“We have the same basic responsibility which underlies everything in our life. This is getting hold of our mind.” – Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, A Guide to Shamatha and Vipashyana Meditation
When his Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa came to the West, he was asked what practice would be appropriate for Westerners. He said that he felt the most appropriate practice was Mahamudra.
Inspired by the path of simplicity, Thrangu Rinpoche — who was recognized by the 16th Karmapa, served as abbott of Rumtek Monastery, and whom Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche described as the abbott of the Karma Kagyü lineage — taught Shamatha and Vipashyana meditation to students new to, and already practicing, the Dharma.
Dharma Ebooks recently published a collection of Thrangu Rinpoche’s teachings, A Guide to Shamatha and Vipashyana, in which Rinpoche explains “ that regardless of what our particular responsibilities and work in this life may be, the practice of Mahamudra will be effective in achieving realization.”
Guided by Rinpoche’s teachings and drawing from the instructions of other Karma Kagyü masters, we will study and contemplate the practice of Shamatha and Vipashyana to take hold of our minds.
Sunday Meditation for All
Meditation can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, and will benefit ourselves and others in the short and the long term. So, whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner, familiar with the Dharma or simply curious, you are more than welcome to join us on Sunday for our weekly Meditation for All session.
What: Meditation for All: Shamatha and Vipashyana When: Every Sunday, 10:30 – 11:30 AM Central Time (Chicago, USA) Where: Online on Zoom
Registration
Making an Offering
Making an offering or donation is optional and is not required to register for our Meditation for All: Shamatha and Vipashyana. You can join for free by selecting “Free Ticket.” If you would like, you can make a donation of any amount to support our Stūpa Project and our weekly meditation session. After selecting a free ticket or making an offering below, the Zoom link and other practical information will be delivered in a confirmation email.
Purpose of Practice
The purpose of all practice, Thrangu Rinpoche says, “is to clear away the negative emotions and thoughts that afflict our mind, thereby allowing our good qualities to develop.” By taking the responsibility of getting hold of our mind through practice, we can develop a state of mental happiness and peace, and be more effective in our actions for the benefit of all beings.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Karmapa Khyenno!
KC16’s Tibetan Language Class: Basic Dharma Discourses
On Sunday evening, we continue to study and practice basic dharma discourses in our Tibetan Language Class together with some colloquial conversations, grammar, and the art of translating Tibetan. Everyone is welcome to join.
In 1980, the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, embarked upon three international teaching tours throughout North America, Europe, and East Asia, where he spent 10 days in Hong Kong.
At that time, Tibetan Buddhism was unfamiliar to most people, yet wherever the Karmapa went, extraordinary auspicious connections and spiritual exchanges naturally arose.
The following excerpt recounts a story from the 16th Karmapa’s teachings in Hong Kong, which once again demonstrates the power of his blessings and his profound kindness.
The Story of a Loyal Dog
As the Karmapa was about to leave Hong Kong’s Myoho Temple, a small dog suddenly began wailing inconsolably, even shedding real tears. The dog had first appeared at the monastery that very morning, upon the Karmapa’s arrival. From that moment on, it followed His Holiness everywhere, even waiting faithfully outside the temple during the luncheon. The dog demonstrated such devotion that the monastery monks assumed it was one of the Karmapa’s own dogs.
After the Karmapa departed, the dog continued to visit the temple, often placing its paws together in prayer before the abbot’s seat. Ultimately, the abbot permitted it to stay, and it lived out its days peacefully within the monastery—one of many beings whose fate was altered by the Karmapa’s brief stay.
Mahayana and Vajrayana: Journeying Together, Hand in Hand
When the 16th Karmapa first visited Hong Kong in 1980, Tibetan (Vajrayana) Buddhism was still novel and unfamiliar to the local community. Yet, an extraordinary connection immediately formed between His Holiness and the late Venerable Master Chokguang, then Chairman of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, and who is still deeply revered today.
Master Chokgu described the moment when the Karmapa took his hand and announced he would confer an empowerment at the opening ceremony of Master Chokgu’s new center in a few days as “truly unbelievable.” The ceremony had been planned for months, and the Karmapa happened to be in Hong Kong for the center’s opening day. The empowerment was thus arranged on short notice to take place after the luncheon that day.
