正值藏曆水虎新年之際，第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴泰耶多傑，希望你們知道他為大家祈願和祈禱，並與他的學生分享以下新年開示。

生命固然可貴，但無論它是怎麼珍貴，如果我們想抓住它，它就會像水一樣從我們手中溜走。所以，在佛法的滋養下，願我們學會在這無盡的水流中暢游和享受生命，不一定要游得快或游得慢，而是讓生命隨著水漂浮，讓水載著我們，讓我們放下對掌控生命的執著。

過去這些年展示了給我們看到的是，生命是可以很動盪。為了得到答案去解釋為什麼是這樣，使我們試圖與生命之流對抗。所以，願我們帶著慈悲和智慧隨順生命之流而游，不需要為了一個絕對的原因，只是單純享受此生所帶來的一切。

這樣一來，無論生活是多麼洶湧不安，我們都知道並清楚地認識，動盪必然會流走，因為生命不過如水一般。

我有一種感覺，在新一年的到來，我們又一次有機會見證生命的意義。因此，我熱切希望你們花一些時間運用佛法，對生命的意義作祈禱或禪修。

祝願你們在沒有渴望長壽的心理負擔下得長壽。
祝願你們在沒有勉強的微笑下擁有快樂。
祝願你們在不停止仁愛的善行下得到平安。

I wish you longevity without the burden of having to live long.
I wish you happiness without having to force a smile.
I wish you peace without silencing loving activities.

On the occasion of Losar and the dawn of the Year of the Male Water Tiger, Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, wants you to know that his wishes and prayers are there for all of you, and shares the following message for all of his students.

Life is precious indeed, yet no matter how precious it may be, if we try to grasp it, it will slip out of our grasp like water. Therefore, with the support of the Buddha Dharma, may we learn to enjoy life by swimming in this infinite stream – not necessarily by swimming faster or slower, but by letting the water of life float and carry us, so that we can let go of control over life.

These past years have shown us how turbulent life can be. The answer for why this is the case could be that we have tried to fight against the current of life. So, may we try to swim with it, compassionately and wisely, not for an absolute cause but simply for the enjoyment of having been born as a particular pattern of the water in this lifetime.

In this way, no matter how turbulent life gets, we are aware of and somewhat awake to the truth that turbulence must flow away, for life is only like water.

I have a feeling that at the dawn of this new year we get, yet again, a chance to witness what life is all about. Therefore, it is my fervent wish for you to take some time to either pray or meditate on life with the help of the Buddha Dharma.

I wish you longevity without the burden of having to live long.
I wish you happiness without having to force a smile.
I wish you peace without silencing loving activities.

Karmapa’s Losar message 2022

中文翻譯由本中心翻譯小組負責。若有錯漏，請見諒。節錄或載列文章內容以原文為準。）

2022年2月25號

第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴泰耶多傑，有關烏克蘭最近局勢消息的分享

親愛的法友

我一直都在密切關注世界新聞，每一次的更新消息都讓我非常擔心和悲慟。我可能跟許多人一樣，認為這次疫情已經足夠讓我們為這個世界擔憂不已，然而在疫情爆發以來的眾多戰爭中，烏克蘭目前的局勢尤其令人擔憂。

作為修行者，我們能做什麼？作為世界公民，我們是否應該試圖阻止這種情況？我們有能力避免它，阻止它嗎？還是我們讓事情順其自然的發展？恐怕這些問題並沒有簡單的答案。

但是，作為與家人和朋友有著聯繫的修行者，無論老少、健康、患病或臨終者，我們可能會覺得有必要為他們堅強，為他們承擔責任。

那麼，這是否等於我們必須否認自己與恐懼的鬥爭，來強迫自己散發力量和勇氣？我認為不一定要這樣。

當然，讓他們的心平靜下來是我們該做的。但這代表我們要接受生命一直在變化，而且永遠都會如此。

從這個意義上說，我們可以不必假裝堅強。通過接受生命是不斷的變化或無常，我們可以讓恐懼消失，就像讓自己呼氣而不用擔心之後是否能夠再次吸氣一樣。這樣做可以為無論是老少、健康、患病或臨終的家人和朋友，帶來力量和勇氣，這些都是他們希望從我們身上感受和尋求到的。

