25.02.2013, India

Thaye Dorje, the 17th Karmapa visits young cancer patients at AIIMS Hospital

Karmapa International Buddhist Institute, New Dehli, Charity, Puja

Monday, February 25, 2013, was a very special day: not only was it the first full moon of the Tibetan New Year, but also one of the four major sacred days in Buddhism, marking four important events in Buddha Shakyamuni’s life.

This particular day is known as Chotrul Duchen in Tibetan (The ‘Festival of Miracles’). The first fifteen days of the Tibetan year celebrate the fifteen days on which, in order to increase the merit and devotion of future disciples, Buddha displayed various miracles.

Moreover, February 25 also marked the day of the Parinirvana of Marpa Lotsawa, the great translator and founding father of the Tibetan Kagyu lineage. It was he who brought the transmissions that he had received from his main teacher Naropa and his other Indian masters to Tibet.

It is said that on such an auspicious day the effects of all actions – both positive and negative – are multiplied by ten million.

KIB Society chose this day to bring some light and joy to the lives of fifty children suffering from cancer, as well as to their parents and relatives.

KIBS’ Chief Patron, H. H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, accompanied by the Society’s President Professor Sempa Dorje, and some of his monks and KIBS volunteers visited the oncology ward at All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, one of Asia’s largest hospitals.

H. H. Gyalwa Karmapa and Professor Sempa Dorje addressed encouraging words to the young patients and their families who are putting up a brave fight against cancer.

His Holiness distributed toys and clothes collected and donated by KIBS volunteers to the children, stopping at every bed for blessing and a few words of consolation and encouragement.

Karmapa’s blessing sent a strong message to children and parents alike that they are not alone in their struggle and suffering.

Professor Sempa Dorje commended the medical staff and care-givers for their tireless encouragement, love and professional care, acknowledging that their dedication was bound to help the cancer patients and their families to overcome the many ups and downs, fears and obstacles they were faced with.

At the end of the charity event His Holiness returned to K.I.B.I. to join his monks, students and staff in a Milarepa tsok offering puja, followed by the lighting of thousands of lamps.

Report: Rabjam Rikki Caty

Gyalwa Karmapa visits AIIMS Children’s Hospital
Milarepa tsok puja at KIBI:
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Words of Wisdom
The human heart, Bodhicitta, is the most precious of all. While Buddhas are helpful in life, the compassionate heart is even more precious than a Buddha. In the human heart, we see limitless hope.