Karmapa’s message concerning the bridge collapse in Italy

August 15, 2018

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message after the recent bridge collapse in Italy.

Dear dharma friends,

I am writing to you following the motorway bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy, in which at least 35 people lost their lives, including three children.

It is natural, in the midst of such tragedies, to feel a sense of hopelessness. We may feel overwhelmed, to the point where we can’t even imagine any kind of hope exists. When hope is lost, everything is lost. As practitioners, we have an important role to show that hope still exists, even in the aftermath of such devastating news.

As Shantideva says in The Way of the Bodhisattvas, ‘May the discouraged become uplifted and perfectly steadfast’.

Through turning to our practice, again and again, we can be positive role models and inspire others on their path. Through the Buddha dharma, we can shine a light on hope even in the darkest of moments.

May we all join in prayers for those affected by this disaster, and may all those who feel lost and suffering find hope.

With compassion

Thaye Dorje
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa