Preserve Tibetan culture, Karmapa tells Tibetans

"Your main duty is to guard and preserve Tibetan culture and religion," the Karmapa said while addressing over 8,000 Tibetans, who are in this Buddhist holy site, about 110 km from Patna, to participate in the Kalachakra initiation for world peace.

"It's also the duty of us Tibetans in India and other free countries to let the world know what is going on within Tibet," the Karmapa added.

Recounting the relationship that Tibet shared with India, the 26-year-old Buddhist monk said: "We received the Buddha 'dharma' directly from India. Now, many of us have settled here in exile. Therefore, I do not need to tell you how close and profound this relationship between Tibet and India is."

"The hardships you were willing to undertake to come here to this holy place shows very clearly the deep sense of devotion and affection that we Tibetans feel for India," said the Karmapa, who usually resides in a monastery near Dharamsala town in Himachal Pradesh.

The Karmapa, who fled Tibet and sought refuge in India in January 2000, is the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism. He is considered the third most important Tibetan religious head after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. (IANS)

View the original article here

The Karmapa Wishes for Peace and Harmony in the New Year

Home Dharma Dew

Dharamshala, India -- In an address the 17th Karmapa, officially known as His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, made to the media regarding the end of the current year and the fast approaching new year, he stated that he wishes we live this year with mutual love and respect for one another and for the earth that is our common home.

Referring to the popular belief that the world might end in 2012, he said "In fact, we never know what any given year might hold. But if we are sincerely committed to following a path of compassion and wisdom, this uncertainty about the future need not cause us any concern.

Whatever happens, we can simply keep our focus directed steadily at what matters most-cultivating compassion and equanimity, and acting to benefit others.""If we harbor this attitude in our hearts, we can make anything that occurs positive for ourselves and for others," he added.
Speaking of the numerous natural diasters that struck the planet this year, he offered his prayers to all those who suffered turmoil this year.

He concluded by stating that he offers his prayers to all those connected with him in any way during this year and to those who will connect in the coming future.

"May you find lasting happiness and peace. May all of us who share this planet go forward together into the new year in harmony," he concluded.

View the original article here

Karmapa lama to travel to Washington DC

Home The Americas US Northeast

The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Tibetan lama who, it has been widely speculated, will succeed the Dalai Lama as the figurehead for Tibetan Buddhism, will be travelling to Washington DC today, for a tour of the US.

New York, USA -- His arrival signals a significant shift by the Indian government, which has closely monitored and restricted the young lama's movements since he fled into exile from Tibet in 2000.

<< The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, will travel to Washington DC Photo: REX

The 26-year old monk has been granted a travel permit to attend the Kalachakra ceremonies in the US, alongside the Dalai Lama.

The "Kalachakra for World Peace" ceremony began on Wednesday in Washington DC and will see 100,000 visitors take part in prayer, chanting, meditation and speeches.

The Karmapa's presence at the Dalai Lama's side will reinforce long held speculation that the Dalai Lama sees the young Karmapa as his spiritual successor.

While the Dalai Lama has renounced his political role as the de facto leader of the Tibetan community-in-exile, he remains the undisputed spiritual figurehead and moral force for Tibetan Buddhism. His death will leave a vacuum which it is widely expected that the Karmapa will fill.

Since arriving in India, following an epic 900 mile trek across the Himalayas, the Karmapa has been forbidden from travelling freely, the object of suspicions by the Indian intelligence services that he was a Chinese agent.

In 2008 he was allowed to leave India for the first time to visit America, where Michael Bloomberg feted him in New York by declaring the day of his arrival 'Karmapa Day'. But last year he was refused permission to travel to Europe, without any explanation being offered by the Indian government.

Earlier this year he became embroiled in further controversy following the discovery of large amounts of foreign currency in his monastery in Dharamsala, leading to a witch-hunt by sections of the Indian media.

It was subsequently established that the money was actually donations from devotees – a traditional practice in Tibetan Buddhism – earmarked for the purchase of land for a new monastery which had been tied up by India's complicated land laws.

