These photos were taken over the last few days in Hong Kong by talented Diamond Way Buddhist photographer Matt Balara during the February 2011 visit of H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley They Dorje. They’re fantastic, we’re sure you’ll agree!
Archive for the ‘17th Karmapa’ Category
H.H. 17th Karmapa in Hong Kong – photostream
Saturday, February 26th, 2011The Karmapa – Shamarpa Lineage
Monday, January 31st, 2011
17th Karmapa and 14th Shamarpa at the Kagyu Monlam in Bodh Gaya 2010
The lineage of the Karmapas was prophesied by Shakyamuni Buddha who said that approximately 1600 years after his death an emanation of Avalokiteshvara (aka Chenrezig) the Bodhisattva of Compassion would be born. Karmapa literally means ‘one who manifests buddha activity’ and his activity is to preserve and spread the essence of the teachings of all the Buddhas. The Buddha predicted the Karmapa would propagate the teachings during the course of many successive incarnations. As well, the Buddha predicted, “In the future, a great bodhisattva with a ruby red crown will come to the suffering of the multitude, leading them out of their cyclic bewilderment and misery.” In the Karmapas and the Shamarpas, the Buddha’s predictions were fulfilled.
Message from Lama Ole Nydahl to H.H. 17th Karmapa on the 900th anniversary of the 1st Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa
Sunday, January 2nd, 2011
17th Karmapa on Impermanence
Monday, November 29th, 2010These questions and answers were taken from H.H. 17th Karmapa‘s ‘Black Hat Lama’ MySpace blog:
17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje
Q: What is Buddhist meditation, and what are the benefits of it?
H.H. Karmapa: Buddhist meditation is a way to relate to death, but the term we use is known as impermanence. So it is possible to see the beauty of impermanence finally through meditation. Before meditation we have to focus on learning and contemplating on impermanence.
Q: How do you relate to death?
H.H. Karmapa: Often one relates to death mainly by fear, and also by hope. So the Buddhist approach is to approach it without the two.
Q: Are Buddhists afraid of death?
H.H. Karmapa: Sentient beings are not born as Buddhists, so due to that it becomes a very difficult question to answer. (more…)
17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje on the criteria of a true Buddhist lama
Sunday, October 24th, 2010These questions and answers were taken from H.H. 17th Karmapa‘s ‘Black Hat Lama’ MySpace blog:
17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje
Q: What are the criteria of a true Buddhist lama?
H.H. Karmapa: “Lama” means teacher. It is as plain as that, actually. Therefore, a Buddhist teacher has to have the qualities of genuine compassion, a great extent of dharma knowledge, and he or she needs to be someone who doesn’t just teach but also practices what they teach, which means believing in their product.
Other than that, there are many other qualities, but these two are the main ones. These are the guidelines of examining a teacher. Beyond that, there’s no real way to check whether someone is a teacher or not. Only time tells if someone is an authentic teacher.
Q: How can you tell whether a teacher has genuine compassion?
H.H. Karmapa: Genuine compassion is expressed both physically and mentally. If someone is truly compassionate, this will show in both his physical and verbal gestures, any time, under any circumstances.
17th Karmapa – The Four Seals of Dharma (video)
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010This is a teaching on “The Four Seals of Dharma” given by H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje on 11 March 2010 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi, India. This and many other films are available from http://www.karmapa-news.org/ in high quality DVD format. Photos documenting the life and activities of Gyalwa Karmapa are also available through this site.
17th Karmapa on dedication and aspirations
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010The following text, composed by H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, is from the website of the organising committee of the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo in Bodh Gaya, which will next take place from 27 December 2010 to 3 January 2011. It explains the meaning of the practice of “monlam” or “decication and aspirations”.
17th Karmapa and Shamar Rinpoche in Bodh Gaya, 2007 (photo: Thule Jug)
Messages from H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje
Thursday, May 6th, 2010Here are two messages from H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje.
The first is a personal request from Gyalwa Karmapa to recite one million OM MANI PEME HUNG mantras collectively in each Dharma center:
The second message is addressed to all students concerning Gyalwa Karmapa’s wish for his birthday, which is today: (more…)
