New Website of the Karmapa Documentary Project:

www.karmapa-news.org is online!

From now on you can find all news about the activities of H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, all the reports from this website and more here.

Follow the Gyalwa Karmapa during his visit to South-East Asia!

From October 7th to November 13th, H. H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa will visit Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. As we are travelling with him, we will keep you informed about all major events as quickly as possible. So keep in touch with www.karmapa-news.org for first hand information! 

May 17th 2006:

Announcement to Karma Kagyu Buddhist Centers in Asia, Europe, and the Americas from the Council of His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa

Being entrusted with the legal and administrative responsibilities of His Holiness the late 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, the trustees of the Karmapa Charitable Trust (KCT) have officially designated His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa the legal heir of his illustrious predecessor. As His Holiness has matured and received the teachings and transmissions of the Karma Kagyu lineage, he has successfully embarked on spreading the Dharma throughout the world. Today even at a relatively young age, he has earned the reverence of people of faith and the respect of public officials.

Established according to previous directives of the KCT trustees and operating under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness, the Council of His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa has begun to assist and advise the 17th Karmapa. especially regarding the Administrative Office of the Rumtek Monastery, seat of His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa. The judicial proceedings in India will soon draw to a conclusion, and every step along the legal way has favourably indicated that the KCT, and thus His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, will soon assume legal control of the monastery.

His Holiness and the Council bear no animosity or disrespect for His Holiness Urgyen Trinley Rinpoche and his genuine followers. According to the former trusties decision, the council wishes it to be known that anyone who had supported the party which took over the Rumtek Monastery, directly or indirectly, should send an apology letter to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje or else be prevented from seeing the holy relics and attending future religious ceremonies at the monastery.

Until peace and religious functions have been properly restored at the Rumtek Monastery, the administrative work of the 17th Karmapa and the International Karma Kagyu Headquarters, founded by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, will temporarily operate from Kalimpong, India. 

Council of His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa

Bajuratna Kothi

11th mile, Kalimpong

West Bengal, India 734301

See the original pdf-document here.

March 13 to 19, 2006: H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa visits Mexico

H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa arrived in Mexico City on March 13th, 2006. He gave two empowerments in Mexico City on March 14th and 15th. On March 15th there was a reception in the Ministry for Internal Affairs with Carlos Abascal Peniche, State Secretary of the Government of Mexico.
On the 16th March 2006 H.H. Karmapa consecrated a Lhabab Chorten Stupa in Valle de Bravo 150 km west of Mexico City. The stupa project was initiated by Casa Tibet under the guidance and inspiration of Lopen Tsechu Rinpoche. After Rinpoche's death, the construction was carried out by Casa Tibet under the spiritual guidance of Gyalwa Karmapa's lamas. The Stupa is 15m high and the construction was completed in one year. Mrs. Monica Pretelini de Peña, wife of the Governor of the State of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto was a guest at the ceremony. Shangpa Rinpoche, Nendo Rinpoche, Lama Ole Nydahl, Marco Antonio Karam, and over 1400 practitioners and guests attended the consecration. After the ceremony His Holiness was received by Ms. Monica Pretelini de Peña in the Governor's private residence in Valle de Bravo.

A rainbow around the sun was seen for many hours during the teachings and the Bodhisattva vow, that Gyalwa Karmapa gave on March 17th at the stupa site.

On 18th of March Gyalwa Karmapa visited and inaugurated the Diamondway Center in Mexico City. After his visit at Casa Tibet on March 19th, he left Mexico and went back to India.
 

See more reports and pictures here.

Photos: Thule G. Jug

December 22, 2005 to January 4, 2006: Gyalwa Karmapa visited Taiwan

H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa was invited by Lopon Tenzin Rinpoche to visit his Karma Kagyu Centers in Taiwan. So H.H. came to Taiwan for the second time after his visit in 1999. Gyalwa Karmapa visited centers in Taipei, Tai-chung, Karma Kagyu Monastery in Tainan District and Kaohsiung. He gave initiations, teachings and blessings to thousands of followers.

See some pictures and reports here.

NEW: Austrian stamp with the portrait of Gyalwa Karmapa!

A special edition with the portrait of Gyalwa Karmapa was printed in a low number recently. It is a little "thank you" for sponsors who support the Karmapa Documentary Project. The stamp has a nominal of Euro 0,55.

For an offering of € 10,-- or more we will send you one stamp.

You can offer the money using the paypal-button. Send us your name and address and specify "stamp" when filling the form at paypal.

New official portraits of H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje:

In November 2005 it was possible to make new official portraits of Gyalwa Karmapa. The photos were taken in his private shrine room in Kalimpong, India.

As a new service we offer a "fair play download" here:

You can download a photo in printing quality for the size 10x15cm and we ask you to give an offering for the Karmapa Documentary Project. You can use the paypal donation button or transfer the money to our account.

