Comments on: Recalling a Buddha http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/ Think Bigger! Sat, 19 May 2012 00:04:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: John Castlebury http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/comment-page-1/#comment-8292 John Castlebury Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:01:41 +0000 http://radiofreeshambhala.org/?p=1554#comment-8292 Summer 1980: His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa had to climb a flight of concrete steps from the alley in back of 1111 Pearl Street to reach the landing of the second floor entrance to the then Naropa Institute on a blazing hot sunny day in Boulder, Colorado. Many of us lined the landing which was long, holding scarves and in anjali, to greet His Holiness, and as I was the maintenance man, I was standing near the door at the end of the landing as Karmapa slowly slowly came closer and closer. As His Holiness passed by, a hush fell over the world like coming face-to-face with one of the natural wonders of the world. His Holiness seemed like a presence not a personality, an utterly sane and sober presence; he seemed to be the fruition of the path of dharma that we were practising. But these are just words from afterwards, at the time it was wordless. His Holiness passed by so close I could practically feel his breath, and time stood still. And ever since then oddly the number 1111 has stuck in my mind so that any time I notice the time and it is 11:11, it takes me back to that place and time at 1111 Pearl Street and to His Holiness, and time again stands still for a minute. And today is November 11, or 11/11, and it’s 2011, so that makes today 11/11/11! May time stand still all day! During that visit, I was included in a group audience with His Holiness, seated at his feet, and normally too shy to ask even Trungpa Rinpoche a question in public, a question suddenly blurted out of me before I had a chance to get nervous. Through the translator I asked Karmapa how it could be that His Holiness could appear to be both so fierce and yet so gentle at the same time? His Holiness asked me if I meant the Mahakala aspect, and though not quite sure what I meant, I answered, Yes. And then with a bemused smile His Holiness said, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. And I think Karmapa was not speaking just to me, or to the others in the audience, but even to all of us 30 years later who are reading this at this very moment. Summer 1980: His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa had to climb a flight of concrete steps from the alley in back of 1111 Pearl Street to reach the landing of the second floor entrance to the then Naropa Institute on a blazing hot sunny day in Boulder, Colorado.

Many of us lined the landing which was long, holding scarves and in anjali, to greet His Holiness, and as I was the maintenance man, I was standing near the door at the end of the landing as Karmapa slowly slowly came closer and closer.

As His Holiness passed by, a hush fell over the world like coming face-to-face with one of the natural wonders of the world. His Holiness seemed like a presence not a personality, an utterly sane and sober presence; he seemed to be the fruition of the path of dharma that we were practising.

But these are just words from afterwards, at the time it was wordless. His Holiness passed by so close I could practically feel his breath, and time stood still.

And ever since then oddly the number 1111 has stuck in my mind so that any time I notice the time and it is 11:11, it takes me back to that place and time at 1111 Pearl Street and to His Holiness, and time again stands still for a minute. And today is November 11, or 11/11, and it’s 2011, so that makes today 11/11/11! May time stand still all day!

During that visit, I was included in a group audience with His Holiness, seated at his feet, and normally too shy to ask even Trungpa Rinpoche a question in public, a question suddenly blurted out of me before I had a chance to get nervous. Through the translator I asked Karmapa how it could be that His Holiness could appear to be both so fierce and yet so gentle at the same time? His Holiness asked me if I meant the Mahakala aspect, and though not quite sure what I meant, I answered, Yes. And then with a bemused smile His Holiness said, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.

And I think Karmapa was not speaking just to me, or to the others in the audience, but even to all of us 30 years later who are reading this at this very moment.

]]> By: Gregg http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/comment-page-1/#comment-3909 Gregg Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:32:28 +0000 http://radiofreeshambhala.org/?p=1554#comment-3909 Yes, He Who Stands Firm is still in the movie but his commentary is considerably briefer. The film is about 40 minutes shorter than the cut I released a few years ago, has perhaps 100+ new photographs and much never-before-seen footage. It's very much an entirely different movie and has two hours of Extra features. Gregg Eller Yes, He Who Stands Firm is still in the movie but his commentary is considerably briefer.

The film is about 40 minutes shorter than the cut I released a few years ago, has perhaps 100+ new photographs and much never-before-seen footage. It’s very much an entirely different movie and has two hours of Extra features.

Gregg Eller

]]> By: John Tischer http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/comment-page-1/#comment-3762 John Tischer Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:07:03 +0000 http://radiofreeshambhala.org/?p=1554#comment-3762 He Who, the happy yogi. He Who, the happy yogi.

]]> By: Mark Szpakowski http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/comment-page-1/#comment-3759 Mark Szpakowski Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:13:43 +0000 http://radiofreeshambhala.org/?p=1554#comment-3759 He Who? He Who?

]]> By: Lee Weingrad http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/comment-page-1/#comment-3758 Lee Weingrad Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:51:11 +0000 http://radiofreeshambhala.org/?p=1554#comment-3758 is He Who still in that movie? is He Who still in that movie?

