H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa’s second visit to Taiwan from Dec 22, 2005 to Jan 4, 2006

See some pictures here : The Karmapa Documentary Project

For Chinese reports : http://www.karmapa.org.tw

The visit to Taiwan was orgnized by III Lopon Tenzin Rinpoche, president of Karma kagyu Promotion Society.
http://www.kagyulineage.org

Thursday 22 Dec. 2005, Arrival in CKS Airport
In the afternoon more than 300 Lamas and devotees led by III Lopon Tenzin Rinpoche from all over Taiwan were holding white silk scarves and hailing “Yeshi Norbu Tashi Delek” , this included Sang Sang Rinpoche, and followers from Hong Kong as well, welcomed H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje in the CKS International Airport near Taipei.

In the Grand Hotel, Taipei
In the Grand Hotel Taipei His Holiness bestowed blessings to Lamas, devotees, and had an interview with Era News. During the welcome dinner party His Holiness expressed gratitude to Lopon Rinpoche and all disciples for their hospitality and good wishes, hoping that through this Educational Tour the local followers may develop Bodhicitta as well as their practice.

Praises for His Holiness recited during the break of the performance of Orchestra in welcome party

Friday 23 Dec. 2005, Taipei
In the afternoon H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje, accompanied by III Lopon Tenzin Rinpoche, along with his entourage, arrived at Taipei Tsurphu center where he received the symbolic offerings of the Mandala universe as well as the body, speech, mind, quality and activity dedicated by the Dharma committee members. His Holiness also performed a ritual to consecrate all sacred images of the center. In the evening His Holiness granted refuge vows to more than 200 people and Amithaba empowerment to nearly 1000 participants at Taipei Chientan Youth Center.

Saturday 24 Dec. 2005, Tsurphu center,Taipei
H.H.Gyalwa Karmapa granted the empowerment of Khowa Dondu, the two-armed red Chenrezig, to hundred Kagyu disciples at Taipei Tsurphu center. At the end of session, His Holiness advised disciples to make the best use of their precious time for Dharma practice and stressed the importance of developing trust and confidence toward Dharma teachers and friends.

Sunday 25 Dec. 2005, Tai-Chung Hero House
H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa granted the empowerment of Medicine Buddha at Tai-Chung Hero House to more than 800 people, including Sangha members and followers from all over Taiwan as well as Hong Kong and Singapore. During the session His Holiness pointed out that we all face many kinds of illness and different levels of illness in physical forms. But the real illness we face is the result of our negative emotions, such as attachment, ignorance and hatred. In order to find an antidote or a perfect cure, we practice the meditation of the Medicine Buddha. His Holiness further encouraged the participants by concluding that even if we try to practice the meditation of Medicine Buddha for a short while every day, there is numerous benefits. Therefore we shall make the best use of time, opportunity and capacity to study, reflect and meditate on the practice of Medicine Buddha to reach our goal of self and other benefits.

Monday 26 Dec. 2005, Tai-Chung Hero House
In the morning H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa gave the oral transmission of Mahamudra to more than150 devoted Kagyu disciples at Tai-Chung Hero House. Later His Holiness was interviewed by the director of China Times, one of the main media in Taiwan. In the afternoon, by the request of Lopon Rinpoche, His Holiness answered dozens of questions posed by Dharma students. Everyone was deeply impressed by the brilliant wisdom and spontaneous compassion revealed from the answers.

Q&A in Taichung

In the evening His Holiness granted the empowerment of Vajrapani to nearly hundred members.

Tuesday 27 Dec. 2005, Tai-Chung Hero House
His Holiness granted the empowerment of Karma Pakshi to nearly a hundred members at Tai-Chung Hero House.

