Monday, His Holiness briefly swept through San Francisco, giving a short teaching and blessings at Kagyu Droden Kunchab, a Kalu Rinpoche center run by Lama Lodru Rinpoche. His Holiness also gave a brief address to and was ceremoniously greeted by a gathering of members of Palpung Lungtok Choling, a center of His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche, who received His Holiness at a San Francisco hotel. That night, His Holiness and his party made their way to Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles on Tuesday, His Holiness visited Universal Studios Hollywood. On Wednesday, His Holiness visited Disneyland and was hosted for dinner by Lama Wangchen Rinpoche and his students. At the dinner reception, a representative of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa read and presented His Holiness with an official statement from the Mayor welcoming His Holiness to Los Angeles.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
His Holiness had a very full day today, conducting private interviews, giving two public talks at Boulder’s Macky Auditorium, granting a question-and-answer audience for the organizing sanghas of the Boulder visit, and granting an audience to an assembly of hundreds of members of the Boulder Tibetan community at the Boulder Shambhala Center. The topic for His Holiness’s public teachings was “Healing the Environment Through the Mind of Enlightenment,” and at the Tibetan community audience His Holiness gave advice to the assembly and conferred the reading transmission of Avalokiteshvara.
His Holiness will now be taking a few days of private rest. He will resume public teachings on Saturday, May 31 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Today, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, made his first visit to Boulder, Colorado, the small but thriving city at the foot of the Rockie Mountains which His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, visited three times and at which Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, one of the greatest Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, established his first headquarters at the Shambhala Center, the location of His Holiness’s reception today. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Lady Diana Mukpo, Shambhala President Richard Reoch, and representatives and members of many dharma communities received His Holiness in the grand shrine room at the Boulder Shambhala Center.
After giving a brief address at the Shambhala Center, His Holiness retired to his residence, where he rested before visiting Naropa University, a contemplative educational institution founded by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in the 1970’s. His Holiness addressed members of the faculty, staff, and student body. His Holiness will give a full day of teachings at the Macky Auditorium here in Boulder tomorrow.
Friday, May 23, 2008
His Holiness the 17th Karmapa visited the Karma Thegsum Choling of New Jersey today, a dharma center of His Holiness operated by Lama Tsultrim and located on a large plot of land in the southern part of the state. His Holiness was received with extensive ceremony and bestowed a Medicine Buddha empowerment, along with wonderful teachings on global harmony and healing, upon the crowd of several hundred devotees. The teachings were translated into both English and Mandarin, the native language of a large portion of the audience.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Today, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa visited Karme Ling and Kunzang Palchen Ling, two Kagyu dharma centers in upstate New York. More details of His Holiness's activities at these centers will be posted shortly.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Today, in the morning, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, granted refuge vows and bestowed an empowerment of Guru Padmasambhava upon the assembly of the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) community. In the afternoon, His Holiness gave a brief explanation of the general meaning of the Seven-Line Supplication to Padmakara based on White Lotus, a text by the great 19th century master, Jamgon Mipham. For the remainder of the day, His Holiness rested and granted assorted group and individual audiences and blessings to members and friends of KTD. Today was the final day featuring formal events at KTD; on Thursday, His Holiness will briefly visit two Kagyü centers in upstate New York, and, on Friday, His Holiness will visit and teach at Karma Thegsum Choling in southern New Jersey.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Today, His Holiness blessed the shrine room at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) in the morning during a ceremony in which lamas from throughout North America served as ritual assistants. In the afternoon, His Holiness presided over a reception for the donors, staff members, and volunteers of KTD, personally presenting each honoree with a plaque of appreciation. Representatives of the City of Woodstock were in attendance and were among those to whom His Holiness the Karmapa extended his heartfelt gratitude. For the remainder of the day, His Holiness rested and granted audiences.
