Quotations from the speeches

1996
Quotations from the speeches

Official Invitation
Participants
Contents
Quotations
More Material
Topga Rinpoche

"The first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa established three Seats, Gampo Kangra Monastery, Karma Gön Monastery and Tsurphu Monastery. Sixteen of the Karmapas lived and worked principally at Tsurphu Monastery. The seat of a Buddhist master is the place where he has created the facilities for the study and meditation of the Dharma. A Seat is not just the place where the master lives."

Shamar Rinpoche

"Up to the present day there have been seventeen official Karmapas who have acted as Heads of Monastic Institutions. But in terms of actual reincarnation, there have been eighteen. The fifteenth Karmapa, Tegchog Dorje, left instructions behind that pertained to a young child who only lived for three years, because this reincarnate's life was so short, no official enthronement took place. Therefore, that reincarnation did not become part of the official lineage. After his death, the body was bought to Tsurphu monastery, where it was enshrined. Thus there have been eighteen reincarnations of the Karmapa, although, in terms of the official lineage, there are only seventeen. ... A buddha always manifests in order to accomplish the welfare of beings. In the light of which, there may be a purpose behind a short life span - a purpose that ordinary people cannot comprehend."

Shamar Rinpoche

"For all these years, I have remained in contact with the person who has the instructions from the late Karmapa. I have informed him of each and every step I´ve taken, and he has never had any objections. When I invited Tendzin Khyentse and his family, I informed this person, giving him all details. I told him that I intended to go public with my decision and asked if he had any objection. He answered that he didn't. He said: 'You are the Shamar reincarnation; I can't see anything improper in your course of action'."

Khenpo Chödrag Tenphel Rinpoche

"In fact, the religious hierarchy and the Buddhist masters that make up a lineage aren't related. The master Golo Shönnu Pal, whom I have choosen to quote, says that a person becomes a lineage holder on the basis of his practice of the Dharma. It's on the strength of his personal endeavors that he attains the required realisation. This has nothing to do with a position in the religious hierarchy."

Mr. Lok Darshan

"We, the lay disciples, constitute the third aspect. We also have our own responsibility. We also have to contribute in whatever possible way to the restauration of the glory of the Karma kagyu tradition."

Lama Jigme Rinpoche

"When His Holiness the sixteenth Karmapa was in Europe, he said that in order to establish the Dharma properly, several things are important: He emphasized that public Dharma centres are needed to give people the opportunity to get in touch with the Dharma; this is very important. he explained that a Sangha is needed to maintain the Dharma; this can either be a monastic community or communities of lay practitioners. ... The Karmapa also emphasized that it is also necessary to translate the Buddha-Dharma which at the moment is in Tibetan and Sanskrit. Translations need to be made in various languages. And he spoke of about the necessity of a library as well. H.H. the sixteenth Karmapa emphasized that these facilities are also very important. He also noted that people of different countries have different capabilities and interests and that they are able to learn by themselves."

Shamar Rinpoche

"The Buddha's teaching is unparalleled. It dispels the suffering in the world. Your concern is to spread the Buddha's teaching, and this is of great importance. Seen from that point of view, the present controversy at Rumtek Monastery may not be all that important. Our aim is to preserve and spread the Buddha's teaching. The teaching itself is divided into two aspects: the scriptural aspect and the various stages of realisation. If we all work together and focus our efforts on this, it can be achieved."

Topga Rinpoche

"It is very important for Karmapa Thaye Dorje that this situation (meaning: Buddhism combined with a political system like in former Tibet. Webmaster) does not occur, that he has the opportunity to maintain the spread of Buddhism. To spread Buddhism means to teach Buddhism to the point at which it becomes an integral part of people's lives. It does not mean to try to convert people in large numbers with the focus on the number of people who have become Buddhists. It is not a matter of literally trying to cover the surface of the earth with Buddhism. That is not the true meaning of spreading Buddhism."

Lama Ole Nydahl

"... you would see H.H. the sixteenth Karmapa. You would see a man who could laugh so that you could hear it fives houses away. You'd see a house of power, something you'd never sen before. If he were here now, everybody would gradually vibrate against the walls. I promise you that, just from his power. I've never seen anybody like him. I've seen all the high Rinpoches, all the Holinesses, but I've never seen anybody like him - nobody with his power, nobody with his blessing, nobody with his energy."

