More than 8000 were gathered here today - under the blistering sun and heat, sweating and chanting without break for many, baring it all to be in the presence of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje while he gave the incredible empowerment of White Tara, making this arguably the largest Buddhist event performed in the western world in history. Europe Center is overflowing with people, the main tent full to the brim and spilling out the sides, as the sun baked down on us all for the hottest day of the event so far - by far.
But it was well worth it, the experience itself is one for the history books and something you certainly don’t get to see or be a part of everyday. The mood was light and cheerful, lacking in the normal hectic chaos and influenced mayhem that a large scale empowerment brings, everyone was relaxed and enjoying the vibes. The insane numbers in attendance notwithstanding everything was well organized, meals moved to later on, even jokes were being made about the constant schedule changes as a great way for all us westerners to lose our attachment to our tightly held preconceptions about time and planning and just go with the flow. Big applause, lots of laughs. They have these two lovely people as the MC’s for the event, and I must admit that I am duly impressed with their ability not only to cope and handle 8000 sweltering hungry attendees, but they somehow always managed to make it funny and even enjoyable. Politely asking people not to leave their kids alone to wander on stage, we know it’s exciting but please sit down, if you need to chat please excuse yourself from the tent a moment - some people are here to practice, thank you. This place even makes public announcements fun; waiting in line (which you do for basically everything) seems somehow enjoyable - they were spraying water from a hose on the overheated and hungry crowd like a summer pool party, and when the bell rang for the service to start there was a loud cheer and celebration, the clacking of spoons on plates could probably be heard all across the campus. I feel the warmth and influence of the EC and its people wearing off on me, even when the days seem incredibly long, impossibly hot, we haven’t slept enough, and when we couldn’t possibly find another ounce of energy we just simply relax - don’t worry about it - and keep on riding the wave.
Karmapa taught all morning on the details of the empowerment, and instead of immediately starting the initiation he decided that we apparently needed some more time to stew in the heat and practice patience, so it was all moved to the afternoon - though many, many stayed in the tent reciting Vajrasattva for hours until the moment the Karmapa came back and things got started. The empowerment was very powerful, the Black crown was pulled out and immediately the regal and intense look of Karmapa was seen again, deeply in thought, and mesmerizing to watch. The mandala offering was performed after which the endless crowd all threw their rice into the air making a rainbow of colored reflections and a beautiful sound like soft rain as it all came down. After the ritual ceremony the blessing began and for this they did things a bit differently than per usual - as Karmapa, Lama Ole and Lama Jigme Rinpoche made their way out into the crowd to pass the blessing to each person individually, stopping by each bowed head and passing out the protection cords and blessed nectar to complete the empowerment. Everyone is sitting in pools of sweat, empty bottles of water are everywhere as we all try to keep hydrated in the tent that has climbed well past the point of oven temperature, and yet Karmapa passes calmly and collected to each person, looking them in the eyes, touching their head with a blessing, smiling at everyone. Watching from the stage he seems to completely disappear into the crowd as he makes his way out to everyone, his brilliant yellow robe is my only landmark to find him in the endless mob and swarm. The smiles I see on every face as he passes by is so wonderful, the contentment and joy from his being here has a profound and immediate effect on everyone here. One gets the feeling that Karmapa is also enjoying himself, as he doesn’t miss an opportunity to smile back or wave, even in the heat he seems quite content seeing so many come from so far just to be here together. What amazing compassion - we get to see such a prime and shining example of what a real bodhisattva is like, and how much he really gives of himself at all times for our benefit. We just may have broken a record today - more members of our dharma family gathered here in Germany than ever before and the feeling is just incredible. From every age group, social group, and ethnic group one could even try and find, they are represented here, all gathered under the tent, united in their refuge in the dharma, and in their belief and devotion to Karmapa who is leading the way for us all. This place and its people have unbelievable, explosive, incredible love for Lama Ole as well - and the respect that comes from Karmapa on this subject is quite clear. He ended his morning talk with some high praise directly for Lama Ole, in which he said - this is all thanks to him, this whole place is built on his hard work and powerful example - the "Great Dane" - huge applause well deserved.
