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9 February 2014 -- Buddha Jayanti Park, New Delhi The sun shone in a clear blue sky as many from New Delhi's Tibetan and Himalayan communities gathered in the lush grounds of the Buddha Jayanti Park. In the crisp winter morning they followed winding pathways over green fields and small streams to cross the park—which was created in celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Buddha's Indian birth—towards a special outdoor arena, beside the park's iconic golden Buddha statue. A stage was set with the Gyalwang Karmapa's throne, while a translucent red silk canopy floated in the gentle breeze overhead. The Gyalwang Karmapa was once more requested by the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association to offer empowerment and teachings, in an annual gathering of Delhi's Tibetan and Himalayan peoples that has taken place for the past 5 years. On his arrival at the park the Gyalwang Karmapa was escorted through the grounds with traditional gyaling horns and clouds of fragrant incense, first pausing at the sacred golden Buddha statue to prostrate, kneel, and offer a white silk khata. Lama Chosphel Zopa -- who is President of the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association, former Member of the National Commission of Minorities and former Vice-Chairman of the National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Tribes of the Government of India -- welcomed the Gyalwang Karmapa and explained that they had requested him to offer a Medicine Buddha empowerment, as well as to give a short introduction to the Buddha dharma. "We've been Buddhists for generation after generation, so I'm not sure why you want me to introduce you to Buddhism!" the Gyalwang Karmapa joked to the largely Tibetan and Himalayan crowd, to laughter all around. And yet, he then skillfully proceeded to teach those gathered how to deepen the natural faith and trust in the Buddha dharma that most present had enjoyed since their birth. Speaking in Tibetan, his words were also translated into Hindi by Roshan Lal Negi for the benefit of all the Himalayan peoples present. "Generally speaking, many Tibetan and Himalayan people have a strong foundation of faith, trust and belief in the Buddha dharma. This is very, very good, and gives you 50-60% of what you need. You already have a large part, and if you just add a few percent more through your own efforts to gain education, then you have the opportunity to become extremely strong practitioners," he told those gathered. He explained that they were already very fortunate to have this quality of faith and trust in the Buddha dharma, which is an important foundation—and yet, on its own, this is not enough. "What's left now is to study. We need to study how it is we should practice the dharma -- if we do that, we can be 100% practitioners and our practice can be 100% fruitful." |