Comments on the education of the Karmapa by Gen Sempa Dordje, teacher of the Gyalwa Karmapa, Collected by Samphel in Kibi, December 2000.

Question: What is your training and what did you do in the past ?
Answer: When I was a child I studied at home with my father. When my father died, I followed a teacher for my studies and at the same time I learned Tibetan medicine from him.
Around age sixteen or seventeen, I went to the Tashi Lhumpo monastery in Shikha Tse in Tibet in order to continue my studies. I spent 12 years there, where I learned all the texts of philosophy and tantras.
In 1959, China invaded Tibet and I had to leave the monastery. I heard that one of my teachers had gone into exile in Laddakh and that I could join him. I therefore went to Ladakh and followed him for two years.
In 1964 I registered at the Benares University where I stayed 9 years. I obtained the diploma of Acharya and then deepened my study with one year of research.
In 1973 I became a teacher in the Benares University in Sarnath. I stayed there until 1992 when I retired. Actually, I continued to teach there until 1996.

Question: How long have you been the teacher of the Karmapa ?
Answer: I began in 1998, so it has been two and a half years.

Question: What do you teach him ?
Answer: In the beginning, when I arrived, he was only 15 - not old enough to study great texts. I taught him Tibetan grammar, literature and writing. Then one day he had to give empowerments to his disciples so he asked me to teach him about Mahamudra. I therefore gave him a teaching on a text by the third Karmapa, Ranjung Dordje. Then I taught him a philosophy text of a simple level, the Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa as well as Madhiamika texts and Logic.

Question: Is he a good student ?
Answer: One can say that overall he is a good student. We work on his grammar and knowledge of Tibetan literature. However, he’s brilliant in philosophy and in the Mahamudra. Even if he didn’t study the great texts yet, he is much better than the young khenpos on the Mahamudra. I believe he had a vast experience of philosophy and Mahamudra in his past life.

Question: It is said that the Karmapa is omniscient. If that's true, why does he need you ?
Answer: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are realized beings and don’t need any help. But because they came back to help others, they have to guide disciples on the path. That’s why they follow the same paths as them.

Question: Are there subjects that the Karmapa likes and other that he doesn’t? If so, how do you react ? Do you have to be strict with him ?
Answer: Until now, I’ve had no difficulties of this nature. He’s very compliant and does whatever I ask of him. This also depends on the teacher. He must be interested in his students and take great care of them. When they don’t understand, he has to patiently repeat things as often as necessary. In that way there won’t be any trouble.

Question: How long will the studies of the Karmapa last ?
Answer: There is no fixed length for his studies. It all depends on the situation. I think he will study for ten more years. In general the length of the study is fixed but this is quite different in the case of a Karmapa. When he will not need any more teachings, we will stop.

Question: As far as his general knowledge is concerned, do you think he is able to enter the twenty-first century ?
Answer: I think he is quite ready to enter the twenty-first century. His education level and knowledge are very high and he absorbs every new subject very quickly.

Question: As far as general knowledge is concerned, is he at the same level as westerners of his age ?
Answer: In theory, he lives in a Tibetan society, so he has to live like other Tibetans and follow the Tibetan culture. But as far as general knowledge is concerned, I think he is at the same level as others.