But it was well worth it, the experience itself is one for the history books and something you certainly don’t get to see or be a part of everyday. The mood was light and cheerful, lacking in the normal hectic chaos and influenced mayhem that a large scale empowerment brings, everyone was relaxed and enjoying the vibes. The insane numbers in attendance notwithstanding everything was well organized, meals moved to later on, even jokes were being made about the constant schedule changes as a great way for all us westerners to lose our attachment to our tightly held preconceptions about time and planning and just go with the flow. Big applause, lots of laughs. They have these two lovely people as the MC’s for the event, and I must admit that I am duly impressed with their ability not only to cope and handle 8000 sweltering hungry attendees, but they somehow always managed to make it funny and even enjoyable. Politely asking people not to leave their kids alone to wander on stage, we know it’s exciting but please sit down, if you need to chat please excuse yourself from the tent a moment - some people are here to practice, thank you. This place even makes public announcements fun; waiting in line (which you do for basically everything) seems somehow enjoyable - they were spraying water from a hose on the overheated and hungry crowd like a summer pool party, and when the bell rang for the service to start there was a loud cheer and celebration, the clacking of spoons on plates could probably be heard all across the campus. I feel the warmth and influence of the EC and its people wearing off on me, even when the days seem incredibly long, impossibly hot, we haven’t slept enough, and when we couldn’t possibly find another ounce of energy we just simply relax - don’t worry about it - and keep on riding the wave.
Karmapa taught all morning on the details of the empowerment, and instead of immediately starting the initiation he decided that we apparently needed some more time to stew in the heat and practice patience, so it was all moved to the afternoon - though many, many stayed in the tent reciting Vajrasattva for hours until the moment the Karmapa came back and things got started. The empowerment was very powerful, the Black crown was pulled out and immediately the regal and intense look of Karmapa was seen again, deeply in thought, and mesmerizing to watch. The mandala offering was performed after which the endless crowd all threw their rice into the air making a rainbow of colored reflections and a beautiful sound like soft rain as it all came down. After the ritual ceremony the blessing began and for this they did things a bit differently than per usual - as Karmapa, Lama Ole and Lama Jigme Rinpoche made their way out into the crowd to pass the blessing to each person individually, stopping by each bowed head and passing out the protection cords and blessed nectar to complete the empowerment. Everyone is sitting in pools of sweat, empty bottles of water are everywhere as we all try to keep hydrated in the tent that has climbed well past the point of oven temperature, and yet Karmapa passes calmly and collected to each person, looking them in the eyes, touching their head with a blessing, smiling at everyone. Watching from the stage he seems to completely disappear into the crowd as he makes his way out to everyone, his brilliant yellow robe is my only landmark to find him in the endless mob and swarm. The smiles I see on every face as he passes by is so wonderful, the contentment and joy from his being here has a profound and immediate effect on everyone here. One gets the feeling that Karmapa is also enjoying himself, as he doesn’t miss an opportunity to smile back or wave, even in the heat he seems quite content seeing so many come from so far just to be here together. What amazing compassion - we get to see such a prime and shining example of what a real bodhisattva is like, and how much he really gives of himself at all times for our benefit. We just may have broken a record today - more members of our dharma family gathered here in Germany than ever before and the feeling is just incredible. From every age group, social group, and ethnic group one could even try and find, they are represented here, all gathered under the tent, united in their refuge in the dharma, and in their belief and devotion to Karmapa who is leading the way for us all. This place and its people have unbelievable, explosive, incredible love for Lama Ole as well - and the respect that comes from Karmapa on this subject is quite clear. He ended his morning talk with some high praise directly for Lama Ole, in which he said - this is all thanks to him, this whole place is built on his hard work and powerful example - the "Great Dane" - huge applause well deserved.