這種對無常的接受態度，顯然可以來自於我們記得的任何一種正式修持。

在絕對層面而言，生命為何不斷變化的問題，是我們無法找到答案的。連諸佛都沒有找到這個問題的答案。因此，如果你覺得自己不知道為什麼會發生這一切，請隨便和自信地說「我不知道」。我們為什麼會知道，或者我為什麼會知道。這個問題就連我自己永遠都不會有答案的。

然而，在世俗的層面上，或者為了達到溝通的目的，諸佛透過「轉法輪」，用佛法提供所有的答案。所以，如果你覺得有人在尋找答案和事實，那麼為了防止誤用因果論來推卸責任，請先研讀《解脫莊嚴寶論》和更多的經典。

我相信世界各國領導人正在盡其所能防止可怕的後果。但我們必須接受他們畢竟是人。這意味著即使他們不想作出選擇，但他們背負著決定和選擇的重擔。「生存還是毁滅」。他們必須作出的所有選擇，都是基於原本既有的繁榮和貧困作條件。當一個人作選擇時，是無法避免的。所以選擇的本質是有利也有弊的。

因為我們被催眠似的在夢中，才有選擇的錯覺。修行佛法就是放下選擇和決定。我們做決定只是為了利益那些仍處於被催眠狀態的人而已。

所有六道眾生都處於這種選擇的催眠下，因此我們更需要持誦諸佛慈悲總持觀世音菩薩的六字大明咒 Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hung。

致上祈禱
泰耶多傑
第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴

February 25, 2022
Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message after the recent events in Ukraine.

Dear Dharma friends,

I have been following the world news as closely as I can, and each update has caused me great worry and sadness. I might be one of many who feel that this pandemic is already quite enough worry for the world, and that among the many wars that have raged ever since the outbreak of the pandemic, the current situation in Ukraine is particularly worrisome.

As practitioners, what can we do? Do we, as citizens of the world, try to stop such a situation? Do we have the ability to avert it, prevent it? Or do we let things run their course? There are no simple answers to these questions, I’m afraid.

Nevertheless, as practitioners who are connected to family members and friends – both young and old, healthy, sick or dying – we may feel the need to be strong for them, to take responsibility for them.

So, does that mean we have to force ourselves to exude strength and courage by denying our own struggle against fear? Not necessarily, I feel.

Of course, being there for them to calm their hearts is our practice. But what that means is to accept that life is always changing, and always will be.

In that sense we may not have to pretend to be strong. By accepting that life is ever-changing or impermanent we can let fear flow away, just like letting ourselves exhale without worrying if we might be able to inhale again afterwards. This practice might convey to our families and friends – young and old; healthy, sick or dying – the impression of strength and courage that they wish to experience and seek from us.

This acceptance of impermanence can obviously come from any formal practice that we may have been invested in for as long as we can remember.

In absolute terms, the question of why life is ever-changing is one that we cannot find an answer for. Not even the Buddhas have found the answer to that question. So therefore, if you feel that you don’t know why all this is happening, feel absolutely free and confident to say “I don’t know”. Why would we, or why would I? This self or I will never know.

Yet, on a conventional level, or for the sake of communication, the Dharma that the Buddhas have shared by ‘turning the wheel of Dharma’ provides all the answers. So, if you feel that people are searching for answers and facts, then in order to prevent the misuse of causality by casting blame, start by reading the Jewel Ornament of Liberation and the larger sutras.

I have faith in the leaders of the world that they are doing everything within their power to prevent terrible outcomes. But we have to accept that they are humans after all. And that means that they are burdened by decisions and choices, even if they don’t want to choose. “To be or not to be”. All the choices they have to make are based on an inheritance of both prosperity and poverty. There is no way around that when one chooses, so the very nature of choice is both positive and negative.

And this illusion of choice is what we are hypnotised by. Practicing the Buddha Dharma means letting go of choice and decisions. It means that we only decide for the sake of those who are still under the spell of the hypnotism.

All six realms are under this hypnotism of choice, and therefore there is all the more reason to recite the six syllables of Chenrezig, the compassionate aspect of all the Buddhas: Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hung.