		1996 Quotations from the speeches
Official Invitation Participants Contents Quotations More Material		Topga Rinpoche "The first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa established three Seats, Gampo Kangra Monastery, Karma Gön Monastery and Tsurphu Monastery. Sixteen of the Karmapas lived and worked principally at Tsurphu Monastery. The seat of a Buddhist master is the place where he has created the facilities for the study and meditation of the Dharma. A Seat is not just the place where the master lives." Shamar Rinpoche "Up to the present day there have been seventeen official Karmapas who have acted as Heads of Monastic Institutions. But in terms of actual reincarnation, there have been eighteen. The fifteenth Karmapa, Tegchog Dorje, left instructions behind that pertained to a young child who only lived for three years, because this reincarnate's life was so short, no official enthronement took place. Therefore, that reincarnation did not become part of the official lineage. After his death, the body was bought to Tsurphu monastery, where it was enshrined. Thus there have been eighteen reincarnations of the Karmapa, although, in terms of the official lineage, there are only seventeen. ... A buddha always manifests in order to accomplish the welfare of beings. In the light of which, there may be a purpose behind a short life span - a purpose that ordinary people cannot comprehend." Shamar Rinpoche "For all these years, I have remained in contact with the person who has the instructions from the late Karmapa. I have informed him of each and every step I´ve taken, and he has never had any objections. When I invited Tendzin Khyentse and his family, I informed this person, giving him all details. I told him that I intended to go public with my decision and asked if he had any objection. He answered that he didn't. He said: 'You are the Shamar reincarnation; I can't see anything improper in your course of action'." Khenpo Chödrag Tenphel Rinpoche "In fact, the religious hierarchy and the Buddhist masters that make up a lineage aren't related. The master Golo Shönnu Pal, whom I have choosen to quote, says that a person becomes a lineage holder on the basis of his practice of the Dharma. It's on the strength of his personal endeavors that he attains the required realisation. This has nothing to do with a position in the religious hierarchy." Mr. Lok Darshan "We, the lay disciples, constitute the third aspect. We also have our own responsibility. We also have to contribute in whatever possible way to the restauration of the glory of the Karma kagyu tradition." Lama Jigme Rinpoche "When His Holiness the sixteenth Karmapa was in Europe, he said that in order to establish the Dharma properly, several things are important: He emphasized that public Dharma centres are needed to give people the opportunity to get in touch with the Dharma; this is very important. he explained that a Sangha is needed to maintain the Dharma; this can either be a monastic community or communities of lay practitioners. ... The Karmapa also emphasized that it is also necessary to translate the Buddha-Dharma which at the moment is in Tibetan and Sanskrit. Translations need to be made in various languages. And he spoke of about the necessity of a library as well. H.H. the sixteenth Karmapa emphasized that these facilities are also very important. He also noted that people of different countries have different capabilities and interests and that they are able to learn by themselves." Shamar Rinpoche "The Buddha's teaching is unparalleled. It dispels the suffering in the world. Your concern is to spread the Buddha's teaching, and this is of great importance. Seen from that point of view, the present controversy at Rumtek Monastery may not be all that important. Our aim is to preserve and spread the Buddha's teaching. The teaching itself is divided into two aspects: the scriptural aspect and the various stages of realisation. If we all work together and focus our efforts on this, it can be achieved." Topga Rinpoche "It is very important for Karmapa Thaye Dorje that this situation (meaning: Buddhism combined with a political system like in former Tibet. Webmaster) does not occur, that he has the opportunity to maintain the spread of Buddhism. To spread Buddhism means to teach Buddhism to the point at which it becomes an integral part of people's lives. It does not mean to try to convert people in large numbers with the focus on the number of people who have become Buddhists. It is not a matter of literally trying to cover the surface of the earth with Buddhism. That is not the true meaning of spreading Buddhism." Lama Ole Nydahl "... you would see H.H. the sixteenth Karmapa. You would see a man who could laugh so that you could hear it fives houses away. You'd see a house of power, something you'd never sen before. If he were here now, everybody would gradually vibrate against the walls. I promise you that, just from his power. I've never seen anybody like him. I've seen all the high Rinpoches, all the Holinesses, but I've never seen anybody like him - nobody with his power, nobody with his blessing, nobody with his energy."