Travel to Europe and America
In 1974 Karmapa led a party of Kagyupa Lamas to the West, visiting Europe, America and Canada, and for the first time people in the West had the chance to see the Black Hat ritual, which was performed on a number of occasions.
In this way he was able to establish direct contact with his overseas Centers and to spread his teachings more widely. To all those seeking the Way of Dharma he acted, as in his previous incarnations, as a guide, teacher, friend and true example.
Invited by his first Western disciples Ole and Hannah Nydahl, Karmapa arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, on December 10th, 1974. After Copenhagen he visited Oslo, Stockholm, Uppsala, Goeteburg, Kopenhagen, Rodby, Northern Germany, Amsterdam, Antwerpen, Paris and Lyon. In mid-January, Karmapa flew to Rome for two days. He had been invited by Pope Paul the Sixth who did not greatly impress the Tibetans.
After meeting the Pope in Rome, Karmapa travelled on through Clermont-Ferrand, Zurich, Rikon, Geneva, Dordogne and more. In Geneva Karmapa left Europe for India. Many Buddhist centers were founded by him and later by his students Ole and Hannah Nydahl.
When driving around major European cities he had never visited before, on several occacions he would say, "Park over there!" Taking his companions by the hand, and leading them around the next corner, there would stand the largest bird shop in town. Once inside, he would listen for a moment and then say: "That one tells the finest stories, but the one over there only talks nonsense."
Reaching into the cage, the bird he wanted would fly to him. In their amazement, the owners often nearly gave them to him. He said mantras and blew cold and warm air on them while telling the people with him, "I am teaching them meditation."
 The Mahamudra portrait of Karmapa |  |
 Karmapa at work |