Brief report of Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje's spiritual education in Dhagpo Kundrol Ling, France. (February 2000)

The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje has been staying at Dhagpo Kundrol Ling, his main European Monastery, in order to continue his spiritual education.

Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche had previously advised him to request Chobgye Trichen Rinpoche, a highly respected Lama of the old generation of Tibetan Masters, to grant him transmissions and empowerments.

Gyalwa Karmapa therefore invited Chobgye Trichen Rinpoche, the head of the Tsalpa Lineage of the Sakya School, to come to Kundrol Ling in France. Trichen Rinpoche has been one of the teachers of Sakya Trinzin, the head of the Sakya school and one of Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche's gurus.

Moreover H.H. the Dalai Lama has received the main Sakya transmissions from him. He accepted Karmapa's invitation in spite of his age and travelled to France together with a few of his monks.

For one month he gave teachings, empowerments and transmissions to Gyalwa Karmapa, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche and other teachers of the Kagyu school. Trichen Rinpoche remarked that Kundrol Ling's spiritual environment is completely free of all political and financial interests making it especially well suited for these transmissions. He said: 'I am very touched and impressed by this place, where people practice day and night. Thanks to the long term vision of H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa who in Gendun Rinpoche chose the right lama to create this place, and with Jigme Rinpoche's help, the authentic Dharma is alive."

During his stay Trichen Rinpoche often expressed, sometimes several times a day, that the sun and moon in the sky are like Karmapa and Sharmapa on earth. He said that he was happy to have the chance to pass these transmissions on to them. Before he travelled on, he made deep wishes and powerful prayers in the presence of both of them saying: 'May the authentic Dharma in this place be protected for all times and never be contaminated.'

Once Trichen Rinpoche had left, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche continued to transmit the Kagyu School's teachings to Gyalwa Karmapa. This phase included over 50 empowerments and three volumes of the collected Mahamudra teachings of the old Indian masters, the Mahasiddhas.

Next year Shamar Rinpoche will transmit the Mahamudra teachings of the Tibetan masters to the Gyalwa Karmapa.

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