Despite no prior publicity, thousands flocked to the venue seeking the “Red Avalokiteshvara Empowerment” from the 16th Karmapa, prompting Hong Kong police to maintain order.
Thus began the Mahayana and Vajrayana journey for many lucky people.
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Karmapa Center 16 commemorates His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s parinirvāṇa every year on November 5, the day of his passing at AIC, now called City of Hope Cancer Treatment Center, in Zion, Illinois. In addition to this full day of traditional pujas and practices in Tibetan, we will hold our second 16th Gyalwang Karmapa Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat on the weekend of November 1 and 2, and practice Amitabha on November 6.
On November 6, as part of this year’s 44th Parinirvāṇa Anniversary of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, we will practice the Namchö Dewachen sādhana—“The Recitation Manual for the Sādhana of Sukhāvatī from the Profound Cycle of the Whispered Lineage of the Heart-Treasure of the Namchö.” This Amitabha practice is especially relevant for our time because:
We have the opportunity to act for the benefit of ourselves and others, making our human life meaningful and fruitful.
Amitabha teaches that genuine aspiration toward Sukhāvatī or Dewachen, combined with focused mind and positive deeds, creates the path for rebirth there. One way of thinking about rebirth is simply as the next moment—supporting both our own well-being and that of the global community day by day.
To open this path, we need to sincerely aspire to be born in Dewachen or Sukhāvatī, cultivate virtuous actions, and dedicate the merit of these actions for the benefit of all beings.
Making Offerings Part of this practice includes making offerings and dedicating our practice for loved ones who have recently passed. The prayers and recitations will be chanted in Tibetan. The names of deceased loved ones will be screenshared.
You are warmly invited to join this practice onsite or online–participating through meditation and reciting Amitabha’s mantra–by registering for our 44th Parinirvana Anniversary. You can make a dedicated Amitabha offering during registration by selecting “In honor/memory of.”
16th Gyalwang Karmapa Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat 2025
In honor of the 44th Parinirvāṇa Anniversary, we will also host our second 16th Gyalwang Karmapa Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat on November 1 and 2. This will be held online and onsite in Hong Kong with special teachings by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, His Eminence the 12th Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, and Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche.
We hope you will join us to learn more about the inspiring life and teachings of the 16th Karmapa and to receive instructions on elegantly concise and profound Guru Yoga Sadhana, “Rainfall of Nectar,” composed by the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje.
Teachings will be in Tibetan or English with translation into Mandarin, Cantonese, and English (when teachings are in Tibetan). Practice sessions will be in Chinese.
Recordings will be made available on November 12 to all registrants. You will receive information on how to access the recordings via email.
A Zoom link and more practical information for joining live (online or onsite) will be shared after registration.
Please note that the registration for this Guru Yoga Teaching and our Parinirvāṇa Anniversary on November 5 and 6 are separate.
We hope you will join us for our various activities on the occasion of the 44th Parinirvāṇa Anniversary of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. May we all be inspired by life and teachings of His Holiness and bring the same compassion and enlightened activities into our lives for the benefit of the world.
SCHEDULE
44th Parinirvāṇa Anniversary at Karmapa Center 16 and online
All times are shown in the local time zone, Central Standard Time (Chicago). Please note: Daylight Saving Time ends on November 2, 2025.
*Schedule for KC16 pujas onsite in Wadsworth, IL, USA on November 5, 2025 Click here to see the start time in your local time zone.
Registration
Please register for our 44th Parinirvāṇa Anniversary on November 5 and Amitabha practice on November 6 below. After making an offering (of any amount), a resource page with Zoom links and participation information will be automatically emailed to you. If you don’t see it, please check your spam folder.
Thank you for being part of this year’s Parinirvāṇa Anniversary. We look forward to practicing with you.
During the month of July, over 108 practitioners from around the world joined together for Karmapa Center 16’s first shared walk or “kora” (circumambulation) practice at the Boudha Stūpa (Jarung Kashor) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Preparing for Our Walks
Before our practice began, Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche kindly shared some personal reflections on pilgrimage. Through the generosity of several organizations, we prepared a small bag with practical items to support participants on their walks around the Stūpa. Each bag also included a calligraphy card by the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, as well as caring instructions for kora practice from Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
The Experience of Walking Around the BoudhaStūpa
Some participants began their walks in the quiet hours before dawn, while others came during the day or evening, joining the continuous stream of devoted Dharma practitioners walking around the Stūpa. In just a few days—or slowly, over the span of several weeks—everyone completed at least 108 circumambulations around this sacred place.
