His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Comes to San Francisco
By Lama Lodu Rinpoche
2008 will long be remembered as the year when KDK San Francisco received an unofficial visit by His Holiness Orgyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa. In the spring of 2008 His Holiness made his first trip to the United States and was able, to our great surprise and delight, to fit KDK San Francisco into his whirlwind tour of San Francisco on May 26.
Devotees and Dharma students all over the United States have long waited to see the Karma Kagyu lineage holder here in the US. This visit granted many heartfelt wishes and brought new meaning to the lives of many, especially the elderly and or those unable to travel overseas. I have heard people say that now that they have seen His Holiness their lives feel complete and they are no longer afraid to die. Even those who have been lucky to see the Karmapa in Tibet or later in India--many of whom went year after year to receive blessings and teachings--shared our intense desire to welcome him here at home.
I always think of the Karmapa as the most exalted refuge and reliable protector, not just in this lifetime but in all lives to come. Any work I do to benefit beings I attribute to this endless source of goodness, His Holiness, the Karmapa. So many people have longed for this visit, which was especially meaningful to those who had the great fortune to meet the 16th Karmapa, his previous incarnation. When I return from India each year, students always ask me, often with tears in their eyes, "Did you invite His Holiness to come here? Did he accept? Will he come?" Although my own good fortune has allowed me to see him every year, the persistent longing of my students has affected me deeply, so this event feels like a great fulfillment to me personally, for KDK San Francisco, and the entire Buddhist community in the United States.
Lama Lodu Rinpoche answered some questions about the Karmapa's visit that he received from several students:
Q: Why was the Karmapa's visit to KDK not advertised?
LLR: The official itinerary for the 17th Karmapa's visit to the US was for three official stops only: New York/New Jersey, Boulder, and Seattle. The decision to include San Francisco arose from His Holiness' wish to see San Francisco, a world-renowned and beautiful area. I was not permitted to announce this visit publicly.
Q: So it was His Holiness' own decision to come to San Francisco?
LLR: I don't know who made the final decision but I do know that His Holiness added the San Francisco visit in order to do some informal sightseeing, not as an official part of his US tour. But since I was a disciple of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, His Holiness's predecessor, and because our center belongs to the Karma Kagyu lineage, we were fortunate enough on May 26, 2008 to be included on his brief tour of the city.
Q: What is your relationship to His Holiness?
LLR: I cannot claim to have any relationship with so exalted and enlightened a being. However, the compassion and blessings that the 16th Karmapa bestowed upon me have played such a huge role in my life that when the 17th Karmapa was 9 years old I traveled to Tsurpuk monastery in central Tibet to see him. This was after the passing of the 16th Karmapa and I had an intense longing to experience his radiant presence again. The day I met the new young Karmapa I had an overwhelming sense that I was in the presence of my beloved guru. I felt that he truly awakened my mind--the exact same feeling I got from his predecessor, which I had missed so much. But it woke me up with a jolt at that moment and I have had an incredible sense of devotion to His Holiness Orgyen Trinley Dorje the 17th Karmapa, as well as an absolute certainty that he is the true Lord of Refuge. I knew that the root connection I had with the 16th Karmapa was simply shifted to this incarnation and that my whole life relied on this great being. Would you call this a relationship? I don't know, but it is for me the deepest possible connection.
Q: What is the relationship between the current Karmapa and Kalu Rinpoche?
LLR: In their past lives these two amazing beings were intimately connected through their hearts, minds, and enlightened activity. Even though they lived and taught far from each other geographically, they were inseparable. I believe the current incarnations of these great teachers will have the same close connection, the same unified aims and work.
Q: How many Tibetan and American students do you have in America?
LLR: Well, I have many American students but I have never counted them. I'll tell you, sometimes it feels like I have too many and other times it feels like I have practically none! As for Tibetans, some live here at the center and some come by from time to time. I don't necessarily consider them my students but of course I hope they have the deepest appreciation for the Buddhadharma.
Q: Do you think the Karmapa will visit San Francisco again?
LLR: I'm confident that he will. When he was here, His Holiness said repeatedly that the next time he comes he would like to stay longer, give teachings and blessings, and get to know the area in a less rushed, more relaxed way.
Q: What was your overall impression of the visit?
LLR: While I am sorry that time and security restrictions made it impossible for His Holiness to see everyone and fulfill everyone's wishes for more teachings, I am at the same time deeply grateful for the amazing blessing that came to us through his visit, however brief. We were limited in what we could do this time, but next time, there will certainly be more notice given and more opportunities for everyone. I take great comfort in His Holiness' promise to come back.
Note: A DVD, “His Holiness the 17th Karmapa visits Kagyu Droden Kunchab in May 2008” is available by request from the KDK bookstore.