Monday, May 19, 2008
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa departed New York City today to make his way to his North American seat, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), in Woodstock, NY. KTD was founded by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. En route to his historic first landing at KTD, His Holiness visited Kagyu Thubten Choling (KTC), the retreat center led by Lama Norlha, a master in the lineage of the venerable Kalu Rinpoche. KTC is located in Wappingers Falls, NY. At KTC, His Holiness received mandala and body, speech, and mind offerings from Lama Norlha and his students, gave a welcome address to the KTC community, consecrated a recently constructed stupa, visited with the male and female dharma practitioners currently immersed in the traditional three-year retreat, and blessed the site of an additional monastery building to be constructed on KTC’s grounds.
When he arrived at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, His Holiness was greeted by a full and colorful welcoming procession complete with all of the traditional musical instruments of Tibetan ritual. After he ascended the throne in the beautifully appointed shrine room, His Holiness expressed his great delight in the excellent work of Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, President Tenzin Chonyi, and the many others whose service to the Gyalwang Karmapa caused the continuity of the Karmapa’s teachings to thrive at his North American seat.
His Holiness will spend the next several days at KTD, giving teachings, granting empowerments, and meeting with members of the KTD community.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
This morning, His Holiness Karmapa visited and engaged in a question-and-answer session at Tibet House, an organization devoted to preserving and promoting the precious art, culture, and wisdom of Tibet. Professor Robert A.F. Thurman, Tibet House’s President, introduced His Holiness, who then answered a wide range of questions about Buddhism, spirituality, and His Holiness’s own personal journey posed by Tibet House’s members and patrons.
His Holiness gave two public dharma teachings in the afternoon at the Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom in the Midtown area of Manhattan. The talks began on a delightful note, as a representative of Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, presented His Holiness with and read aloud a proclamation from the Mayor recognizing May 15-21, 2008 to be “His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa Week” in New York City.
In discussing the topic “Cutting Through Confusion: Discovering the Wisdom of Our Own Minds,” His Holiness gave incredibly practical and useful advice about how to transcend the cultural trappings that may come to be associated with meditation practice and, rather, allow one’s mind to relax and be wakeful in a natural, uncontrived way. His Holiness discussed a broad range of other topics as well, occasionally delving into his impressive English vocabulary, to the great delight of the sold-out audience.
The day concluded with a blessing audience for members of the Buddhist organizations that have worked together to plan and administer His Holiness’s visit. At this audience, His Holiness answered the pre-submitted questions of the audience and extended his heartfelt gratitude to those who have made his trip to the United States possible: the United States government, the Indian government, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, and, most importantly, his students and dharma friends in the United States.
Following the audience, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, the principal organizer of Karmapa in America ’08, gave a thank-you speech in which he expressed gratitude to all of the participating sanghas and praise to the great city of New York.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Today, American Buddhism saw yet another historic occasion revealed, as His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, gave his first ever public dharma teaching on American soil. Speaking from the stage of the Hammerstein Ballroom, at which he gave one morning and one afternoon talk, His Holiness provided a lively, humorous, and down-to-earth description of “Awakening the Heart of Enlightenment,” discussing topics such as developing a stable practice even while leading a busy lifestyle, realizing the inseparability of oneself and others, and working gently and playfully with our own minds.
His Holiness’s second talk was preceded by a musical tribute from the American rock ‘n’ roll legend Lou Reed, who began his brief set with an acoustic rendition of his hit, “Perfect Day.” For the thousands of members of the sold-out audience at the Hammerstein who received the historic nectar of His Holiness’s first U.S. teachings, the day was perfect, indeed.
In the evening, His Holiness was the guest of honor at a dinner offered by the local Tibetan Association, which was led in hosting His Holiness by Kalon Tashi Wangdi, Representative to the Americas of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Afterward, at Hunter College in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, His Holiness kindly bestowed the empowerment of the deity Hayagriva upon an assembly of the local Tibetan community.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Today, His Holiness Karmapa engaged in site-seeing activities at several destinations in New York City. In the morning, His Holiness and his party were given a private tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the historic art museum housing one of the world’s largest art galleries along the eastern edge of New York’s Central Park.
