THE 17th GYALWA KARMAPA'S ACTIVITIES IN THE WORLD

What is your main impression of Southeast Asia ?

I was very impressed by the strong belief that people have in the Buddha's teachings. Of course, one cannot generalize. However, I met with many sincere Dharma practitioners and with people who are simply interested in the Dharma. I am very happy about this - it is great to recall it. This is what mainly comes to my mind when I think about the journey.

You have already given a number of TV, radio and magazine interviews. How is that for you ?

The interviews I gave were related to Buddhism. Since I am the spiritual leader of one of the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, I was asked about my views and my activities. Well, my activity is to teach the Dharma and to help people in this respect. At first I did not feel very comfortable in front of the cameras, but eventually I got used to it.

In some places you were treated with very special honours, rather like a god, and not like a normal person. How was that for you ?

It is totally wrong to see a lama like some kind of supramundane being. A lama is someone who shows the path to enlightenment, and that's it. He's simply a teacher. It is similar with the Three Jewels: you can rely on the Buddha and the Sangha because they've been through this samsara, know what it is and how to overcome all this suffering; the Dharma is the path for this aim. This kind of special treatment that you mentioned, I really don't expect it and I don't want it; it is not important for me. All I want is to help people to find real happiness. And here I'm not just talking about happiness in this samsaric world. What I mean is the real happiness that is achieved in the state of liberation. I myself go through my spiritual practices in order to become able to guide others on this path. It is for this sake that I am getting the teachings from all the high lamas, teachers and professors.

How is a Karmapa recognized ?

The main holders of the Karma kagyu Lineage are the so-called Black Hat Karmapas and the Red Hat Karmapas. The first refers to my own line of reincarnations. The latter refers to the line of reincarnations of the Kunzig Shamarpas. In many cases the Karmapas have recognized the respective Shamarpas and in turn the Shamarpas recognize the next Karmapa. This is also what has occured with respect to my recognition: it was the 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche who confirmed that I am the incarnation of the 16th Karmapa.

Of course, the whole principle of reincarnation is not easy to understand, in particular if one is not familiar with Buddhism. Normally, samsaric beings are reborn through the power of their karma and their emotions. In the case of the successive lines of the Karmapa reincarnations, it's different. Taking rebirth happens due to the wish to be reborn to help sentient beings. In this way I took rebirth as the 17th Karmapa.

The Dalai Lama has not recognized you as the Karmapa. Would such recognition be important for you ?

The Dalai Lama is certainly a great man. The Karma Kagyu school, however, is an independant lineage and according to our tradition, the Karmapas have to be confirmed in this Karma Kagyu lineage and not by the Dalai Lama. There is no need for that.

What is your position regarding Urgyen Trinley ?

I hope that he will be able to help people by teaching Buddhism.

Does that mean that you don't mind that there is another Karmapa besides yourself ?

Within the lineage, there can, of course, be only one Karmapa. I personally hope that this issue will soon be resolved.

How will it practically go on now that there are two factions in the Karma Kagyu School ?

Whether there are one or two groups doesn't really matter. What matters is that people benefit, and for that it is essential that the teachings transmitted in the Kagyu tradition remain intact. In fact, there is no division. Many people talk about it, true, however what matters is the Dharma as such, and the Dharma is not divided. People who don't really understand the Dharma think there is a division; they think about institutions. For an authentic Dharma practitioner, however, there is no split; for this type of person there is only the Dharma.

The interview was held and translated from the Tibetan by Mag. Tina Draszczyk.
(Translator at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi, India)

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