With prayers
Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa

(中文翻譯由本中心翻譯小組負責。若有錯漏，請見諒。節錄或載列文章內容以原文為準。）

第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴分享，關於多竹千仁波切圓寂的訊息

親愛的法友，

寧瑪派最偉大的上師之一，嘉傑多竹千仁波切已經進入涅槃。

他被第五世佐欽土登確吉多傑認証為第四世多竹欽仁波切，並在陞座典禮時命名為土登欽列巴桑波。

當時年僅六歲的他，遇到了阿旺區的大伏藏師欽列卓杜林巴，他傳授仁波切無上灌頂，使他內在的靈性得以覺醒。佐欽仁波切還指示他依止伊可區的大成就者秋英讓珠，告訴他這位上師是他許多世的主要上師。他從這位上師領受了寧瑪派傳承，特別是龍欽寧提的傳承教法，年輕的多珠欽仁波切一直修持這些教法，直到他完全掌握了這些法門為止。

為了弘揚寧瑪派的傳承教法，他向寺廟的資深堪布，以及第五世佐欽仁波切、欽哲確吉羅卓和他那個時代的其他偉大上師尋求指導和領受灌頂。

他還在他的寺院建立了佛學院和禪修中心。然而，由於他本來所在地區受到政治動亂，他在二十歲初前往西藏中部朝聖，從那裡前往印度，並在今天的印度錫金定居。流亡期間，仁波切在錫金建立了他的寺院，並將寧瑪派的傳承弘揚至喜馬拉雅地區及其他地區，教法成千上萬的信徒。在那裡，他主要傳授了仁欽特藏欽摩和寧提傳承，但也傳授了寧瑪派的許多其他教義和傳承。

當有機會再次去回西藏時，他每年都會在他的寺院以及康區的許多其他地方教學，他會在寺院、佛學教育中心和禪修中心教授，並提供財政支持。

簡而言之，多珠欽仁波切的一生已斷除一切世間八法。他就是透過自身精進不懈，成為不為世俗事所污染的生活模範，他的行為符合佛法宗旨和體現佛法精神。我希望他的弟子能以他為榜樣，使上師的願望得以實現。

因此，我從內心深處隨喜嘉傑多竹欽仁波切的偉大榜樣，並祈願他早日正確無誤之轉世。

第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares this message following the passing of Do Drubchen Rinpoche.

Dear Dharma friends,

Khyab Je Do Drubchen Rinpoche, one of the greatest masters of the Nyingma School, and its very life-force, has passed into Parinirvana.

He was recognized as the 4th Do Drubchen Rinpoche by the 5th Dzogchen Thubten Chokyi Dorje, and named Thubten Trinley Pal Zangpo at the time of his enthronement.

At the age of just six years old, he met with the great terton, Trinley Drodul Lingpa, of the Awom region, who bestowed the Supreme Empowerment of Insight upon him, and thus that spiritual dimension awakened within him. Dzogchen Rinpoche also instructed him to seek out the mahasiddha Choying Rangdrol of the Yikho region, telling him that this master had been his principal guru in many lifetimes. From this master he received the transmissions of the Nyingma school with specific emphasis on the Nyingtig tradition, and the young Do Drubchen Rinpoche engaged in the practises of these teachings till he had mastered them.

For the sake of spreading the Nyingma tradition far and wide, he sought instructions and empowerments from the senior Khenpos of his monastery, as well as from the 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, and other great masters of his time.

He also established both an institute for Buddhist education and a retreat centre for meditation at his monastery. However, because of political unrest in his region, he went on a pilgrimage to the central parts of Tibet in his early twenties, and from there he travelled to India where he settled in today’s Indian state of Sikkim. There he established his monastery in exile and spread the Nyingma tradition to many thousands of devotees throughout the Himalayan region and beyond. There he principally gave the transmissions of Rinchen Terdzo Chenmo and the Nyingtig tradition, but also many other teachings and transmissions of the Nyingma school.

When it became possible to travel to Tibet again, he did so on a yearly basis to teach at his monastery there as well as in many other parts of the Kham region, where he both taught and provided financial support for monastic institutions, Buddhist educational institutions, and retreat centres for meditation.