Following the museum tour, His Holiness made a visit to Ground Zero, the site of the tragic collapse of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. At this location, His Holiness made special prayers for world peace and offered his blessings. In the guest book of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center adjacent to the former location of the Twin Towers, His Holiness inscribed the following verse (appearing here in translation from Tibetan):
Through peaceful hearts,
Peaceful feelings,
And peaceful intelligence,
May this world truly move
From darkness to light.
His Holiness concluded his visit to Ground Zero by offering flowers and further prayers.
Next, His Holiness made a stop at the Latse Contemporary Tibetan Cultural Library, an epicenter of Tibetan learning and culture created by the Trace Foundation in the heart of New York City. His Holiness then visited the vaunted Rubin Musem of Art, where he viewed displays and was greeted by the museum’s Co-Founder and Co-Chair of its Board of Trustees, Donald Rubin. Also offering greetings to His Holiness at this location was Mr. E. Gene Smith, the world-renowned Tibetologist.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, arrived in the United States at around 4:20am at Newark Liberty International Airport adjacent to New York City. His Holiness and his sister, Ngodup Pelzom, were first received with greeting scarves by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Principal Organizer of Karmapa in America ’08, and by Kalon Tashi Wangdi, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas.
After a brief reception at the airport, where His Holiness was greeted by an advanced group of dozens of well-wishers, officials, and devotees, His Holiness traveled to the Shambhala Center of New York City, where his historic first visit to the United States was celebrated and honored with extensive ceremony and customary offerings of tea and rice. Scores of lamas, monastics, and lay students—representative of several American dharma centers—offered His Holiness representations of enlightened body, speech, and mind.
His Holiness later retired for rest his hotel, in preparation for some site-seeing outings on Friday, May 16, and a weekend program of dharma teachings on Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18.
Previous Announcements about His Holiness Karmapa's Activities
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The Karmapa's Office of Administration joyfully announces that His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, will visit the United States from May 15 through June 2, 2008. In late February, we received confirmation from the Government of India via Mr. Tempa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi and Cabinet Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, and Mr. Tashi Wangdi, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas. The formal announcement is linked here. Click on the image to the right to go to the announcement of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa's preliminary travel schedule in the United States, which has been released by the Karmapa's Office of Administration, United States. This schedule is being provided for travel and vacation day planning. Since confirmation of the trip was only recently received, the schedule currently being made available is necessarily preliminary and subject to change. The final confirmed schedule will be posted by our office as soon as as possible. |
Click on the image for a preliminary shedule for His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa's tour in the United States in 2008 |
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Karmapa Visit website launches
www.karmapavisit.org has launched just a few days after the confirmation of the visit. It contains all the details of His Holiness's visit.
Created at the request of the Karmapa's Office of Administration and implemented by the U.S. Office, the website will provide details, ticketing information and links to all relevant information about His Holiness's visit. As final confirmations of venues and events are received, the website will be updated around the clock.
