After two days of preparations, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa bestowed the grand empowerment of Chakrasamvara from the tradition of the mahasiddha Luipa to over 10,000 initiates.

It was the first time that the followers of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa had the opportunity to receive such an important empowerment from the head of the Kagyu lineage.

His Holiness supplicated on behalf of all of the gathered initiates.

According to the tradition, red blindfolds are placed covering the eyes entirely. At this moment, His Holiness delivered some essential teachings on the path of Secret Mantra.

The Gyalwang Karmapa introduced the initiates into the meaning of the Secret Mantra by delineating the essence of the word “mantra” as “words of truth”. “It is when we speak in accordance with the nature of how things are, the power of those words, and the way of bringing benefit to the world through that power”, he said.

His Holiness explained that though it is said that there are millions of Mother tantras, Chakrasamvara is the quintessence of them all.

He imparted the Madhyamaka tradition of the Bodhisattva vows in Tibetan following the words found in the Way of the Bodhisattva, then repeated in English and Chinese.

The 17th Karmapa expounded on the meaning of vajra as ultimate bodhicitta which, as the “prajna that realizes emptiness”, breaks the iron cage of ego clinging.

After a long time, the initiates were instructed to remove their blindfolds.

The siddhis were given to the foremost disciples first, Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Drupon Dechen Rinpoche.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche conferred the siddhis to the entire assembly of over 10,000 people.

Drupon Dechen Rinpoche, following Yongey Mongyur Rinpoche, bestowed the siddhis to all of the initiated students.

As the joy spreads following the great blessings, His Holiness reminded everyone that on the path of the bodhisattva we should never give up on sentient beings.

Happiness is best when it is shared.