siaons ‘ign up for KTO nee & even i Karma Triyana Dharmachakra - His Holiness the 17h Gyalwa Karmapa sou mi / aecise HOME > KARMA KAGYU > THE KARMAPA > BIOGRAPHY OF HIS HOLINESS THE A7TH KARMAPA His Houiness, the 17% Gyalwa Karmape, Orayen Trinley Dorje, Is the spintual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage, one of the major tracttons of Lbetan Budghism, Born in Eastern Tibet on June 26th, 1985, he was recognized at the age of| seven through a prediction letter, known as the Last ‘Testament. Written by his previous Incarnation, I ncleated the place and year of is future birth along with the names of his parents and the special signs tnat would appear. The Karmapa's early years were dvided between the pastoral Ife of is large nomadic family and Buddhist training at the nearby Karlek Monastery. Then, in the spring of 1992, contrary to his usual behavior, the Karmapa insisted that his parents move their camp early and knowing their son was special, they complied. This alowed the Karmapa ta be in the ‘exact place precicted by the Last Testament when the search party came to find him. In June of 1992, he returned to Central Tibet and Telung Tsurphu Monastery, the main seat ofthe previous Karmapas, In that same month, the Dalai Lame confirmed the recognition of the Karmapa stating that he had experienced “a kind of dream of the area where the present incarnation was born.” He described precisely the area of the Karmapa's bith as if he were actualy there, saying that there were stones and meacows but no trees, animals or people anc that two rivers flowed down on the right and left, "Then someone, some source without form, was teling me, Tis is the place where the Karmapa is born.” This close connection between the two spiritual leaders would to continue up to the present day. In 1992, he suggested to his parents that they move their camp early. This decision to move placed them in the spot where the precictive letter written by the Sixteenth Karmapa had said the Seventeenth Karmapa would be found, Apo Gaga told his parents his monks were coming for him, and packed his things. ‘The Karmapas were the first lineage of tulus (reincammate lamas) in Tibet and the 17th Karmapa was the frst tne to be offically recognizes by both the Dalal Lame and the Chinese government. The enthronement of a tulku marks the public recognition of this spedial status and begins the offical activity of bringing benefit to all living beings. This ceremony was held in September 1992 with 20,000 people coming to celebrate from all over Tibet anc the world outside. The next day, the young Katmapa gave his ist empowerment, which was of CChenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. Both the Dalal Lama and the Karmapa are considered emanations of this most popular dety in Tibet. ‘while staying at Tsurphu, the Karmapa completed basic studies of Buddhist texts in actltion to becomming very ‘adept at Tibetan language and literature. Even at a young age, his poetry was profound and Wrcal. During the ‘other parts of is day, the Karmapa was overseeing the rebullding of Tsurphu, making offical viss, and recognizing other relncarnate lamas, a wellknown abllty ofthe Karmapas, Thousands made the pilgrimage to ‘Tsurohu to receive his blessing and he presided over the numerous rituals and meditation retreats that shape the calendar of Tibetan Buddhism, In Tibetan Buddhism, lineage Is extremely Important, since the tradition is sustained through teachers passing ‘along their knowledge and wisdom to the next generation of csciples. In late 1999, in order to meet his, teachers in India, the Karmapa left Tibet. Once in India, the Karmapa traveled directly to see the Dalai Lama ‘ho received him with great warmth. The image of the Karmapa and the story ofthe escape was on the cover ‘of newspapers and magazines the worl over. btpswww kagyorgkagyulineagekermapakaro0 php 12siaons Karma Triyana Dharmachakra - His Holiness the 17h Gyalwa Karmapa ‘The Indian government kindly granted the Karmapa refuges status, and he continues to stay at his temporary residence in Gyuto Monastery, not far from the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala. The Karmapa's wish to receive further instruction and meet with his former teachers is being fulfled as he studies Buddhist philosophy {and meditation while ecelving the transmissions and empowerments from the masters of his lineage. Though ‘young in years when he first arrived in India the Karmapa has showed a wisdom and maturity well Beyond his ‘age. With a special interest in books, he has worked to preserve ancient texts; he has also encouraged the practice of the meditative rituals, which were brought from Incla to Tibat centuries ago and which form the core practices at all his monasteries inside and outside Tibet. ‘With the passing years, the Karmapa's artistic abilties have flourished. In addition to writing poetry, he has become a skled artist in drawing, painting, and calligraphy. Recently, he composed new meditative rituals for ‘the Kegyu Prayer Festival, a yearly gathering of monks and lay people in Bodh Gaya, India, the place ofthe Budcha’s enligntenment. The Karmapa has presided over these major ceremonies since 2001. There are ‘thousands wno come to the festival and also to visit the Karmapa at Gyuto Monastery where he aves public teachings Now at last in 2008, His Holiness the Karmapa Is able to travel abroac. During this intial vist, he will spend eighteen days of May and June traveling in the United States, We are overjoyed to receive him at Karma ‘Triyana Dharmachakra, where he is returning forthe first time as the 17th Karmapa to meet his disciples, bless the monastery, and give an empowerment and teachings. We lock forward to numerous such occasions in the future “The vast scope of activities of His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa, including spiritual travels to offer teachings, consecration ceremonies, and blessings, his teaching schecules, as wel as oficial visits and participation in variety of conferences, can be viewed in the Karmaga News Archives. ‘Teachings and chants by His Holiness the Karmapa on DVD: Lion in Action (in Chinese with English subtitles) ‘Three Teachings by Karmapa Learn more about His Holiness Karmapa and his activites, Michele Martin, a Buddhist practitioner for over 30 years, has recently published a biography of His Holiness, entitled "Music in the Sky; The Life, Art and Teachings of the Seventeenth Keramapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje . read the full story For more information on His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, please visit www,sumtekora. kerma Triyana Onarmachakra + 335 Meads Mountain Road + Woodstock, New York 12498 U.S.A, ph. 645.679.5906 845.678.4625, + ofheemkaavu.e Gomacts > skecredts ~ privacy patey bipswww kagyworghkagyulineagekermapaker00 php