The Karmapa arriving at the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra monastery in New York
Photo: kagyuoffice.org
His Holiness the Karmapa left India in March for a two months tour of the United Sates of America. He visited universities across the country and reconnected with many Buddhist communities which are under his guidance as the head of Karma Kagyu Lineage.
His Holiness arrived at San Francisco airport on March 15 where a large number of Tibetans and international disciples, including around 200 overjoyed students, were there to welcome him. A more formal and traditional welcome with a tea and rice ceremony was held at the Rosewood Sand Hill in Palo Alto, California.
On his first day in the United States His Holiness visited Silicon Valley in California, touring the facilities and meeting staff at the Googleplex, Google’s Global Headquarters. “Meditation is not just about relaxing or helping us de-stress, it is something that can help increase our awareness, help us develop more mindfulness and a deeper sense of joy and appreciation”, he said.
On the following days His Holiness visited universities as well as the Facebook Global Headquarters and some Buddhist centres. On March 17 he gave a lecture Caring Connections: Compassion, Technology and Environment to students and faculty members at Stanford University. He said “Compassion means becoming more involved, taking more action, developing more dedication.” On the following day he visited the Palpung Lungtok Choeling Centre where he met over 1,300 Tibetans.
His Holiness the Karmapa receiving the honorary degree
Photo: internet
On March 24 His Holiness received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Redlands and then visited the Harvard University where he had lunch at the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Centre which works to preserve and promote Tibetan literature. He then met the Tibetan community in Boston and also visited Princeton University where he joined the student-run weekly “open mike” night.
On April 1, the Karmapa delivered a lecture to the students and Faculty members of Princeton university: A Buddhist Perspective: The Environment, Gender and Activism. He mentioned the importance of the mutual understanding, love and genuine respect to truly empower women.
At Yale University, His Holiness met students of Environmental studies and visited the historical areas of the campus including Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. He also received the prestigious Yale University Chubb Fellowship.
During his two- month tour in the United States His Holiness granted audiences, blessings and teachings to many Buddhist dharma centres in New York and Wisconsin, visited many Universities, met thousands of students and faculty members and also visited some of the world’s biggest business companies. In his upcoming schedule he will be giving a public teaching at Nalandabodhi in Seattle, Washington on May.
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