"Only with the supramundane empowerments from the Kālacakra will one attain the ultimate goal: the “pervasive Vajrasattva”. In this system there is the third empowerment—which brings forth the ultimate wisdom of the Great Seal [Mahāmudrā], and the fourth empowerment—is not mixed with the worldly siddhis." --8th Karmapa "Auspicious – that which has abandoned all habitual… Continue reading Kālacakra Tantra Commemoration Day Offering: 8th Karmapa on Kālacakra as the “ultimate vehicle”, the fourth empowerment, and Mahāmudrā and “Auspicious Buddha Essence” by Kunkhyen Dolpopa
Tag: 8th karmapa
8th Karmapa’s Innate Cakrasaṃvara practice
“The great master of yoga, Je Milarepa, said: “When asked who is my Yidam? “My Yidam is Chakrasamvara.”” "The crown, throat, heart, and navel, Transforms into vajra body, speech, mind, and primordial awareness, From the root guru, male-female (yab-yum), inseparable in meditative union, luminosity radiates, and again, Heruka male-female consort, dissolves into one's four places,… Continue reading 8th Karmapa’s Innate Cakrasaṃvara practice
STUDENT SHOULD HAVE STABLE AND HUMBLE ATTITUDE LIKE A CHILD, VAJRA, MOUNTAIN, SERVANT AND DOG: Ways of Respecting a Guru with respect, gifts, service and practice, and the Nine Attitudes of Serving a Guru (17th Karmapa, Fifty Verses on the Guru, Day 5, 2025)
“With respect, gifts, service, and practice. One should serve the spiritual friend.” –Ornament of the Mahayana Sutras “However, if you have a guru who does not have the requisite qualifications, then it is quite possible that they will be more pleased the more you offer them materially. But if you have a guru who has… Continue reading STUDENT SHOULD HAVE STABLE AND HUMBLE ATTITUDE LIKE A CHILD, VAJRA, MOUNTAIN, SERVANT AND DOG: Ways of Respecting a Guru with respect, gifts, service and practice, and the Nine Attitudes of Serving a Guru (17th Karmapa, Fifty Verses on the Guru, Day 5, 2025)
THE NAXI MU KINGS OF JANG, TIBETAN BUDDHISM AND THE KARMAPAS: Lijiang, the Naxi Mu Kings and the Karmapas, Mu’s Mansion, a 500 year old tree, the original Lijiang Kangyur and Black Dragon Lake park (Shangri-La pilgrimage, Part 2)
"While the kings of Jang had close contact with the Kagyu order since at least the early fifteenth century, the development of significant relations are traditionally marked by both Tibetan and Chinese sources with the visit of the first hierarch who personally interacted with Lijiang, the Eighth Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje who visited in 1516, when… Continue reading THE NAXI MU KINGS OF JANG, TIBETAN BUDDHISM AND THE KARMAPAS: Lijiang, the Naxi Mu Kings and the Karmapas, Mu’s Mansion, a 500 year old tree, the original Lijiang Kangyur and Black Dragon Lake park (Shangri-La pilgrimage, Part 2)
CREATING AMAZING SANDCASTLES WITH THE DIVINE EAR AND EYE: The vast activities and clairvoyances of the 8th Karmapa and the 7th autobiographical verse of ‘He Searched Thoroughly’ on wisdom and the definitive meaning (17th Karmapa, Spring 2023 teaching, Day 13, part 1)
"Usually, most people would say Mikyo Dorje was playing games like a child. All his attendants said he did things like a child, he did not seem like an adult, like a child playing a game. He would be doing things that looked like playing around but people would not actually see what he was… Continue reading CREATING AMAZING SANDCASTLES WITH THE DIVINE EAR AND EYE: The vast activities and clairvoyances of the 8th Karmapa and the 7th autobiographical verse of ‘He Searched Thoroughly’ on wisdom and the definitive meaning (17th Karmapa, Spring 2023 teaching, Day 13, part 1)
‘HIDDEN’ TIBETAN HEROES: PURE VISIONS OF MIKYO DORJE AND THE HISTORY AND HEROIC SAVIOUR OF THE “SILVER SPACE STATUE” OF TSURPHU: 8th Karmapa’s conduct around his many bad followers, the origin of the silver statue of Sangye Nyenpa, miraculous pure visions during its consecration and the ‘hidden hero’ who saved it from destruction (17th Karmapa, Spring 2023 teachings, Day 11, part I)