But you can of course order the photos in any size and we will send them to you as soon as possible. We also print on canvas now, which gives the photos a very realistic, three dimensional look without reflections.

Get more information here.

November 24 to 27, 2005: Gyalwa Karmapa in Uttar Pradesh, India

In July 2005, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Samaj Sudhar Samiti issued an invitation to His Holiness, the 17^th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje to install and bless Buddha statues at five Buddha Viharas in Uttar Pradesh. Following the invitation, His Holiness visited Agra as well as the Etah and Kannauj Districts of Uttar Pradesh from November 24 to 27, 2005.

His Holiness expressed happiness at all the Viharas and thanked the organizers for facilitating the meeting of the followers and devotees of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

His Holiness advised that the Buddha Dharma's message of compassion and equality could overcome suffering and ensure peace for all living beings.

See some pictures here.

November 19 to 22, 2005: H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa in Bhopal, India

The organising committee of the Golden Jubilee Dhamma Dhiksha Samorah had invited H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa to Bhopal and he followed the invitation on November 20th, 2005.

The SAMORAH 2005 commemorates the historic event of the acceptance of Buddhism by Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar along with a host of followers fifty years ago.

The next day, H.H. paid a visit to the Sanchi Stupa where he was welcomed, among others, by the Maha Bodha Society of Sri Lanka.

See some pictures here.

Gyalwa Karmapas summer tour in Europe 2005

From July to September H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa was travelling in Europe and gave teachings and empowerments to thousands of people. He visited Germany, Ukraine, England, Slovakia, Hungary, France, Austria, Greece and Spain.

See some of our pictures here.

New Audio-CD

The Kagyü Mönlam 2004 – Buddhist Prayers with Gyalwa Karmapa and Künzig Shamarpa

From Dec. 10th to 14th, 2004, the Kagyü-Mönlam took place in Bodhgaya, India. More than 3000 practitioners gathered to practice Paths of Aspirations (or Wishing Prayers) under the guidance of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Thaye Dorje, and Künzig Shamarpa.

This CD gives you the opportunity to take part in one of the sessions of these prayers. Feel the inspiration by listening to it. Please contact us if you wish to obtain the text of the prayers.

Track 1: The Sutra of the Purification from Downfalls on the Bodhisattva-Path, 5 min 51 sec

Track 2: The Prayer in Seven Parts, 1 min 46 sec

Track 3: The King of the Path of Aspirations for the Excellent Activity of the Noble Ones, 1h 7min 11sec

Price: € 12,00 plus costs for postage and packing. Order via E-Mail.

April 18 to May 19, 2005, Dhagpo Kundreul Ling, France

Gyalwa Karmapa gave empowerments in the retreat centers

In February 2005, about 100 practitioners went into the traditional three year retreat in Dhagpo Kundreul Ling, a Karma Kagyu monastery in France, founded by Gendün Rinpoche. Gyalwa Karmapa was asked to give the necessary empowerments to them.

On Monday, April 18, Gyalwa Karmapa arrived from India. At April 19, a welcoming ceremony was performed in the big temple. Monks, nuns but also many laypeople came to welcome him and receive the blessing of Gyalwa Karmapa.

For one month he gave initiations in the retreat centers.

On May 17th a thanksgiving ceremony was performed and on May 18th Gyalwa Karmapa left Dhagpo Kundreul Ling back to India.

More about here.

Gyalwa Karmapa at the First International Buddhist Conference in Mumbai (Bombay)

April 9-10, 2005

Together with the Indian Union Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Culture, Mr. Shri S. Jaipal Reddy, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, Gyalwa Karmapa was Guest of Honour at the conference.

About 900 delegates, mainly from India, attended the conference.

Gyalwa Karmapa gave two speeches and together with the Organising Committee of the conference he led a Peace March with about 1000 participants through the city of Mumbai.

More about here.

A new name for our work: The Karmapa Documentary Project

Our project names "Vienna Dharma Videos" and "Vienna Dharma Photos" have often led to misunderstandings. Some thought that it would be commercial projects, some thought it would be projects of a center in Vienna. To make clear that it is a non commercial project which is documenting the life of Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, Gyalwa Karmapa suggested to use the name "The Karmapa Documentary Project" from now.

It will take a while until this will be changed completely. However - whatever is published under any of those names comes from the trust "Vienna Dharma Projects", which has the aim to support Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje and the Karma Kagyu Tradition.

This project is very expensive of course, and we are not able anymore to cover the costs through the income from selling photos and videos. So we have to ask for further support.

Please support the Karmapa Documentary Project:

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Vienna Dharma Projects, Auhofstr. 39/8, A-1130 Vienna, Austria

Phone/Fax: 0043-1-97 96 869 or 87 65 434, E-mail: vienna.dharma.projects@aon.at