As we finalize this issue of Buddhism Today, much of the world is going into lockdown as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread rapidly. The unprecedented events related to this disease serve to remind us of the truths of the dharma—of impermanence, the preciousness of our practice lineage and the importance of compassion. We have thus reprinted a letter from Lama Ole in which he encourages his students to follow the advice of Thaye Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, and repeat the mantra of Loving Eyes (Tib. Chenrezig) during this crisis, an image of which we have chosen for the cover.
The long-life prayer for the rebirth of Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche on the inside front cover is very auspicious for the Karma Kagyu lineage and for practitioners of Diamond Way Buddhism. Those who read Tomek Lehnert’s book Rogues in Robes will have some understanding of the turbulent history that preceded the publication of this joint wish. It is a tribute to the life and work of the 14th Shamarpa, Mipham Chokyi Lodro, and bodes well for the work of Thaye Dorje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa.
In this vein, this issue of Buddhism Today begins with a commentary from the 17th Karmapa on the Bodhisattva Path (continued from issue 42). He takes this classic Mahayana text and makes its traditional language accessible for the modern Buddhist reader—in his typically warm and lighthearted style.
In the first of a two-part series, the 14th Shamar Rinpoche shares insights on the topic of karma, which is fundamental to all levels of Buddhist teaching. In “The Yogic Path,” Lama Ole Nydahl offers a refreshing view of the world that contains wisdom for everyday life as well as the highest view on the way to enlightenment; the goal of Diamond Way Buddhism.
One of the highlights of this issue is the historical article on the 15th Karmapa, Khakhyap Dorje (1871-1922). Unlike most of the previous Karmapas, the 15th Karmapa married and fathered three sons, two of whom were recognized as tulkus. This provided a historical precedent for the present Karmapa, who married his wife Sangyumla Rinchen Yangzom in 2017, and whose son Thugsey was born on August 11, 2018. We also provide a short excerpt from Lama Ole’s book Buddha and Love, which gives insight into this important aspect of partnerships for the modern Buddhist.
Enjoy!
The Editors
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Jonathan Bradley, Blakesley Burkhart, Annik Foreman, Carola Hannemann, Bruce Underhill
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Anilou Price
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The following is a brief excerpt from a sangha meeting in Moscow, Russia, with Lama Ole Nydahl. It took place in January 2020.
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The 15th Karmapa Khakyab Dorje (1871-1922) had several consorts and two sons who were the rebirths of great masters (Tib. tulkus). To date, there has been very little published about them in Western languages, and what exists is contradictory and
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The following is an excerpt of a lecture given by Lama Ole Nydahl in Marin County, California, in 1987. Some minor changes have been made in order to adapt it for a written format.
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On March 18, Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, published a video on his website on “change, karma and COVID-19” in which he freely shared his thoughts. Here we have published a few snippets from his talk. You can listen to the entire talk on www.Karmapa.org.
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