"The First Drupon Dechen Rinpoche created a renaissance at Tsurphu [after the Chinese Cultural Revolution in Tibet], like the great Lama Gongpa Rabsel, who revived Buddhism from downfall in Tibet following its persecution by King Lang Dharma in the 8th century." For New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, I was fortunate to be able… Continue reading NEW YEAR BLISS-BLESSINGS AT 2ND KAGYU MONLAM THAILAND: Mountainous beauty of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand and Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu chanting and aspirations for New Year at Wat Ram Poeng; new translation of Praises to 17th Karmapa by Drupon Dechen Rinpoche and the magical beauty of L’Amour Cafe!
Tag: 16th Karmapa
WITHOUT A QUALIFIED GURU THERE ARE NO REALISATIONS: 16th Karmapa Guru Yoga Retreat: Oral Transmission by Dilyak Rinpoche based on commentary by HE 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche (Day One)
“Lama (in Tibetan) means ‘nothing above’ that.” --Dilyak Rinpoche “Before the guru, there was not even the word Buddha” –Nāropa “There are all kinds of completion stage practices, but all you need is complete trust. There are all kinds of mantra recitation practices but all you need is heartfelt supplication.” --Gotsangpa Introduction In the run-up… Continue reading WITHOUT A QUALIFIED GURU THERE ARE NO REALISATIONS: 16th Karmapa Guru Yoga Retreat: Oral Transmission by Dilyak Rinpoche based on commentary by HE 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche (Day One)
INSEPARABLE GURU HEART-MIND: THE 17TH GYALWANG KARMAPA ON THE 16TH KARMAPA. (Transcript of online teaching given at 16th Karmapa Guru Yoga event 2.10.24))
I am delighted to share with you a new transcript of an important, profound and blessed online teaching the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa gave yesterday, during a 3-day 16th Karmapa Guru Yoga teaching event (1st - 3rd November 2024) for the upcoming 43rd Anniversary of the parinirvana of the 16th Karmapa, Rigpe Dorje (5th November 2024).… Continue reading INSEPARABLE GURU HEART-MIND: THE 17TH GYALWANG KARMAPA ON THE 16TH KARMAPA. (Transcript of online teaching given at 16th Karmapa Guru Yoga event 2.10.24))
Noble Tārā and the 16th Karmapa: Tārā Day and Commemoration of 16th Karmapa’s parinirvana
"Like a bee's heart at the peak of a smiling garland of lotuses,May permanent and impermanent beings,Be completely satisfied, and power and joy increase!"---16th Karmapa, Rigpe Dorje Today, for Noble Tārā day, and the commemoration of the 16th Karmapa's parinirvana (the 8th day of the 9th Tibetan month, which some celebrate on November 5th annually… Continue reading Noble Tārā and the 16th Karmapa: Tārā Day and Commemoration of 16th Karmapa’s parinirvana
VAJRA CROWN JEWELS OF THE KARMA KAGYU: The black and red crowns of the Gyalwang Karmapa and the Karma Kagyu
"To the powerful yogi, Dusum Khyenpa.Hundreds of millions wisdom ḍākinīs of supreme activity,Created a splendid, deep blue crown, whichWhen offered and placed on his headWas called the ‘Powerful Yogi’’s ‘black crown’." --8th Karmapa “Each of the Gyalwang Karmapas has heart sons who are actually his emanations. As they are inseparable from him, the Gyalwang Karmapas… Continue reading VAJRA CROWN JEWELS OF THE KARMA KAGYU: The black and red crowns of the Gyalwang Karmapa and the Karma Kagyu
A LA LA LA LA LA HO! BLISSFUL TASTE OF THE YOGINI’S LOTUS: New translation of the Yogini’s Lotus Offering song and brief overview of the ‘Ocean of Kagyu Songs’ (Kagyu Gurtso)