The practice was deeply felt by everyone. One participant shared the following heartfelt words:
“Since I could feel this practice was for the benefit of all living beings, Every step became charged with mindfulness. While we are circumambulating the Stūpa in this way, I felt our aspirations could reverse the wheel of karma. Slowly removing all obstacles, Alleviating disasters, Big things become small, Small things become nothing. So, when feeling tired I encouraged myself to continue. Circumambulating as much as I could. Since the more I walk, The more sentient beings could benefit.”
Many described feeling the gaze of the Buddha above them, and spoke about the inspiration and support they found through this shared practice. The experience of walking kora held an extra layer of significance for many, as this period also coincided with the Parinirvana Anniversary of Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche—a direct student of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa and a great Kagyü master. This alignment further deepened our practice and strengthened our resolve to walk in their footsteps, inspired by their lives and teachings.
It was heartwarming to hear their stories and how they felt joining the kora practice during this time was a real support on their spiritual path and encouragement to continue practicing the Dharma after returning home.
16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga and Tshok Offering
During this month of July, On July 6, 2025, Karmapa Center 16 organized its first Guru Yoga practice and Tshok offering at the sacred Boudha Stupa (Jarung Kashor) in Kathmandu, Nepal, with the kind support of our friends at Dilyak Monastery—located near the Stupa and the residence of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa during his pilgrimages and teachings in Nepal.
A large tent was set up with a thangka of His Holiness at the center of a beautiful mandala. Under the gaze of the Buddha’s eyes from the Stupa, everyone—onsite and online—came together to practice the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga, Rainfall of Nectar, with heartfelt devotion. We chanted the mantra together, invoking the blessings of the guru for our path and awaken the enlightened qualities from within—Karmapa Khyenno!
Soon after completing the practice and tshok offering, a heavy rain began to fall, as if blessing the gathering.
Walking the Path of Freedom for the Benefit of All
We extend our deep gratitude to all who participated and all who supported our kora and guru yoga practice in countless ways. The funds raised, and the merit generated through our collective effort, will help advance our ongoing Stūpa Project, and we hope it may inspire many more to walk the path of freedom, for the benefit of all.
Karmapa Khyenno!
Join Our Mailing List
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
From April 11 till April 19, special pujas (meditation practice with melodic chants and instruments) will be held at Karmapa Center 16 in preparation for the onsite groundwork that will begin later this spring. This is a significant step forward in our three-phased project and will literally create the foundations for the Parinirvāṇa Stupa Temple, a residence for His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, and two retreat houses.
The pujas are intended to remove any obstacles, create the most auspicious conditions for the engineers, all workers, and volunteers to start our work together, and to promote environmental harmony. You are warmly invited to join our practices onsite or online, and make offerings in support of the lamas, practices, and the second phase of our Stupa Project. A link will be sent after an offering of any amount.
Schedule
Friday April 11 to Thursday, April 17
time (Central Time, UTC-6)
puja
9:00–10:00 AM
ཟབ་ཏིག་སྒྲོལ་མ། Green Tara
10:30–12:00 PM
མགོན་པོའི་བསྐང་གསོལ། Mahakala Practice 1
2:00–3:30 PM
མགོན་པོའི་བསྐང་གསོལ། Mahakala Practice 2
4:00 – 5:30 PM
མགོན་པོའི་བསྐང་གསོལ། Mahakala Practice 3
Schedule for KC16 pujas onsite in Wadsworth, IL, USA from April 11 to April 17, 2025 Click here to see the start time in your local time zone.
Saturday, April 19th, 2025
time (US Central Time, UTC-6)
puja
10:00–12:00 PM
ལོ་ནག་བཅོས་བུམ། Vase Ceremony
Schedule for KC16 ceremony onsite in Wadsworth, IL, USA on April 19, 2025 Click here to see the start time in your local time zone.
Be Inspired by the Lineage of the Karmapas
We feel very fortunate to take this next step as part of creating a place for pilgrimage, study, and practice of the Dharma, the Kagyü, and especially the lineage of the Karmapas. In particular, to commemorate and be inspired by the life and teachings of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. May all be auspicious!
