A few days ago, at the end of Day 7 of his teachings,, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa spoke for the first time (publicly) about his father, Karma Dondrub’s recent passing in Tibet and arrangements for his cremation there on the 19th August.
First, the 17th Karmapa spoke about the plan for the forthcoming commemoration of Kagyu forefather, Dagpo Gampopa (1079-1153) on that same day, 19th August. The Karmapa also mentioned that same day is the parinirvana ritual for dissolving the ‘kudung’ of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche’s body.
In his announcement, the 17th Karmapa (with his usual grace and humility) did not give any special mention of his father (which is in accordance with Buddha’s teachings on treating all beings with equanimity), or make a ‘big deal/song and dance’ about it (as some other Tibetan tulkus have been seen to do). In fact, it seemed as if other people had decided when and where to hold it.
Nonetheless, from a worldly perspective, it is a sad situation that the 17th Karmapa was unable to meet and support his father during his time of sickness and after passing away, due to ongoing restrictions on his travel internationally. After all, other less senior or realised Tibetan Buddhist Rinpoches and monastic teachers are freely visiting Tibet and Tibetan areas without any problem. Such is samsara.
In any case, here is a short video I made (Tibetan and English subtitles) of the announcement (transcript below):
“On the 19th of August, according to the Phug-lug [1] Tibetan calendar, the general Tibetan calendar for practice. In the Phug-lug calendar tradition we use, there are two sixth Tibetan months. This is the later sixth Tibetan month. So, yesterday discussed whether to hold the commemoration of the parinirvana of Dagpo Gampopa in the earlier or later sixth Tibetan month. It was decided that if we held it in the later sixth month, we could all commemorate it together. So on the 15th full moon day of that later sixth month, which is the 19th of August, we will hold the commemoration of the parinirvana of Je Gampopa. That day (19th August) is also when they will perform the dissolution of the ‘kudung’ (body) of the precious Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche.
Also my father, Karma Dondrub passed away. So, the 19th August is the day of his cremation. They have checked all the calendars and decided to do it on that day. The place of the cremation will be my homeland, Tibet. It was decided to hold it there. So, there are many things happening and coming together on that same day. Mainly, we will do the Je Gampopa commemoration. As for other things to do, I will think about that. So please keep that in mind.”
Endnotes
[1] The Phug-lug calendar tradition, the 17th Karmapa refers to here, is different from the Tsur-lug calendar that was developed in 1284 by the lineage of the Gyalwang Karmapas. The Tsurluk calendar is based on the 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje’s astrological treatise called The Compendium of Astrology (Tib. rtsis kun bsdus pa), a treatise from which many later treatises authored by the subsequent Karmapas and by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great evolved. The Tsurluk calendar is still overseen by Tsipa Gelek Dhargay, at the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje’s seat in Rumtek, Sikkim, India.
In 1447, a Tibetan astrologer Phugpa Lhündrub Gyatso composed an astrological treatise called The Oral Teachings of Pundarika (Tib. pad dkar zhal lung). His work founded the Phugpa calendar which is the main calendar of Tibet. It was modified many times during the subsequent centuries, and it remains a luni-solar calendar.