World Oneness Center
H.H. The 17th Karmapa
H.H. The 17th Karmapa
Schedule of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Since from 21st of January His Holiness has resumed his normal schedule in Dharamsala. When in residence at his temporary camp at the Gyuto
Tantric University in the Dharamsala area, His Holiness's schedule is typically very tight since he is devoting almost all of his time to studies, which
include the process of transmission and empowerment from his teachers, as well as Buddhist philosophy and meditation practice.
However, His Holiness has earmarked a portion of his time for public audiences and has a limited amount of time for private audiences. When his
travel and study schedule permits, His Holiness holds public audiences in Sidbhari at Gyuto Tantric College, for which prior appointments are not
necessary. The public audiences usually include a brief teaching granted during the audience time.
The typical schedule for his public audiences are between 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm Wednesday and Saturday. His Holiness currently holds regular
public audiences on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
His Holiness will be departed In May for a trip abroad. The website devoted to His Holiness trip abroad is www.KarmapaVisit.org.
The audiences take place at the Kagyu camp at the Gyuto Tantric University of Dharamsala.
Lama Phuntsok, Private Secretary
Cell phone: 91-9816474363
Thubten Sherab, Secretary (audience)
Cell phone: 91-9418294401
audience2karmapa@gmail.com
cro2karmapa@yahoo.com
For more information on interviews,
Click here for information on visiting His Holiness
Since from 21st of January His Holiness has resumed his normal schedule in Dharamsala. When in residence at his temporary camp at the Gyuto
Tantric University in the Dharamsala area, His Holiness's schedule is typically very tight since he is devoting almost all of his time to studies, which
include the process of transmission and empowerment from his teachers, as well as Buddhist philosophy and meditation practice.
However, His Holiness has earmarked a portion of his time for public audiences and has a limited amount of time for private audiences. When his
travel and study schedule permits, His Holiness holds public audiences in Sidbhari at Gyuto Tantric College, for which prior appointments are not
necessary. The public audiences usually include a brief teaching granted during the audience time.
The typical schedule for his public audiences are between 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm Wednesday and Saturday. His Holiness currently holds regular
public audiences on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
His Holiness will be departed In May for a trip abroad. The website devoted to His Holiness trip abroad is www.KarmapaVisit.org.
The audiences take place at the Kagyu camp at the Gyuto Tantric University of Dharamsala.
Lama Phuntsok, Private Secretary
Cell phone: 91-9816474363
Thubten Sherab, Secretary (audience)
Cell phone: 91-9418294401
audience2karmapa@gmail.com
cro2karmapa@yahoo.com
For more information on interviews,
Click here for information on visiting His Holiness
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
The Kagyu Office website presents extensive information on His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa. Their Website provides links to sections on
His current activitie, as well as his personal history, from his recognition through his life in Tibet, his long journey from Tibet to India, to the current day.
Below is an overview of the His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.
The Karmapas
Karmapa means "the one who carries out buddha-activity" or "the embodiment of all the activities of the buddhas." In the Tibetan tradition, great
enlightened teachers are said to be able to consciously arrange to be reborn as a teacher who can carry on the teachings of a predecessor in a prior
life. Pursuant to this tradition, the Karmapas have incarnated in this form of manifestation body (Skt. nirmanakaya), for seventeen lifetimes, as of the
present, and all have played the most important role in preserving and propagating the Buddhist teachings of Tibet.
Prior to the birth of the first Karmapa, the arrival of a Buddhist master who would be known as the Karmapa had been prophesied by the historic
Buddha Shakyamuni and the great tantric master of India, Guru Padmasambhava. Throughout the centuries, Karmapas have been the central figure in
the continuation of the vajrayana lineage in general and Kagyu lineage in particular, and have played a very important role in the preservation of the
study and practice lineages of Buddhism. (For more on the Karmapas prior to the Seventeenth, see the section at this website on the Seventeen
Karmapas.)
Birth and Early Years of the 17th Karmapa
In 1985 a male infant was born into a nomad family in the Lhatok region of Eastern Tibet. In the months prior to his birth, his mother had wonderful
dreams during her pregnancy. On the day of his birth, a cuckoo landed on the tent in which he was born, and a mysterious conch-like sound was
heard by many throughout the valley in which the family of the infant lived.
In Tibet, such events are considered auspicious portents of the birth of an enlightened teacher.
The young nomad was called Apo Gaga. While his early years seemed, to his family, full of blessing, Apo Gaga did not talk of any connection to the
Karmapas. However, in 1992, he asked his family to move the location of their nomadic home to another valley, and told them to expect a visit from
traveling monks. Soon after setting up their home in the new location, followers of the Sixteenth Karmapa came to that valley pursuant to the secret
instructions of the Sixteenth Karmapa, contained in his letter of prediction. The birth and the other details of Apo Gaga's life matched the predictions of
the letter. Apo Gaga was discovered to be the Seventeenth Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje.
