Fortune Cookie
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Monday, June 2, 2008

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Blog: Official Karmapa U.S. Visit Weblog

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HH 17th Karmapa in USA!! Trailer!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTIeC9E0Rzo

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Historic First Visit to the U.S

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His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa has resumed his normal schedule in Dharamsala
Category: News and Politics

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01/21/08

Beginning on January 21st, His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa has resumed his normal schedule in Dharamsala. When in residence at his temporary camp at the Gyuto Tantric University in the Dharamsala area, His Holiness' schedule is typically very tight since he is devoting almost all of his time to studies, which include the process of transmission and empowerment from his teachers as well as Buddhist philosophy and meditation practice. However, His Holiness has earmarked a portion of his time for public audiences and has a limited amount of time for private audiences. When his travel and study schedule permits, His Holiness holds public audiences in Sidbhari at Gyuto Tantric College for which prior appointments are not necessary. The public audiences usually include a brief teaching granted during the audience time. The typical schedule for his public audiences is between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday. His Holiness currently holds regular public audiences on those days. The interviews take place at the temporary Kagyu camp at the Gyuto Tantric University near Dharamsala. To make an audience appointment, please contact: 1.      Lama Phuntsok, Private Secretary Cell phone: 91-9816474363 2.      Thubten Sherab, Secretary (audience) Cell phone: 91-9418294401 audience2karmapa@gmail.com,  cro2karmapa@yahoo.com

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01/16/2008 Visit to the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath. W Pictures
Category: News and Politics

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01/16/08

On January 16th, the Gyalwa Karmapa visited the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath. He was greeted by the director, Prof. Geshe Ngawang Samten who escorted him into the assembly hall. The director, faculty, workers, and exchange students from abroad offered His Holiness khatas. The director then made some welcoming remarks, after which His Holiness gave a talk. First of all, His Holiness talked about how the Central Institute was founded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. At that time, the situation for Tibetan refugees was very difficult and there were many uncertainties. His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself did not even have a definite place to live, but rather than just thinking about his own difficulties, he thought about the needs of Tibetan society and put great efforts into founding the institute. Although in the current day, the situation is no longer so difficult, the students should still keep this in mind and study hard. His Holiness also talked about how the students at the Central Institute are exposed to all four major Buddhist traditions and the Bon tradition. If one studies in a monastery, one only studies, and practices one's own tradition, but here one can learn about the views of all of the traditions. This will help foster good communication between the traditions and help everyone deepen their understanding of them. Many students might think just about getting their diploma and then getting a job, but His Holiness said that they should not just think about that. Rather, they need to think about becoming a good person and then helping the world in general and Tibetan society in particular. In today's world, there are is a great deal of development of external things and wealth, but people have fewer opportunities to look at their own internal minds. In developed countries, many people rely so heavily on technology that they are lead into doing what the technology can do, rather than thinking through and planning carefully what they want to do. Many people get confused and unhappy because of this, His Holiness understands. Buddhism is a way to help people deal with their own minds, which can helpful in this situation. His Holiness then spoke about the importance of studying Sanskrit. The source of the Buddhist teachings in Tibet is the Sanskrit scriptures, so it is very important to understand the language and study those scriptures in detail. By doing so, we can come closer to the origin of Tibetan Buddhism. Geshe Dradul then translated a summary of the remarks into English, and Geshe Yeshe Tabkhe made concluding remarks summarizing His Holiness' main points and thanking him for coming and speaking. His Holiness returned to the Vajra Vidya Institute, where he took his lunch with Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche before departing for Delhi. VISIT PHOTO GALLERY IN MY PICS SECTION

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Visiting the sacred sites of Sarnath 15/01/2008
Category: News and Politics

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01/15/08

On Tuesday, January 15th, 2008, the Gyalwa Karmapa visited the sacred sites of Sarnath, where our Teacher, the complete and perfect Buddha turned the Wheel of Dharma. His Holiness first led Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and the monks of the Vajra Vidya Institute in a monlam prayer service at the Dhamekh Stupa. The service included a mandala offering to the Buddhas, the Aspiration for Noble Conduct and other prayers, and concluded with a feast offering. In addition to the sangha, many faithful devotees from Tibet, Bhutan, other Himalayan regions, and foreign countries participated in the service. Following the service, His Holiness circumambulated the stupa, which contains relics of the Buddha Shakyamuni, three times. His Holiness then went to the Mulagandi Kuti Vihara. He was met at the gate and escorted into the temple by Ven. Sumedha Thero of the Mahabodhi Society of India. His Holiness offered a khata to the shrine. The monks of the Vihar recited some prayers in Pali, and then His Holiness recited the Praise of the Twelve Deeds. Ven. Sumedha Thero offered His Holiness a replica of the statue that graces the Mulagandi Kuti Vihara and a history of the temple and its founder, Anagarika Dharmapala. Following this, His Holiness then went to offer butter lamps to statues of the Buddha and his first five disciples outside the temple. After circumambulating the statues three times, His Holiness returned to the Vajra Vidya Institute. View Photo gallery in my Pics section.

