I have always found this gesture sublimely powerful. He closes his eyes and you can literally feel his great and fiery heart washing out all over everything, a look of unbelievably peaceful concentration on his face. It is as though he is putting his entire being into that string, letting it run down into the statues to charge them with his blessing and love. While it may appear subtle from the outside, it radiated out like fire into me, and I could feel his heart beating in my chest as well. It was an intense moment, perhaps even scary for me, as this incredible being before me was transferring his great power out into the room, and peering through my lens I was somehow glimpsing into the very center of it. I have seen this ceremony performed many times, but today was different. Today was very special, as Karmapa performed an extended version of Rabne, almost eight hours, the same version the 16th Karmapa himself used to bless Rumtek Monastery. It was tremendous. It felt like I was setting foot in a shrine hall for the first time, wide open, the glowing lights and shinning everything becoming a wash of light and sound. It left me feeling empty but complete. Shaken and wobbling I know that something inside me has changed. Rabne is the traditional blessing ceremony of the space; the statues, the books, the shrines, the walls and floors, every single room, crevice and light fixture as well - but today was much more than that. While Karmapa charged the statues and the walls and everything contained within them, he truly charged my heart as well.
Karmapa Visits Singapore Karma Kagyud Singapore Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre Singapore Shangpa Rinpoche
