Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares a message of appreciation.

'Dearest dharma friends

I am speaking to you as one of many spiritual friends, standing shoulder to shoulder with you in these times, and in all times.

Since the passing in this life of His Holiness Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche on the 11th of June, I have been overwhelmed by your devotion. In my life, I have never seen such devotion. I wish you to know that your efforts are completely meritorious. 

Part of the practice of compassion is to place yourself in the position of others. When I put myself in your situation, I can see how difficult this period must have been for you. Not only the sacrifices many of you have made - in terms of time, energy, leaving work, and perhaps more importantly, your families - but mourning the loss of our great teacher Shamar Rinpoche. 

For those of you who wished to be present with the kudung of Shamar Rinpoche, but have been unable to do so, I have only my appreciation and prayers to offer you.

I see a great unity. This unity I speak of is not worldly or political in nature, but a unity of our hearts. Our hearts are deeply connected, and your devotion has helped reveal this connection. 

Therefore, I wish to thank you from the depth of my heart and request that you continue with your prayers, and know that I will be praying with you in these times, and in all times. 

Thank you.'

Karmapa International Buddhist Institute, New Delhi, 30 July 2014

Karmapa: a message of appreciation

Karmapa’s Official Address on Vesak 2015

“Dear friends,
To all those affected by the earthquake that struck Nepal and neighbouring countries, I offer my deepest condolences and most heartfelt prayers on this day of Vesak, the day that marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of Buddha. I cannot even imagine just how hard it must be for all of you, losing your loved ones and seeing others lose theirs.
May the timeless teachings of Lord Buddha help you to soothe and calm the emotions that you are experiencing. May the teachings of Lord Buddha help you to overcome these emotions and find the courage to understand the nature of impermanence. As Buddha said: “All compounded phenomena are impermanent,” and that is the heart of Buddha’s teachings. As long as we live in this cyclic existence, birth, death – and all change – are a part of life.
May the teachings of Lord Buddha help you to understand that although you have lost your loved ones, their love, their compassion and their wisdom will never fade, for they are timeless and beginningless.
For me, it is heart-warming to see the courage that you have shown in the face of such tragedy, in the midst of such crisis.
And for those of you who have dedicated your time, energy and other resources to support those directly affected by the earthquake, know that this kind of courage has great benefit. Those who feel deeply lost will discover hope and humanity in your loving kindness.
In my present lifetime, I have lost precious ones as well. It is in these moments that others’ kindness, courage and spirituality, as well as my own courage, have helped me to understand and overcome my own emotions. Without the kindness of others, we would surely be lost.
Let us use this special day of Vesak – a day that is so precious to you in Nepal, where our Lord Buddha was born, and indeed for all of us around the world – to pray for those who have lost their lives; been injured; lost their homes and livelihoods; and for all those who are suffering as a result of this earthquake.
For those who have lost their lives, let us pray for their good rebirth.
For those who are affected, let us pray that they find the courage to overcome their emotions.
Let us use this special day of Vesak to pray together and make aspirations to overcome the cycle of birth and death and to finally reach the state of enlightenment.
And for all of you, please know that you are not alone. I will be praying with all of you, and so will all of the students and practitioners from our lineage. Today, and on all days, we are one.
Namobuddhaya.”

Karmapa's Vesak Message

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, is a world spiritual leader. Born on 6 May 1983, Karmapa is a Buddhist teacher and ambassador for peace.

Karmapa was 11 years old when he made a dramatic escape from Tibet to India. In 1994, he was enthroned as the 17th incarnation of the Karmapa, and the leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage – one of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

As the 17th Karmapa, he holds the precious transmission of unique Buddhist knowledge and methods passed down for nearly 1,000 years by the Kagyu lineage masters.

Karmapa has spiritual responsibility for over 900 monasteries and Buddhist centers in 68 countries around the world.

Karmapa has a powerful vision of peace. Inner Wealth, he believes, holds the key to peace within ourselves and within our communities. We are all enriched with Inner Wealth, a limitless source of compassion and wisdom. Karmapa teaches that by cultivating our natural, noble qualities, we are all able to experience and express peace.

As a world Buddhist master, Karmapa is able to translate traditional wisdom into practical steps that we can all use to be happier and to benefit the world around us.

He teaches students and the public around the world, through in-person and digital events on karmapa.org.

Karmapa’s other activities include: empowering young people; meeting international leaders in the fields of spirituality, peace, conflict resolution, and education; and creating videos and articles to promote peace and prosperity in our world.

Karmapa

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