On the occasion of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje’s 30th Birthday, the Karmapa International Buddhist Society engaged in charity.
The so-called war of words involving North Korea, South Korea and the United States, raises an important question for our time: how do we define violence?
Many people have pointed to the threat of violent conflict, but I believe that it has already taken place. In Buddhism, violence is thought of not just as physical action, but in terms of our thoughts and words as well. We can see through history that physical conflict rarely takes place without violent thoughts and words preceding them. Our thoughts manifest our words. Our words manifest our deeds.
As Buddha Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism says,
“Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.”
In the face of so much conflict, how can we manifest a world that heals, rather than destroys?
Monday, February 25, 2013, was a very special day: not only was it the first full moon of the Tibetan New Year, but also one of the four major sacred days in Buddhism, marking four important events in Buddha Shakyamuni’s life.
KIB Society chose this day to bring some light and joy to the lives of fifty children suffering from cancer, as well as to their parents and relatives.
KIBS’ Chief Patron, H. H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, accompanied by the Society’s President Professor Sempa Dorje, and some of his monks and KIBS volunteers visited the oncology ward at All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, one of Asia’s largest hospitals.
Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month. It is usually an occasion for joyful celebrations and various kinds of merriment. However, this year – in view of the large number of natural and man-made disasters, and in particular the tragic increase in self-immolations in Tibet – His Holiness Karmapa decided to cancel all celebrations and instead perform the practice of the Sadhana of Avalokiteshavara (tib. Chenresig), entitled Drodon Khakyabma (“Extending Throughout Space for the Benefit of Beings”) and composed by Thangtong Gyalpo.
One of the men enthroned as the 17th Karmapa, His Holiness talks to Nicole Chabot about mentors, meditation and playing Angry Birds .