Last year (2024) marked the 43rd Parinirvāṇa Anniversary of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. Preceding our annual pujas and prayers on November 5th, the day of His Holiness’ passing, we hosted our first extensive 16th Karmapa Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat onsite in Taiwan and online from November 1 to 3. We felt humbled and honored by the hundreds of people who joined us from around the world, and especially for His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, who gave a special teaching during this retreat. Below is a summary of the teachings and practices, and how to make guru yoga a lifelong remembrance of the inspiring life and enlightened presence of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa.
Day 1: Guru Yoga and Lung of the Rainfall of Nectar
Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche opened our 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat by briefly explaining the meaning and practice of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga, “Rainfall of Nectar,” and the Karmapa’s personal connection with this practice. Rinpoche noted that this was one of the very first Dharma teachings he received, as a small child, from His Holiness.
Later, the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, instructed Rinpoche to offer reading transmissions or lungs of “Rainfall of Nectar” as one of his responsibilities. After Rinpoche received the lung from His Eminence the 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche, he then supplicated Gyaltsab Rinpoche to explain how to do the practice and to compose a commentary. Drupon Rinpoche’s teachings on the first evening of our Guru Yoga Teachings were based on His Eminence’s instructions and commentary.
One of the aspects Rinpoche pointed out is how the guru is equal to the Buddhas in terms of excellent qualities. Yet, the guru excels the Buddha in terms of kindness as he/she can directly guide someone to move away from negative qualities and cultivate positive qualities in terms of body, speech, and mind.
Sharing the qualities and activities of the 16th Karmapa, Rinpoche added that His Holiness was able to liberate the mindstream of others with his enlightened speech. Rinpoche shared various stories to illustrate this. He also pointed out how His Holiness’ great love and compassion for animals was made evident by his actions.
In addition to his teachings, explanation of the practice, and reading transmission/lung of the 16th Karmapa’s “Rainfall of Nectar” Guru Yoga practice, Rinpoche said that he doesn’t have the prajna of hearing, the experience of meditation, or the power of giving blessings himself, but through what was offered during the Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat, the compassion and blessings of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa would be transferred to all present. Along these lines, we concluded the evening with the following prayer: “May everyone attain the state of the enlightened body, speech, and mind of the guru.”
Day 2: Devotion and special teaching by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa
On the second day of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat, we started practicing HH16K’s “Rainfall of Nectar,” under the guidance of Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche.
Later that morning, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche gave his first retreat teaching. He shared that “we are very fortunate to have this opportunity to be together and remember such an enlightened master [the 16th Karmapa], and having this opportunity to connect with the heart of the Karmapa lineage through the heart of the guru.” He taught that practicing is the key emphasis of this lineage and, therefore, this lineage is called the practice lineage. He also shared how His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, in countless ways, was the very embodiment of this lineage, which he passed on to others, and how his presence showed the meaning of being a genuine guru, the Buddha in person.
In the afternoon, following another Guru Yoga Practice Session, Acharya Jampa offered more instructions about how we find a guru and, once we do, that our practice is not only something we do on the cushion. We have to put it into action in everyday life and, like the great masters, benefit all sentient beings. By doing so, we can be the enlightened activity of the Karmapa. This is, Acharya Jampa-la said, what His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, always encourages us to be.
In the evening, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa kindly offered a special teaching. He pointed out that the main point of guru yoga is devotion. Since having devotion towards someone you have never seen or met is not that easy, His Holiness said it would be good to hear stories about the 16th Karmapa from those who were familiar with him. This way we can know his activities and qualities. So, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa passed on some of the stories as told by people close to the 16th Karmapa, along with his personal feelings, which concluded our second day.
Day 3: Genuine Practice
Both Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche expressed how fortunate and blessed they felt by receiving teachings and hearing stories about the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, from His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Both Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche then generously shared some of their own experiences and offered further instructions on how to practice dharma and deepen our inner experience in general, and how to rely on a genuine guru with a heart of devotion in particular.
Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche pointed out how illness can deepen our experience and understanding of the teachings, like the nine ways of the genuine ones, and the importance of putting them into practice. He also kindly offered some time for questions.
Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche taught about the five things we need to know regarding guru yoga practice based on the oral lineage of Patrul Rinpoche and his disciples. He emphasized that “the method of relying on the guru is devotion, not protocol.” It is a matter of the heart, he said, not our heads. Through our hearts, we can see the excellent qualities of the guru, have the realization of wisdom arise in our mind-stream, and do everything we can to benefit sentient beings. This concluded our 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat for 2024.
November 5: 43rd Parinirvāṇa Anniversary
The following Tuesday, on November 5th, we commemorated the 43rd anniversary of the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa’s parinirvāṇa with our annual pujas and prayers.
We recited the supplication to the Dagpo Kagyü, practiced His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga, sang songs, did Mahakala practice, and made offerings and dedications at Nalandabodhi Taichung’s dharma center, Namkha Ösal. Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche presided over the activities..
Towards the end, Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche shared a little bit about the history behind Karmapa Center 16. He pointed out that the place of the passing of a great master, in this case His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, is traditionally considered a sacred area, full of blessings. Therefore, building his Holiness’s Parinirvāṇa Stūpa and the entire Stūpa Project is a way to honor the great dharma king, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. It also offers a place for pilgrimage, study, and practice of the dharma in general, the Kagyü in particular, and especially the lineage of the Karmapas.
Under the guidance of our resident teacher, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering, and kindly joined by Lama Tashi Gawa plus many dharma friends onsite and online, our annual parinirvāṇa pujas and guru yoga practices were also held (in Tibetan) at Karmapa Center 16. A beautiful mandala was created with a special statue of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa for the day’s practice. Acharya expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped make this offering possible.
With these practices, we fully concluded the 43rd Parinirvāṇa Anniversary of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje.
Words of Gratitude
Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche noted at the conclusion of our Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat and completion of our pujas on Tuesday, November 5th, that we were very fortunate to be able to have this year’s extensive commemoration onsite in Taiwan and online, with teachings on His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
All of this was only possible thanks to everyone at Karmapa Center 16 in the United States, members of KC16’s team in Taiwan, all benefactors and sponsors, and all volunteers. While many of the volunteers never met His Holiness the 16th Karmapa in person, everyone helped so much through their appreciation of His Holiness’ kindness and enlightened activities.
It is with deep gratitude that we were able to gather and practice together onsite and online, with the presence of the sacred relics of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa.
In the words of Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche: “I want to thank His Holiness the 17th Karmapa for his great compassion, giving us the lung (reading transmission) of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga, and teaching us about Rangjung Rigpe Dorje’s life and enlightened qualities. I want to thank Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche for his teachings on Guru Yoga and personal advice. Finally, I want to thank all coming from far and wide for this year’s significant anniversary of the 16th Karmapa. Thank you.”
We feel extremely grateful and blessed for the precious words by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, and wish for His Holiness to live long and continue to benefit all sentient beings.
May all of our activities to remember and honor the compassion and enlightened activities of the 16th Karmapa, along with putting the teachings of the Dharma and the lineage of the Karmapas into action, be for the benefit of everyone in this world.
Karmapa Khyenno!
PHOTO GALLERY
Next year: 44th parinirvāṇa anniversary
Together with our annual pujas and prayers on November 5th, 2025, we will commemorate His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, with another guru yoga weekend retreat from October 31st till November 2nd, onsite in Hong Kong and online. Please save the date and join us again to make guru yoga a lifelong remembrance of the inspiring life and enlightened presence of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa.
Since October of last year, our resident teacher, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering, has offered guided meditation and short dharma teachings every Sunday at Karmapa Center 16, and friends in the area have been able to join us onsite.
As everyone is welcome, and no prior experience is needed, Acharya calls the Sunday sessions Meditation for All.
We are delighted to announce that beginning January 14, 2024, Acharya’s teaching and the opportunity to practice together, will be offered online, so that Meditation for All will, indeed, be available to all!
Please join us onsite or online!
Foronline access,pleaseregister here for the Zoom link. The sessions begin at 10 am and finish at 11:30 am Central Standard Time. Please be sure to log onto Zoom a few minutes before we start. Below, you can find a few other guidelines that will help all of us practice together in the most beneficial way possible.
We aspire to follow in the footsteps of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa by offering Meditation for All to everyone and practicing together as he once expressed:
“I will always exert myself in dharmic recitation, proclamations, and readings. In mind, I will not flutter back and forth like a young bird on a branch. Not getting absorbed in discursive thoughts of good and bad, I will meditate, cultivating forbearance and relying on my own perceptions, not those of others. I will reflect on how best to benefit the teachings and beings.”
