Statues of Naropa and Marpa carved from rhinocerous horn by the 10th Karmapa
Marpa: “Please be so kind as to prophecy for me the way our dharma lineage will expand and flourish. Since ultimately there is no difference between the sutras and tantras in their view and realisation, one can hold the teachings – what has been told and what has been realised – of both. Is it necessary that in external appearance one adopt the robes of a sravaka and practice the pratimoksha? It isn’t, is it?…”
Naropa: “In the future of your dharma lineage, there will be many who assume the external appearance of a sravaka. Inwardly, they will realise the meaning of mahayana, dwell on the bhumis; and be surrounded by bodhisattvas. Some others of varied appearance will make the teachings of the practice lineage flourish and expand.”
From “The Rain of Wisdom” by the Nalanda Translation Committee (Shambhala, 1980)
Pictures are from the book “Karmapa: The Black Hat Lama of Tibet” Nik Douglas & Meryl White. The statues of the early Kagyu lineage holders carved by the 10th Karmapa are among the relics hopefully (see here and here) still housed in Rumtek Monastery.
In the second of a series of entries, we present Buddhist books from the “recommended reading list” for students of Diamond Way Buddhism by various authors, together with links to a reliable UK-based supplier, Wisdom Books. This group of books includes life stories of great Buddhist practitioners.
This is the genuinely compelling story, and spiritual odyssey, of Ole and Hannah Nydahl, who in 1968 became the first Western students of the great Tibetan master, His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. Their exciting travels on the worn path between the green lowlands of Europe to the peaks of the Himalayas, led them to experience the skilful teachings of numerous Tibetan lamas who helped transform their lives into “limitless clarity and joy.” From their first contact with Tibetan Buddhism in Kathmandu in the form of a lama with extraordinary psychic powers, Ole and Hannah encountered the full spectrum of the Buddhist view. Their real aim in writing this book is “to form a bridge between two worlds, and especially to share with all who are looking for their true being… an introduction to a time-proven way to Enlightenment.”
This video is from H.H. 17th Karmapa’s visit to London on 30 June 2009, when he gave the empowerment of Marpa in the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Hall of the Southbank Centre. In his speech before the empowerment, Gyalwa Karmapa explained the significance of Marpa to the Kagyu Lineage.
We would like to share some inspiring impressions of H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje‘s first two visits to the UK, which happened before this blog was established. Gyalwa Karmapa’s first historic visit was in August 2005, when he stayed for four days in London at the invitation of Diamond Way Buddhism UK. He was joined by Lama Jigme Rinpoche, Lama Ole and Hannah Nydahl and other distinguished lamas who were part of the travelling entourage of the 16th Karmapa in the UK during the 1970s.
Reports of other visits of the 17th Karmapa to London can be found here (2007) and here (2009).
In July 2009, H.H. 17th Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje made his third visit to the UK to meet his students and give Buddhist teachings and empowerments. The visit started with a wonderful two-day programme in Manchester, hosted by the Dechen community. Details can be found here and here on the Dechen blog. There is also an article on the Dechen website where Lama Jampa Thaye reflects on the visit of the 16th Karmapa to Manchester in 1977. The Manchester Evening News announced the event and The Times also ran a report.
Diamond Way Buddhism UK then had the great honour of hosting Gyalwa Karmapa in Liverpool and London. He was joined by Nendo Rinpoche, Lama Tsultrim Namgyal, Lama Chopon Gyaltsen, and Lama Karma Wangdu, from Rumtek Monastery.
On the way to London from Manchester on 29 July, Gyalwa Karmapa stopped briefly in Liverpool to bless the Diamond Way Buddhist Centre there. Members of the Liverpool Centre and other groups in the north of the UK made a presentation about the activity of the northern Diamond Way Buddhist centres. He gave the oral transmission for the Four Foundational Practices (Tib. Ngondro) and the Third Karmapa’s Great Seal Wishes.
Lama Ole Nydahl will next visit the UK in September, teaching in Brighton and London.
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OM MANI PEME HUNG Mantra Accumulation
Folowing the request from H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje this May for each Karma Kagyu centre to accumulate one million repetitions of the mantra of Loving Eyes OM MANI PEME HUNG, our UK Diamond Way Buddhist Centres have been busy meditating to accomplish this wish.