The fact that he has been allowed to travel now is a further strong indication that the Indian government regard the spying allegations as baseless.

The young monk has been praised for his intelligence and personable approach, and his international profile is building steadily, with the Dalai Lama having chosen to take the Karmapa under his wing.

The Kalachakra ceremony is the first major public event the Dalai Lama has attended since his announcement in March that he is formally stepping down as the political leader of the Tibetan community in exile.

Robert Thurman, the American Buddhist writer and academic, and the Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, told the Telegraph: "I am very happy His Holiness the 17th Karmapa is coming. It is a great happening that the Indian government is realising he deserves free travel permissions. His friendship and discipleship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama is of historic importance in the Tibetan world, deeply healing of a subtle division that is almost four hundred years old.

"He will be a great voice for the Buddha Dharma in the future, actually he already is, but not in any sort of missionary way, in the way of joining the worldwide network of spiritual leaders turning spirituality toward peace and not letting religion serve as a source of division within humanity in this time of the world crisis, environmental, economic, political.

View the original article here

India allows 17th Karmapa to travel to US

Home Asia Pacific South Asia India

Shimla, India -- Amidst hectic lobbying by his followers in the corridors of power, government has finally Ogyen Trinley Dorje- 17th Karmapa, who is parallel head of powerful Kagyu karma sect of Tibetan Buddhist to travel to United States to attend Kalchakra.

Under scanner of investigating agencies for huge stacks of foreign currency recovered from his monastery, Ogyen Trinley Dorje had earlier expressed his desire to visit United States along with Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the – Dalai Lama for Kalchakra which commences from July 6th in Washington D.C.

According to Buddhist beliefs, the Kalachakra was first given by Shakyamuni Buddha, in ancient India. The Kalchakra in Washington will last for 11 days. During the first three days of the Kalachakra, from July 6 through 8, the Dalai Lama, along with the monks of Namgyal Monastery and senior lamas, will conduct rituals, which prepare and consecrate the venue.

Karmapa’s administration - Tsurphu Labrang in Dharamsala had written to the ministry of home affairs seeking permission to travel abroad.  It was late in the afternoon on Tuesday that Karmapa’s administration received intimation about the clearance given by home ministry. “ We have got clearance from the Indian government. We are extremely grateful to the Indian authorities” Sonam, Karmapa aides in Delhi told Hindustan Times.

Twenty-six year – old monk - 17th Karmapa himself  had been camping in Delhi since  past one week.  Karmapa’s high profile followers hectically lobbied in New Delhi to ensure that   spiritual leader is allowed to go abroad. This will be Karmapa second visit abroad ever since he escaped from Tsurphu in   China controlled Tibet a decade ago. Karmapa is likely to stay in United States for over two weeks and would return back to Dharamsala on July 25.

Looked with suspicion, Karmapa lives under the watchful eyes of the Indian agencies in the backside of  Gyuto Tantric monastery in Dharamsala. His movements within the country remains restricted his travel schedule is cleared by the home ministry. Karmapa made his maiden trip to United States in the 2008. He had visited the seat of his predecessor 16th Karmapa the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, who is largely credited for introducing Tibetan Buddhism in western countries. Rigpe Dorje had escaped to Bhutan in 1959 along with 150 of his students later he set up a monastery in Rumtek in Sikkim Rigpe Dorje who lived in United states died of cancer in Chigao in 1981 he was cremated at the rumtek monastery, that remains forbidden for the two claimants Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Shamar Rinpoche enthrone parallel Karmapa- Thaye Dorje.

Ogyen Trinley Dorje had made nations headline in January, since police during the raid in the monastery had recovered Rs 6.5 crore from the possession of   Rabjey Choesang treasurer of Karmapa headed Karmae Garchen Trust.  What surprised the investigating agencies was the recovery of   12 lakh Chinese Yuan. Karmapa’s followers denied   spiritual leader had anything to do with the money, which claimed was donated by devotees.

View the original article here