In brief, throughout his life Do Drubchen Rinpoche had severed all ties with the Eight Worldly Dharmas. His life-example is one of pure endeavour not tainted by the affairs of the world, of deeds which accord with the Buddha Dharma, and I request his disciples to follow his example so that the guru’s intentions may be fulfilled.

Thus, I, from the depths of my heart, rejoice in the great life-example of Khyab Je Do Drubchen Rinpoche and pray that his unmistaken reincarnation may manifest soon.

Thaye Dorje
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa
https://www.karmapa.org/do-drubchen-rinpoches-passing/

(中文翻譯由本中心翻譯小組負責。若有錯漏，請見諒。節錄或載列文章內容以原文為準。）

妙境佛學會同人,祝各位新年快樂.身體健康!

寧波車大年初一給各位以下的祝福語 :-

我在此祝我們所有法友新春吉祥如意。新的一年標誌著另一個旅程的開始。願我們所有人在菩提道上都能懷著理解、包容和勤修精進之心，長養無上菩提。祈願我們能以逆境為師，歷練為增長智慧之道，扎西德勒！

Rimpoche wrote this :
I hereby wish all our Dharma Friends a very warm Tashi Delek on this Lunar New Year Day.
It marks the beginning of another journey . May all of us embark on this journey with understanding, acceptance, and being diligent to develop our Boddhichitta mind. May obstacles be the teacher and may experience makes us wiser. Tashi Delek! 🙏

(中文翻譯由本中心翻譯小組負責。若有錯漏，請見諒。節錄或載列文章內容以原文為準。）

第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴泰耶多傑分享以下關於一行禪師圓寂的訊息

親愛的法友，

一位我們這個時代最受尊敬的佛學大師，一行禪師已經離開了他的肉身。

我想向他在越南和世界各地的所有學生表示哀悼，但同時我也想鼓勵我們所有人，隨喜他無盡的佛行事業和他歷久不衰的傳奇。

他這生的逝世並不代表他已經離開了我們。正如他自己所說的，「只是因為我們的誤解，我們才認為我們所愛的人，去世後不再存在。這是因為我們執著於這個人眾多顯現中的某種形相，我們所愛的人還在這裡。他就在我們身邊，在我們的心裡，對著我們微笑。」

我們噶瑪噶舉的傳承與一行禪師有著非常特殊的精神聯繫，正是因為他的仁慈，我們Dhagpo Kundrol Ling 寺廟的比丘尼，於1994 年在梅村能接受完整的比丘尼出家戒（藏語為Gelongma）。由於戒律是一切功德與智慧的基礎，所以對一個佛法傳承來說，沒有比這個更大的禮物。

至於對世界的貢獻，我覺得他主要的貢獻就是真正的無國界靈性修行。曾經是、現在也是。這種無國界的靈性修行既不是一種聲音，也不是將各種宗教和精神傳統混合在一起，而失去各自的獨特性。
相反，沒有使別人有難受的感覺下，他展示和反映了別人信仰的本質，在他們的獨特性和與別人的差異中，都能被尊重、理解和接受。正是這種互相尊重、互相接納的共融關係，讓大家意識到最終我們都是一樣的。

這樣，苦惱就會平靜下來，然後讓大家看到「真相」，無論我們是怎樣稱呼這個「真相」。

這種行持被佛教徒視為佛法。
菩薩為了平息眾生的煩惱，沒有不去接觸和學習的東西，例如五明之學和任何社會工具甚至是政治之學。

這就是大師一行禪師所做的。其餘的就取決於我們自己。

泰耶多傑
第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message about the passing of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Dear Dharma friends,

One of the most revered Buddhist masters of our time, Thích Nhất Hạnh, has left his body.
I would like to express my condolences to all of his students both in Vietnam and around the world, but at the same time I would also like to encourage all of us to rejoice in his boundless activity and his timeless legacy.

His passing from this life does not mean that he is gone. As he himself put it, “It is only because of our misunderstanding that we think the person we love no longer exists after they ‘pass away’. This is because we are attached to one of the forms, one of the many manifestations of that person… The person we love is still there. He is around us, within us and smiling at us.”

