Category Lists

Last Day of The Karma Gunchoe Teachings

2008-12-21T14:15:58+00:00

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st December, 2008

Gyalwang Karmapa completed the reading transmission of the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje’s The Lion’s Roar which Destroys Confusion. He described the Four Yogas of Mahamudra, one-pointed, simplicity, one-taste, and no-meditation, and the three stages within each yoga – lower, middle, greater – and mapped each one onto the five paths and ten levels of the Bodhisattva. His Holiness went on to explain the phrase “appearances are mind”, and to speak more on the controversies between the rangtong and shentong viewpoints.

Finally His Holiness addressed the foreigners present – thanking them for attending the teaching and wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – first in Chinese and then in English.

Gyalwang Karmapa’s Teachings on the Lion’s Roar that Destroys Confusion

2008-12-20T14:10:30+00:00

Saturday 20th December, 2008

Displaying both erudition and a sense of humour, Gyalwang Karmapa continued his transmission and exposition of the text. He dealt with two new issues. The first was whether or not it was valid to rank the Consequentialist Middle Way School and the Autonomous Middle Way School, holding one as a higher view than the other. The second was with regard to rangtong (self-empty) and shentong (other-empty). His Holiness explored the historical context of the debate between the proponents of rangtong and shentong, the acceptance of the shentong view in the Khamtsang Kagyu, and the role of the Jonang School.

Gyalwang Karmapa then moved on to highlight the interrelationship between study and practice. He stressed that all the texts, both sutra and tantra, were written or taught for the purpose of practice and there was not one single word in the canon that was not a quintessential instruction to bring us to awakening. Even the commentarial treatises were written for this purpose.

Practice without the study which brings understanding and study without the intention of informing practice would not bring us to awakening. Faith was necessary – this was true of all religions – however we needed intelligence and wisdom too. His Holiness joked that a popular way to develop intelligence and wisdom was to recite Manjushri’s mantra, but the really effective method was debating, analyzing, and carefully examining in order to thoroughly establish the meaning.

Gyalwang Karmapa’s Teaching on Madhyamika : Fourth Session

2008-12-18T14:09:22+00:00

Thursday 18th December, 2008

Gyalwang Karmapa gave a scholarly overview of some of the issues in the Tibetan canon, with particular reference to differences between Tibetan and Chinese texts. He focused on the Tibetan and Chinese versions of the Five Works of Maitreya, using internal evidence from the texts themselves to argue a logical order.

He also began the transmission of the main text for the teaching : The Lion’s Roar that Destroys Confusion by 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje.

Third Session of Gyalwang Karmapa’s Teaching on Madhyamika

2008-12-17T14:08:36+00:00

Wednesday 17th December, 2008

Madhyamika is noted as being a very difficult area of study, yet, each day, the number of people attending the teaching has grown, and this prompted His Holiness to tell a funny story. Looking around the large assembly hall at Tergar, he told how a Geshe had gone abroad to deliver a teaching on the Middle Way approach. The first day there was a good number of people present. The following day there were fewer, and this continued until the final day, when the Geshe found himself addressing an empty room. His Holiness concluded that this was definitely not the case at Tergar.

Gyalwang Karmapa began by relating the life of Aryadeva, comparing the Chinese and Tibetan versions of his life story. Aryadeva is famous for his “400 Verses”, and for his skills in debating with non-Buddhists. According to some sources, he came from a royal family in Sri Lanka, studied with Nagarjuna in South India, and became his direct disciple.

His Holiness then returned to the previous day’s discussion of what it means when the Middle Way school says it does not make any assertions of its own while making assertions in others’ frames of reference . He emphasized again that it does not mean the Middle Way school adopts the view of the other school. It was important to recognize that accepting others’ assertions for the sake of argument did not mean accepting their views per se. As to the question of what is meant by ‘self’ and ‘other’, the ‘other’ referred to was not as we normally understand ‘other,’ but referred to one who is not in the state of meditative equipoise i.e. someone in the post meditative state. There were three phases of others’ frame of reference: no analysis, partial analysis, complete analysis.

He explained how he had found it useful in his own life to remember “I have no assertions”, because, not only did this lead to a decrease in pride, it also reduced clinging to one’s own religion or sect. Such clinging was dangerous because it could lead to prejudice and many problems, as witnessed by events in the 21st century. In the end, it was not being a Buddhist which was so important, but what we do. There were people from many different religious traditions who were doing good in the world, and it was not good to criticize people for not being Buddhist.

With reference to Tibetan Buddhism, it had developed into four schools, but the important thing to remember was their commonality not their differences: all studied the Middle Way approach, all practised the Vinaya, and all followed a Vajrayana practice.

Gyalwang Karmapa’s Teaching on Madhyamika Continues

2008-12-16T14:06:40+00:00

Tuesday 16th December, 2008

The assembly hall of Tergar Monastery was packed with monks and laypeople to listen to the second part of Gyalwang Karmapa’s teachings which continued this afternoon. This is only a brief report on the session. It may be possible later to provide a fuller report from the transcription of the Tibetan.

Because of Nagarjuna’s importance in establishing the Middle Way school of Buddhist philosophy Gyalwang Karmapa began with an overview of Nagarjuna’s life. Accounts of his life exist in both Chinese and Tibetan sources. The earliest Chinese source, written approximately one hundred years after Nagarjuna’s death, predates Tibetan sources. It seems he was born in South India into a Brahmin family, and studied Buddhism in South India. After many years of practice he reached an understanding of emptiness. There are also references to prophecies about Nagarjuna, but there is a need to exercise caution when citing prophecies, because the true intention and meaning of a prophetic text can only be disclosed by its author.