"So as soon as the 8th Karmapa dreamt that and woke up, he remembered the melody of the woman's flute and he remembered Sangye Nyenpa in particular, and had an unbearable feeling of devotion to him. So he immediately began practising guru yoga. While 8th Karmapa was practising guru yoga, he had a pure vision.… Continue reading ‘HIDDEN’ TIBETAN HEROES: PURE VISIONS OF MIKYO DORJE AND THE HISTORY AND HEROIC SAVIOUR OF THE “SILVER SPACE STATUE” OF TSURPHU: 8th Karmapa’s conduct around his many bad followers, the origin of the silver statue of Sangye Nyenpa, miraculous pure visions during its consecration and the ‘hidden hero’ who saved it from destruction (17th Karmapa, Spring 2023 teachings, Day 11, part I)
THE GREAT ARMOUR OF THE SOLITUDE OF BODHICITTA: 8th Karmapa’s interest and reasons why big monasteries can become like ‘fortresses’ of conflict and sectarianism, and his interest and joy at practising in isolated, difficult retreat places, and the meaning of real ‘solitude’ from the’ Bodhisattva perspective (17th Karmapa Spring 2023 teachings, Day Nine)
"If you don't have any self-interest, but you also have the bodhicitta/mind of awakening of the Mahayana and you are wearing the armour of that, then whether one is staying in towns or crowds or wherever, that is the greatest solitude of the bodhisattva. The great bodhisattvas don't need to go to retreat/remote places, solitude… Continue reading THE GREAT ARMOUR OF THE SOLITUDE OF BODHICITTA: 8th Karmapa’s interest and reasons why big monasteries can become like ‘fortresses’ of conflict and sectarianism, and his interest and joy at practising in isolated, difficult retreat places, and the meaning of real ‘solitude’ from the’ Bodhisattva perspective (17th Karmapa Spring 2023 teachings, Day Nine)
THE YELLOW-HAT KAGYUPAS: LOST, STOLEN AND DESTROYED KARMA KAGYU TRADITIONS AND MONASTERIES IN TIBET. 8th Karmapa on inclusivity in Dharma communities, the yellow-hat Kagyu tradition of the Karmapas, signs of being in the last 500-year period of ‘merely wearing the robes’, worldly warring ‘monks’, and the many shedras and retreat places established by the 8th Karmapa (17th Karmapa Spring teaching 2023, Day 7)
"During the meeting, we spoke about what sort of hats we should wear during the Kagyu Monlam, I said we should wear the yellow-crested hats and that it would be good to do so. During the time of the 7th, 8th and 9th Karmapas, there was a tradition of wearing such yellow-crested hats. Likewise, the… Continue reading THE YELLOW-HAT KAGYUPAS: LOST, STOLEN AND DESTROYED KARMA KAGYU TRADITIONS AND MONASTERIES IN TIBET. 8th Karmapa on inclusivity in Dharma communities, the yellow-hat Kagyu tradition of the Karmapas, signs of being in the last 500-year period of ‘merely wearing the robes’, worldly warring ‘monks’, and the many shedras and retreat places established by the 8th Karmapa (17th Karmapa Spring teaching 2023, Day 7)
THE ASTONISHING LIFE AND WORKS OF THE 8TH KARMAPA, MIKYO DORJE: An overview and compilation of research and translations aand 17th Karmapa’s teachings
"The vajra mind of the chief, Bhagavan Akshobya,changed into a midnight blue crownSaid to be a manifestation of the aspect ‘Lion’s Roar’In all realms of samsara and nirvana,Greatly renowned, with activity equal to space.To the powerful yogi, Dusum Khyenpa.Hundreds of millions wisdom ḍākinīs of supreme activity,Created a splendid, deep blue crown, whichWhen offered and placed… Continue reading THE ASTONISHING LIFE AND WORKS OF THE 8TH KARMAPA, MIKYO DORJE: An overview and compilation of research and translations aand 17th Karmapa’s teachings
‘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