TEACHINGS BY KARMAPA
From beginner topics to advanced philosophy, the Gyalwang Karmapa generously teaches the Dharma several times a year. Here is a small sample of teachings on bodhicitta, meditation, emptiness, and more.
Photo © Olivier Adam
MIND TRAINING
A sample of the Karmapa’s teachings from The 8 Verses of Training the Mind by Geshe Chekewa.
Fifty Verses on the Guru • Day One
Verse 8: The Characteristics of the Guru to Follow Fifty Verses on the Guru • Day One 12 March 2025 His Holiness the 17th Karmapa,.. Read More →
Making Friends with Our World – Karmapa Teaches on Mind Training
The Marriot Conference Hall, Tysons Corner Marriott, Tysons, Virginia July 12, 2018 His Holiness began by extending his greetings to all who had come, particularly.. Read More →
The Karmapa Teaches on Mind Training (Lojong)
“This initial verse,” the Karmapa summarized, “teaches that all living beings are more important than a precious wish-fulfilling jewel. .. Read More →
Compassion and Emptiness are the Keys
Continuing with his explanation of the Geshe Langri Tangpa’s Eight Verses of Mind Training, the Karmapa turned to the seventh verse, which teaches the practice.. Read More →
MEDITATION
A selection of teachings by the Karmapa on how to meditate using the breath, or on disturbing emotions on the path.
The Gyalwang Karmapa Continues His Teaching on Meditation
In the morning session, the Gyalwang Karmapa had focused on the need to turn our minds inwards in order to find contentment and peace and.. Read More →
The Gyalwang Karmapa Teaches Meditation on the Breath
The topic of today’s teaching was on the practice of meditation and how to develop well-being and peace within our minds... Read More →
The Gyalwang Karmapa Visits Root Institute to Talk about Wisdom and Meditation
I am very happy to be at the Root Institute once again and I am delighted to see everyone come here to listen to the.. Read More →
His Holiness the Karmapa Speaks on Compassion and the Nature of Mind on the Eve of His Departure to India
The first step is to acknowledge to yourself that your own parents and family and immediate friends also have the same desires to be free.. Read More →
Webcast Archive
Almost all of the Gyalwang Karmapa’s teachings are webcast live online. You can view hundreds of hours of video teachings from around the world in the archives.
BODHICITTA
A sample of the Karmapa’s teachings that emphasize the development of bodhicitta as a supreme motivation.
Fifty Verses on the Guru • Day One
Verse 8: The Characteristics of the Guru to Follow Fifty Verses on the Guru • Day One 12 March 2025 His Holiness the 17th Karmapa,.. Read More →
Long-Life Offering from The Three Roots Combined to Chamgön Tai Situ Rinpoche and Drung Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche
Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya, Morning Session, 12 February 2025 Of the four heart-sons of the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, only two remain; they are the revered and.. Read More →
The Gyalwang Karmapa on the Life of Atisha • Session 4
Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya, 8 February 2025 How Atisha Spread the True Dharma in Ngari While Atisha was staying in Ngari there was a chaotic religious.. Read More →
The Gyalwang Karmapa teaching on the Life of Atisha • Session 3
The Series of Events Leading to Atisha’s Arrival in Tibet 7th February 2025 Before imparting the teaching, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa offered gracious greetings.. Read More →
The Gyalwang Karmapa on the Life of Atisha • Session 2
Becoming a Scholar and Going Forth 6 February 2025 After greeting everyone, the Gyalwang Karmapa resumed his discourse on the Life of Atisha at the.. Read More →
The Gyalwang Karmapa on the Life of Atisha • Session 1
Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya, 5 February 2025 His Holiness 17th Gyalwang Karmapa began by offering his greetings to the various Rinpoches and all of the other.. Read More →
Karmapa Recites Mantras and Makes Concluding Aspirations for the World: Day Seven
Tashi delek. Today is the seventh and final day of our prayers for the pandemic to subside. Today we will recite Tangtong Gyalpo’s Prayer that.. Read More →
Compassion Has Its Reasons
The North American Kagyu Monlam, York College, Flushing, New York June 8, 2018 On this third day of the North American Kagyu Monlam, His Holiness.. Read More →
The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva Continued
What is described here is how we cultivate relative bodhichitta in actual meditation practice—the stages which culminate in the ability to exchange oneself for others... Read More →
The Karmapa Begins Teachings on the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva
However, everyone here shares the desire to practice a bodhisattva’s training, including myself, so I will regard this situation as one where we are all.. Read More →
EMPTINESS
From teachings on the Prajnaparamita Sutras to talks about the absolute bodhicitta, the Karmapa teaches on emptiness.
What Is Emptiness Really?
We have now come to the third section of the text, which presents the correct view, the view of emptiness or the Middle Way (Madhyamaka).. Read More →
Relaxing into Mind’s Nature: The Third Talk on the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva
The Riverside Church, New York, New York — May 30, 2018 His Holiness began today’s teachings in noting that yesterday he had finished an explanation.. Read More →
The Mind Only School: A New Book and Approach
January 22, 2017 – Tergar Monastery, Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India Today the Gyalwang Karmapa’s Altruism Publications released a new book in its series, Philosophical Views:.. Read More →
The Nature of Everything Is Emptiness
August 17, 2016 – Gurgaon. This afternoon the Karmapa continued to examine some of the points that he had talked about in the morning, when.. Read More →
The View of Emptiness and the Path to Buddhahood
To explain this situation, His Holiness used the analogy of the moon reflected in water: The water can clearly reflect the moon, but the actually.. Read More →
How to Truly Practice the Heart Sutra?
All the sutras present emptiness; they show the stages of realizing it, beginning with an ordinary mind and going all the way to buddhahood. There.. Read More →
The Gyalwang Karmapa Unlocks the Door to the Heart of Wisdom Sutra
The Tibetan tradition has maintained the explanation of eight Indian scholars, among them the most important and well known was Vimalamitra’s... Read More →
Follow the Karmapa on Facebook for more live video events.
REFUGE
Teachings by the Karmapa on the concept and vows of Refuge, the beginning of the path for all Buddhists regardless of the tradition.
In Kingston, Karmapa Offers Refuge to those Seeking Refuge
(April 18, 2015 – Kingston, New York) Many of the 1,500 attending the afternoon teachings today had been waiting a long time to gather all.. Read More →
Karmapa Teaches New Ways to Understand Refuge
The Karmapa began by explaining the refuge vow as both the gateway to the Dharma and its essence. Encouraging people to reflect and find the.. Read More →
Authentic Refuge
Monlam Pavilion, Bodhgaya, India, January 3, 2014 In the morning session the Gyalwang Karmapa had explored the meaning of taking refuge and described how to.. Read More →
ENVIRONMENT
The Karmapa is a passionate environmentalist and regularly gives talks about vegetarianism and protecting the environment.
Buddhism and the Environment: Being Content to Live With Less
He began by recollecting his own childhood in a remote area of Tibet, devoid of modern technology and other aspects of the contemporary world. Within.. Read More →
Connect with the Environment through Your Heart
o when he speaks of the environment, it’s not just based on a sequence of logic or some understanding, but a very special, deep feeling... Read More →
Compassion in Action: Environmentalism for the 21st Century
Bonn, Germany – 28th August, 2015 Evening Session In the first public talk of his second visit to Europe, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa began.. Read More →