Peaceful Cohabitation With Nature
His Holiness while being escorted to Dharamsala House
24th March 2008. The Gyalwang Karmapa gave the key addressing note on the seminar of "Tourism in Peace with People and Nature", it is held at The Dharamsala House of Peace and Dialogue which is at Tibetan Children Village School in Dharamsala. The seminar is jointly organized by BASECAMP Foundation and TCV School. His Holiness has been requested to bless and to give the opening speech ceremony. His Holiness talked about tourism and its growing demand, which has negative impacts on nature and communities. By actively pursuing responsible tourism actions against global warming and with an open heart towards love and compassion, tourism will become more constructive and creative. Such an approach is needed to permit any future sustainable tourism development. - Tashi Paljor
Venerable Tenga Rinpoche Teaching HH Karmapa
18th March,2008. As requested by Tsurphu Labrang (Karmapa's Office of Administration) Dorlob Tenga Rinpoche arrived at Gyuto on March 18, Rinpoche will teach His Holiness from 20th March Tam-din Lha-nga, Gye-dor Lha-nga, Dolma Lha-nga, Phag-mo Lha-nga and De-chog Lha-nga daily at 5 pm to 6:30 pm. - Tashi Paljor
HE Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche Teaching HH Karmapa
As requested by Tsurphu Labrang (Karmapa's Office of Administration) His Eminence Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche arrived at Gyuto Monastery on 11th of March, from the 14th of March 2008 the oral transmission of Shang-pae Ser-choe which is from the Shangpa Kagyu Lineage and teaching of Choe-nyi Nam-je composed by Mipham Rinpoche, His Holiness receives the teaching every morning from 6 to 8 am from His Eminence. - Tashi Paljor
His Holiness Departs Mindrolling Monastery and Returns to Gyuto 
1st March, '08: The Gyalwang Karmapa concluded the Gyalwa Gyatso puja and put on the Rig-nga during the Wang-len, at the end of the third week parinirvana of His Holiness Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche. In the afternoon,The Gyalwang Karmapa performed Minling Dor-sem Dung-drub puja composed by Jamgon Lodoe Thaye in the main shrine hall where the Kudung was placed. The Rinpoches and monks of Mindrolling monastery attended the puja with His Holiness.
2nd March, '08: The Gyalwang Karmapa left Mindrolling monastery in the morning. Khorchen Rinpoche, Khandro Rinpoche and Jetsun Dechen Paldon came to bid farewell until the border of Uttaranchal. On the way His Holiness paid a visit to the Center School for Tibetan in Paonta Sahib per its invitation. While addressing the students and faculty, His Holiness expressed his view that while the Tibetan people constitute such a small minority in the world, it is unequalled because it has such a rich culture and religion. His Holiness urged the students to make serious efforts to preserve our culture and religion while at the same time not neglecting modern education. His Holiness also consecrated the Bho-dong monastery in Paonta Sahib. At around 5 pm His Holiness arrived back in Gyuto monastery.
From 5th to 12th March, the Gyalwang Karmapa will be attending the Sang-wa-duepa teachings in Dharamsala from His Holiness Dalai Lama. - Tashi Paljor
The Karmapa Tours Monasteries while in Dehradun after HH Mindrolling Ceremonies
A public gathering at Lhabab Choeten on February 29, 2008
27-28 February 2008. During the stay at Mindrolling monastery in Dehradun, numerous area monasteries requested the visit and blessing of the Gyalwang Karmapa. His Holiness visited the Dechen Choekhorling Monastery, which is of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage, on 27 Feb. Ga Rinpoche offered Mandala to His Holiness. On 28th Feb, in the morning, His Holiness visited the Tashi-Kyil Gelug Monastery. Alak Rigdol Rinpoche received His Holiness and offered a Mandala. Later, The Gyalwang Karmapa visited the Drikung Kagyu's Songtsen Library, where monks and nuns welcomed His Holiness with their Serbangs at the gate. Director of the Library Dr. Tashi Samphel give details about the Library and later visited Kagyu Nang-ten Tho-lop with His Holiness. The Library is situated near to the Dickyi-ling Tibetan settlement.
29 Feb 2008. The Gyalwang Karmapa gave the Amithayus Long Live empowerment (Tse-wang) from a text called Drub-gyal-ma, which originated from the lineage of Jetsun Rangjung-pa (one of the disciple of Milarepa). The Tsewang was requested by the chief representative of all the Tibetan settlement of Dheradhun. The staffs of the settlement, students and over ten thousand people gathered from all the Tibetan settlement of Dehradhun. His Holiness expressed to them his concern with the preservation of Tibetan Religion and Culture, and also spoke about the protection of environment and importance of trees for nature and our lives. The Karmapa appealled to the audience to plant more trees. The Tsw-wang concluded with the blessing from His Holiness individually. In the afternoon, His Holiness traveled to Rajpur to pay a courtesy visit and respects to His Holiness Sakya Trizin at his residence. Later in the day, His Holiness Karmapa and His Holiness Sakya Trizin had dinner together. - Tashi Paljor
HH Mindrolling Rinpoche Parinirvana Ceremonies in Clement Town
23rd February, 2008: His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa arrived at Mindrolling Monastery in Clement Town, Dehradhun, for the third week paranirvana puja of the His Holiness the XIth Mindrolling Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal, Rinpoche, the head of the Nyigmapa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Just before arriving at the monastery His Holiness was received by Khandro Rinpoche, Khorchen Rinpoche, Sakya Gya-yum Chenmo, welfare officer of Dickyiling Tibetan Settlement and representatives of monasteries and associations at the Ponta Sahib border of Uttranchal.
