Home >

Site Map

Table of Contents:
His Holiness in India

 

The Seventeenth Karmapa In India

Click on the document name to go to the information page on the topic
Description
The Great Escape
(December 28, 1999- January 5, 2000)
During the years the Karmapa was at Tsurphu Monastery, government restrictions limited the Karmapa's ability to teach his disciples and receive teachings from lineage masters. His Holiness decided that it would benefit beings if he were no longer to stay in Tibet. Shortly before the turn of the millenium, His Holiness slipped out of Tsurphu in secret. His Holiness's own account, provided to the press on April 27, 2001, is reprinted here.
Activities of the Karmapa 2000-2001
(2000-2001)
 His Holiness was unable to make public statements until April, 2001, when he released a public statement and held a press conference. A number of media reports chronicled his activities at the time. At the end of 2001, he was permitted to travel to Bodhgaya, where he presided over the Pal Nyammay Kagyupay Sangha Monlam Chenmo, "The Great Monlam Aspiration of the Glorious Unequaled Kagyu Sangha." The gathering of Kagyu monks from all over the world takes place annually at the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodhgaya, India, under the Bodhi tree, the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
In 2002, His Holiness visited Kolkata as Guest of Honor for the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Rajasthan, was selected by Time Asia as one of "Asia's Heroes," representing Tibet, and joined His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Sarnath for a variety of activities, as well as the Mind-Life Conference in Dharamsala.
At the beginning of 2003, His Holiness Karmapa presided over the The Great Monlam Aspiration of the Glorious Unequaled Kagyu Sangha, and then returned to Bodhgaya later in January to receive the Kalachakra empowerment from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Karmapa also taught in Jayanti Park in Delhi, was a guest of honor at the Shoton Festival in Dharamsala and made many prayers for the passing of Her Majesty Ashi Phuntsho Choden, affectionately known to the Bhutanese people as Gayum Angay, and for the mother of HE Situ Rinpoche.
His Holiness presided over the Karma Gon Cho, Annual Conference of Kagyu Philosophy, held prayer services for the Tsunami victims, presided over the ceremonies for Bokar Rinpoche after the latter's passing in August and, taught the public in Delhi.
His Holiness presided over the the Great Monlam Aspiration of the Glorious Unequaled Kagyu Sangha (Pal Nyammay Kagyupay Sangha Monlam Chenmo) from December 30 - January 8, attended a gathering of all Tibetan Lineages in Bodhgaya with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to prayer for peace, toured Tibetan settlements throughout South India, presided over ceremonies at Bokar Monastery and installed Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche as the new General Secretary.
His Holiness reached the age of majority in 2006, and the Kagyu Office established the Saraswati Trust. His Holiness visited Mirik to commemorate the anniversary of Bokar Rinpoche's parinirvana and held a public ceremony in Siliguri. His Holiness's annual activities at the end of the year included presiding over the Great Kagyu Monlam with extensive teachings to international students at Tergar Monastery, and a meeting with His Holiness Dalai Lama in Sarnath.
After His Holiness welcomed in the Tibetan New Year, he visited the Tilokpur Monastery and caves of Tilopa, presided over debates at Gyuto Monastery by invitation of Gaden Tripa, attended the Mind-Life Conference, received Guyhasamaja teachings from HH Dalai Lama and in later, in July, met with His Holiness to offer his wishes for his 72nd birthday, commemorated the 60th anniversary of India's Independence, celebrated HH Dalai Lama's receipt of the Congressional Gold Medal, visited Dechen Chokhorling Mahvira, and received transmission from the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche. The Karmapa's annual winter tour began in Bodhgaya at Tergar Monastery after a short stay at Vajra Vidhya, where he presided over the Karma Gön Chö, instituted a code of conduct for the Great Kagyu Monlam and re-visioned the root ceremony as a gathering for world peace, harmony and happiness for all, inaugurated a medical camp for the destitute during the Monlam, welcomed Gelongmas from other countries, presided over the Monlam and gave a major address on the environment.
2008 began with a continuation of HH Karmapa's winter tour in Varanasi, where he stayed at Thrangu Rinpoche's Vajra Vidhya Institute, where he performed a life release and Chenrezig empowerment, visited with students of all ages at the International Alice Project, visited the sacred site of Deer Park, and met with teachers and students at the Central Institue of Tibetan Studies. Back in his camp at Gyuto Tantric University for Losar, he welcomed the Tibetan New Year of the Earth Mouse with a puja and prepared a New Year's greeting for his websites. Shortly thereafter he travelled to Clement Town in Deradhun to preside over Kagyu ceremonies for the parinirvana of HH Mindrolling Rinpoche, visited neighboring monsteries and was met by thousands of devotees from Tibetan settlements in the area.
   

Next, beginning the chronology in India: Details on "The Great Escape"

Kagyu Office of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa (about the Kagyu Office)

Web pages © Kagyu Office except as noted in the text of the page or on the copyright notice page (click link for copyright information); photographs, drawings and images © Kagyu Office except as noted in the text of the page or on the copyright notice page (click link for copyright information)

Web design by His Holiness Karmapa's Office of Administration