Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa
  • The Karmapa
    • A Short Biography
    • The Lineage of Karmapas
    • Activities & Projects
  • Teachings
    • YouTube Archive
    • Video Library
    • Podcast
  • News
  • Schedule
  • Buddhism
    • Shakyamuni Buddha
    • Buddhism in India
    • Buddhism in Tibet
    • Kagyu Lineage
    • The Golden Rosary
  • Centers
    • North America
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Oceania
    • Africa
    • South America
  • Office
    • Media
    • Contact
Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa
  • The Karmapa
    • A Short Biography
    • The Lineage of Karmapas
    • Activities & Projects
  • Teachings
    • YouTube Archive
    • Video Library
    • Podcast
  • News
  • Schedule
  • Buddhism
    • Shakyamuni Buddha
    • Buddhism in India
    • Buddhism in Tibet
    • Kagyu Lineage
    • The Golden Rosary
  • Centers
    • North America
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Oceania
    • Africa
    • South America
  • Office
    • Media
    • Contact
  • English
  • France
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • Poland
Jan 19

The Gyalwang Karmapa Teaches on Generating Equal Compassion for All Beings; Presents Vision for Monastic College for Kagyu Nuns

2016.01.18
January 18, 2016 -Tergar Monastery, Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
During the fifth day of the Arya Kshema Winter Dharma Gathering, the Gyalwang Karmapa continued his teaching on generating bodhichitta based on Gampopa’s Ornament of Precious Liberation. He also discussed methods he would like to see enacted for promoting the continued flourishing of the Kagyu nuns study and contemplation of the great philosophical texts.

The Karmapa’s teaching today focused on how to generate equal compassion for all beings—our friends, our enemies, and those we feel neutral towards. First, the Karmapa said we need to examine the false idea that we are independent from other beings. The fact alone that our physical body comes from our parents is evidence we are not independent things. Furthermore, from the moment we are born, we are dependent on the kindness of our parents and others for our survival.

“When we really think about our own situation we can see that this life of ours is interdependent, produced by other conditions,” the Karmapa said. “Everything is dependent on something else. Looking at this, we see this is not some philosophical presentation but it is actually the value and basis of our human life.”

Using the power of our intelligence to contemplate this interdependence is the basis for generating true compassion, the Karmapa said. Specifically, this understanding helps us to avoid the pitfall of only generating compassion for those we like, and not for those we dislike—this is actually attraction and aversion, not compassion. The Karmapa said that almost anyone can generate compassion for friends, but developing compassion for enemies and those we feel neutral towards is great compassion.

“For compassion there are no friends, enemies, or anyone neutral either,” the Karmapa said. “All sentient beings are the same in wanting to be free from suffering, and in that respect they are equal. Therefore, our compassion should be equal for all sentient beings.”

During the second half of the morning program the Karmapa reflected on success of the Arya Kshema Winter Dharma Gatherings so far, and discussed what he sees as important next steps for furthering the development of Kagyu nuns’ scholarly training.

In reflecting on this, the Karmapa noted that it has now been three years since this gathering began, providing an opportunity for Kagyu nuns to begin listening and contemplating the great philosophical texts. “The results of that are turning out nicely,” the Karmapa said.

To promote the continued flourishing of the nuns’ study and contemplation, the Karmapa said he would like to see a common Kagyu shedra (monastic college) created for Kagyu nuns. Currently, he said there are shedras in some nunneries, but this situation can make it difficult to find adequate teachers and financial resources for all of the separate programs. A common shedra would help to improve the quality of the education and make effective use of resources.

The Karmapa said this facility could also provide a place for nuns and lay women from all over the world to study Buddhism and do research at international standards. The Karmapa noted that nearby, there could also be a home for the community of bhikshunis who will be receiving the planned ordination. Specifically, the Karmapa said that to ensure the future of the lineage, it would be valuable for the bhikshuni sangha to gather together in a single space rather than live scattered in many different nunneries.

The Karmapa asked for representatives from each of the nunneries present at the Arya Kshema to meet in the new Tibetan year and come up with a plan for this overall nuns’ shedra. “It would be good to do this as quickly as possible,” he said.

The Karmapa also announced that as of the next Arya Kshema there will be a debate competition for the nuns, rather than simply debate training. “I believe you are ready,” he said, addressing the nuns. A debate competition is held each year for the monks, and the Karmapa said this has led to great improvement. He said a little competition can be good if it helps generate inspiration and enthusiasm for our studies.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • E-Mail

Related Posts

  • The Vinaya and the Pratimoksha : Origins, Comparisons, Leadership, and HarmonyAugust 8, 2022
  • Rituals, Monasteries and the Vinaya of the Early SanghaAugust 5, 2022
  • Life in the Early Monastic CommunityAugust 3, 2022
  • The Development of Early Buddhism: From Enlightenment to EstablishmentAugust 1, 2022

[ long read ]

MIND TRAINING TEACHING
The Gyalwang Karmapa gave an extensive teaching on the 8 Verses of Training the Mind

[ video series ]

THE PRAJNAPARAMITA
Taught over six sessions, this is a direct explanation of the Buddhist view of emptiness

[ long read ]

THE CHENREZIK PRACTICE
The Gyalwang Karmapa taught on how to practice Chenrezik and recite his mantra

[ video series ]

100 SHORT INSTRUCTIONS
Taught over nine sessions, this text by the 8th Karmapa was taught in great depth by the present Karmapa.

[ long read ]

THREE PRINCIPLE ASPECTS
A comprehensive teaching that condenses the entire Buddhist path by Tsongkhapa

 

Recent Updates

  • The Special Kagyu Monlam Begins at Bokar Monastery: Day One
  • The Anniversaries of Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa: Kagyu Gunchoe Conference
  • Restoring Karma Kamtsang Traditions: Hayagriva
  • Ancient Translation Methods: Dynamism and Debate
  • Approaches to Understanding the Thirty Verses of the Mind Only
  • The Inauguration of the 23rd Kagyu Gunchoe
  • The Essence of Glory: A Shakyamuni Puja in the Kadampa Style

Kagyu Office Around the World

中文 // Français // Polski // Español
The Karmapa’s website is carbon neutral. //

About the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is the head of the 900 year old Karma Kagyu Lineage and guide to millions of Buddhists around the world.

Born in 1985, the Karmapa resides in his temporary home at Gyuto Monastery in India after making a dramatic escape from Tibet in the year 2000.

Traveling the world, the Karmapa skillfully teaches traditional Tibetan Buddhist Dharma while also advocating topics such as environmental conservation, feminism, digitization of the Dharma, and much more.

Please use the icons below to find the Karmapa on social media maintained by his office of administration.

// // // //

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Please view our Privacy Policy. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo