Bringing Aggression and Attachment onto the Path – 37 Practices – Session 15

Before beginning our usual meditation practice, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering, our resident teacher, described the onsite groundwork set to commence this spring at Karmapa Center 16 and the special pujas held ahead of time to remove any obstacles and promote environmental harmony. This is a significant next step forward for the second phase of KC16’s Stupa Project. 

Recalling the Mind

Following our opening chants, our resident teacher resumed guiding us in the practice of calm-abiding meditation (Sanskrit: śamatha). Together with emphasizing the need for being well-grounded and keeping our back straight, Acharya Lhakpa also stressed the importance of letting go of any expectations during our meditation. We can put aside thoughts about having a good or bad meditation. Likewise, whenever you observe the mind wandering off, moving towards an object outside, “you are simply aware of that situation and bring your mind back to this moment.” In this way, during this type of practice, we recall our mind again and again. 

Utilizing Afflictive Emotions

During this session, we discussed verse 20 of Ngulchu Tokmé’s 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva. It reads:

“If I do not tame the enemy of my own anger,
I may subdue external enemies, but they will still increase. Therefore, with the army of loving-kindness and compassion,
To tame one’s own mind stream is the practice of a bodhisattva.” 
(Quoted from A Guide to the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, translated by Christopher Stagg)

When aggression, or any kind of afflictive emotion, takes control of us, we no longer are the same person. On the path of the Foundational Vehicle or Hīnayāna, as Acharya explained earlier, it is emphasized to stay away from such disturbed states of mind. The path of the Great Vehicle or Mahāyāna, on the other hand, teaches us how to utilize such seeming obstacles as a practice and as a way to usher in loving-kindness and compassion. 

Making the Same Mistake

The verse itself, Acharya said, is very clear, and we can easily recognize the practical value in our daily life. We can observe, around the world, how nations try to subdue each other, turn into enemies, and so forth. However, this attempt to eliminate external enemies only leads them to increase. “You can see,” Acharya said, “that kind of practice will never work. Still, we are making the same mistake, again and again.” 

What we really should be doing is taming the most dangerous enemy: aggression or anger within ourselves. And we should be fighting this enemy with an army of loving-kindness and compassion. It is taught by great Indian masters like Shantideva and Atisha that there is no point in trying to defeat outer enemies. However, if we are able to tame our own minds, it is like defeating all the enemies or obstacles outside at the same time. Acharya invited us to contemplate this deeply: Do we really think we would be successful if we were to try to defeat all outer enemies? 

Gathering the Armies of Loving-Kindness and Compassion

Illustrated by Shantideva, who said we should cover our feet with leather to protect ourselves from any harm instead of attempting to cover the entire world with leather, we shouldtame our own mindstream and gather the army of loving-kindness and compassion. This means we develop the wish for all beings to be happy and have the causes of happiness (loving-kindness), and for them to be free from suffering and the causes of suffering (compassion). Out of these two, Acharya pointed out, we begin by gathering the army of compassion and then, naturally, we will start gathering the army of loving-kindness. Thus, it is also compassion that is taught in the sutras as the supreme practices. For example, in the Sutra of the Condensed Perfection of Wisdom we read: 

“For those who have great compassion, it is like having all spiritual practices in the palm of their hand.” 

Therefore, if we are able to cultivate great compassion, it will be (relatively) easy to obtain the state of omniscience or complete Buddhahood. This verse teaches us how taking the object of aggression onto the path is part of this practice. 

Salt Water

The next verse (21) speaks about taking objects of attachment onto the path: 

“The sense pleasures are like salt water;
However much you partake, that much your craving will increase. Whatever objects of attachment arise,
To immediately abandon them is the practice of a bodhisattva.” 

When we think about sense pleasure, Acharya explained, we can simply think of the five sense faculties and their objects. For example, seeing pleasurable forms, hearing pleasurable sounds, and smelling pleasurable odors, these are the sense pleasures Ngulchu Tokmé has in mind with this verse. Sharing a story about visiting the ocean and experiencing salt water for the first time during his stay in India,  Acharya highlighted how these sense pleasures are really like salt water. “If we are thirsty and try to quench our thirst by salt water, our thirst just increases. We will never be able to quench our thirst.” Therefore, this verse teaches us that we should abandon the sense pleasures immediately.

The Practice of Contentment

What does it mean to “abandon” objects of attachment? Acharya explained it does not necessarily mean that we need to go to another place and leave this object behind. Rather, the main point of this verse is to cultivate the quality of contentment. Any particular object we may have, we should generate the thought: “Oh, having this is sufficient. I need nothing else.” 

If we were to accumulate wealth for the benefit of others, it could be part of our path. Yet, if it is just to accumulate things for ourselves, this is not considered the practice of a bodhisattva. For this reason, Nagarjuna said: “The teacher of gods and humans said / Among all wealth, contentment is supreme.” 

Abandoning Outer Objects

In addition to contentment, this verse teaches us that all outer objects are of the nature of suffering. Why is that? It is because they are compounded phenomena, they are not singular or permanent. This relates to what in the Buddhist view is known all-pervasive suffering. At the point of obtaining something, protecting an object once we possess it, and once it falls apart, at all times there is suffering present. Acharya illustrated this with the example of getting our favorite car that may run perfectly at the beginning. However, given its compounded nature, it will break down and cause suffering from the moment we own it. 

Therefore, the main practice verse 21 is pointing to is that of cultivating contentment. In addition, we need to understand that all outer objects are compounded and therefore of the nature of suffering. Realizing this equals abandoning those objects. So, like with aggression, we need to learn to take attachment onto the path and turn seemingly unfavorable circumstances into something beneficial, for the benefit of all beings. We do so, not by trying to fix things outside, but by improving our own mindstream. That is the practice of a bodhisattva. 

Taming and Training our Minds

Taking us back to the beginning of our session, Acharya Lhakpa connected the teachings with the meaning of practicing the dharma in general. First and foremost, this consists of taming our own mind. This is the main aspect. On top of that, in the Mahāyāna, we cultivate loving-kindness and compassion, and seek buddhahood or enlightenment not just for ourselves but for the benefit of all sentient beings. This reminded Acharya of his precious teacher, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, who always emphasizes how all practices of a dharma practitioner are subsumed or summarized by these two aspects: taming the mind and training the mind. Rinpoche teaches: “If we want to evaluate our practice, we just need to look inward and see how much improvement is happening in our mindstream.” 

With those words, we concluded our session and dedicated the merit.

Traditional Pujas and Vase Ceremony Ahead of Onsite Groundwork

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 AMཟབ་ཏིག་སྒྲོལ་མ། Green Tara
10:30–12:00 PMམགོན་པོའི་བསྐང་གསོལ། Mahakala Practice 1
2:00–3:30 PMམགོན་པོའི་བསྐང་གསོལ། Mahakala Practice 2
4:00 – 5:30 PMམགོན་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 PMལོ་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! 

Karmapa Khyenno!

It is All in Our Hands – 37 Practices – Session 14

Wishing everyone onsite at KC16 and online on Zoom a good morning, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering resumed guiding our practice and continued his commentary on The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva as taught by Ngulchu Tokmé. Looking at verse 18 and 19, the question to ask ourselves is: How to take loss and gain onto the heroic path of compassion?

The Heroic Intention of a Bodhisattva

Part of our śamatha practice is to always connect with the intention to seek enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings–bodhicitta. At the beginning of our session, our resident teacher stressed the heroic quality and the importance of this intention. It is heroic since we open our hearts to all sentient beings. We do so with a sense of gratitude since they have supported us in one way or another in the world of samsara, from beginningless time. The importance can be seen in the eighteenth verse: 

“Even when I am made destitute, people constantly berate me,
And grave illness and evil spirits strike me,
To take on still the suffering and misdeeds of all beings for myself Without losing heart is the practice of a bodhisattva.”
Quoted from: A Guide to the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, translated by Christopher Stagg.

“Without losing heart,” Acharya pointed out, refers to bodhicitta or heart of awakening. Why is this important? “If the intention of benefiting others is not present from the very outset, we will not be able to take hardships and suffering onto the path,” he said. 

“Why me?” is Not the Question

Usually, when we face difficult situations like those pointed out in this verse, we think: “Why me? Why is this always happening to me?” Furthermore, we then typically blame others or are upset with the outside world. However, as a dharma practitioner, we should ask ourselves: “Is this going to contribute to the cause of enlightenment for myself and others?” Counter to our habits, we seek to make good use of adverse situations. The main point, therefore, is how to take suffering, hardships, and whatever discomfort in our lives, onto the path. How do we make use of them in our practice? 

The Manure for Enlightenment

In the Mahāyāna sūtras, the Buddha illustrated the notion of taking any situation onto the path with cow dung. Like farmers use this to enrich their fields, bodhisattvas use all conditions, no matter what difficulty they encounter, as a way to further their practice and use it to attain the state of omniscience–buddhahood. 

What if others are free from such difficulties? Rather than thinking about why they have what we are lacking, we should remember that we are engaging in the practice for their sake. We wish them to be free from any kind of hardship and discomfort. Seeking to free them from suffering, we take everything onto the path, not only our own difficulties but the difficulties of others as well. We do so “without losing heart.” 

While this is surely not an easy practice, Acharya emphasized that we can always start with small steps. Slowly we will be able to take the challenges we encounter onto the path and exchange our happiness with the suffering of others. 

Appreciating Wealth and Renown with Mindfulness and Mental Alertness

While the eighteenth verse speaks about taking loss onto the path, the next verse, nineteen, teaches about gain. In A Guide to the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, translated by Christopher Stagg, it reads: 

“Even if I become renowned and everyone pays me respect,
Or should I obtain wealth like that of Vaishravana,
To see the wealth of samsara as having no essence
And not have pride is the practice of a bodhisattva.” 

The verse points to Vashravana, the god of wealth, according to traditional buddhist teachings. However, Acharya shared that we can simply think of rich people in our present-day world. Regardless of who we think of, and however wealthy that person may be, the same message expressed in this verse applies: It is impermanent. 

The impermanent nature of things applies equally to material wealth as to other things that Ngulchu Tokmé is pointing to with this verse: being renowned, respected, and so forth. This is not difficult to understand. We can find countless examples of people who gained a lot at some point in their lives and later on lost everything again. This does not mean that such things are inherently bad. It means that they simply have no essence. 

What does this mean for us as a dharma practitioner? If we gain some kind of renown and wealth, we can appreciate that. However, through the qualities of mindfulness and being mentally alert, we can remain aware of their impermanent nature and develop contentment. 

Blowing Up the Balloon of Pride

The benefits of mindfulness and mental alertness, or introspection, is that it will prevent pride to arise in our mind-stream. Acharya Lhakpa taught that pride can be compared to a balloon. “The more we blow up the balloon of pride, the farther away we will be from attaining the qualities of nirvāṇa and the state of buddhahood.” 

Pride contaminates, Acharya explained, the vessel or container which holds the qualities of enlightenment. Therefore, no matter whether we have a lot of wealth, are renowned, and so forth, or not, we always need mindfulness and introspection. Seeing that phenomena are impermanent, changing every second, will reduce our pride. If, he said, “we will contaminate the container of enlightenment of pride, that will neither benefit ourselves nor others.” 

Does It Make Any Sense to You?

The main practice of the Mahāyāna, for all who tread the heroic path of compassion, is to always consider how to take happiness and suffering, comfort and discomfort, onto the path. More particularly, bodhisattvas take the mental afflictions like attachment, aversion, and ignorance–the three poisons–onto the path. Therefore, Acharya Lhakpa said: “We don’t have to get rid of the mental afflictions. Rather, we make use of them to move farther along the path.” 

As a way to conclude our session, Acharya reminded us of something he mentioned before: Sometimes we may look at a verse and think, ‘How is this possible? It does not make any sense!’ However, instead of immediately responding in that way, we should carefully investigate and contemplate these verses, wondering: What is the point here? What does make sense to me? “If,” our resident teacher said, “you find one verse that makes sense to you, that helps you to transform your mental afflictions into path, that’s it. That’s your practice.” 

Thanking everyone onsite and online for joining our practice, we dedicated the merit.

Karmapa Khyenno!

16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Practice: Every First Saturday of the Month

To find happiness and support on the path to full awakening for the benefit of the world, we need to rely on spiritual friends. The practice of guru yoga is, therefore, a profound method to connect with the heart of our teacher and lineage of dharma masters, to receive blessings and help us move away from negative qualities, and cultivate positive qualities in terms of body, speech, and mind.

Rainfall of Nectar

The Guru Yoga Sadhana, “Rainfall of Nectar,”  composed by the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, is elegantly concise and contains the essential pith instructions of the Vajrayana tradition. 

Every First Saturday of the Month

Every first Saturday of the month, we will offer an opportunity to practice His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga together. Regardless of whether you are familiar with the practice and who you consider to be your personal teacher, this practice allows us to connect with the enlightened qualities of the Buddha and, in a way, truly become the activity of the Karmapa, embodying the Buddha’s wisdom and compassion. 

  • What: 16th Gyalwang Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Sadhana
  • When: First Saturday of the Month, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM Central Time (Chicago, USA)
  • Where: Online on Zoom and Onsite at KC16. (Liturgies will be screenshared)

Registration, Offerings & Donations

Making an offering or donation is optional and is not required to register for our monthly 16th Gyalwang Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Practice. You can join for free by selecting a ‘free ticket’. If you would like to make a donation to support the stupa project or make an offering to our teachers and resident monastics, please choose an option below.

Fulfilling Our Aspirations

After selecting a ‘free ticket’ or making an offering below, the Zoom link and other practical information will be delivered in a confirmation email. 

We warmly invite you to join us and together fulfill all aspirations for ourselves and others through our devotion and virtuous activities. 

Karmapa Khyenno!

Heartfelt Wishes for a Blessed 2025 from KC16

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a blessed New Year. May kindness and compassion guide our hearts, bringing well-being and care for everyone. 

Sometime at the beginning of 2025, we aspire to publish a summary of Acharya’s commentary on our website. After a break for one week, you are also welcome to join us again for Meditation for All: The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, starting on Sunday, January 5.

As Acharya Lhakpa expressed at the end of last Sunday’s Meditation for All session, may you all have happy holidays and a happy New Year!

Karmapa Khyenno! 

From your friends at Karmapa Center 16

On the passing into parinirvāṇa of His Eminence Chöje Ayang Rinpoche

It is with heartfelt sorrow that we received the news of the passing into parinirvāṇa of the great Kagyü master, His Eminence Chöje Ayang Rinpoche. His absence will be deeply felt by many within our community and beyond.

In this time of mourning, our resident Lamas at Karmapa Center 16 are offering butter lamps and prayers to support everyone affected by this loss. We invite all to join us in honoring Rinpoche’s memory and legacy.

In heartfelt support, may the Dharma guide us.

Karmapa Center 16

A Fortunate and Blessed 43rd Parinirvāṇa Anniversary

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.

QUICKLINKS

Day 1: Guru Yoga and Lung of the Rainfall of Nectar
Day 2: Devotion and special teaching by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa
Day 3: Genuine Practice
November 5: 43rd Parinirvāṇa Anniversary
Words of Gratitude
Photo Gallery
Next year: 44th parinirvāṇa anniversary

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!

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. 

Karmapa Khyenno!

Tibetan Language Class: 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

Do you wish to get closer to the meaning and feel of the Buddha’s teachings, and/or the compositions and commentaries by the great Tibetan Buddhist masters? One way to do so is to read the original texts in their source language. 

KC16 Tibetan Language Class 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

This November 17, Karmapa Center 16’s resident teacher, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering, will begin teaching on The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva during our Sunday Meditation for All. We will also start studying this precious text, written by the great master Ngülchu Thogme Zangpo, in KC16’s Tibetan Language Class, in the original Tibetan. We will study literary Tibetan, grammar, and also the art of translating during this online class.

Why read the Thirty-Seven Practices in Tibetan?

Translating the text into our own mother tongue, or other languages, not only enriches and deepens our understanding and practice of the dharma, it also allows us to share the teachings and offer perspectives to others who do not know Tibetan but wish to get closer to the author’s intent. 

If you are interested in reading The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva in Tibetan and learning (literary or classical) Tibetan in general, then please join us and register below. This is a continuation of our current class, so some knowledge of Tibetan, or the willingness to study the basics (especially the alphabet and pronunciation), is needed to make the class meaningful for all participants. 

Online Class

The class is online from 7 to 8.30 pm (Central Time, Chicago, US) on Sundays. Recordings are made available to all participants to review or catch up on when you can’t join live. If you have any questions about this class, please write an email to communications@karmapacenter16.org. 

Thirty-seven points for working with our mind

We look forward to studying Tibetan and this root text that, as Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche points out, “contains thirty-seven key points for working with our mind, first through taming—finding a way to bring the mind home, to a state of calmness and clarity—and then through cultivating the heart of kindness and compassion. It is, in fact, a practical guide on how to follow the path of the bodhisattvas, verse by verse.” 

Let’s travel together on this path of compassion. 

Karmapa Khyenno!

Registration

Making an offering or donation is optional and is not required to register for our Tibetan Language Class: 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva. You can join for free by selecting a ‘free ticket’. If you would like, you can make a donation to support our Stūpa Project. After selecting a ‘free ticket’ or making an offering (of any amount) below, the Zoom link and other practical information will be delivered in a confirmation email.