Wednesday 28 Dec. 2005, Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan
The III Lopon Tenzin Rinpoche, the Tainan county magistrate, along with hundreds of Sangha and lay disciples, some holding the well-decorated parasols, others with victory banners, various kinds of musical instruments, Khatas, roses and so on, were waiting in rows near the main gate of Karma Kagyu Monastery for the arrival of H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa. His Holiness got out of the car at the main gate to walk along the road on which the 8 auspicious symbols were drawn as a sign of respect and auspice for him. Hundreds of devotees followed His Holiness passing through the Ani Gonpa, the dining hall, the monks’ quarter, circumambulating the Stupa until entering the Karmapa Sanctuary where the symbolic offerings of Mandala universe, body, speech, mind, quality, activity, numerous Khatag and offerings were presented to His Holiness. Later in the evening a couple of Tainan county magistrates accompanied by Lopon Rinpoche visited His Holiness and requested his blessings for the development of the local government as well as welfare of the local people.

Thursday 29 Dec. 2005, Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan
Since daybreak H.H. the 17th Gaylwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje led III Lopon Tenzin Rinpoche and all Karma Kagyu Sangha members in Tawian to perform the whole day Mahakala Puja. In the evening His Holiness bestowed the Mahakala initiation to nearly 200 devoted Kagyu disciples. Hundreds of devotees were present in the Mahakala Puja till midnight.

Friday 30 Dec. 2005, Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan
In the morning H.H. the 17th Gaylwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje granted refuge vows to hundreds of people and the empowerment of Green Tara to nearly 1000 people in Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan. In the afternoon His Holiness bestowed blessings to the public and answered dozens of questions to the Dharma students. In the evening His Holiness granted the empowerment of Sarasvati to more than one hundred Kagyu Lamas and disciples.

Saturday 31 Dec. 2005, Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan
H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa granted the empowerment of Vajrayogini (Dorje Pagmo) to more than 200 Kagyu Lamas and disciples in the Karmapa Sanctuary, the main shrine hall of Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan. An official dinner party, held to thank His Holiness for this Dharma tour, followed the empowerment. His Holiness expressed that he is extremely happy to learn that many followers do wish to practice the Buddha Dharma and reminded them of the importance of mutual respect among Dharma friends as well as the reflection on how precious a human life is. At last beautiful fireworks were set off in the sky and everybody wished His Holiness, Rinpoche, Lamas and each other a happy new year.

Sunday 1 Jan. 2006, Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan
On the first day of the year 2006, more than 80 practitioners led by the III Lopon Tenzin Rinpoche had the honor of performing the Vajrayogini Feast Offering Puja under the spiritual guidance of H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa in the Karmapa Sanctuary, the main shrine hall of Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan. Before the last session, His Holiness accompanied by Lopon Rinpoche and Lamas consecrated most of the sacred images and buildings of the monastery. At the end His Holiness also blessed hundreds of disciples present there.

Monday 2 Jan. 2006, Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan
In the morning Lopon Tenzin Rinpoche introduced resident Sangha members, volunteer groups, and several long-term projects of social welfare service of Karma Kagyu Monastery, Tainan to H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa in the VIP lounge of main shrine hall. His Holiness was really glad to learn that groups of Kagyu followers in Taiwan dedicate themselves to the social welfare service of others. He further instructed that because of the lack of this, many people see Buddhists in a negative way; actually we shall understand that the Buddha activities are a means to benefit sentient beings; Therefore social welfare service is a great example for it. At the end His Holiness thanked and encouraged everybody for supporting the activities of Lopon Rinpoche.

Monday 2 Jan. 2006, Kaohsiung Hero House
In the evening H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa granted refuge vows to nearly 300 people and Vajrasattva empowerment to more than 1200 people at Kaohsiung Hero House.

Tuesday 3 Jan. 2006, Naropa Center, Kaohsiung
H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa granted Hayagriva empowerment to about 150 Lamas and members at the Naropa Center in Kaohsiung. Afterwards center representatives presented the symbolic offerings of body, speech, mind, quality, and activity to H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa. His Holiness gave some very valuable advice to disciples and at last thanked Lopon Rinpoche and all those who participated in organizing such a wonderful trip.

Wednesday 4 Jan. 2006, Farewell at CKS International Airport
Regardless of the lack of sleep, nearly a hundred members followed His Holiness from the south to the north of Taiwan the whole night in order to see him off at the airport at dawn on January 4, 2006. Before boarding, numerous Khatags were presented and His Holiness kindly fulfilled the wishes for requests of his signature or blessings to all presented there.

See some pictures here : The Karmapa Documentary Project

 

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