His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa visits Institut Karmapa in Valderoure

Between July 26 and 29 His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa paid his seventh visit to Institut Karmapa, located at Valderoure, a little village located one and a half hours’ drive from Nice.

The first day of His Holiness’ programme started with a welcome ceremony in which the mayors of Valderoure and surrounding communities and other officials participated. Everyone expressed their delight at receiving His Holiness once again after three years. In his address to the gathered officials Gyalwa Karmapa said that he was very happy to be back once more, expressing his hope that the practice of the Buddha dharma might benefit not only the community of Valderoure but France at large.

His Holiness then continued his commentary of the first chapter of the Bodhicarya-Avatara, which explains the benefits of generating bodhicitta, the enlightened attitude.

In his introductory teaching he said that “we are all followers of the Buddha dharma, the ways and teachings of the Buddha. We can feel the benefit of our practice by having peace, clarity, loving kindness, compassion, wisdom. Because we feel the benefits of our practice we also feel the responsibility as practitioners – and as human beings – to share this knowledge, as was also the wish of the great Buddha. We feel this responsibility to share not because someone told us to do it, not because it is our duty, but because it is in our nature to share useful knowledge.”

Once again, a large part of the time was dedicated to questions and answers, and the devotees made ample use of this opportunity.

His Holiness concluded his programme in Valderoure with the empowerment of Vajrasattva (tib: Dorje Sempa), the wisdom aspect embodying the purifying power of all Buddhas.

He gave detailed and profound explanations on the meaning of the various stages of the empowerment.