His Holiness Begins Annual Spring Teachings in Sarnath Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 9, 2011 -- The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, inaugurated the first day of a four day spring teaching today. His Holiness is currently on an annual springtime visit to his senior tutor’s monastery, the Vajra Vidya Institute, in Sarnath, outside of Varanasi. This is a special time when he receives private initiations and teachings from Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, a highly respected Karma Kagyu master, who was appointed as his senior tutor by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

This is the third year in a row that the Gyalwang Karmapa has given spring teachings to an audience of local Tibetan, Indian, and international students at the Vajra Vidya Institute. His students worldwide look forward to what has become an annual event in this highly auspicious place, where the Lord Buddha taught the Dharma for the first time after his enlightenment.


Nearly six hundred people gathered to listen to His Holiness including three high reincarnate lamas; Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, and Gyatso Rinpoche. Thousands more watched all over the world, via a live webcast with translation into English, Hindi and six other languages. Emphasizing Lord Buddha's most basic teachings--never to harm others--His Holiness' discourse centered on generating empathy for all human beings.