His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje Responding to Covid-19

His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, Karmapa's website.

This is a supplement to the two blog posts I've already published about His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje's activities related to Covid-19: advice to recite The Verses that Saved Sakya from Sickness: A Prayer for Pacifying the Fear of Disease, and the daily prayer livestreams taking place at 7 AM PT this week, April 18-24, 2020.

Responding to Covid-19

I recently read that on the occasion of Chinese New Year this year, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa had related a rare message from his ongoing retreat. I was able to find a video of that message as well as the English transcript.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa gave his address in Chinese. He was born in Tibet on June 26, 1985. He escaped Tibet in December 1999 at age fourteen, and mentioned his ability to speak Chinese while telling the story of his escape.

Chinese New Year Greeting

Watch the video published on the KC Himalaya YouTube channel from Malaysia:

Here is the English transcript, published on the KTD blog and lightly edited. Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) is His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa's seat in North America and is located in Woodstock, NY.

"Hello, everyone!

"Today is the first day of the new year and the beginning of a new round of twelve years. First of all, I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Tashi Delek! The spring festival is supposed to be a festival for family reunions and friend gatherings, and to be full of joy and auspiciousness.

"However, this year we are facing a rather severe situation and challenge: that is the problem of the new type pneumonia. People are panicing in many places. Although I have been far away and in solitary retreat, due to the current special situation, my mind is very much concerned and thinking about your health and emotions. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity on the first day of the new year to say a few words in the hope of bringing you some encouragement, support, and help.

"Buddha has taught us repeatedly that human life is very precious and hard to obtain. Therefore, we are extremely fortunate. However, at the same time life is like a water bubble, very fragile and easy to burst. So we must cherish it and grasp it well. Moreover, most importantly we must apply this precious and short life to do meaningful things and not waste it. Therefore, when we are now in the situation of the epidemic still being spread, we should have a good understanding and think about the value and fragility of human life and sincerely feel the depth and warmth of life. In this way, we may cherish more of what we have now, no matter if it is our own life or that of our family and friends. To sincerely feel the nature of life which is impermanent, fleeting yet full of opportunities and hopes, of this kind of state.

"Apart from impermanence the concept of cause and effect can be said to be the foundation of Buddhism. For example, for the current epidemic situation, if we cannot find the cause of the disease or the exact route of transmission, it may be difficult for us to thoroughly prevent and cure it, and the situation will become very difficult to control. However, when the disease initially appeared we probably didn’t speculate about what would happen afterwards or about its possible severe consequences. In fact, we were very ignorant of what would be happening soon. Therefore, due to the previous move, the previous choice, now we feel and experience its consequences, which is the natural development of cause and effect. However, people nowadays usually care more about what is happening in front of their eyes, just giving it a simple thought with their heads.

"But what seems like a good choice or situation now may actually have huge problems and crises hidden in it. Therefore, in Buddhism, we say to think with “heart,” not only with “brain.” Rather, it is a state of being prepared through experience and feel. For example, a person grows up in a very cold place. When the global climate becomes warmer and the place where he lives becomes hotter, he feels it is a good thing and thinks that finally it is warm. However, the reality might be too dire to imagine and a sign of impending disaster. Therefore, there is a saying: Bodhisattvas fear the causes and ordinary beings fear the results. Before doing everything we should think about why we are doing it and think twice. This is very important.

"Although our current life seems to be getting further and further away from nature, in fact, at all times, we are closely related to nature. Nature has nurtured us and given us everything we need. We should also take care of, cherish and give back to nature. This is a cycle. Think carefully, nature is not only trees, mountains and rivers, flowers and plants, but also includes various animals. It can be said to be everything. As big as the universe and as small as a bug. Therefore, we should treat every tree, every small animal, even the mountains and rivers with honor, respect and love all the time. Because none of us, or anything, is outside of nature. Therefore, at anytime and anywhere we must have the awareness of nature and the environment. We should have a profound understanding that any way of treating animals or treating nature will have its corresponding consequences.

"Anyway, today we are faced with such a dangerous and severe situation, which we should face and solve it together, and don’t feel afraid or panic. Nowadays the communication is very convenient. We receive a lot of information, news and messages every day, which is easily distracting and makes people feel nervous and flustered. Therefore, at this time we must be clear-minded and remain calm. At a critical moment, a small decision can also be related to the security of life. However, I believe that with our joint efforts, we will be able to overcome the difficulties together, and the illness will be under control and resolved soon.

