His Holiness Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje visited Shimla, the state capital of the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh from July 5 to 9, 2003. His visit--coordinated to take place during the local birthday celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama--was made at the invitation of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association in Shimla, the Himachal Pradesh state government, the local Tibetan community and local Buddhist monasteries, and the Central School for Tibetans.

On July 5, His Holiness Karmapa departed from his temporary residence at Gyuto Tantric University near Dharamsala with a group of his attendants. He arrived mid-day in Baluganj, where he was welcomed by a representative of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and other officials before being escorted to Thupten Dorje Drak in Shimla, one of the principal monasteries of the Nyingmapa lineage.

At Dorje Drak, Venerable Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, a renowned Nyingma master and the abbot of Dorje Drak, and a large gathering of monks, local officials, and lay people formally greeted His Holiness with offerings of khatas, incense, and flowers. Inside the monastery, Tsetrul Rinpoche performed a mandala offering and made auspicious offerings to the Karmapa of a Buddha Amitayus statue, a sacred text by Manjushri, and a stupa (collectively representing the body, speech, and mind of all buddhas) for His Holiness's long life. Afterward, traditional rice and tea were served.

On the morning of July 6, His Holiness Karmapa departed from Thupten Dorje Drak to participate as the principal guest in the birthday celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Central School for Tibetans in Shimla. Mr. Kunga Dorjee, the Tibetan Welfare Officer for Shimla, opened the program by welcoming His Holiness Karmapa. The next speaker, Professor V.S. Negi, secretary of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, thanked His Holiness and introduced the events of the ceremony, which included a presentation of music and dance organized by local performers and the Tibetan Women's Association. As the principal guest, His Holiness Karmapa delivered a speech to the large crowd.

That afternoon, His Holiness visited a home for the elderly at the Shimla Tibetan settlement, where he transmitted the Mani lung (reading transmission of the six-syllable mantra of Chenrezig) and gave a profound teaching on how to avoid wrongdoing and practice virtue to benefit oneself in this and future lives. On his departure, His Holiness offered his blessings to all the residents.

His Holiness then visited Jonang Takten Phuntsok Choeling in Sinjauli, a monastery dedicated to the practice of the Palchok Kalachakra tradition. Here, the monastery's abbot offered His Holiness a mandala and offerings of body, speech, and mind. At the request of the monks, His Holiness gave a reading transmission of The Vajra Song of the View by the Thirteenth Karmapa, Dudul Dorje, and offered advice on daily practice. The entire assembly of monks participated with His Holiness in chanting The Aspiration Prayers to Flourish the Buddha Dharma by the great Jamgon Kongtrul Yonten Gyatso.

On the morning of July 7 at Dorje Drak, His Holiness gave the empowerment of Buddha Amitayus--the long-life empowerment according to the Drugyal tradition--followed by a talk to the assembled sangha.

Later that day, His Holiness visited the Indian Institute for Advanced Studies in Shimla, and that afternoon offered a blessing at the carpet factory of the Tibetan Handicraft Center at Panthagati, near Shimla.

On July 8, His Holiness visited a variety of scenic points of interest within driving distance of Shimla, including Naldehra (famous for India's oldest golf course); the wintertime skiing destination of the hill station Kufri; and Chail, a former summer retreat of Indian maharajas. At the famous Chail Palace, now a hotel, His Holiness had lunch and met with the new governor of Himachal Pradesh, Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje.

His Holiness Karmapa departed Shimla early in the morning on July 9, and arrived at Gyuto Tantric University in the early afternoon.

*

Visit the gallery for a glimpse of His Holiness Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje in Shimla.