India’s 76th Independence Day: Karmapa’s message

August 15, 2022

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message on the occasion of India’s 76th Independence Day.

New Delhi, 15 August 2022

On the auspicious occasion of the 76th Independence Day, I would like to offer my prayers and appreciation to the nation of India, and all of her 1.3 billion children.

My deep gratitude goes to this great and noble land that has given birth to immeasurable wisdom, including the countless precious forms of spirituality that originated from here and that are the focus of this celebration.

Many of my fellow Buddhists are always humbled by the fact that Buddhist practice too originated from this very land. It is here that, more than 2,500 years ago, the historical Buddha of our time reached enlightenment at the sacred place of Bodhgaya, and then spent the remaining years of his long life sharing with others the wisdom he had found.

By now, this practice has taken root in various corners of this globe, in the form of Theravada, Mahayana, Zen and Tibetan Buddhism.

We, the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, feel a deep sense of appreciation towards this great nation, as generations of practitioners have benefited immensely from this spirituality for more than 900 years. To this very day, the nation of India continues to offer us the timeless freedom and hospitality to continue our practice. On behalf of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism I offer my sincerest gratitude.

I would like to ask my dear Dharma friends to pray with me for the longevity of the kind and noble nation of India. Let us celebrate her limitless wisdom and understanding.
With prayers,

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa