Welcome to the website of The Karmapa Documentary Project.

The life of H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje is documented with photos and videos since 1994.

Enjoy following his activities with us.

Dear Dharma friends,

This year on the 15th of November, 2010, the Official Administration of Rumtek Seat organizes and conducts in Bodhgaya the 900 year anniversary celebration in memory of the first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa. This celebration will be lead by Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, accompanied by many Rinpoches and monks.

The main ceremony will start at 9am at the foot of the Mahabodhi stupa, where a special puja for receiving the blessing of Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa and the masters of the Kagyü Lineage will be performed.

In the evening, the Karmapa Monastery of Beru Khyentse Rinpoche (Karma Dhargye Chokhorling) will host a reception. This event will be opened by an inauguration speech by Shamar Rinpoche. As a guest speaker, the vice chancellor of Mangada University of Bodhgaya is invited. Professor Sempa Dorje will give a lecture on the life and accomplishments of the First Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa. And the conclusion speech will be held by the abbot of the monastery.

We are requesting at least three people of each Dharma center to attend the celebration and pay respect to Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa.

This year’s Kagyu Monlam Chenmo will take place from December 27 until January 3, 2011.

Lodreu Rabsel Rinpoche

Temporary General Secretary to His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa

All queries about the particulars of this event as well as for travel and lodging should be submitted to ktdhondup@gmail.com

Dear members of Karma Kagyu monasteries and centers,

On the 13th of August, 2010, I met His Holiness the Dalai Lama at 9am in Dharamsala at His Holiness’ residence. We had a discussion for approximately one and a half hours and had a very important and detailed exchange of views regarding the ongoing Karmapa controversy and its possible solution.

Although this matter is not easily resolved, since it is connected to the politics of China and India as well, with His Holiness Dalai Lama’s blessing and support I am confident that there will be an amicable solution, which will be beneficial for the Karma Kagyü lineage, as well as for Tibetan Buddhism in general.

Shamarpa

Dear Dharma Friends,

I would like to take this opportunity to convey my most sincere sympathy and commiseration for the tragic events that recently have significantly affected the lives of thousands of people in Ladakh. I pray that all who have suffered under such unimaginable circumstances will find their way with ease to a place of peace and freedom from the state of affairs they have been forced to deal with these past days. I am deeply saddened by what has occurred and therefore to do my part as a spiritual and religious leader to conduct prayer services and ceremonies in the tradition of Buddhist faith, of which Ladakh has long been a haven of for centuries. I encourage all who are able to also make prayers and wishes for a quick recovery and smooth transition for those who have passed in this as well as other recent catastrophic events that have shaken the world and brought so much sorrow to so many people such as Haiti, Iceland, Pakistan and today's most recent devastating landslide in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

With prayers,

Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje

The Four Seals of Dharma - A Teaching by the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje

Recorded on March 11, 2010 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi, India.

Length: 1 hour 32 minutes

Language: English

Videosystem: PAL or NTSC (please let us know, what you need)

Price: € 18.00, plus postage

Click here to order.

Click on the image for video preview.

About 800 monks and lamas from all over India and also from Tibet and Nepal celebrated Buddha Purnima in Delhi under the guidance of His Holiness, 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism on Thursday, May 27.

This year the date of the Buddha Purnima as per the Hindu calendar has coincided with that of the Tibetan calendar and this has happened for the first time according to the South Asia Buddhist Association.

An association member said, "This makes the day very auspicious. This is why monks and lamas from all over the country, and Nepal and Tibet gather here to offer prayers and perform ceremonial practices."

On this occasion, special prayers were organized at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute located in the Qutab Institutional Area of South Delhi by the association.

The prayers commenced at 11:30 a.m. and continued till evening. An association member said, "After the prayers, we gave floral tributes to Lord Buddha, which is a part of our tradition."

The date of Buddha Purnima falls on a full moon night in Vaisakha month which is either April or May. This day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.

Some of the press coverage of Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje at the Buddha Purnima celebrations at the KIBI

The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje requests his students in two letters from May 5 and May 6 2010, to recite mantras for the victims of natural disasters.

Once again this year, beginning on December 27, 2010 the Kagyu Monlam will be held for about one week at the holy site of Bodh Gaya.

As at previous Monlams, the practices will be led by Gyalwa Karmapa and Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche.  

After the end of this year's study course, during two days (from March 10 to 11) the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa gave teachings and initiations at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi, India.

This extraordinary event marks the end of the KIBI term, but was also open to practitioners who have not participated in the study course. The subject of the teaching was "The four Seals", and Gyalwa Karmapa gave the initiations of Manjushri, White Tara and Marpa.

See photos and read a report here.

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