His Holiness the 17th Karmapa

Twenty years have passed since I was last with the Karmapa. This was the 16th Karmapa, Rangjang Rigpe Dorje, a magnificent being, a living Buddha. My experience in his presence was timeless, a feeling that he knew me, past present and future. This was not a personal thing, He knew everyone past present and future. My devotion in his presence, for him and for what he taught by his very nature, arose naturally and passionately. Karmapa simply permeated mind space. In the years immediately following his passing, I had many dreams about being with him in his 17th incarnation, a promise that we are never separated from our heart teachers.

Passing through a large building project entirely of red brick, native women carrying loads on their heads, it looks like a wantabe condo project, I smile in wonder at tenacity of this third world country. Suddenly just beyond the construction, there it is, a Monastery, top with the classic symbol, a golden wheel of the dharma, two golden dear on either side. Somewhere inside is HH Orgyen Thinley Dorjee, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa! Having finally escaped the suppression in Tibet and granted refugee status in India, Karmapa's mandala is blossoming around him at the Gyuto Monastery where he is a welcome guest. It is a pleasant hour's drive from our hotels in Dharmsala, through terraced fields, over crystal creeks.

When I first saw a picture of His Holiness he was about 7 years old. It was like the sun came out from behind the clouds. My heart rejoiced. I had no doubt this was Karmapa. He is a hook of compassion rescuing beings from samsara, cyclic existence. I dreamt of receiving teachings from him when he would be around 16 or17 years old. Now here I am, with the 2001 Tara Dhatu Pilgrimage of Peace, receiving refuge, teachings and empowerment from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa. He is 17 years old. Though I had "seen" this rejoining with one of the most important Gurus of my lifetimes I never imagined these circumstances where, at our first meeting, I would be offering him my practice in the form of the Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara.

His generosity towards our group reflects the sincere motivation of Tara Dhatu, its directors, Prema Dasara and Anahata Iradah, the community of Tara practitioners and the many supporters of this practice. The vision of dancing the praises of Tara across the world, is now a reality I am so grateful to be a part of. We are touching the lives of countless beings, causing wisdom, compassion and powerful methods of invoking love and peace to arise in hearts everywhere.

He looks just like he did in my dreams. The sense of commitment to benefiting beings as a living Buddha, while in the body of a seeming ordinary human being is extraordinary. The most memorable empowerment I received from the 16th Karmapa was a 21 Taras empowerment. Now I am present at the first Tara empowerment he has given in his 17th incarnation! Presenting our Dance practice immediately after receiving the empowerment is a Dharma Dream come true. What a magical moment of auspicious circumstances woven together. All this perfection is his display of natural mind, empty yet luminous, radiant with compassion and wisdom. While we danced the praises, adorned in our silk costumes, a rainbow display of the goddess, he appeared to me as the Tara of ferocious compassion, Troma and the obstacle dispelling lion faced one, Senge dolma. "This is what we need in the world right now" I seemed to see in his face and posture, a compelling NO to war and persecution, Mother Protector Tara! Watching from a balcony above our two spiraling mandalas his focused expression was nectar for my practice. As the hot sun pressed on the crown of my head I felt his blessing pour into me. I am in supreme bliss. Opening, my confidence rises to meet the blessing. In humble gratitude for this incredible good fortune I strive to be my best. I make prayers of aspiration that I accomplish my vow to perfect myself, that I may bring benefit to beings, that I may be with His Holiness again soon. Om Tare!

Janet Light