His Holiness transmits the empowerment of Gonkar (White Mahakala)

Karma Guen, Malaga, June 16  2012 – His Holiness transmits the empowerment of Gonkar (White Mahakala)
Karma Guen is a Buddhist centre of the Karma Kagyu tradition, nestled in the mountains of Velez-Malaga. The year 2012 is a very special one for Karma Guen: it marks the twenty-fifth anniversary since its inception in 1987 by Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche, as well as Pedro and Dorrit Gomez, under the inspiration of Lama Ole and Hannah Nydahl.
The occasion is being celebrated with the “Big Summer Course 2012”, which started on June 7 with an exceptional visit of Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, followed by teachings and courses with Lama Ole Nydahl, and ending with the special highlight of His Holiness Karmapa’s programme.

The morning of June 16 was devoted to a meeting with the mayor of Velez-Malaga, Mr. Francisco Bonilla, who came to see His Holiness at his quarters at Karma Guen. There was plenty to talk about, and His Holiness learned many interesting things about the historical background, geological conditions and flora and fauna of Andalusia.
Karmapa then went to the big shrine room of Karma Guen, the Thaye Dorje Gompa, to meet with the sanghas from Spain, Portugal, a variety of Latin American countries and Israel, most of whom had made a very long journey to meet with him and receive his blessings and guidance for their centres.

Representatives of the various groups informed him about recent developments in their countries and centres, asking him for his wishes in order to overcome challenges and obstacles and expressing their gratitude for the inspiration received from him. His Holiness assured them of his continued prayers and wishes and asked them to always work together in harmony. Referring to the aspiration expressed by many of the groups to be able to find suitable premises for their centre, he said, “The place is definitely a very crucial part, of course, for the practitioners, but it’s not the main thing. The main thing is the practitioners themselves… the friends – that’s the real centre. You are there, so that’s the centre. We always talk about developing a centre, but the real development is the practitioners… Of course, our ultimate goal is to reach enlightenment, but on the way, in very practical terms, what we have to develop is being a bodhisattva, being very decent, so that it’s very beneficial for everyone around you. So that’s the real development of the centre.”

In the afternoon of the same day His Holiness transmitted the empowerment of Gonkar (White Mahakala) to a gathering of around three thousand eager devotees. 
Karmapa began the preparations for the empowerment around 3pm that day, and the empowerment itself started at 7.30. Despite the late hour His Holiness took his time in giving in-depth explanations on the visualizations and instructions of the practice. By the time the last one of the assembled devotees had received the blessing with the ritual implements it was past two in the morning.