News release from
the Karma Kagyu Monastery, Taiwan. (March 2002).
Click
here for : "Post-visit memo of HH Shamar Rimpoche" and
some pictures.
Click
here for : Interview of HH Shamar Rimpoche at Kaohsiung International
Airport (March 12th, 2002).
The visit
of 14th Kuenzig Shamarpa Rinpoche
- A journey for the stabilization of Taiwan.
Upon
request of venerable Lopon Tenzin Jigme Rinpoche, the head of Karma
Kagyu Monastery in Taiwan, the splendid Red Crown holder of Karma
Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism – 14th HH Kuenzig Shamar Rimpoche arrived at CKS airport, Taipei on March 1st, 2002
to start a consecutive 12-day program including a series of empowerments,
pujas and official visits. And, there were hundreds of disciples waiting
in the airport to express their hearty welcome. People were exciting,
waving flags and hurrahed "Tsashi Deleh" which means best
wishes. Shamar Rimpoche smiled and waved to people. Some disciples
presented flowers, offered kada (Tibetan silk scarf) to Sharma Rinpoche
and received blessings from him instead.
Later
that afternoon on March 1st, Shamar Rimpoche was interviewed at a
live show named " Life Kimochi", a well-known and popular
TV show in Taiwan, Chung-Tien TV station. Shamar Rimpoche explained
what is the meaning of "empowerment" in front of Taiwanese
audience with friendly and confident smile. When he was asked is there
any qualification or limitation to people who are interested to receive
empowerments, he pointed out whosever has good attitude to learn the
dharma is qualified to attain the initiation. During the session,
in order to stabilize the blessings, people are allowed to make a
wish for the good of all sentient beings, not a negative wish or a
wish only for oneself. Shamar Rimpoche tried to speak and instruct
in a simple and easy way to most people who don’t have too much knowledge
about the dharma. After the show, he also granted blessings to Mr.
Chen, Jing-Zang, the president of Chung-Tien TV station.
The 14th
HH Shamar Rimpoche, deemed as a manifestation of Buddha Amitabha,
is the regent and guru of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa and the
co-founder of the
Karmapa
International Buddhist Institute, New Dehli, India. HH Shamar Rimpoche frequently travels abroad and teaches at many Kagyu centers
worldwide. Having supported and instructed for more than 30 years,
Shamar Rimpoche has millions of disciples all over the world. Apparently,
being a holder of entire Kagyu teachings, Shamar Rimpoche has become
an authentic master of Tibetan Buddhism. In general, Shamarpas has
ensured the continuity of Karma Kagyu lineage, ruling during the transition
period between two incarnations of the Karmapas. Both the 17th
Gyalwa Karmapa Thinley Thaye Dorje and the 3rd Lopon Tenzin
Jigme Rinpoche are identified and recognized by the 14th
HH Shamarpa.
The major
purposes of Shamar Rimpoche’s visit to Taiwan include :
- Granting blessings
for the stabilization of Taiwan
- Guiding people about
the real value of virtues
- Distributing the concept
of compassion, patience, and liberality
- Disseminating the
doctrine of genuine Buddhism
The venerable
Lopon Tenzin Jigme Rinpoche expressed that the real motivation of
this invitation is: By means of guidance from HH Shamar Rimpoche and
compassionate blessings from the dharma, hopefully, Taiwanese will
regain strength to establish a safe, prosperous and well-functioned
society. Lopon Rinpoche also wishes the empowerments and teachings
from Shamar Rimpoche will lead us toward the enlightenment of life
and the primordial nature of mind. People who are interested in Karma
Kagyu lineage and the pujas held in Taipei, Tai-Chung and Tainan from
March 2nd to March 12th, 2002 are freely to
join. These pujas are sponsored and financed by all the members of
the Karma Kagyu Monastery.
Location and phone numbers are listed below:
91-2,
Dzo-Dzen Village, Dzo-Dzen Hsiang,
Tainan
Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Tel:
06-573-2103 06-573-1156
Fax:06-573-1146
e-mail:
karmapa@karmapa.org.tw
web site:
http://www.karmapa.org.tw
And,
followed is a schedule of the pujas and empowerments held during the
visit of HH Shamar Rimpoche:
03/02
(Saturday) 7:30pm Marpa Empowerment,
Taipei International Convention Center Rm. 201.
03/03(Sun.)
2:00pm Vajravarahi Empowerment,
Taipei International
Convention Center Rm.
201.
03/05(Tue.)
7:30pm Dorjenamjong Empowerment,
The Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Tai-Chun.
03/08
(Fri.) 11:00am Welcome ceremony
at the Karma Kagyu Monastery, Dzo-Dzen, Tainan Hsien.
2:00pm Hevajra puja.
03/09(Sat.)
9:00am Hevajra puja.
2:00pm Hevajra puja.
03/10(Sun.)
9:00am Hevajra puja.
3:00pm Hevajra puja Empowerment (the beginning part).
03/11(Mon.)
9:00am Hevajra puja.
1:00pm Hevajra
puja Empowerment (main part).