NEWS & CURRENT ACTIVITES

4 January, 2015 Monlam Pavilion

Unseen by most of those who attend the Monlam, the Karmapa had worked into the early hours of the morning supervising preparations for the final day of Monlam prayers. Satisfied, that everything met his high standards, he had finally left the Monlam Pavilion at 2.00am.

When people arrived for Mahayana Sojong at 5.45am, the stage had been transformed yet again, into a multicultural, visually stunning celebration of the Buddhist Dharma, the Kagyu tradition and the Monlam itself.

The sixteen Chinese-style auspicious banners of the Arhats which had headed the Alms Procession the day before now lined the wings either side of the main stage, and the lowest tiers were brightened by bouquets of fresh flowers, huge chrysanthemum blooms in deep purples, whites and yellows. On the second tier, three low thrones had been placed, for the Gyalwang Karmapa and his two heart sons, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Gyaltsab Rinpoche. The rows of gelongs sitting on the steps had been reduced from three to two, and Read the rest of this article

(5 November, 2014 – Bodhgaya) The Gyalwang Karmapa left Tergar Monastery at 9 am today to pay homage at the central shrine of Buddhism, the Mahabodhi Temple, home to the Bodhi tree and other sites linked with the time when Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment.

Mr N.T. Dorje, Secretary of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, and the Head Monk-in-Charge the Venerable Bande, welcomed the Gyalwang Karmapa.

Gyalwang Karmapa walked into the complex, down the central steps and headed directly to the Mahabodhi temple shrine room. Devotees from around the world greeted him along the way. Flanking both sides of the pathway, they proffered pink and lilac lotus blossoms or ceremonial white scarves, and asked for his blessing. Inside the shrine room, His Holiness first offered a three-piece set of robes of hand-woven golden silk to the image of Lord Buddha, followed by seven bowls of fruit, flowers and food. As the monk-attendant draped the new robes over the Buddha image, His Holiness prostrated three times before commencing prayers in Read the rest of this article

8th September – Gyuto, Dharamsala.

One of China’s most perse

cuted writers,Liao Yiwu, had an audience with His Holiness Karmapa this morning at Gyuto Monastery.

” The current situation of His Holiness Karmapa and the fact of continuous self immolations of the Tibetan people has brought me here to visit His Holiness Karmapa” said the musician Liao Yiwu, he played xiao, an ancient flutelike instrument during the audience, the flutelike instrument that sustained him as a street musician during long bouts of joblessness after his release. In 1990, he was jailed as “counterrevolutionaries.”He spent four years in jail after publishing a poem titled Massacre about the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Liao Yiwu, the outspoken Chinese dissident and writer, has won a top German literary prize recently.

The German book publishers’ association named Liao as the winner of its annual Peace Prize. Previous winners of the $31,700 award, to Read the rest of this article

May 13, 2011. Nagpur

His Holiness gave teachings on “Harmony, Ethics and Power” to the Buddhist devotees of Nagpur who has specially gathered here for this occasion. People’s Democratic Movement of Nagpur organized the teaching. His Holiness inaugurated Dr. Ambedkar’s statue before arriving at the teaching venue. Read more

April 24, 2011. Leh, Ladakh

DAY 1, 24TH APRIL

Upon arrival in Leh, Ladakh, His Holiness was welcomed with a traditional Buddhist reception. He was greeted by thousands of cheering people who had gathered in the airport and along the road all the way to the Jhokhang, the main temple of Leh city which houses the statue of Jho Rinpoche. Auspicious mandala offerings were made to him there and refreshments were served to everyone gathered.  After a brief prayer session, His Holiness then visited a photograph exhibit detailing the flood catastrophe of August 6, 2010, where hundreds of lives were lost.

In the afternoon, he had a private meeting with the Vice President of the Ladakh Gompa Association, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, and the Ladakh Buddhist Association Youth Wing. They reported to him the source, event and Read the rest of this article