Here we are again, gathered in the great hall, packed in like sardines to hear the teachings and relish in the sweet vibe that is KIBI in the springtime.
This year we are especially lucky, for while Karmapa himself presides over the course, we are treated to the presence and teachings of H.E. Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche himself. And what an honor it is, he’s simply incredible. Walking in like a mountain, seeming to take up infinite space, his cheerful smile makes one almost forget just how powerful he can also be. Hilarious, kind, gentle and deeply touching too. On one hand you have a lineage holder, and in the other you have this playful young man who really enjoys making people laugh, and seems to find humor itself quite fascinating. I could sit and listen to him for days on end, and taking photos of this amazing being is even more enjoyable. I remember spending a lot of time with him right before his retreat, shooting his interview for Kudung, and in the same day our Dharma Studio photo session. He was most generous with his time on the eve of his three year retreat, I’ll never forget that generosity to me. If anyone is curious if he’s different after his retreat, I can tell you, a resounding yes. It’s like he gained 3000 years of experience, is ten feet taller, and while he’ll probably (hopefully) never lose his youthful spirit, he is without a doubt seasoned master of the highest caliber who has fully come into his own.
Karmapa arrived in the afternoon, in his traditional style of utmost gentle energy, and a calmness that never ceases to amaze me. He bestowed the empowerment of Vajrasattva, or Dorje Sempa, which was quite the way to start the course with a serious bang. He spent hours giving extremely vivid and detailed explanations of each step of the visualization, intricate subtleties of the practice, and his joyful humor made several appearances. While there were many in attendance, it was so calm and relaxed, with this family type atmosphere pervading everywhere. For anyone wishing to experience Karmapa at one of his most natural and homey, KIBI March Course is it. He’s also gained a million years of experience, growing infinitely bigger and more powerful too. I have always been thrilled how Karmapa becomes more and more totally in charge of what he does - he’s simply the boss, in all ways there is. He moves at his own speed, doing as he wishes, changing the plan at anytime to keep us all on our toes. He manifests as a being with compete control over his environment, done with such grace it’s staggering to watch, even after years of practice doing so. After the empowerment, he gave the closing remarks and conclusion before coming down from his throne, and after the blessing cue he just walked out, went straight to his waiting car and left with a huge smile on his face and a little wave out of the window. Boom, like a boss. Most people hadn’t even come out of their blessing fog and glow, wheeling around trying to find out where he went. I love this, totally on a whim- for us, perhaps even for him, it’s all so spontaneous and amazing. Such is the Karmapa.
I leave you all with this for now, but there is a lot more to come so stay tuned! All my best to you - have a wonderful day!
If anyone wants to join the streaming, you can do so here: https://www.karmapa.org/karmapa-public-course-2024-streaming/
