On August 14, 2011, one day before the Independence Day of India, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa was invited as the Chief Guest to a function organised by The Buddhist Society of India (B.S.I.) in Mumbai.

The B.S.I. was founded in 1955 by the great Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, with the aim of spreading the knowledge of Buddhism in India, building Buddhist Viharas (temples), establishing schools and colleges to provide education in Buddhist literature and philosophy, publishing Buddhist literature, as well as undertaking general social work.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, who made a lasting impact on the social landscape of India, converted to Buddhism in a great public ceremony in 1956, together with hundreds of thousands of his followers.

Upon his arrival at Mumbai airport Gyalwa Karmapa was greeted by a delegation of high-ranking members of the B.S.I. and Friends in Dhamma (a Buddhist association founded in order to promote cooperation and togetherness of the different schools of Buddhism). The welcoming committee presented him with magnificent flower bouquets and requested his blessings.

The ride from the airport to the hotel was a memorable experience in itself, as it offered a spectacular view of Marine Drive, a three-kilometre-long boulevard along the coast, which forms a natural bay. Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's Necklace because if viewed at night from an elevated point anywhere along the drive, the street lights resemble a string of pearls forming a necklace.
Upon his arrival at the hotel, Gyalwa Karmapa received a delegation of the main organisers and had an extended discussion with them.

The morning of August 14 was dedicated to a visit to the Gateway of India, the most famous monument of Mumbai and a major tourist attraction. It is located on the waterfront in South Mumbai, overlooking the Arabian Sea, and was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay. The archway is 26 meters high, quite majestic and a hybrid of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Across the street from the Gateway stand the Royal Taj Mahal Hotel and the Taj Towers.

Next, Gyalwa Karmapa and his party continued to Dadar, home to Chaitya Bhoomi where the last rites of Dr. Babasahed Ambedkar were performed on December 6, 1956. His ashes are still kept there in a stupa, and every year on December 6 millions of his followers gather here to commemorate his death anniversary.
Gyalwa Karmapa and his following entered the dome-shaped memorial, and a short puja was performed, with Theravada monks chanting prayers, and His Holiness and his monks reciting a seven-branch prayer and tashis (auspicious prayers), followed by circumambulations and the offering of flowers and scarves.

After a stop at the hotel for lunch the function proper started. The venue was Patikar Hall at S.N.D.T. College for Women in Churchgate, Mumbai.
The hall featured a large stage on which a shrine with statues of Buddha Shakyamuni and Dr. Ambedkar had been set up. The guests of honour were seated at two long tables, draped in red and white cloth, respectively.
After a welcome address Gyalwa Karmapa was asked to open the ceremony by lighting a candle and offering flowers in front of the Buddha, and presenting a flower garland to Bodhisattva Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Prayers were recited, and several high-ranking members of the B.S.I. and other guests of honour, including Dr. P.G. Jyotikar (Trustee Chairman), Mr. Ramdas Athavale (National Advisor B.S.I. and ex-member of Parliament), and Mr. Chandrabodhi Patil (National President B.S.I.) took the floor and delivered short speeches.
The ceremony also featured the launching of a biography of Dr. Ambedkar written by Dr. Sandesh Wag, as well as the announcement of the feature film “Tathagat” on the life of Buddha Shakyamuni.

Then it was time for the final highlight, the speech of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa on the topic of “The Relevance of Buddhism in the Present World”.
Gyalwa Karmapa explained that the practice of Buddhism is often misunderstood as a means of bringing temporary relief for pain. While it can indeed bring such short-term benefits, its real purpose and benefit is not to gain temporary relief but to reach a state of absolute and lasting freedom and peace.

He then talked about the importance of using the methods offered by the Buddha dharma in order to uproot the kleshas (afflictive emotions) and develop one’s inherent qualities, so as to become an example for others.

“Our purpose of being here is to support, to help each other. We have ample time and energy, and our consciousness is clear. We can make a difference; we can achieve absolute peace, which is exactly what Buddha achieved. And we can then show others the way to achieving absolute peace as well. This potential is there in all of us, no matter what we call it, not matter who we are, no matter where we live. This quality is very much present and alive in all of us.”
At the end of his speech all the guests passed before him, offering him flowers and receiving his blessing.

Back at the hotel, he continued to receive an unending stream of visitors, until it was time to leave for the airport.