Upon arriving at Mindrolling Monastery, HH Karmapa paid his respects to the great Nyingma hierarch by praying with the kudung of HH Mindroling Rinpoche
His Holiness was welcomed by all the Tibetan people of the Clement Town Tibetan camp, international devotees and the sanghas with their Serbang. On the arrival of His Holiness at the main monastery, Sang-yum Sonam Peldon offered a welcome Khata and later Body, Speech and Mind offerings were extended by Khandro Rinpoche, Khorchen Rinpoche and Poe-nam Tulku.
His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa will preside over the Gyawa Gyatso puja from 24th February. It will last for one week, in the Lhabab Choe-ten shrine hall of Mindrolling Monastery. More then 20 monks have specially come from Rumtek to assist His Holiness in performing the puja.
In the morning of 24th Feb, at 7:30 am His Holiness performed prayer at the Kudhung in the main shrine hall of Mindrolling Monastery, and later that day presided over the Gyawa Gyatso puja.
Meetings and puja in February
14 February, 2008: In the morning of the 8th day of first moon, His Holiness performed smoke offering puja along with the resident ritual monks at Gyuto. At 11 am. Drikung Khenchen Kunchok Gyaltsen had an audience with His Holiness. - Tashi Paljor
Welcome to the Year of the Earth Mouse
7th February, 2008 is Tibetan New Year (Losar). The year is now 2135, the Earth Mouse year according to Tibetan Calendar. The Gyalwang Karmapa celebrated his Losar at Gyuto Ramoche Monastery in Dharamsala. In the morning of Losar, His Holiness presided over prayer at the main shrine hall. All the monks of Gyuto, the staff of Tsurphu Labrang and many devotees attended the prayer. Ceremonial sweet rice and Tibetan tea was offered by Gyuto Monastery to all who gathered here for the Losar Ceremony. Gyuto Khen-Rinpoche offered a mandala to His Holiness. The ceremony was concluded with the blessings from His Holiness to the assembly. Later, all the staff of Tsurphu Labrang had a private audience with His Holiness.
On Losar evening, His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche arrived at Gyuto Monastery to wish His Holiness 'Tashi Delek' for Losar and they had dinner together.
2 Feb, 2008. Dzigar Rinpoche had an audience with The Gyalwang Karmapa. Dzigar Choktrul Rinpoche is one of the lineage holder of Drukpa Kagyu. Rinpoche was recognized by His Holiness 16th Karmapa.
His Holiness Completes Winter Tour with Area Visits and leaves Varanasi for New Delhi and Dharamsala (January 14 -18, 2008)
14th January, 2008: The Gyalwang Karmapa gave talk and audience, as pre requested by the Kagyu students of Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS)at Vajra Vidhya in Saranath. The Khenpo of CIHTS offered madala to His Holiness. The Gyalwang Karmapa visits the sacred sites of Sarnath
15th January, 2008: The Gyalwang Karmapa visited the sacred sites of Sarnath, where our Teacher the complete and perfect Buddha turned the Wheel of Dharma. His Holiness first led Khenchen Yongzin Thrangu Rinpoche and the monks of the Vajra Vidya Institute in monlam prayer service at the Dhamekh Stupa. The service included mandala offering to the Buddha, the Aspiration for Noble Conduct and other prayers, and concluded with a feast offering. In addition to the sangha, many faithful devotees from Tibet, Bhutan, other Himalayan regions and foreign countries participated in the service. His Holiness circumambulated the stupa. After that His Holiness visited the Mulagandi Kuti Vihara, escorted into the temple by Ven. Sumedha Thero of the Mahabodhi Society of India. The Gyalwang Karmapa Visits the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies.