"This time I have published a new translation of “The Wish to Eliminate Disease and Disaster," called “Sakya Healing of Disease." The author of this prayer is a famous great accomplished master in Tibet in the 14th century, named Thangdong Gyalpo. In fact, this prayer is very popular in Tibet. Whenever there are plagues of various sizes, people will recite it. However, it is very rare in China so I hope this translation can be helpful and bring you some encouragement and courage. Of course, you can also chant some familiar practices such as the heart mantras of Akshobya Buddha, Chenrezig etc. In a word, I hope that not only can we encourage each other, but we should also have confidence in ourselves and cheer ourselves up. United as one, I believe we will be able to overcome the difficulties soon.

"Anyway, in the new year, I wish everyone healthy and happy, everything goes well and have an auspicious Rat year. Thank you all!"

His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, Kagyu Monlam website.

Kagyu Monlam Address

In February, at the end of the 37th annual Kagyu Monlam (Great Prayer Festival) in Bodhgaya, India, he gave an address in Tibetan from his retreat place. This is an extract of his address where he gives advice for Covid-19:

"... Please pray that all degenerations in the world such as disease, famine, and war may be pacified. In particular, for over four months from last September until this January, terrible wildfires have raged in Australia, burning forests equal in size to South Korea and killing tens of millions of living creatures, it is reported. Similarly, a severe contagious disease has struck China, killing over six hundred people and leaving tens of thousands of patients in critical condition. This has brought great fear and difficulty for everyone around the entire world.

"The primary cause for this is harming wild animals, it is taught. Thus, according to our abilities, we should give up eating meat for one month, one year, or for the rest of our lives. Even if we find that we must eat domesticated animals, it is best not to eat the flesh of wild animals. It also goes without saying that no matter how large or small the harm we cause to another being’s life, it is the cause of sooner or later experiencing the same difficulties ourselves. In brief, I ask you please make dedications and aspirations so that your own benefit and others’ benefit is spontaneously and effortlessly accomplished according to the dharma."

(You can watch a beautiful video of his talk which was given in Tibetan, captioned in English, of his address on YouTube, again a video published by KC Himalaya.)

A friend recommends the recipe blog Veg Recipes of India. I have used and liked 101 Cookbooks.

"Cough and sneeze into your elbow," borrowed from Khoryug Covid-19 Fact Sheet (Tibetan).

Covid-19 Preparedness Guidelines for Monasteries, Nunneries, and Centers

Rangjung Khoryug Sungkyob Tsokpa (Khoryug) was founded by His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa in 2009. It is a network of more than fifty Buddhist monasteries, nunneries, and centers throughout India, Nepal, Bhutan, in the Himalayas, and South India working together on environmental protection in partnership with community organizations and NGOs.

You may have heard of the organization previously because Khoryug has produced the publications "Environmental Guidelines for Karma Kagyu Monasteries and Nunneries," "108 Things You Can Do the Save the Earth," and "Disaster Management Guidelines for Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, Nunneries and Communities."

On March 27 they published "Covid-19 Preparedness Guidelines for Monasteries, Nunneries, and Centers" along with this message:

"Due to the outbreak of the deadly Corona Virus aka Covid-19 around the world, we urge everyone, especially the Sangha members of Khoryug, to be extra careful and mindful of this new pandemic. Khoryug has prepared a small booklet and a poster (both in Tibetan and English) on Covid-19 preparedness guidelines for monasteries, nunneries and centers that we request you read and follow.

"It is important that you take care of yourself and your loved ones by following the instructions given by your government.

– Wash your hands with soap, often and for at least 20 seconds.
– Stay at home as much as possible.
– Keep a 2 meter/ 6 feet distance from others whenever possible.
– Monitor your emotional wellbeing as well as your physical wellbeing.
– Practice meditation and yoga and have faith in your dharma gurus and protectors."

Khoryug April 2, 2020 Facebook post.

See stories and photos from the Khoryug communities on the Khoryug Facebook page.

Khoryug is an initiative of Kun Kyong Charitable Trust, an NGO established in 2013 whose chief patron is His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, KTD website.

Donations Made to Stop Covid-19

Per the wishes of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, three organizations he is connected with have donated a collective total of $36,000 to the Indian government to fight Covid-19.

These organizations include Tsurphu Labrang (the Office of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa), Kun Kyong Charitable Trust, and the Kagyupa International Monlam Trust (Kagyu Monlam.) 

The money was donated to the Indian Prime Minister's "PM CARES Fund" and the State Governments of Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Bihar.

Kagyu Monlam has also been coordinating with the Gaya District, Bihar State authorities in Gaya to support needy people in the districts of Bihar.

Tsurphu Labrang issued a press release that read, “His Holiness (the Karmapa) is very concerned about the outbreak of this deadly COVID-19 in India and around the globe, and appreciates the timely and untiring efforts made by the Government of India led by Honourable Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the State Govts in containing this deadly disease.”