Karmapa Chenno
On the last two days of the teaching, His Holiness Karmapa mainly answered questions, because he had received the ‘blessing of Bodh Gaya’ – a cold and cough. He explained the meaning of Karmapa Chenno.
The meaning of karma is action or activity. So Karmapa is one who does the activity of the buddhas. At the age of sixteen Dusum Khyenpa had a vision that 1000 dakinis made a Black Hat and offered it to the Karmapa. He was enthroned as one who does the activity of all buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Karmapa does not have to be one individual. It is the name of all vajra masters who do the activity of the Buddha. Buddha said that when the dharma is near extinction, he would come and bring out the positive, light side of people’s nature.
Chenno means know me, remember me. We don’t have to say it aloud. We can say it from the heart.
His Holiness also taught Vajrasattva and Guru Yoga from his own Ngondro text. At the end of the Guru Yoga teaching he said something that struck me to the heart and made me understand that the blessing of being in his presence is the real teaching.
It is important that we could all meet; more important than the teachings. I have really enjoyed it. I am very happy we shared these three days. I feel I have made a connection with everyone of you, especially by reading and answering your questions. Thank you. I hope to see you all again and again, maybe at the Kagyu Monlam next year.
I felt my prayers going out to the world in the form of golden letters.
His Holiness told us he had received stones from all over the world which he had turned into a mandala and blessed during the Monlam.
Spread these stones like that with compassion and love to every corner of the world. I will always feel your presence. I pray you become a beacon of light to lighten the darkness of suffering wherever you are.
Lama Jinpa from Spain stood up and in a spontaneous outburst of emotion delivered the thank you speech, more like an inspired vajra song. I took down a few of the lines, but the outpouring of uncontrived devotion continued for many minutes. His inspiration is now available to you here. It reminded me of Shantideva who levitated after delivering the Bodhisattvacharyavatara.
Thank you for existing; thank you for your presence in this world, for being human and limitless also; so near and accommodating, and straight forward.
We still need you so much, we don’t want to go. (clapping)
Being with you is like being in the centre of the world. Now we have met you, there is nowhere else to go but to look at you continuously.
But fortunately for you the blessings of Bihar are driving us on.
Being with you makes us fortunate to be alive. Take care of yourself so you can take care of us. Take care of us till we become enlightened and become one with you.
As the tears ran down my face, I noticed many other people were also weeping.
His Holiness then handed out the stones in small boxes from the blessed mandala. We had to leave but we really couldn’t go away. We watched the queue from the doorways to imprint the experience of the activity of the all the buddhas. I am sure Karmapa Chenno was in all our hearts.
Norma Levine
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