“Snakes are flexible and resilient, implying that when we face the uncertainties of life, we must respond with skill and flexibility. Snakes can shed their skin and be reborn, reminding us that we should always practice meditation to transform our habits and grow and transform.” –17th Karmapa’s Chinese New Year message (2025)
Today is the first day of the New Lunar Year of the Wood-Snake in China, and other Asian countries (the Tibetan Losar New Year is on 28th February 2025). Yesterday evening (Asia time), the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje posted a Chinese New Year message on social media. The message speaks of the positive qualities of snakes and their use in both Chinese, Buddhist and Tibetan classic literature as metaphors for flexibility, power, transformation and growth. As well as the famous story of a snake/naga providing a canopy to Buddha for protection.
A striking photo portrait shows a pensive, slightly serious, yet relaxed 17th Karmapa, with a background of lakes and mountains. It is not stated where or when this photo was taken, or by whom.
The 17th Karmapa used the term Yi Si (乙巳) which means forty-second term of the Chinese sexagenary cycle (sometimes called the “Wood Snake”). The oldest Chinese system for recording and organizing time uses repeated periods of 60 days. Ancient records show that the sexagenary cycle was used to count years in the 3rd century B.C.
As an offering to the 17th Karmapa and his followers (as well as the new e-book compilation, and video clip of last year’s Kagyu Guncho teaching on Yangonpa’s Seven Pointing Outs) I have translated the 17th Karmapa’s Chinese message into English (see below).
Music? Track from the stunning early musical compositions of 17th Karmapa (2007), and Free by Stevie Wonder.
Chinese New Year Message 2025 from 17th Karmapa (29th January 2025)
English Translation
“Wishing all an Auspicious New Year in the year of Yi Si (乙巳)!
Throughout the long history of China, there are many stories about “snakes” that symbolize the various meanings of “snakes”. Also, in Buddhism, there are many classics that use “snakes” as metaphors.
Snakes are flexible and bendy, implying that when we face the impermanence of life, we should deal with it skillfully and flexibly. Snakes can shed their skin and be reborn, reminding us that we should always practice meditation to transform our habits and grow and transform.
In Buddhist stories, the snake also transformed into a canopy/umbrella to protect the meditating Buddha from heavy rain. We should also protect our own minds/hearts in this way, practice meditation unceasingly, regardless of storms.
Finally, we also need to learn from snakes who can bend and stretch, and know when to relax and work hard. No matter where we are in our lives, we can always bravely move forward in spite of difficulties, and welcome the beauty and light of a wise life! I wish you all a happy new year! Snakes are free!”
Chinese Original