]]> By: rita ashworth http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/comment-page-1/#comment-3708 rita ashworth Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:10:21 +0000 http://radiofreeshambhala.org/?p=1554#comment-3708 Dear All I saw an interesting video on utube re Karmapa 16. It was an interview with Gendun Rinpoche who I briefly saw in Manchester in the 1970s. The interview describes Karmapa's 16 'order' to GR to come to the west and set up centres because of the approaching dark ages. It was a wonderful interview I recommend it to everyone. It also gives a portrait of how Karmapa 16 worked with his students at that time. O yes and I believe Karmapa 17 is planning to come to Europe in 2010 and wants to work with all dharma groups for the visit - Ringu Tulku has also announced this on utube and set up a website for the visit for people who are interested in seeing him -check it out! Best wishes for the season Rita Ashworth Dear All

I saw an interesting video on utube re Karmapa 16. It was an interview with Gendun Rinpoche who I briefly saw in Manchester in the 1970s. The interview describes Karmapa’s 16 ‘order’ to GR to come to the west and set up centres because of the approaching dark ages. It was a wonderful interview I recommend it to everyone. It also gives a portrait of how Karmapa 16 worked with his students at that time.

O yes and I believe Karmapa 17 is planning to come to Europe in 2010 and wants to work with all dharma groups for the visit – Ringu Tulku has also announced this on utube and set up a website for the visit for people who are interested in seeing him -check it out!

Best wishes for the season

Rita Ashworth

]]> By: Rob Graffis http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/comment-page-1/#comment-3699 Rob Graffis Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:34:38 +0000 http://radiofreeshambhala.org/?p=1554#comment-3699 Three years ago, I read a book called Blazing Splendor. Tulku Urgyen descibed a teacher who had Kagyu practioners on one side of a valley, and Dzogchen students on the other side of the valley. The teacher was more monastic with his Kagyu students, and less strict on his Dzogchen students. Unfortunately, I gave my copy of the book away, so I can't recall the name of the teacher. The point was traditions can complement each other as opposing each other. You might want to check out this website about the book: www.rangjung.com/blazing/ Robby Three years ago, I read a book called Blazing Splendor. Tulku Urgyen descibed a teacher who had Kagyu practioners on one side of a valley, and Dzogchen students on the other side of the valley. The teacher was more monastic with his Kagyu students, and less strict on his Dzogchen students. Unfortunately, I gave my copy of the book away, so I can’t recall the name of the teacher.
The point was traditions can complement each other as opposing each other.
You might want to check out this website about the book:
http://www.rangjung.com/blazing/
Robby

]]> By: Charles Marrow http://radiofreeshambhala.org/2009/12/recalling-a-buddha/comment-page-1/#comment-3690 Charles Marrow Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:56:49 +0000 http://radiofreeshambhala.org/?p=1554#comment-3690 Thanks to an article on the Shambhala Times web site, my attention was brought to a very interesting manifestation of the enlightened presence and activity of the Karmapa lineage. Beginning this coming Saturday evening, December 19, (Nova Scotia time) there will be a live and direct transmission of HH Karmapa, Urgyen Thinley Dorje XVII teaching from the Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya India. His Holiness will be teaching on a Mahayana text entitled, “Letter to a Friend” which was a teaching given originally to an Indian King and would, therefore, be a good teaching for a lay audience. I regard myself as a devotee of His Holiness and have seen him in person in India in 2001 and Seattle 2006. I am all geared up with a minor upgrade in my internet speed, I have invited a couple of friends to join together in viewing the dharma talks together during the wee hours of the night and all this is happening in a modest sized apartment in a small town in Nova Scotia. This will be my holiday practice intensive and, for me, is a very interesting development in my personal connection to the Kagyu lineage tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in addition to being an exploration of the way that technology can make the dharma accessible. For anyone interested in this series of talks of His Holiness Karmapa, please go to - http://www.kagyumonlam.tv/ ...and also get talk transmission times on the Shambhala Times web site which has some user friendly conversions to North American time zones. Karmapa Khyenno!!! Charles Marrow, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia Thanks to an article on the Shambhala Times web site, my attention was brought to a very interesting manifestation of the enlightened presence and activity of the Karmapa lineage. Beginning this coming Saturday evening, December 19, (Nova Scotia time) there will be a live and direct transmission of HH Karmapa, Urgyen Thinley Dorje XVII teaching from the Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya India. His Holiness will be teaching on a Mahayana text entitled, “Letter to a Friend” which was a teaching given originally to an Indian King and would, therefore, be a good teaching for a lay audience.

I regard myself as a devotee of His Holiness and have seen him in person in India in 2001 and Seattle 2006. I am all geared up with a minor upgrade in my internet speed, I have invited a couple of friends to join together in viewing the dharma talks together during the wee hours of the night and all this is happening in a modest sized apartment in a small town in Nova Scotia. This will be my holiday practice intensive and, for me, is a very interesting development in my personal connection to the Kagyu lineage tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in addition to being an exploration of the way that technology can make the dharma accessible. For anyone interested in this series of talks of His Holiness Karmapa, please go to – http://www.kagyumonlam.tv/ …and also get talk transmission times on the Shambhala Times web site which has some user friendly conversions to North American time zones.

Karmapa Khyenno!!!

Charles Marrow, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

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