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
May 21

The Gyalwang Karmapa Visits Nyingma Dharma Center

2016.05.20i
May 20, 2016 -Lausanne, Switzerland
Today the Gyalwang Karmapa traveled northeast to Lausanne along the Lake of Geneva with its vistas of snowy peaks. His destination was the Nyingma Dharma center of Namkha Rinpoche, Thegchok Ling, a part of his Rigdzin Community that organized the Karmapa’s visit to Switzerland. Tucked in a quiet corner of the town, not far from a rushing river, the center was founded in 2002. Though rain was predicted, the sun shone clearly on the Dharma flags strung along the way, on the brocade banners and the long red carpet with its eight auspicious symbols leading into the shrine hall.

Once on the throne, the Karmapa was presented with long life offerings by Namkha Rinpoche and then by the center members. To mark an auspicious occasion, a teaching can be offered and Namkha Rinpoche followed this tradition in speaking of the five certainties: the time is special as it is Saga Dawa which contains three major events in the Buddha’s life; the teacher is special as the seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa is present; the place is special as Switzerland is a country dedicated to peace; the teaching is special as the Karmapa will be bestowing the empowerments of the Medicine Buddha and Avalokiteshvara; and the Sangha is special as it is the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages combined.

His Holiness then began his talk by warmly welcoming everyone and adding in a “bonjour” as well. He then gave the oral transmission for the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche, making an auspicious connection with this Nyingma center and underlining the commonality of the two lineages. For this opportunity to come to Switzerland, the Karmapa thanked Namkha Rinpoche for his dedication and perseverance in arranging this visit and also expressed his appreciation to the Central Tibetan Administration.

The Karmapa noted, “The Nyingma and Kamtsang Kagyu lineages have an old and deep connection. When the Sixteenth Karmapa came to India, he knew good relationships with Nyingma masters and khenpos, who were his profound Dharma friends.” The Karmapa made the aspiration to continue this close connection, so that the two traditions can work together to spread the Dharma and to benefit others.

Turing to our contemporary world, the Karmapa said that we have witnessed a great material development, but this has also brought excessive distractions so that people are too busy to develop their practice fully and bring it into fruition. He complemented the Nyingma tradition for its emphasis on practice and for the numerous realized masters it has fostered and continues to yield even today. “This is a special quality of the Nyingma lineage,” he noted, “distinguishing it from others. We should take these masters as our role models to sustain the practice and develop the qualities of the tradition so that all living beings may be benefited. This is the goal. My wish is that you practice this lineage with a strong motivation.”

The Karmapa concluded his talk in addressing the many Tibetans who had gathered for the occasion. “The main reason I came to Switzerland,” he stated, “is because there are so many Tibetans to meet here.” Indeed, outside of India, Switzerland is home to the second largest Tibetan population. “I am happy to have met you,” the Karmapa said, “and whatever the situation might be, I will help you as much as I can.” He closed by saying the he was looking forward to sharing his plans and ideas with them.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • E-Mail

Related Posts

  • A Prayer for the Swift Return of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche by the Gyalwang KarmapaFebruary 23, 2022
  • Full Transcript of the Address from His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa to the 36th Kagyu MonlamJanuary 27, 2019
  • Postponement of the 35th Kagyu MonlamNovember 1, 2017
  • The Gyalwang Karmapa Expresses His Birthday Wish – To Visit His HomelandJune 27, 2017

[ 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 Inauguration of the 23rd Kagyu Gunchoe
  • The Essence of Glory: A Shakyamuni Puja in the Kadampa Style
  • The Gyalwang Karmapa’s Closing Remarks to the Mar Ngok Summer Teachings
  • Differing Perspectives on the First Council and the Compilation of the Tripiṭaka
  • Upāli – the Foremost in the Vinaya and Contemporary Analyses of the First Council  
  • Ananda’s Offenses, Arhatship, and Recitation of the Sūtras
  • Results of the First Buddhist Council: How the brahma penalty was imposed on Channa

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