It was publicly announced a few days ago that HH 17th Karmapa’s father, Dondrub is not well and rituals and prayers are being performed on his behalf now by many Karma Kagyu monasteries in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
As my own offering for the well-being and good health of the 17th Karmapa’s father, here is a short description and some photos of his father from the excellent documentary movie The 17th Karmapa’s Return to Tsurphu, directed by Ward Holmes (1992).
The film documents the recognition of the 17th Karmapa, from a young boy in Tibet born to a big family of nomads in Bakor, Lhatok province, Chamdo county, eastern Tibet, to his recognition and enthronement (by the vast majority of Karma Kagyu lamas in Tibet and exile) at the main seat of the Karmapas in Tibet, Tsurphu Monastery. His father, mother and elder brother are interviewed in the film from about 17 minutes in.
Born to a simple, nomad family in Tibet
I also recently interviewed Mick Brown who wrote the Dance of 17 Lives about the 17th Karmapa recognition (and dispute by the 14th Zhamarpa and his followers), who also wrote about the amazing and many auspicious signs both before, during and after the birth of the boy, who came to be known as Apo Gaga, for his happy demeanour and disposition. In his book, he interviews the Karmapa’s younger sister who explains how the 17th Karmapa’s father revered the 16th Karmapa very much, saying that a photo of the 16th Karmapa was on their shrine and that when the 16th Karmapa passed away in 1981, their father became very sad and said it was a sign of a dark age time as the Karmapa had passed away.
The family longed for a son after their first one, followed by three daughters and consulted a yogis for help. The first advice from a yogi did not work, and they again had a daughter. The second yogi, Thogden Amdo Palden Rinpoche who was the abbott of Karlek monastery, a day’s ride from Bakor, he told them they would have a son as long as they agreed to give him to Amdo Palden as a monk, shortly after his mother became pregnant again.
Loga his mother explained how she had auspicious dreams during her pregnancy including a dream of three white cranes, who offered her a bowl of yoghurt. White cranes are seen as auspicious symbols.
Also, many people reported that on the third day after his birth a conch shell sounded for an hour in the area, which was as predicted in the 16th Karmapa’s handwritten letter.
The humble beginnings and beautiful, simple family of the 17th Karmapa show testament to how the tulku reincarnate system can work at its best. The fact that 16th Karmapa left a handwritten letter predicting he would be born not only in that area of Tibet, but also to those parents with those names, is a testament to the clear intention of the 16th Karmapa too.
May the 17th Karmapa’s father return swiftly to good health and may he be able to meet with his son again in this lifetime!