Meditation for All: The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

Please join KC16 on Sundays for a new Meditation for All series on The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva.

Beginning November 17, our resident teacher, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering, will start teaching on The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva during our Sunday Meditation for All program.

A life worth exploring

This text is written by the great master Ngülchu Thogme Zangpo and, as Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche writes in A Guide to the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva (a commentary by Dzatrul Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, translated by Christopher Stagg):

The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva presents an alternative way of thinking, of relating to the outer and inner worlds of everyday living. It is a refreshing, revolutionary, and radical approach to a life that is worth exploring.
— Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, foreword

book cover for A Guide to the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

Practices for everyday life

As usual, everyone is welcome, and no prior experience is needed. Acharya Lhakpa will start each session with a guided meditation, and then offer commentary on this precious text and how to put the teachings into practice in our daily lives.

Please join us onsite at KC16 or online!

Traveling the path of compassion

For online access, please register here for the Zoom link. From November 17 onwards, our sessions will begin at 10:30 am and finish around 11:30 am Central Standard Time (Chicago, US). Can’t join us live or would like to review a session? Please know that we’ll share recordings that you can view or review for 21 days on a dedicated resource page.

We are looking forward to practicing and traveling the path of compassion together under the guidance of Acharya Lhakpa-la and the blessings of the lineage of the Karmapas. 

Karmapa Khyenno!

Registration

Making an offering or donation is optional and is not required to register for our Meditation for All: 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva. You can join for free by selecting a ‘free ticket’. If you would like, you can make a donation to support our Stūpa Project or make a teaching offering for Acharya Lhakpa, KC16’s resident teacher, of any amount. After selecting a ‘free ticket’ or making an offering below, the Zoom link and other practical information will be delivered in a confirmation email.

Reading 37 Practices in Tibetan: KC16’s Tibetan Language Class

While Acharya Lhakpa starts teaching on The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva during our Sunday Meditation for All, we will also start studying this precious text, written by the great master Ngülchu Thogme Zangpo, in KC16’s Tibetan Language Class, in the original Tibetan. We will study literary Tibetan, grammar, and also the art of translating during this online class.

Learn more and register here

43rd Parinirvana Anniversary of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa

Karmapa Center 16 commemorates His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s parinirvāṇa every year on November 5th, the day of his passing at the clinic which is now called City of Hope Cancer Treatment Center, in Zion, Illinois. Under the guidance of our resident teacher, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering, and Lama Tashi Gawa, we will be hosting a full day of pujas and practice in Tibetan. Please register below to receive the Zoom link. If you’d like to join onsite, please make sure you indicate this on the registration form. 

We are also deeply honored that our friends in Taiwan will be hosting a 16th Karmapa Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat with a special teaching by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, as well as practices and teachings by our advisor, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, and our president, Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche, from November 1 to 3, and November 5. You can join online (via Zoom) or onsite. Teachings will be in English or Tibetan with translation into English and Chinese. Recordings will be made available to all registrants. 

In addition to the teachings, this special retreat includes a traditional lung (oral transmission) of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Sadhana (from Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche), and practicing this Guru Yoga together in the presence of sacred relics of His Holiness. 

Please find a tentative schedule below. Registration includes access to both the Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat and the Parinirvana commemoration. When you register, we will share the Zoom links, how to access recordings, and other practical information. For more information and registration in Chinese, please visit KC16 Taiwan’s Facebook Page.

May we always honor the radiant compassion and enlightened activities of His Holiness. 
Schedule
Registration

Schedule

Tuesday, November 5, 2024 (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 3, 2024.

time (US Central Time, UTC-6)puja
7:00–8:00aTara
9:00–10:30aGuru Yoga (composed by Tai Situ Rinpoche)
11:00a–12:30pGuru Yoga (composed by Tai Situ Rinpoche)
2:00–3:30pGuru Yoga (composed by Tai Situ Rinpoche)
4:00–5:30pMahakala
Schedule for KC16 pujas onsite in Wadsworth, IL, USA on November 5, 2024
Click here to see the start time in your local time zone.

Please click to see the tentative schedule for His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat (Taiwan).

Registration

After making an offering (of any amount) below, a resource page with Zoom links and participation information for the Taiwan and KC16 Wadsworth events will be automatically emailed.

Please see the detailed schedule of pujas prior to the 43rd Parinirvāṇa Anniversary program. The Zoom link will be delivered in a confirmation email. Thank you for being part of this year’s Parinirvāṇa Activities and kind support.