On behalf of board members, staff, and volunteers, it is with deep sadness that Karmapa Center 16 announces the passing of our beloved friend, Phuntsok Bist, Founding Board Member, Vice President, and Treasurer. Lama Phuntsok passed away in the early morning hours of December 5th near Zion, Illinois, location of the parinirvana of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa. Lama Phuntsok dedicated his life to serving His Holiness Karmapa and the Karma Kagyu lineage, and kept his monastic vows from age 12 until the end of his life. His passing is a tremendous loss for us all.
After completing the monastic training at the Rumtek Monastery, he was appointed the junior chant master and soon became the teacher and administrator of Jamyang Khang, the monastery’s primary school. For many years, he served as Umdze and Chant Master at Dharma Chakra Center, Rumtek and also went into short retreats.
Due to a medical condition, in 1993 he took leave from the monastery and travelled to the United States for treatment. Lama Phuntsok worked as a volunteer teacher at the Karma Theksum Choling monastery until 2000, where he taught Tibetan language and literature, and monastic rituals. Also at this time, Lama Phuntsok was appointed the Dronyer Chenmo, Chief Public Relation Officer of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa in exile in India, and served until 2011. In 2012, Lama Phuntsok semi-retired and settled in the United States of America. Since that time he has been continually serving the Karma Kagyu lineage in a variety of ways, including the establishment of Karmapa Center 16 in Wadsworth, Illinois. The vision of this project is to commemorate the life of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa with a stupa, memorial, meditation hall, retreat center, and a place to learn and study Buddhism, and the history of the Karmapa lineage.
Lama Phuntsok will be remembered as a dedicated and devoted individual who lived his life helping others with kindness, gentleness, and a robust sense of humor. Donations for the traditional end of life practices and in memory of his life can be made at www.karmapacenter16.org/donate. May all be auspicious!
Sincerely,
Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche
Founding Board Member & President Karmapa Center 16
On the 4oth anniversary of the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje’s parinirvana, the Karmapa Center 16 held a five-day commemoration joined by Tibetan Buddhist masters with a special connection to His Holiness, such as His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche, His Eminence Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Khandro Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Ayang Rinpoche and Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche.
These special events included two days of prayers to Medicine Buddha and three days of practice on the Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje Guru Yoga. Tai Situ Rinpoche and Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche each composed a Guru Yoga for Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. Both of these are practiced in alternation at the Karmapa Center 16, annually. This year’s 40th anniversary coincided with the turn of the Guru Yoga composed by Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche. The events were joined in person by 13 members of the sangha, several lay practitioners and many more followers over the internet.
Guru Yoga shrine
The teachings and addresses offered by the various Buddhist masters centered, in general, on their experience with His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, and in particular, the teachings they received from him.
Karmapa Center 16 celebrated the extraordinary, enlightened activities of the 16th Karmapa on the occasion of his 40th parinirvana anniversary.
On the great occasion of Saka Dawa, the lamas of the Karmapa Center 16 performed praises and aspirational prayers to the Buddha Shakyamuni, today. On this day, the extraordinary deeds the Buddha manifested 2,600 years ago are remembered by Buddhists all over the world. Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche said that for Tibetan Buddhists, a small difference lies in the way the 15th day of this lunar month day is observed. Some commemorate this full moon day for the Buddha’s deeds of having entered into the womb of his mother, having attained enlightenment and passing into mahaparanirvana. While other Tibetan Buddhists regard his birth, his enlightenment and his passing into mahaparanirvana today. The difference between these two is that the first observes the conception, while the second the birth of the Buddha as the first deed.
Drupon Rinpoche said this lunar month makes special emphasis of six extraordinary deeds of the Buddha. On the seventh day, Tibetan Buddhists remember the Buddha entering his mother’s womb or taking birth; on the eight day, developing renunciation and becoming ordained; and on the 15th day, entering his mother’s womb, or taking birth, overcoming the Mara’s hosts, becoming fully enlightened, and manifesting passing into mahaparanirvana.
We have to apply these deeds of the Buddha to ourselves so that we can remember that we also can attain enlightenment, said Rinpoche. “We also have the capacity to attain these qualities,” Rinpoche added.
