Category: Trinley Thaye Dorje
On February 15, 2011, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje gave a press conference at the Cosmo Hotel in Hong Kong.
About thirty journalists from various print media – both newspapers and magazines – as well as representatives of various TV channels gathered at the venue to meet Gyalwa Karmapa and ask questions. Numerous Tibetan Rinpoches and lamas, including Jigme Rinpoche, Lodreu Rabsel Rinpoche and Nendo Dorje Lopön Rinpoche, as well as a large number of members of the Hong Kong Bodhi Path Center were equally in attendance.
Before the press conference proper started, the General Secretary of Gyalwa Karmapa’s administration, Lodreu Rabsel Rinpoche, addressed the gathering in Mandarin, talking about the 900-year-old lineage of the Karmapas. When Gyalwa Karmapa arrived at the venue he first of all expressed his joy at being in Hong Kong again and his appreciation of people’s dedication, reminding his students of the necessity of being aware of their responsibility to work for the benefit of others: “For us as practitioners, our responsibility and our nature, of course, is to help others. And so I think that it’s very important that whenever we find an opportunity we should come together and offer our prayers, our aspirations and our dedications for all sentient beings, so that the world we live in becomes a better place.”
The questions asked by the journalists covered a wide range of subjects. They asked for his advice on topics such as the emotional problems faced by so many young people in modern societies or on how to find the balance between need and greed. Some questions were of a more personal nature, concerning matters such as his daily practice schedule or his most memorable experiences during his extensive travels throughout the world. When asked about the latter Gyalwa Karmapa said that the best memories he had were of the people he encountered during his travels.
“Wherever I went, I met so many kind and very devoted individuals, people who are so dedicated to the dharma, and even though they all come from very different cultures and backgrounds they have the same interest for the dharma, the same drive – that’s really amazing. And that’s the thing that stays with me all the time.”
At the end Gyalwa Karmapa addressed the journalists, expressing his appreciation of and respect for their work. He said that they had a great responsibility and that the work they did was very important, since it could help to make our world less complicated by passing on correct and truthful information.
“So do your best to offer the truth to the world as much as you can.”
