To the incredible people of Ladakh - You are as welcoming as the wide open mountain air, your hearts as warm as the sun, your spirits as rich as precious jewels - you have inspired me deeply and touched my heart so much I can barely spell it out in words. The significance and importance of this event is not to be underestimated, what this has meant to you, to all of us, to our lineage all over the world, it has been so incredible and rich, so powerful, so everlasting, the impressions made on my very soul are limitless and uncountable.
You have opened your world to all of us, invited us in to your homes and your lives, shared your hearths and histories, your hearts and minds, and for this I am forever grateful. Your cheers of joy are still echoing in my mind, your warrior cries bring tears to my eyes. Your ability to bring so much happiness to us all has been duly noted. From the moment I arrived I have felt like home here, a new place to call my own, a place where I will be coming again and again as the blessings and power of this place are boundless and overwhelming. This event has changed my life, it has changed all our lives. This has been a great, grand event not only for the history books, but forever engrained in all of us, and already the stuff of legend. To host His Holiness in this way, to show the true power and grand virtuosity of the Dharma, combining our great family from across the globe has been a magical story that I have had the great fortune to witness, to play a small part in, and to be asked to display this for the rest of the world to see and share has been the greatest honor of my life.
My most humble and heartfelt thanks goes to everyone who worked so tirelessly, so very hard, and for such a long time to make all of this possible. To the kitchen staff for always making amazing food, and always being kind and flexible. To the drivers who drove endlessly, without break, hauling all of us over mountains and back down again with grace and speed. To all the monks and Lamas for always being welcoming, kind and so hilariously true to your own real nature, bearing witness to your private and personal lives has been such a gift that I know not all are privy to or allowed to see. To everyone who made the long trek from everywhere to be here, you all have inspired me deeply as well, for this climate and sometimes difficult and heavy schedule can be draining to even the best of us - and yet you all pulled through in spades and with great dignity. To all the monasteries, villages, huts, shacks and tents we visited along the way - your devotion and welcome to all of us, to Karmapa, was so inspiring and impressive beyond belief. The offerings you made, regardless of the size or splendor, were always made with such powerful intentions, such deep devotion, such spirit, you have shown the world your true worth. To Choegye La, Lama Zopa, for your incredible kindness with me, you did me such an honor by inviting me here, allowing me to represent your amazing monastery for this historic event, and for always having the time to help everyone with everything, no matter how busy you were. Your kindness has a place in my heart for all time. You are by far, one of the most kind, humble and hard working, devoted people I have ever had the good fortune to meet, and I consider myself truly lucky to know you as I now do.
Karmapa’s coming to Ladakh has stirred up emotions in myself I didn’t know I had - seeing the mountains kiss the sky the way they do here, the way everyone handles everything with slow and deliberate unquenchable devotion, spending these past weeks up here in the clouds has opened my mind more than I could’ve ever imagined. Karmapa was so incredible this entire trip, forging his way through everything one could imagine and more, breaking all preconceptions I had about what a human being is capable of, his compassion so evident and strong here, though I have seen it many times before I feel so inspired by all I have seen and felt, heard and done. This event has been one of the greatest moments of my life - and I plan on coming back here as soon as possible, as often as possible, for as long as possible, for this place is home. With cheers and screams, banners flying high, the sound of rejoicing and monumental celebration strong in the air. Wave your flags with pride, shout your cries with joy, you are simply amazing. Julley, Julley, with pride we cry Julley! To the great people of Ladakh, of Karma Dupgyud Choeling Monastery, to our Dharma family from everywhere and anywhere, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Today was the end of this great event, of this moment in time that has already been carved into the history books. But don’t fret, as we will all be together soon, a clan such as ours is strong and united, standing the test of time like no other. For now there is only one last thing to say - one final Julley!
Ki Ki So So La Gyelo!
You have opened your world to all of us, invited us in to your homes and your lives, shared your hearths and histories, your hearts and minds, and for this I am forever grateful. Your cheers of joy are still echoing in my mind, your warrior cries bring tears to my eyes. Your ability to bring so much happiness to us all has been duly noted. From the moment I arrived I have felt like home here, a new place to call my own, a place where I will be coming again and again as the blessings and power of this place are boundless and overwhelming. This event has changed my life, it has changed all our lives. This has been a great, grand event not only for the history books, but forever engrained in all of us, and already the stuff of legend. To host His Holiness in this way, to show the true power and grand virtuosity of the Dharma, combining our great family from across the globe has been a magical story that I have had the great fortune to witness, to play a small part in, and to be asked to display this for the rest of the world to see and share has been the greatest honor of my life.
My most humble and heartfelt thanks goes to everyone who worked so tirelessly, so very hard, and for such a long time to make all of this possible. To the kitchen staff for always making amazing food, and always being kind and flexible. To the drivers who drove endlessly, without break, hauling all of us over mountains and back down again with grace and speed. To all the monks and Lamas for always being welcoming, kind and so hilariously true to your own real nature, bearing witness to your private and personal lives has been such a gift that I know not all are privy to or allowed to see. To everyone who made the long trek from everywhere to be here, you all have inspired me deeply as well, for this climate and sometimes difficult and heavy schedule can be draining to even the best of us - and yet you all pulled through in spades and with great dignity. To all the monasteries, villages, huts, shacks and tents we visited along the way - your devotion and welcome to all of us, to Karmapa, was so inspiring and impressive beyond belief. The offerings you made, regardless of the size or splendor, were always made with such powerful intentions, such deep devotion, such spirit, you have shown the world your true worth. To Choegye La, Lama Zopa, for your incredible kindness with me, you did me such an honor by inviting me here, allowing me to represent your amazing monastery for this historic event, and for always having the time to help everyone with everything, no matter how busy you were. Your kindness has a place in my heart for all time. You are by far, one of the most kind, humble and hard working, devoted people I have ever had the good fortune to meet, and I consider myself truly lucky to know you as I now do.
Karmapa’s coming to Ladakh has stirred up emotions in myself I didn’t know I had - seeing the mountains kiss the sky the way they do here, the way everyone handles everything with slow and deliberate unquenchable devotion, spending these past weeks up here in the clouds has opened my mind more than I could’ve ever imagined. Karmapa was so incredible this entire trip, forging his way through everything one could imagine and more, breaking all preconceptions I had about what a human being is capable of, his compassion so evident and strong here, though I have seen it many times before I feel so inspired by all I have seen and felt, heard and done. This event has been one of the greatest moments of my life - and I plan on coming back here as soon as possible, as often as possible, for as long as possible, for this place is home. With cheers and screams, banners flying high, the sound of rejoicing and monumental celebration strong in the air. Wave your flags with pride, shout your cries with joy, you are simply amazing. Julley, Julley, with pride we cry Julley! To the great people of Ladakh, of Karma Dupgyud Choeling Monastery, to our Dharma family from everywhere and anywhere, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Today was the end of this great event, of this moment in time that has already been carved into the history books. But don’t fret, as we will all be together soon, a clan such as ours is strong and united, standing the test of time like no other. For now there is only one last thing to say - one final Julley!
Ki Ki So So La Gyelo!