Gyalwang Karmapa then gave the transmission of the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje’s “Concise Summary of the Middle Way”.

In a detailed analysis of what the Middle Way school means when it describes its position as not having any assertions of its own while making assertions only in others’ frames of reference, Gyalwang Karmapa said that this often caused confusion so it was important to clarify its meaning.

In an important aside with reference to study and practice, His Holiness pointed out the serendipitous nature of sectarian affiliations, since most people practice within a particular tradition either because of a past life karmic connection or an accident of birth. Neither of these could be the basis for asserting the superiority of one’s own tradition!

Gyalwang Karmapa begins teaching on Madhyamika

2008-12-15T14:05:34+00:00

Monday 15th December, 2008

Each year, during the Karma Gunchoe, the Gyalwang Karmapa gives a dharma teaching. Although strictly part of the Karma Gunchoe and not part of Kagyu Monlam, many of the Kagyu Monlam staff as well as lay students of His Holiness and pilgrims attend these teachings. Consequently, for the first time, simultaneous translation into Chinese and English has been made available this year.

The teaching will be based primarily on The Lion’s Roar which Destroys Confusion, a text written by the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje

In the first session, the Gyalwang Karmapa began by emphasizing the importance of motivation and intention these days, since modern methods of transport had made travel so much easier than in the past and great determination and perseverance were no longer necessary. Without correct motivation and intention, there would be no real benefit in travelling to Bodh Gaya on pilgrimage or to receive teachings. Further, it was important to concentrate on the great fortune of being able to be here rather than on any difficulties we might have experienced or be experiencing, and use the opportunity fully to carry out the twin dharma activities of study and practice.

His Holiness then discussed how different traditions may have evolved within Tibetan Buddhism, and the importance of studying the texts and viewpoints of different schools.

Finally, he gave a brief overview of the development of Madhyamika philosophy, beginning with the great Bhavaviveka who first used the term the “middle way” which avoids the extremes of eternalism and nihilism, in his treatise Lamp of Wisdom.

The 12th Annual Kagyu Annual Winter Program of Philosophy and Debate Commences

2008-12-12T17:08:16+00:00

In the morning of the 12th of December, the Gyalwang Karmapa completed his first public engagement, visiting the Mahbodhi Stupa. He was greeted by the President of the Mahabodhi Management Committee, who presented His Holiness with a traditional Tibetan khatag. He then went to the Mahabodhi stupa main temple and into the shrine hall where he prostrated three times, offered Mandala prayers and recited the Praise of the Twelve Deeds of Lord Buddha. He then completed two circumambulations: one inner and one outer circuit.

The visit to the Mahabodhi Stupa was followed by a visit to the Bhutanese Temple, where His Holiness inspected the work in progress on the butter sculptures for the Kagyu Monlam. The sculptures are being prepared by a group of monks and nuns, chosen for their expertise from several Kagyu monasteries and nunneries.

In the afternoon the Gyalwang Karmapa presided over an assembly of the participants in the 12th Annual Karmae Gunchoe. He spoke about the origins of debate in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and its importance. He encouraged all the monks attending the Karmae Gunchoe to have sincere motivation and good understanding in their dharma practice.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa Arrives in Bodhgaya, where the Buddha Attained Enlightenment

2008-12-11T22:55:32+00:00

December 11, 2008

His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa arrived at Tergar Monastery at dusk. Many devotees, local Tibetans and six hundred monks have been waiting for hours eagerly to have a glimpse and blessing of His Holiness. He arrived from Delhi via Patna to Bodhgaya. This is the beginning of his annual winter tour.

The monks holding Serbangs were led by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and all the head Khenpos of different monasteries who are attending the annual Karmae Gunchoe Winter Debate.

Video footage and other information are available at the Monlam blog.

The schedule through the 20th:

December 12

His Holiness will visit the Mahabodhi Stupa in the morning. This will be his first visit to the Stupa for this tour. At Tergar in December, His Holiness is formally presiding over the 12th Karmae Gunchoe, the Kagyu Annual Winter Program of Philosophy and Debate (Karma Gön Chö). The Karmae Gunchoe involves extensive debate and philosophical inquiry into the teachings of the Lord Buddha and Kagyu Lineage, and is participated in by khenpos (professors) and monastic students from the different shedras (monastic colleges) of the lineage from all over the region.

The program begins with an address by His Holiness on the importance and relevance of the annual Gunchoe meeting of Karma Kagyu Monastic Colleges.

December 13

His Holiness will conclude the instruction on the Gunchoe program.

December 15-20

His Holiness will give teachings to the 12th Karmae Gunchoe participants on Madhyamaka based on the Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje’s text elucidating on the landmark Prasangika Madhyamaka text by His Holiness the Eighth Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje.

12th Annual Karmae Gunchoe Debate Session from December 11th to 29th, 2008

2008-12-10T22:50:45+00:00

12th Annual Karmae Gunchoe Debate Session from December 11th to 29th, 2008:

His Holiness presides over the 12th Annual Karmae Gunchoe Winter Debate and Logical studies session which will be held at Tergar Monastery located at Bodh Gaya (Bihar). During the Session His Holiness will give teachings on Umaë Dües Dhon Sur khol Senghe Nga ro (Lion’s Roar: The Synopsis of the Middle Way).

Teaching in Bodhgaya from December 31st to January 2nd, 2009:

His Holiness will give a public teaching at Tergar Monastery, the topic will be: “The Teachings of Kagyu Masters.”

More information about this teaching, please click the following link: Hwa Yue Foundation

http://www.hwayue.org.tw/act/Lineage_Teachings_Annoucement_English.html