In addition to his letter of prediction, the Sixteenth Karmapa wrote many poems, or songs, predicting that though he would leave his traditional main
seat in Tsurphu, Tibet, he would soon return to Tsurphu again, that his root teacher would be HE Situ Rinpoche, and that he would study in India. After
the death of the 16th Karmapa, it became clear that these predictions applied to his successor. Furthermore, the 19th Century master Chogyur Lingpa
made a number of predictions about the lives of the Karmapas, and for the 17th, Chogyur Lingpa's predictions matched the details of His Holiness's
birth. Since these predictions were to be fulfilled in themselves without recognition by any other master, it is traditionally said that the Karmapa is
"self-recognized." (These points are discussed in detail in the section on the Background of the Karmapa.)
The Karmapa's Return To Tsurphu In Tibet, The Historic Seat Of The Karmapas
In His Holiness's historic return to Tsurphu Monastery, Tibet in June 1992, he donned ritual clothing and approached on horseback
The Seventeenth Karmapa did in fact return to Tolung Tsurphu Monastery in Central Tibet in 1992, where he was enthroned on September 27, 1992,
with the permission of the Chinese government.
At Tsurphu, over 20,000 supplicants assembled to witness the return of His Holiness Karmapa. The following morning, some 25,000 people filed
before His Holiness to receive a personal blessing.
At Tsurphu, the Karmapa studied the Buddhist sciences of mind, learned ritual, and practiced sacred arts, such as dance. Each day he received
hundreds of visitors from throughout Tibet and around the world. He eventually began to offer empowerments and participated in various rituals at the
monastery. At the age of about 10, His Holiness recognized the rebirth of reincarnate teachers, including such eminent teachers as Pawo Rinpoche,
Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and the Dabzang Rinpoche.
While His Holiness was at Tsurphu, the monastery underwent extensive rebuilding to restore the temples, shrines, stupas, a shedra, and residences
that had severely decayed and been neglected over the years, fulfilling one of the main duties of a Karmapa. As the years went by, however, His
Holiness sought to receive the empowerments and transmissions of the lineage, but was unable to do so fully because many of the Kagyu lineage
teachers remained in India. To fulfill his spiritual duty, he and a handful of attendants left Tibet for India. (Details of this time period are covered in the
section of this website about the Karmapa in Tibet.)
Karmapa's Journey to India
His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa meets His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the first time upon his arrival in Dharamsala on January 5, 2000
After months of careful planning, on December 28, the fourteen-year-old Karmapa pretended to enter into a solitary retreat, instead donned civilian
garb, and slipped out a window. Leaving Tsurphu Monastery with a handful of attendants, he began a daring journey by car, foot, horseback, helicopter,
train and taxi, a heroic journey which was to become the stuff of headlines throughout the world. On January 5, 2000 he arrived, to the great surprise
and overwhelming joy of the world, in Dharamsala, India, where he was met by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. He received refugee status
from the government of India in 2001. Details of his remarkable journey from Tibet to India are here.
From 2000 through 2007, His Holiness continued to live near Dharamsala. He has been permitted by Indian governmental authorities to engage in
tours to Buddhist sites in India, and annually traveled to Bodhgaya and Sarnath for important Kagyu ceremonies over which he presides. He has also
travelled to Ladakh, Tibetan settlements in southern India, Calcutta and elsewhere in Himachal area. His Holiness still awaits permission from the
Indian authorities to leave Dharamsala and return to Rumtek Monastery, the traditional seat of the Karmapas in India. In 2008, His Holiness received
permission to travel to the United States to teach the dharma for his first time in the West. Information about His Holiness historic first visit to the West
is at www.KarmapaVisit.org
The Kagyu Office website presents extensive information on His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa. Their Website provides links to sections on
His current activitie, as well as his personal history, from his recognition through his life in Tibet, his long journey from Tibet to India, to the current day.
Below is an overview of the His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.
The Karmapas
Karmapa means "the one who carries out buddha-activity" or "the embodiment of all the activities of the buddhas." In the Tibetan tradition, great
enlightened teachers are said to be able to consciously arrange to be reborn as a teacher who can carry on the teachings of a predecessor in a prior
life. Pursuant to this tradition, the Karmapas have incarnated in this form of manifestation body (Skt. nirmanakaya), for seventeen lifetimes, as of the
present, and all have played the most important role in preserving and propagating the Buddhist teachings of Tibet.
Prior to the birth of the first Karmapa, the arrival of a Buddhist master who would be known as the Karmapa had been prophesied by the historic
Buddha Shakyamuni and the great tantric master of India, Guru Padmasambhava. Throughout the centuries, Karmapas have been the central figure in
the continuation of the vajrayana lineage in general and Kagyu lineage in particular, and have played a very important role in the preservation of the
study and practice lineages of Buddhism. (For more on the Karmapas prior to the Seventeenth, see the section at this website on the Seventeen
Karmapas.)
