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6 March 2014 -- Vajra Vidya Monastery, Sarnath In the fresh warmth of an early spring afternoon, just a few days into the Tibetan new year, more than five hundred people crowded into the Vajra Vidya Monastery shrine room eager to hear the Gyalwang Karmapa's words of wisdom. For days many had dotted the lawns of the monastery, sitting outside on the grass catching rays of the spring sunshine, hoping that the teachings would take place. When they finally joined the long queues to enter the shrine hall many wore broad smiles on their faces, a joyful atmosphere palpable among the crowd. Although he had originally been scheduled to give three days of spring teachings, as he is currently recovering from a minor illness the Gyalwang Karmapa decided to teach for a single session only. "Because of the difficulty with my health," he explained, after reciting the opening prayers, "at first I thought that we'd have to cancel the entire spring teaching. But when I came down to the shrine room for a few moments on the first day of Losar I saw that many people had come here from all over the world. I thought that it would be better to teach at least one of the three days." |