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BODHICITTA WISHES
CELEBRATING THE 21ST BIRTHDAY OF HIS HOLINESS
THE 17TH KARMAPA
By Charlee Parkinson
The auspicious occasion of the birth of His Holiness the 17t Gyalwang Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje was celebrated in Sidbhari, India on June 26, 2006. As it was the momentous twenty-first birthday of His Holiness, the event was celebrated on a grand scale and was attended by respected rinpoches, lamas, dignitaries, delegates from Kagyu centers around the world, devoted students, international press and friends who had come to honor His Holiness. They assembled in large numbers in the courtyard and temple of Gyuto Tantric University waiting for His Holiness' arrival.
As people gathered, a question arose in conversation among friends in the diverse assembly: If you could offer anything to the Karmapa for his birthday, what would you give him? Many people shared the same sentiment.
"Of course long life, good health, happiness and also a visa so he may travel soon throughout the world and spread the buddhadharma for all sentient beings," said Richard from America.
Lee from Austria said, "I would wish that he can go wherever he wants to go. That everybody should be able to see him at least once."
Stephanie from Switzerland said, "I would give him space, lots of space. I would wish for him to have good students around him and devoted people who work for his welfare and for the welfare of the dharma."
At the end of the afternoon, a giant cake was offered to His Holiness, which his holiness himself cut first and offered to the gathered public."Happy Birthday" was sung with great fervor as the throngs of guests expressed their best wishes for the twenty-first birthday of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa. The event was celebrated with great devotion and appreciation by all in attendance.
The next day representatives of the international community who had come to join the birthday celebrations gathered in the main shrine room of Gyuto to receive a teaching from the Karmapa. As His Holiness entered the temple, a wave of reverence and anticipation spread throughout the room. His Holiness began by expressing his gratitude for the many gifts he had been given and that he wished, in return, to offer the gift of bodhichitta to those who had celebrated and shared this special time with him.
His Holiness generously offered a teaching about bodhichitta:
Sentient beings are the root and source of all the qualities we wish to achieve for ourselves. We should learn to see all sentient beings in this world equally, as we see our friends and those who are affectionate and kind to us. With this motivation, we can give rise to an attitude in our mind that we can really benefit others and that this has occured is of extreme fortune. Even if we are not able to carry out this wish to benefit all sentient beings right in this moment, the fact that we have had this intention here is of extreme benefit. Recognizing this, we can give rise to the further aspiration that all sentient beings may equally be able to share this fortune with us. Through this understanding, we will dedicate the merit to freely share this fortune with all others in this world.
After the teaching, His Holiness gave bodhisattva vows. A shower of katas was then offered to His Holiness who sat upon his throne with serene enthusiasm, and blessing cords and mani pills were received with great appreciation from everyone in the gathering. At the conclusion of the session in the temple, the guests gathered in the temple grounds where they were offered lunch and tea, compliments of the Tsurphu Labrang.
This was the birthday wish of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa and it was shared by all who had the good fortune to celebrate the auspicious occasion in his presence.
©2003 Charlee Parkinson/Thunderbolt Productions.
Society & Environment BODHI VOLUME 8 , NO. 3
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