"Abandoning bliss will not liberateBlissless struggle does not liberateThat bliss abides in the lotus [lit. centre of birth].Do not change the desirous objects, youLiberate them with great bliss.With the taste of the ecstatic lotusBe satiated like a bee." ---words from the Blissful Taste of the Yogini's Lotus "The Kagyu tradition is said to be the… Continue reading A LA LA LA LA LA HO! BLISSFUL TASTE OF THE YOGINI’S LOTUS: New translation of the Yogini’s Lotus Offering song and brief overview of the ‘Ocean of Kagyu Songs’ (Kagyu Gurtso)
‘INCINERATING ANGER’: ŚRĪ MAHĀKĀLA AND THE GYALWANG KARMAPAS: A brief history, lineage, and short catalogue of texts by the Karmapas, activities of the 17th Karmapa and 17th Karmapa’s speech to Rumtek monastery community
"Just as the Buddha predicted, a son with very dark skin and terrifying appearance was born to Shiva and Umadevi. He possessed great power and was given the name Mahākāla, the Great Black One." “Karma Pakshi said that the Black Hat Lama (the Karmapa) and the Black-Cloaked Protector are inseparable. As a guru, he is… Continue reading ‘INCINERATING ANGER’: ŚRĪ MAHĀKĀLA AND THE GYALWANG KARMAPAS: A brief history, lineage, and short catalogue of texts by the Karmapas, activities of the 17th Karmapa and 17th Karmapa’s speech to Rumtek monastery community
ENTERING THE 16TH KARMAPA’S MANDALA: AS TOLD BY HIS TRANSLATOR, ACHI TSEPEL: The 16th Karmapa’s magnetic qualities, Hugh Richardson’s weeping, meeting foreign leaders, gifts of Bumthang valley land and diplomatic passport by the Bhutanese and severe sickness before Rumtek monastery founding ceremony. (41st Parinirvana Anniversary of 16th Karmapa)
“When I first met him, HH reached out to me when I went to get the blessings, he touched me and when he made eye contact, I felt like I just melted and there was like a very sublime experience of light. Just something very wonderful where I felt an intense kind of a sense… Continue reading ENTERING THE 16TH KARMAPA’S MANDALA: AS TOLD BY HIS TRANSLATOR, ACHI TSEPEL: The 16th Karmapa’s magnetic qualities, Hugh Richardson’s weeping, meeting foreign leaders, gifts of Bumthang valley land and diplomatic passport by the Bhutanese and severe sickness before Rumtek monastery founding ceremony. (41st Parinirvana Anniversary of 16th Karmapa)
LADAKH TRILOGY (PART I): THE KARMAPAS IN LADAKH. Previous visits and the Karma Drubgyu Monastery
For Dakini Day today, am offering a new research piece and photographs of the Karma Kagyu monastery in Ladakh, called Karma Drubgyu Choling, on the outskirts of Leh. Not to be mistaken for the Karma Drubgyu Tharling (Tilokpur) nunnery, located in Himachal Pradesh, India, as I have written about here. I am currently on… Continue reading LADAKH TRILOGY (PART I): THE KARMAPAS IN LADAKH. Previous visits and the Karma Drubgyu Monastery
WHERE ARE THE GELONGMAS? DISCOVERING HIDDEN TREASURES: THE RARE GEMS OF LIVING TIBETAN BUDDHIST FULLY ORDAINED NUNS. A Pilgrimage and Field Study of Two Nunneries in Himachal Pradesh and fully ordained nuns within the Tibetan tradition.
"There are already nuns within the Tibetan tradition who have received the full Bhikṣuṇī vow according to the Dharmagupta lineage and whom we recognize as fully ordained. One thing we could do is to translate the three primary monastic activities (Poṣadha, Varṣa, Prāvaraṇā) from the Dharmagupta lineage into Tibetan and encourage the Tibetan Bhikṣuṇīs to… Continue reading WHERE ARE THE GELONGMAS? DISCOVERING HIDDEN TREASURES: THE RARE GEMS OF LIVING TIBETAN BUDDHIST FULLY ORDAINED NUNS. A Pilgrimage and Field Study of Two Nunneries in Himachal Pradesh and fully ordained nuns within the Tibetan tradition.