Gyalwang Karmapa XVII[[Born in Kham, Tibet to largely nomadic parents, Ogyen Trinley Dorje is said to have identified himself to family members as the Karmapa early in childhood. He was seven years old before he was recognized by a search party headed by the Tai Situpa, following instructions left by the previous Karmapa in a prophetic letter and hidden in a locket entrusted to Tai Situpa. Ogyen Trinley Dorje was installed at Tsurphu Monastery (Wylie: Mtshur-phu; ZWPY: Curpu), the traditional seat of the Karmapa in Tibet, where he lived for another seven years.
At the age of 14, he made a bold escape to Nepal and then India, arriving at the exile headquarters of Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamsala on January 5, 2000. Ogyen Trinley Dorje had felt that he was unable to obtain in China the specialized instruction he needed to complete his studies and to realize his full spiritual authority.
From May 15 – June 2, 2008, he made his first trip to the West, visiting several cities in the United States and was enthroned in the North American seat of the Karmapas at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra monastery in Woodstock, NY.
He resides at Gyuto Monastery in Sidhbari, near Dharamsala.
In July 2008, the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, had requested permission to visit monasteries in Lahaul and Spiti, (Himachal Pradesh), and in Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir). However, the Indian government has refused to allow these visits, without giving reason. It is speculated that the reason might be that these areas are close to the China border and that the Beijing Olympics are approaching, even though he has made it clear that he does not want Tibetan independence and has no political stance on China. September 3, India allowed the visit of the 17th Karmapa who will begin his tour on September 8 by Ladakh, followed by Lahaul and Spiti, including the famous Tabo monastery.]]
The World—Ah!
Karmapa Orgyen Tinley Dorje
Poem from His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa XVII
Ah, World! It’s in your lap we do our lives and deaths—
It’s on you we play out our pleasures and pains.
You are such a very old home of ours;
We treasure and hold you dear forever.
We wish to transform you into the pure realm of our dreams,
Into an unprejudiced land where all creatures are equal.
We wish to transform you into a loving, warm, gentle goddess.
We wish so very firmly to embrace you.
To that end, be the ground which sustains us all.
Do not show us the storms of your nature’s dark side,
And we, too, will transform you, all your corners,
Into fertile fields of peace and happiness.
May the harvest of joyfulness and freedom’s million sweet scents
Fulfill our limitless, infinite wishes, so we pray.