Our Karma Kagyu lineage had a very special spiritual bond with Master Thích Nhất Hạnh, for it is due to his kindness that our nuns from Dhagpo Kundrol Ling were able to receive the full monastic ordination of the Bhikshuni (Gelongma in Tibetan) Vows at Plum Village in 1994.
Since the practice of Vinaya is the ground for all merit and wisdom, there is no greater gift than that to the lineage of Buddha Dharma.

As for the world, I feel that his main contribution to the world was – and is – the genuine practice of spirituality without borders and boundaries.
This boundary-less spirituality was not mere voices, nor did it mean mixing together various religions and spiritual traditions so that the uniqueness of each would be lost.
Rather, without causing any affliction to others, he tried to reveal and mirror the nature of every belief that others held, so they would feel respected, understood and accepted in their uniqueness and their differences. And it was this very respect and acceptance, this ‘letting be’, that allowed others to come to the understanding that in the end we are the same.

In this way, the afflictions will become quiet and settle down, which then allows everyone to see the ‘truth’, or whatever we may call it.

Such activity is recognised by Buddhists as Buddha Dharma.
There is nothing that Bodhisattvas will not engage with and learn in order to quieten others’ afflictions, such as the Five Sciences and any social tools, even politics.

This is what Master Thích Nhất Hạnh did. The rest is up to us.

Thaye Dorje
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa

Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022). Photo by Dana Gluckstein.
https://www.karmapa.org/thich-nh

(中文翻譯由本中心翻譯小組負責。若有錯漏，請見諒。節錄或載列文章內容以原文為準。）

(中文翻譯由本中心翻譯小組負責。若有錯漏，請見諒。節錄或載列文章內容以原文為準。）

第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴泰耶多傑，於2021 年噶舉祈願法會圓滿結束後，分享以下訊息

親愛的法友

2021 年噶舉祈願法會圓滿結束後，我懷著喜悅和感激的心情寫這訊息給你們。噶舉祈願法會自 1994 年起，由已故第 十四 世昆津夏瑪仁波切於我們這時代發起以來，今年已是第十九屆。

藉由諸佛菩薩的無量加持，以及我們尊貴的僧伽、仁波切、喇嘛、比丘、比丘尼、在家居士和義工們的奉獻和熱忱，我們再次能夠在我們東、西方各個寺院和佛學院中安全地舉辦祈願法會。

我感謝所有協助過隆德寺線上直播的所有人士，因而能讓世界各地的學生參與這個利益有情的無盡祈願、祈請和奉獻的法會。

我要感謝以下人士：

Khenpo Lekshey
Chocho
Stephan Grallert
Daniel Lin
Knut Jelden
Tokpa Korlo
Bart Mendel
Magda Jungowska
Paul Partington
眾多技術人員、義工團隊、攝影師以及其他幕後工作人員

今年的噶舉祈願法會由Thaye Dorje Foundation (TDF), South Asia Buddhist Association (SABA), Karmapa Charitable Trust (KCT) and Timeless Charity Foundation Limited (TCF)合力贊助舉辦。

最重要的是，我衷心感激來自世界各地的你們、親愛的法友和修行者，感謝你們的參與和不斷的修持。

希望再次收聽和觀看祈願法會的人士，可以在以下的流媒體頁面重溫祈願法會。

我希望以下照片可以帶給大家2021噶舉祈願法會一些印象，就如它們之前也在世界各地分享過一樣。
https://www.karmapa.org/kagyu-monlam-2021-impressions-photos

致上祈禱
第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴泰耶多傑

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares this message after the 2021 Kagyu Monlam.

Dear Dharma friends,
It is with joy and appreciation that I write to you, following the successful completion of the 2021 Kagyu Monlam, the 19th such gathering since its initiation in our time by His Holiness the late 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche in 1994.

Due to the boundless blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the dedication and enthusiasm of our venerable Sanghas, Rinpoches, lamas, monks, nuns, lay practitioners and volunteers, we were once again able to safely host numerous Monlams at our various monasteries and institutes both in the East and the West.

My gratitude goes to all the individuals who made it possible to provide live streaming directly from Rumtek, due to which all the students around the world were able to join in these limitless aspirations, prayers and dedications for the benefit of all sentient beings.
I would like to thank the following individuals:
Khenpo Lekshey
Chocho
Stephan Grallert
Daniel Lin
Knut Jelden
Tokpa Korlo
Bart Mendel
Magda Jungowska
Paul Partington
The many technicians, volunteers, photographers and others working in the background.