His Holiness at the Central Institute of Tibetan Studies, Samprunant University, Varanasi, India
16 January, 2008: The Gyalwang Karmapa visited the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath. The director, Prof. Geshe Ngawang Samten, who escorted him into the assembly hall, greeted him. The director, faculty, workers, and exchange students from abroad offered His Holiness khatas. The director then made some welcoming remarks, after which His Holiness gave a talk. His Holiness talked about how the Central Institute was founded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. At that time, the situation for Tibetan refugees was very difficult and there were many uncertainties and also talked about how the students at the Central Institute are exposed to all four major Buddhist traditions and the Bon tradition. Appreciated the opportunity to study of all the Buddhism while it is important to study own tradition, This will help foster good communication between the traditions and help everyone deepen their understanding as well. His Holiness then spoke about the importance of studying Sanskrit. The source of the Buddhist teachings in Tibet is the Sanskrit scriptures, so it is very important to understand the language and study those scriptures in detail. By doing so, we can come closer to the origin of Tibetan Buddhism. Geshe Dradul then translated a summary of the remarks into English, and Geshe Yeshe Tabkhe made concluding remarks summarizing His Holiness main points and thanking him for coming. His Holiness returned to the Vajra Vidya Institute, where he took his lunch with Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche before departing for Delhi. 16th Jan 2008, The Gyalwang Karmapa arrived in New Delhi at 5:30 pm. and stayed at Radisson Hotel. His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche met His Holiness at the hotel and had dinner thereafter.
17th Jan, 2008: Kugnoe Kalon Tenpa Tsering la had private audience with His Holiness in the afternoon at Radisson hotel.
18th Jan 2008: The Gyalwang Karmapa left for Dharamsala by plane.
His Holiness Attends Thrangu Tse-Drup Puja (January 10, 2008)
The entrance to the Alice School as the student body and teachers await the arrival of His Holiness
5th January, 2008: Vajra Vidya Institute monks have been performing the Thrangu Tse-drup Puja (Thrangu Style of Long Life puja which was formed during the 14th Karmapa's period) for the Gyalwang Karmapa from 3rd of January. On the last day of the Thrangu Tsedup Puja the Kyabje Khenchen Yongzin Thrangu Rinpoche offered the Ten-shug (Long Life) Mandala to the Gyalwang Karmapa. The ceremony took place in the main shrine hall of VVI which was filled with numerous international devotees and many Tibetans, mutually praying for Long Life of the Gyalwang Karmapa, for the benefit of all sentient beings. Later, Lama Dawa of Hong Kong Thrangu Dharma Center cordially invited the Gyalwang Karmapa for lunch at the Hotel Ramada in Varanasi. The entourage of His Holiness and the staff of VVI were also present at the lunch. - Tashi Paljor
His Holiness Talks with Students about Developing Mental Peace and Happiness in a Technological Age (January 10, 2008)
10th January, 2008: The Gyalwang Karmapa visited Alice Project Universal Education School (www.aliceproject.info) situated close to the Vajra Vidya Institute Saranath, where His Holiness is currently residing. The founder and director of the school, Mr. Valentino Giacomin, requested His Holiness to consecrate the New Tara Temple and ten Juniper seeds from Nenang Monastery, Tibet.
The Gyalwang Karmapa's Address to Students at the Alice Project Universal Education School
"This is my third visit to this school, and I am very happy to be welcomed by all of you students and teachers. I am very happy that you have built this temple where people of all different religions can come and pray to their own god. I am someone who practices Dharma, and I think that it is extremely fortunate to have such a good fortune.
