Parinirvāṇa Anniversaries
Yearly Celebrations at the Parinirvāṇa Site
Anniversary Celebrations
Karmapa Center 16 commemorates His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje’s parinirvāṇa every year on November 5th, the day of his passing in 1981 at the clinic which is now called City of Hope Cancer Treatment Center, in Zion, Illinois. Since 2015, His Holiness’ passing is officially commemorated in this sacred area at KC16 itself which is located approximately five miles west of the exact parinirvāṇa site (in neighboring Wadsworth, Illinois).
At the heart of our annual parinirvāṇa anniversary celebrations, varying from three to ten days, is the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga practice, together with Green Tara and Mahakala Pujas. In addition, there are often teachings about these practices, the life of His Holiness, and the buddhadharma in general by great masters and students of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. You are always welcome to join us. If you do not yet receive our newsletter (send out only a few times a year), please consider signing up to stay updated about these activities and other updates.
The Place of Parinirvāṇa Becoming a Sacred Site
For Buddhist practitioners, the death of a teacher such as the 16th Karmapa is called parinirvāṇa—enlightenment or complete awakening—and the area surrounding the location of such an occurrence becomes a very significant place, a place of pilgrimage.
Once, the Buddha Shakyamuni was asked by his disciple Ananda, “What should we tell the followers in the future after you pass away into parinirvana?” The Buddha answered, “There are four places, Ananda, that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence. What are the four? ‘Here the Tathagata [the one who has gone beyond all transitory phenomena] was born.’ ‘Here the Tathagata became fully enlightened.’ ‘Here the Tathagata set in motion the wheel of the dhamma.’ ‘Here the Tathagata passed away into the state of nibbana in which no element of clinging remains!’ And the monk, the nun, the layman or laywoman who has faith should visit these places…” (Digha Nikaya 16.5)
During the 36th parinirvāṇa anniversary, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche taught that there is a special power in the earth of a sacred place, and it influences the activities performed there. “A sacred place has the energy to bring more joy, compassion, love and awakening from deep state of delusion.”
A Lifelong Remembrance:
Every year during our anniversary, we hear new stories about His Holiness the 16th Karmapa. Whether it is our president, Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche, advisor Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, or other great masters, visiting lamas, and friends from the monastic and lay community joining us from around the world, they all express how they have been deeply moved by the presence of His Holiness.
In one of his teachings, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, who served Rangjung Rigpe Dorje as his attended as a young boy and witness His Holiness’ many enlightened activities, shared that the actions of the the 16th Karmapa matched his name, recalling that ‘Karmapa’ means “one who manifest enlightened activity,” making manifest all the compassionate actions of the Buddha.
This also points out the importance of commemorating His Holiness life and teachings since, Ponlop Rinpoche taught:
We are celebrating the immeasurable heart of compassion that manifested in this master. We are trying to emulate that experience of joy and caring and loving-compassion.
Karmapa Center 16 as a Way to Connect
The establishment of Karmapa Center 16 and building a temple for His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Parinirvāṇa Stūpa is a physical commemoration and to offer powerful connection with the compassionate life example and teachings of His Holiness. It allows us to extract blessings to manifest those teachings in our own lives.
Karmapa Center 16 has already grown into a precious site to practice, study, and internalize the lasting history and teachings of the Karmapas. The former living room of the caretakers’ house is now a beautiful shrine room where we conduct Tārā puja every morning and Mahakala puja every afternoon. Our resident teacher, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering, offers guided meditation every Sunday and other practices throughout the year.
Our vast aspiration is to benefit beings and encourage individuals to visit KC16 for pilgrimage, study, and practice of the dharma in general, the Kagyü in particular, and especially the lineage of the Karmapas. Practicing at this sacred site can help anyone to remove obstacles in life and, ultimately, achieve enlightenment.
Parinirvāṇa News