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Announcement of the 26th Kagyu Monlam

Announcement of the 26th Kagyu Monlam

The 26th Kagyu Monlam will be held from January 4–11, 2009, in Bodhgaya, India. The Gyalwang Karmapa will continue his teaching on The Life of Milarepa. On the sixth day of the Kagyu Monlam, Pal Gyalwang Karmapa will confer the Tara empowerment. In addition, the purification pujas of the buddha Akshobhya for the living and deceased, reading of the Kangyur, an alms procession, and other activities will be performed during the Monlam.

The 26^th Kagyu Monlam Schedules

 January 4–11 , 2009

Any changes in the Schedule will be announced at the Monlam.

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GYALWANG KARMAPA’S CONCLUDING SPEECH TO THE KAGYU MONLAM WORK TEAMS. December 28, 2007
Category: Religion and Philosophy

GYALWANG  KARMAPA'S CONCLUDING SPEECH TO THE KAGYU MONLAM WORK TEAMS

December 28, 2007, report by Karma Palmo, photo by Karma Lekcho

The 25th Monlam Chenmo is completed, not only in this place. I believe it is also completed in everybody's heart.

It could be said the reason why I am leading the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo's work is because I am the head of the lineage; I am the person who bears the name of Karmapa. However, it can also be said that it is because I believe that everyone in this work team has been my family for many lifetimes, either my parents, or other relatives. Therefore, with gratitude, I plunge into the task, hoping that I can make everybody even happier.

While working during the Monlam, maybe due to some temporary circumstances, you may sometimes have felt upset or uncomfortable, but from the ultimate perspective I believe Kagyu Monlam Chenmo is the spring of happiness and joy. And this is also my good wish for everyone. I am not at all concerned if I could continue to lead Kagyu Monlam Chenmo in the future. What I am concerned about is whether everyone involved can work together harmoniously with one mind, and make Kagyu Monlam proceed in accordance with Dharma.

Taking myself as an example, as leader of this Monlam, I cannot say that I have not made any mistakes in the process. Even though I have made many mistakes, as long as I am alive, even for one day, I will continue to devote myself to Kagyu Monlam. Why? This is because I hope, I wish to benefit every one of you, and even if I cannot bring real benefits to everyone, as long as my two feet are still planted on this earth, I want to bring you joy and happiness. And this has always been my wish.

This time, there are so many people who have come to attend Monlam from all over the world. They all went back to their own countries full of joy. And this is the sign that Kagyu Monlam has really accomplished something.

So if it is just us, and we say that the monlam was successful, it doesn't mean much. The real sign that Monlam is completed with satisfaction is to see that every participant's heart is full of joy and peace, and will bring with them the feeling and the experience of compassion to their own home country. This is the success of Monlam.

Why is it possible for Monlam to bring so many people such joy? I am only the planner; the one who really executed the plan is Lama Chodrak and everyone in this room. Because of your hard work, you made so many people so happy.

If we want to talk about the mistakes we made – there are too many to talk about. It is understandable that we all make mistakes, but this time I really saw that everyone is completely devoted to pure Dharma with their body, speech and mind. So I want to thank everybody again. I want not only to thank you but I want to dedicate the merit of this Monlam to all of you. May you all be happier and happier in this life and in future lives and become closer and closer to perfect happiness. And I pray that everyone may never be separated from Karmapa's activities, life after life.

I also want to say that compared to the difficulties you encounter working for the monlam, seeing the joy arising in so many people is even more powerful. I believe hundreds if not thousands of people are already eagerly awaiting the next Monlam. They are already asking when it is. I hope that for the sake of those who are waiting for the next Monlam, all of you will work together for it. Even though you may have made some mistakes working for the Monlam, I want to assure you that I will never give up on any of you because of the mistakes you might have made. Kagyu Monlam is not worldly work; you will not be fired because you did not perform well. In common worldly jobs in general people are selected based on their ability and performance, but not Kagyu Monlam. Kagyu Monlam wishes to give more people the opportunity to be involved. As long as you have the wish, as long as you identify with the purpose of Monlam, I welcome you.

While working for the Monlam, you may have felt some afflictive emotions: you might have got angry or felt that somebody is jealous of you, or that some people took advantage of you, but if you decide to quit because of this problem of the afflictive emotions, then you should tell yourself, compared to those who make you angry or get jealous of you or take advantage of you, or abuse you, the one who trusts you is even more important. So you shouldn't retreat because of those who are jealous of you or want to hurt you, you should march on because of the person who trusts you.

Finally I want to thank all the Chinese workers. You have participated in different teams at the Monlam. You have worked hard and well. I trust you fully and I hope you will continue with your good work and become the pride of all the Chinese around the world.

I would also like to thank all the westerners who worked for the Kagyu Monlam. As the Kagyu Monlam is an international event, I encourage more people from all the western countries to participate.

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MEDICINE BUDDHA EMPOWERMENT (2007/12/25)
Category: Religion and Philosophy

MEDICINE BUDDHA EMPOWERMENT

2007/12/25, report by Karma Palmo.

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