Sometimes it’s bringing laughter and joy, causing ripples of swelling giddiness to pervade across the sea of faces. Sometimes it’s more serious, more deep and profound. Sometimes in the space of a single afternoon one can feel the sway between the extremes, as an outburst of laughter can be quickly followed by a super intense inflection of thunderous concept smashing teachings that blow your head back. Such is the power of the Karmapa. And sometimes, on really rare occasions, one is treated to the full power, the full raw energy of something really special. When Karmapa gave the empowerment of Dorje Phagmo, (or Vajravarahi) in Manchester, this was such a moment. This was something else entirely.
Normally this empowerment takes two days, and is very involved. The plan was for Karmapa to arrive, perform the preparation and puja for several hours, and then the public would be allowed to enter for the empowerment itself, lasting most likely until very late in the evening. As is the case so often around the Big Boss, the plan was tossed to the wind. And so Karmapa arrived, and along with his entourage, performed the puja for the preparation phase. During this time I was able to approach quite closely, nearly touching his throne with my lens, unabated by the public and prying eyes normally annoyed by my presence. To photograph Karmapa in such an environment was exceptional. A very private moment, like I was alone in the room with him, just watching as His Holiness practiced Vajrayogini right before my eyes. My heart was racing, hands shaking, close enough to feel the wind from his damaru and the metallic throng of his bell cutting through space like a lightning bolt. His concentration, his power, was like a freight train running over scrambled eggs. I was smashed into a million pieces. I was hollowed out, raw and shieldless. And then, my heart began to sing. It was glorious and terrifying at the same time. Such is the power of the Karmapa.
It didn’t top there. When the public came in, Karmapa began by saying he wouldn’t explain anything at all. It would be quick and clean, without anything unnecessary or weighted down. Nothing to confuse us, nothing to compromise us. And that was it - the freight train left the station, we meditated, repeated, meditated and repeated, following Karmapa’s every word like a silver thread shinning in the dark. The world faded away, the room an oasis of trembling energy in the middle of the universe. It was over so fast I barely had a chance to right myself - only three hours including the blessing line and conclusion, as Karmapa walked out the door we all stood there stunned. I had expected all day and night, instead I was standing there wondering where my mind had gone, like a quick breeze it was over and done. For the rest of the evening everyone I talked to had the same experience, some like in a dream, others like myself having difficulty forming a coherent sentence. Concepts smashed. Mind blown. Check and check. This was no simple blessing, but something else entirely. Such in the power of the Karmapa. Welcome to The Power Field.
