His Holiness received transmission and teachings at Gyuto from H.E. Gyaltsab Rinpoche throughout the summer.
On July 24, the 15th day of the 6th Tibetan month, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa received his ordination as a novice monk (dge tshul pha) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was assisted at the ceremony by His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche. This joyous occasion was marked by three days of celebration at Gyuto Monastery. It is considered particularly auspicious that His Holiness was able to receive his Getsul vows from the Dalai Lama. After the Karmapa received his vows, His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferred novice and final ordination on some 800 monks from southern India.
His Holiness Karmapa presiding over the Kagyu Conference on the Thirteen Tantras of Marpa at Vajra Vidhya Institute in Varanasi
On June 26, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa celebrated his birthday. The main guest of the ceremony was Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, head of the government of Tibet in Exile. Also in attendance were Their Eminences Tai Situ Rinpoche, Gyaltsab Rinpoche and Khenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, as well as various other Tibetan ministers and the members of the Kagyu Office administration. Born on June 26, 1985, His Holiness is considered 18 years old according to Tibetan traditions (which count a newborn as 1 year old at birth) and 17 years in the Western tradition.
On June 15, the Kagyu Office released a news bulletin about His Holiness’s wishes regarding pending litigation over a court-ordered inventory of sacred objects at Rumtek monastery. (Text of the press release)
Khenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche was in attendance at Gyuto in May and June, providing transmission and teaching to His Holiness.
On May 10, His Holiness visited Nyingtop Ling, a school for the handicapped in Norbulingka area, where he participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new building.
