His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa visits the Institute Karmapa, France

On the 6th of July His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje arrived in Nice, France. That evening, His Holiness gave the Chenrezig Empowerment to a large audience in the palatial conference hall of Hotel Novotel in Cannes.

The following days’ programs would be held in Valderoure and Caille, closer to the Karmapa Institute. In attendance to all of these events was Lama Thoupten Phuntsok, known as “TreHor Lama” to omit any confusion with the late Lama Thoupten who was previously in charge of the Karmapa Institute.

The morning of the 7th His Holiness went to Caille, a small village just a few minutes from the Institute in Valderoure where the main events were held. He was given a formal welcoming by the people of the Karmapa Institute, which included an eloquent speech of gratitude along with the usual offerings and ceremonial propriety. Afterwards His Holiness gave a pith teaching on the Four Noble Truths while also explaining the importance of understanding Cause and Effect.

On the morning of the 8th, Karmapa Thaye Dorje performed the “Rabne” Puja. This is a benediction ritual done for both personal effects of the people in attendance as well as for the buildings and location as a whole. His Holiness walked around the entire premises, including each and every room in the Institute blessing them all. His Holiness finished the ceremony with the stupa located in the main courtyard of the Karmapa Institute.

That evening, His Holiness gave the Empowerment of Green Tara. Again gathered at Caille for the final program with the Karmapa Institute, His Holiness gave a short explanation of the type of motivation one must generate before taking the Empowerment. He discussed in detail the benefits, both relative and ultimate, of embarking on such a spiritual journey. His Holiness described the types of obstacles that can be cleared away, by both the Empowerment and the practice, before given precise explanations of what a “Wisdom Aspect”, such as Tara, is and how they are manifestations of “the ultimate form of our wisdom’s expression.”