Linda:His Holiness the 17th Karmapa at Gyuto Monastery April 25

His Holiness the 17th Karmapa at Gyuto Monastery

His Holiness the Karma is the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is considered to be the reincarnation of the founder of this lineage. The present Karmapa was recognized at the age of seven and often gives audiences and teachings on Wednedays and Saturdays.

After visiting Norbulingka and being immersed in the art and architecture of Tibet and the serenity of Japanese gardens, I went to the Gyuto Monastery where His Holiness the Karmapa now resides. The monastery is very large, with an emphasis on invocatory mantras and tantrism. You go through the residential area and up large staircases to the impressive temple at the top, whose backdrop are exquisite snow covered peaks. The effect is as if the temple was floating up the mountain, the abode of the gods.

The temple itself very large and is mostly windows on three sides. There are rows and rows of carpet covered couches for the monks during prayer time. The couches face toward the center of the room. The opposite side of the room from the door, as usual, hold a large, golden image of the Buddha, the various supporting deities, buddhas, and bodhisattvas and the raised platforms for the Karmapa and other dignitaries of the monastery. There are beautiful thangkas on all the walls above the windows and a large cylindrical cloth hanging in the center of the temple.

I arrived early and sat in the quiet of the temple. As the time for the audience approached, the few of us inside were asked to leave for a security check. In the time I was inside, many others had arrived! Due to the political situation in Tibet, the lives of these lamas are constantly in danger. The Panchen lama, recognized in 1995, was kidnapped by the Chinese when he was 5 years old and has not been seen for 10 years. The threat is real. Many have asked the Karmapa to not give public audiences because of the risk, but that is not his wish. He wishes to be available to the people and not just to his spiritual community. So, bags are checked and left outside, clothing is patted for concealed weapons, and then, quietly, one can go in and sit on the floor.

While people are filing in, a recorded talk is being given by the HH Karmapa in Tibetan with an English translation. I must admit, I wasn’t listening very carefully. Perhaps when I go with Eleanor I will be more attentive. It took a half an hour for everyone to be settled with 200-300 people present. Once everyone was settled, HH the Karmapa walked in and sat in a chair below the Buddha and in front of the people. He is a young man. He seemed tentative, and kind. Because this was a public audience, his talk was very general, encouraging people to lead a wholesome life. He did not particularly advocate spirituality or even a deeply religious life, but in leading a wholesome life based on the teachings or the dharma. For me, after having been to riveting lectures on intense topics, this was “nice” but not particularly inspiring. I wondered what his talks were like with the monks.

After the talk, we all lined up. Thankfully, I was told to bring a white scarf. As we approached the lamas, one lama took the scarf and placed it over my head as a blessing. Then, we were able to greet HH the Karmapa who then gave us a red thread as a symbol of the audience, an audience which also conferred the right to practice the Buddhist method and a particular invocation. That part went over most people’s heads. I, myself, was rather surprised that permission was given for this particular spiritual method. Traditionally, practicing these methods came only after studying with a spiritual guide for a length of time. But, such are our times. There was a grace in the presence of this man. He seemed a little tentative, a little unsure, but the grace was there. A peace. A blessing. A consolation. A wonder that there are people on this earth whose life is dedicated is to praying for the well being of others in a deep and profound way.