His Holiness the 17th Karmapa’s First Visit to the United Kingdom

By Marine Ragueneau / May 29, 2017;

Photo : kagyuoffice.org

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, made his first visit to the United Kingdom this month.

At 31 years old, Ogyen Trinley Dorje is head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, a reincarnation lineage that dates back more than 900 years. His Holiness was born in eastern Tibet but fled to India in 2000, where he now resides at the Gyuto Monastery near Dharamshala. He is the only reincarnate Lama to have been recognised by both His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese communist government.

The Karmapa’s 11-day visit began on May 17 and the first public event was held on May 20 in London’s Battersea Park.

“I would like to express my great delight at this opportunity that has come to pass for me to visit London, the capital of the United Kingdom, for the first time. Especially, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all you friends who are gathered here. I have been waiting for a long time to visit the United Kingdom, and now that opportunity has finally arisen and I’m so happy about this.”

“Even though it’s my first visit, still the time allotted for this visit is very short. However, I consider this to be merely the beginning. I think of this opportunity of this short initial visit as a gateway so that I will be able to come again and again in the future” said His Holiness in his opening speech.

Among several teachings, empowerments, and visits, Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje taught a three-part teaching, Eight Verses for Training the Mind, based on the lojong text by Geshe Langri Tangpa. He made a visit to the British Parliament and held seminars on animal welfare and the environment at the Cambridge Veterinary School and Cambridge University. Ending the historic visit, His Holiness held a Life Long Empowerment in Surrey on May 27.

With further travel scheduled throughout Canada beginning on May 29 in Toronto, the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje will continue to bring Tibetan Buddhism to an international audience.