Meeting with the sangha from the Baltic countries and giving the bodhisattva vow.

On the morning of June 23 His Holiness met with the different sanghas from the Baltic area in the shrine room located in his house, next to his living quarters – incidentally, this was the first time this room was used for any official purpose. The groups from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus and Kaliningrad informed His Holiness about the development of the dharma activity in their countries and centres, using videos and slide shows to illustrate their presentations, and asked for his blessing and guidance.
Having listened attentively to the various presentations His Holiness expressed his appreciation of the students’ efforts and achievements:
“Not only have you made your precious human rebirth meaningful, but you have also provided open access to the Buddha dharma to countless beings. You have made many human beings realise their bodhicitta. All of this is possible because of your devotion and your courage to see qualities in each other.”
In the afternoon His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa transmitted the Bodhisattva Vows to the devotees who had gathered in the big tent which was the venue of the three-day event. In his introductory speech he explained that all the previous Buddhas and bodhisattvas were born from the practice of generating bodhicitta. He went on to say that being able to meet and share the precious knowledge of the dharma was due to two positive conditions, the Buddhas’ and bodhisattvas’ aspirations on the one hand, and our own efforts on the other hand. “It is due to these two that we have these wonderful circumstances. Without our own efforts, no matter how much the Buddhas and bodhisattvas aspire, nothing will happen.”