Birth and Early Years of the 17th Karmapa
In 1985 a male infant was born into a nomad family in the Lhatok region of Eastern Tibet. In the months prior to his birth, his mother had wonderful
dreams during her pregnancy. On the day of his birth, a cuckoo landed on the tent in which he was born, and a mysterious conch-like sound was
heard by many throughout the valley in which the family of the infant lived.
In Tibet, such events are considered auspicious portents of the birth of an enlightened teacher.
The young nomad was called Apo Gaga. While his early years seemed, to his family, full of blessing, Apo Gaga did not talk of any connection to the
Karmapas. However, in 1992, he asked his family to move the location of their nomadic home to another valley, and told them to expect a visit from
traveling monks. Soon after setting up their home in the new location, followers of the Sixteenth Karmapa came to that valley pursuant to the secret
instructions of the Sixteenth Karmapa, contained in his letter of prediction. The birth and the other details of Apo Gaga's life matched the predictions of
the letter. Apo Gaga was discovered to be the Seventeenth Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje.
In addition to his letter of prediction, the Sixteenth Karmapa wrote many poems, or songs, predicting that though he would leave his traditional main
seat in Tsurphu, Tibet, he would soon return to Tsurphu again, that his root teacher would be HE Situ Rinpoche, and that he would study in India. After
the death of the 16th Karmapa, it became clear that these predictions applied to his successor. Furthermore, the 19th Century master Chogyur Lingpa
made a number of predictions about the lives of the Karmapas, and for the 17th, Chogyur Lingpa's predictions matched the details of His Holiness's
birth. Since these predictions were to be fulfilled in themselves without recognition by any other master, it is traditionally said that the Karmapa is
"self-recognized." (These points are discussed in detail in the section on the Background of the Karmapa.)
The Karmapa's Return To Tsurphu In Tibet, The Historic Seat Of The Karmapas
In His Holiness's historic return to Tsurphu Monastery, Tibet in June 1992, he donned ritual clothing and approached on horseback
The Seventeenth Karmapa did in fact return to Tolung Tsurphu Monastery in Central Tibet in 1992, where he was enthroned on September 27, 1992,
with the permission of the Chinese government.
At Tsurphu, over 20,000 supplicants assembled to witness the return of His Holiness Karmapa. The following morning, some 25,000 people filed
before His Holiness to receive a personal blessing.
At Tsurphu, the Karmapa studied the Buddhist sciences of mind, learned ritual, and practiced sacred arts, such as dance. Each day he received
hundreds of visitors from throughout Tibet and around the world. He eventually began to offer empowerments and participated in various rituals at the
monastery. At the age of about 10, His Holiness recognized the rebirth of reincarnate teachers, including such eminent teachers as Pawo Rinpoche,
Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and the Dabzang Rinpoche.
While His Holiness was at Tsurphu, the monastery underwent extensive rebuilding to restore the temples, shrines, stupas, a shedra, and residences
that had severely decayed and been neglected over the years, fulfilling one of the main duties of a Karmapa. As the years went by, however, His
Holiness sought to receive the empowerments and transmissions of the lineage, but was unable to do so fully because many of the Kagyu lineage
teachers remained in India. To fulfill his spiritual duty, he and a handful of attendants left Tibet for India. (Details of this time period are covered in the
section of this website about the Karmapa in Tibet.)
Karmapa's Journey to India
His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa meets His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the first time upon his arrival in Dharamsala on January 5, 2000
After months of careful planning, on December 28, the fourteen-year-old Karmapa pretended to enter into a solitary retreat, instead donned civilian
garb, and slipped out a window. Leaving Tsurphu Monastery with a handful of attendants, he began a daring journey by car, foot, horseback, helicopter,
train and taxi, a heroic journey which was to become the stuff of headlines throughout the world. On January 5, 2000 he arrived, to the great surprise
and overwhelming joy of the world, in Dharamsala, India, where he was met by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. He received refugee status
from the government of India in 2001. Details of his remarkable journey from Tibet to India are here.
From 2000 through 2007, His Holiness continued to live near Dharamsala. He has been permitted by Indian governmental authorities to engage in
tours to Buddhist sites in India, and annually traveled to Bodhgaya and Sarnath for important Kagyu ceremonies over which he presides. He has also
travelled to Ladakh, Tibetan settlements in southern India, Calcutta and elsewhere in Himachal area. His Holiness still awaits permission from the
Indian authorities to leave Dharamsala and return to Rumtek Monastery, the traditional seat of the Karmapas in India. In 2008, His Holiness received
permission to travel to the United States to teach the dharma for his first time in the West. Information about His Holiness historic first visit to the West
is at www.KarmapaVisit.org
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| Join us January 4 ~ 11, 2009 for the 26th Monlam in Bodhgaya India. There will also be added teachings with HH The 17th Karmapa before and after the Monlam. We will be hosting travelers from December 29th to January 15th, and including Food and Lodging and travel to and from Delhi. For more information; Please Contact Arthur Collins at Oneness2012@hotmail. com Estimated Cost for Food, Lodging and Transportation is $1500 for three weeks. (this includes all fees for the Monlam) (Note: most meals included a few are not while traveling) |