Aug 22
Aug 20

The Ten Impermissible Points: Comparing the Traditions

Origins of Secret Mantra • Day Two  20 August 2025 On the second day of the teachings, the Gyalwang Karmapa continued his exposition on the ten impermissible points with a comparison of the Pali Theravāda tradition and the Tibetan translation of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, where it is found in Minor... read more →
Aug 18

The Ten Impermissible Points

Origins of Secret Mantra • Day One  18 August 2025 At the beginning of the first session of this year's Mar Ngok Summer Teachings, His Holiness the Karmapa reminded us of the various topics he had covered during previous teachings. This included early Buddhism at the time of the Buddha,... read more →
Apr 02

Fifty Verses on the Guru • Day Six

Exploring the Relationship Between the Authentic Student and the Authentic Guru 2 April 2025 After greeting everyone, the Karmapa began by explaining that these instructions on following a guru or spiritual friend applied to Buddhism in general and not just to Secret Mantra, though the word ‘guru’ might have specific... read more →
Mar 31

Fifty Verses on the Guru • Day Five

Serving the Guru: Making Offerings and Adjusting Our Attitude 31 March 2025 The Importance of the Guru His Holiness began by explaining that we should complete the teachings on the Fifty Verses (Skt: Gurupañcāśikā) this year and begin with a new topic such as the Ocean of Samaya (Tib. དམ་ཚིག་རྒྱ་མཚོ་མཐའ་ཡས་པ།) next year. He then continued... read more →
Mar 17

Fifty Verses on the Guru • Day Four

Verses 11-15: The After-Effects of Disrespecting the Guru’s Persona and Wishes 17 March 2025 The Gyalwang Karmapa opened the teaching session on the Fifty Verses on the Guru (Skt: Gurupañcāśikā) with kind greetings and announced the extension of the ongoing spring teaching season. Then he laid out the outline established by Lord Tsongkhapa... read more →
Mar 16

Fifty Verses on the Guru • Day Three

Following the Guru: Cultivating Devotion and Abandoning Pride 16 March 2025 The Essential Characteristics of a Qualified Guru During the third day of the Spring Teachings, His Holiness the Karmapa pointed out that sometimes there are too many characteristics of a guru taught in the treatises, which can become a... read more →