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.