This year’s Kagyu Monlam was organized and sponsored by the Thaye Dorje Foundation (TDF), South Asia Buddhist Association (SABA), Karmapa Charitable Trust (KCT) and Timeless Charity Foundation Limited (TCF).

Most importantly, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you, dear Dharma friends and practitioners all over the world, for your participation and your continued practice.

All those who wish to listen to and watch the Monlam prayers again can do so on the streaming page.

I hope that the following photos will give a small impression of the Kagyu Monlam 2021, as it was experienced around the world.

With prayers

Thaye Dorje,
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa

Kagyu Monlam 2021 impressions (photos)

(中文翻譯由本中心翻譯小組負責。若有錯漏，請見諒。節錄或載列文章內容以原文為準。）

6 August 2021

第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴泰耶多傑分享有關天然災害的訊息

親愛的法友

在過去的幾個星期和幾個月裡，我們目睹了一連串的自然災害，而且更多的自然災害幾乎每天都在發生，它們提醒我們大自然的力量可以瞬間改變我們的生活。

數百人在最近的洪水、野火、颱風、旋風和颶風中喪生，還有數千人失去了家園、財產和生計。

除了面對全球疫情所帶來的挑戰之外，當這樣的悲劇發生時，我們自然會感到沉重和困惑，並問自己為什麼這樣的災難會不斷發生。面對我們目睹的所有苦難，我們會感到無助。

有這種無助和困惑的感覺是完全正常的，但我認為作為佛法修行者，更重要的是要提醒自己，像生死一樣，自然災害是我們無法掌控和控制的現象。

儘管如此，我們可以透過它們來提醒生活中的一切都是無常的，從而向它們學習。

此外，我們並非完全無助，因為即使我們可能不認識受害者，我們仍然可以通過專注思維，同為人類共有的相似之處，而與他們建立連結。

我們可以提醒自己，像我們一樣，他們過去和現在都渴望和平與幸福，跟我們一樣，他們曾經擁有和現在擁有著希望和夢想。

我們可以為他們祈求，希望他們能找到一直嚮往的和平與幸福。

我們可以許下願望，希望他們的夢想會透過我們的祈願所實現。

我鼓勵我所有的學生和我一起發這樣的願望，通過這樣做，我們可以將這些充滿挑戰性的環境轉化為有意義的事情。

致上祈禱
第十七世大寶法王嘉華噶瑪巴泰耶多傑

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message about natural disasters:

Dear Dharma friends,

Over the past few weeks and months, we have witnessed a host of natural disasters, and many more continue to unfold on an almost daily basis, reminding us of the power of nature to transform our lives at a moment’s notice.

Hundreds of people have lost their lives in the recent floods, wildfires, typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes, and thousands more have lost their homes, their possessions and their livelihoods.

When such tragedies occur, on top of all the challenges brought about by the global pandemic, it’s natural for us to feel weighed down and confused, and to ask ourselves why such disasters keep occurring. We experience a sense of powerlessness in the face of all the suffering we are witnessing.

While such feelings of helplessness and bewilderment are completely normal, I feel that as practitioners of the Buddha Dharma it’s important to remind ourselves that – just like birth and death – natural disasters are phenomena that we have no control or power over.

Nevertheless, we can learn from them by using them as reminders of how everything in life is impermanent.

Moreover, we are not completely helpless, because even though we may not have known the victims, we can nevertheless connect with them by focusing on the similarities we all share as human beings.

We can remind ourselves that – just like us – they were and are aspiring to peace and happiness, that just like us they had and have their hopes and dreams.

We can aspire for them to find the peace and happiness they were always yearning for.

We can make the wish that their dreams will be realised by us through our aspirations.

I encourage all my students to join me in such aspirations, and by doing so, we can transform these challenging circumstances into something meaningful.

With prayers,

Thaye Dorje
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa

Karmapa on practice in the face of natural disasters

(中文翻譯由本中心翻譯小組負責。若有錯漏，請見諒。節錄或載列文章內容以原文為準。）