For me it’s now been many years of Monlam, many times photographing the beautiful place, the wonderful people, the golden sun.
That special rolling fog as it mixes with saffron robes and cascading brocades in the early morning light; I thought I had pretty much seen everything. I’ve stretched out artistically, creatively, energetically. Emotionally too, this is always a crazy event for me. But this year has been totally new, a complete overhaul of my previous experiences, as I am now covering absolutely everything Karmapa does. And I mean every person he meets, everywhere he goes, everything. If one ever needs inspiration for what a Bodhisattva looks like, look no further than a typical day for His Holiness during the Monlam. Expressed in this case, through the eyes of his photographer.
Starting around 6am I would head over to the Karma Temple, and the day would begin there. Sometimes we’d go to the MahaBodhi Temple, other times I would work on photos until there began be a steady stream of audiences, meetings with important guests, and blessing cues that wrapped around the block. During the puja breaks, driving in a motorcade of police and sirens, we rushed back to meet another long line of people from all over the world waiting to see Karmapa. They were bringing gifts, asking for blessing, taking refuge, sometimes coming as a center or monastery, many times hundreds at a time. We missed meals a lot, I worked on photos every free moment I had, schedules changed and shifted beyond recognition. I was on call every second, things just happened out of the air, no-one really knew what was going to happen until it just happened. Under the tree again, or off to Bodhi School where hundreds of children from all over the region came to see Karmapa. Back to the tree, then immediately after the puja, pushing through the crowds and dust, back in the cars sirens on, pulling up, the courtyard exploding full with a line around the block for blessing. Hundreds and hundreds. Sometimes Karmapa barely got out of the car before the lines rushed in and the non-stop blessing cues lasted until well after sunset and the sky was dark. He usually just stood on the steps and blessed everyone as they passed by, sometimes lit only by cell phone light and the twinkling of Christmas lights on the walls. After the blessing line cleared, we usually rushed upstairs where there was again more people waiting, groups, centers, Lamas and Rinpoches, special projects that needed Karmapa’s attention, blessings and more meetings. The lines went all the way down the stairs and spilled out int the courtyard. Around 9pm things settled down, and with weary legs and a huge smile on my face the day’s activities were over, and it was time to start working on the photos. 15+ hours non stop - every day - it was madness! Beautiful, wonderful, amazing madness. Chaos and joy, a complete loss of time, space, planning or concepts for me, I just followed along for the ride to see where I might end up at the end. One must really love what they do for this kind of work, and I can tell you that I simply love what I do. I’ve never felt more alive.
I mention all of this because to me this was even more beautiful than what was happening under the tree. Karmapa’s unreal compassion and patience was like a lightning bolt to my heart. He was a mountain, immovable and steadfast. He has an orbit, creating gravity and affecting the world around him, something I can feel in my bones. He always had time for everyone. When they pushed and rushed he smiled and greeted each person with the same care and love I would have for my own son. When the lines grew and grew, when more came and there was no end in sight, he never once showed any sign of frustration or even fatigue, it was absolutely mind-blowing. Always laughing, joyful and serene. I love his sense of humor too. More than a few times it was all over, the day finished, and as he was leaving the room to be alone more people came, a lot more sometimes. He just met them with a soft gaze, smiled, sat back down and kept on going. I was right next to him the whole time, and I can tell you this is a real miracle. A real Bodhisattva before my eyes.
And so, after years of Monlam I have seen something new. Karmapa was always amazing, but seeing all this firsthand, being in the middle of it every single day was something else entirely. Behind the scenes the activity is exploding. When everyone else rests up and grabs some momos with friends, the Boss never stops. Never ever stops. If that isn’t inspiration at its core I don’t know what is.
