H.H. 16th Gyalwa Karmapa
Archive for the ‘16th Karmapa’ Category
Rain of Flowers
Monday, December 12th, 2011A blast from the past… Gendun Rinpoche on the 16th Karmapa’s 1977 visit to the West
Sunday, September 25th, 2011
From the 1977 underground publication "International Times"
We just stumbled upon an interesting and historic text published in an ameteur ‘underground’ newsletter from 1977. “The International Times,” as it was called, seems to have been produced by and aimed at the UK’s hippy subculture, and ran regularly between the late sixties and mid eighties. There is now an online archive displaying these publications. The text in question concerns the 16th Karmapa, and is written by the great Kagyu master Lama Gendun Rinpoche in France, in anticipation of the 16th Karmapa’s second visit to the West in 1977. As one can see by the design and presentation of the text, in those times the hippy generation had become interested in Tibetan Buddhism. In more recent times, as interest in Tibetan Buddhism became more widespread and mainstream, and particularly with the Diamond Way Buddhist centres established by Hannah and Lama Ole Nydahl, the Kagyu teachings moved from the fringes to the middle of Western society, free of the confusion and mixing of spiritual teachings, which often characterized those earlier days.
The newsletter states: “His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa is expected here in June [1977]. He will probably stay here for eight weeks. The precise date of his arrival is uncertain because, due to the success of his tour of the U.S., his stay there keeps getting prolonged. Gendun Rinpoche will be giving a three-week teaching course in Hay for those who can camp. Anyone interested in further details should write to the centre.”
The full text by Gendun Rinpoche is presented below.
“His Holiness”
Friday, April 1st, 2011
H.H. 16th Karmapa
We are sure you’ll enjoy these wonderful pictures of H.H. the 16th Karmapa (click on the thumbnails to enlarge). You can see the goodness and compassion simply radiating from him.
H.H. 16th Karmapa – Black Crown Ceremony, New Hampshire, USA
Thursday, March 10th, 2011This recording of H.H. the 16th Karmapa performing the the Black Crown ceremony was shot in 16mm by John Karol, at the Cathedral of the Pines, New Hampshire. The year was probably 1981, as H.H. Karmapa’s appearance already shows the signs of the cancer which would eventually lead to his passing in November of that year. Despite his serious illness, through the Black Crown ceremony H.H. Karmapa – the “King of Yogis” – displays his power, dignity and nobility, and proclaims his enlightened state of mind.
This footage is from the “extras” disc which features with the documentary film “Recalling a Buddha” (2009) by Greg Eller. The DVD is available to purchase online at www.karmapaxvi.com.
Interview with H.H. the 16th Karmapa from 1976
Sunday, February 27th, 2011This TV interview with H.H. the 16th Karmapa took place in the USA in 1976. The show was called “Vermont Report”, a half-hour Public Television news program from Vermont. In the studio there are other important figures in the Karma Kagyu school such as the 3rd Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Lama Jigme Rinpoche. The footage is from the “extras” disc which features with the documentary film “Recalling a Buddha” (2009) by Greg Eller. The DVD is available to purchase online at http://www.karmapaxvi.com/
Photos of H.H. 16th Karmapa giving an inititation in the 1970s
Friday, February 11th, 2011
H.H. 16th Karmapa (Photo: Cynthia MacAdams)
This series of four wonderful black and white pictures of H.H. 16th Karmapa was taken in the 1970′s by the photographer Cynthia MacAdams and forms part of an exhibition entitled “20th Century Cultural Icons”. They show the 16th Karmapa holding dorje and bell wearing the long-tailed red “pandit hat” while giving an initiation (click to enlarge the images).
16th Karmapa in Tsurphu
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
16th Karmapa in Tsurphu 1946 (Hugh Richardson)
These pictures show the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981) wearing the black hat, seated on chair in a room in his summer palace at Tsurphu Monastery, probably in 1946. The photographer was Hugh Richardson, head of the last British and first Indian missions to Tibet. The photos are from the collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University .
Today is the anniversary of the 16th Karmapa’s parinirvana
Friday, November 5th, 2010
16th Karmapa in Rumtek 1978 (Photo: Peter Mannox)
Today, 5 November, is the anniversary of the parinirvana of H.H. 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje in 1981. We reproduce an excerpt from Reginald A. Ray’s book Secret of the Vajra World – The Tantric Buddhism of Tibet (Shambhala, 2001) which presents the 1981 interview with Dr. Mitchell Levy, the 16th Karmapa’s personal physician, who was together with Karmapa during the last remarkable moments of his life.