"I think this period that you are young is very important. You have a wonderful opportunity that you might not ever get again. Using this time when you are young to develop good intentions for yourself and to think about peace and happiness in this world will make your human life into something necessary and desirable. If you develop a good heart now, such thoughts will accompany you throughout your whole life, and you will naturally help to bring about world peace.
"There are two main things that make us improve our human lives. One is to improve our lives because we are afraid of something terrible, and the other is to improve ourselves because we see that it will help us. These days it is like these two things are competing with each other. The world is now in a technological age, and this brings huge changes to the world. When we look at the news, we can clearly see how this brings a lot of violence and suffering to people. This can be terrifying. At the same time, the world has had a lot of economic development, but our minds become fixated upon money, and we pointlessly lose our happiness and independence. So it is very important to see the benefits of developing mental peace and happiness and of getting an education, and then because of that to improve ourselves.
"I have a hope and prayer in my heart that all of you in this school will study well, and that you all will help each other in your studies and in becoming good people. I hope that you all experience such good fortune. I also pray that you have good health while you are studying, and that each of you will be protected by the god in whom you have faith.
"I am very happy that whenever I come to Saranath, I can visit this school and meet so many students. This is because we are about the same age, and we all have modern ways of thinking. We speak different languages and come from different countries, so when we look at each other it might seem like we are far apart, but I hope that we can see how we are the same in our age and in having modern ways of thinking. That is why I pray that for my part, I will always be able to support you and have affection for you." - Tashi Paljor
His Holiness at Vajra Vidhya in Sarnath (January, 2008)
5th January, 2008. Vajra Vidya Institute monks have been performing the Thrangu Tse-drup Puja (Thrangu Style of Long Life puja which was developed during the time of the 14th Karmapa) for the Gyalwang Karmapa from 3-5 January. On the last day of the Thrangu Tsedup Puja, the Kyabje Khenchen Yongzin Thrangu Rinpoche offered the Ten-shug (Long Life) Mandala to the Gyalwang Karmapa. The ceremony took place in the main shrine hall of VVI which was filled with numerous international devotees and many Tibetans, mutually praying for Long Life of the Gyalwang Karmapa, for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Ven. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche makes an offering to His Holiness at Vajra Vidhya in Sarnath on January 5, 2008
Later, Lama Dawa of Hong Kong Thrangu Dharma Center cordially invited the Gyalwang Karmapa for lunch at the Hotel Ramada in Varanasi. The entourage of His Holiness and the staff of VVI were also present at the lunch.
6th January, 2008: This is the 28th day according to Tibetan Lunar calendar. On this special day, the Gyalwang Karmapa released many bird and fishes in morning in what is called a "life release" ceremony. In the afternoon, the Gyalwang Karmapa gave the four armed Chen-re-zig Empowerment. Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche was present.
The text for this empowerment was prepared by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodoe Thaye and published in his famous Rinchen Terzoed. The empowerment is also called the Great Compassion of Nga-ri (a place in western Tibet). After the empowerment His Holiness spoke about the practice the Buddha Amitabha, noting that in order to reborn in Buddha Amitabha's pure land, one has to practice Avalokteshwara and Vajrapani for a quicker rebirth.
His Holiness also thanked Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche for his hospitality, and mentioned that during the previous day of Ten-shug ceremony, Rinpoche requested that His Holiness "live 100 years" His Holiness replied that "when I think about it, I will not be able to live for that long by myself, so here I offer Ten-shug to you all friends for your continuous love and compassion."
Activities of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa
in November - December 2007
HH Gyalwa Karmapa
Detailed biographical information about His Holiness the 17th Karmapa is available from the drop down menus above. The materials are divided into:
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In Tibet (His Holiness's early years, enthronement in Tibet and activity at Tsurphu Monastery)
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Reference (Official releases from the Kagyu Office and historical background documents referenced in other sections)
When not traveling, His Holiness holds regular public audiences at his temporary camp at the Gyuto Ramoche Tantric University in Dharamsala, HP, India
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