| |
|
|
HH17
Karmapa - Trinley
Thaye Dorje
Birth
Trinley
Thaye Dorje - the 17th Karmapa, was born in 1983 in the Year of the Pig.
He is the first-born of the 3rd Mipham Rinpoche of the Nyingmapa School
of Buddhism. The 17th Karmapa's father is the third reincarnation of the
1st Mipham Rinpoche, who was the head of 13 Nyingma monasteries in Kham,
Tibet. He was a descendant of many generations of doctors and learned
medical scholars. His mother, Dechen Wangmo, is the daughter of a noble
family descended from King Gaesar of Ling.
Ordination
In November
1996, he joined the monkshood by receiving refuge vows at Buddha Gaya
Temple. He then was given the name Trinley (meaning Buddha activity) Thaye
(limitless) Dorje (unchanging).
Arrival at KIBI
HH
17 Karmapa at KIBI |
The
welcoming ceremony for the 17th Karmapa took place on March 17th,
1994 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New
Dehli, India. Several hundred monks and lay people, including many
from the Europe and North America, came for the ceremony.
Other
than through rumor, this event was the first contact between the
new Karmapa Thaye Dorje and the outside world.
|
HH 17 Karmapa gives first Initiation
|
In
March 1996, His Holiness the 17 Karmapa Thaye Dorje gave his first
initiation in this life, that of Chenrezig (Sanskrit : Avalokiteshvara).
The
ritual took place at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute,
Delhi, India. Chenrezig represents the love and compassion of all
Buddhas. His Holiness is regarding as being a manifestation of Chenrezig.
|
|
HH 17
Karmapa giving first Chenrezig initiation (47kb)
|
HH 17 Karmapa
attends Kagyu Monlam
HH 17
Karmapa at the Kagyu
Monlam (43kb) |
In
1996, HH 17 Karmapa attended a Kagyu Monlam at the most sacred site
of Bodhgaya in India. Bodhgaya is the place where Shakyamuni Buddha
attained enlightenment.
|
HH 17 Karmapa
attends the funeral of Topga Rinpoche
|
At
the early age of 16, Togpa Rinpoche was appointed 'Vajra Master'
in Tsurphu Monastery by His Holiness, 16th Karmapa. Later, in exile,
he held the office of secretary general of the Rumtek monastery.
Topga
Rinpoche taught Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist epistemology and Tibetan
linguistics at the KIBI in New Delhi. His was one of His Holinesses
main tutors during that time.
|
|
Topga
Rinpoche (31kb)
|
Rinpoche
died on September 19th, 1997 in Dehli, whilst in meditation. Appropriately
enough on the occasion of such a great teacher's death, something special
in His Holinesses life occured. Karmapa Thaye Dorje was officially invited
to Bhutan for the cremation ceremony and was received with full honours.
A three
hour tour from the Bhutanese border to the capital Thimpu took seven hours
as thousands awaited him along the road. On October 17th, 1997 three thousand
came for his blessing and the whole royal family including the king and
his four queens received him as the 17th Karmapa.
HH 17 Karmapa
tours South East Asia
|
HH 17
Karmapa at KKBC,
Singapore (66kb)
|
As
part of His Holiness 17th Karmapa's tour of south east Asia at the
end of 1999, His Holiness paid a week long visit to the Singapore
Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre. During his visit in October / November,
His Holiness gave refuge vows, and conducted a number of initiations,
and pujas.
For
images from this visit, please go
to this page.
|
|
In
November 1999, the Kuala Lumpur centre (Karma Kagyu Dharma Society)
was honoured to host a visit by HH 17 Karmapa. During his visit,
His Holiness gave refuge vows, and conducted both Karma Pakshi (the
2nd Karmapa) and Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) initiations, as well
as several pujas.
For
images from this visit, please go
to this page.
|
|
HH 17th
Karmapa just before giving Karma Pakshi Initiation
(76kb)
|
HH 17 Karmapa's
tour of Europe
|
HH 17
Karmapa with Lopon
Tsechu Rinpoche at Karma Gon,
Spain, (66kb)
|
From
January to August 2000, HH 17th Karmapa visited
Europe, and conducted many ceremonies and gave many empowerments
in Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Switzerland, Poland,
and Denmark.
For
many more images from this visit, please go
to this page.
|
HH17
Karmapa attends Opening of Drubgyud Choeling Monastery, Lumbini, Nepal
|
Drubgyud
Choeling Monastery, Lumbini, Nepal, was officially opened on 21
November 2001, with HH 17th Karmapa, Thaye Dorje in attendance.
The objective of the monastery, which is under Shangpa
Rinpoche, is to provide an environment in Lord Buddha's birthplace
that is beneficial for the pilgrim who wants to enhance his spiritual
growth in this special place.
|
|
HH 17th
Karmapa at the opening ceremony (137kb)
|
Whilst at
the monastery, His Holiness gave an Amitayus empowerment. He also attended
a Kagyu Monlam, and visited the sacred site of Kapilavastu, where Shakyamuni
Buddha grew up in his father's palace.
For images
from this visit, please go to this page,
or for fuller details, visit Shangpa
Rinpoche's site, under the 'events' section.
Currently, HH 17th Karmapa, Thaye Dorje continues to reside at the Karmapa
International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in India where he is pursuing
an intensive Buddhist education.
Please us
the navigation bar at the top to visit the many other pages on His Holiness's
life and activities in the Kagyu Asia website.
|
|
|
|
