Their Holinesses the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa Share an Emotional Reunion in Zurich
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recent return journey to India after recovering from surgery in New York was notable for several reasons. Perhaps foremost among them was a touching encounter with His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje—their first in-person meeting in seven years and one that has reverberated throughout the global Tibetan community.
The Dalai Lama successfully underwent knee-replacement surgery in New York City on 28 June. After being discharged from hospital he had spent time in upstate New York for recuperation and rehabilitation.1 This was the Dalai Lama’s first visit to the US since 2017. On 22 August, ahead of His Holiness’s departure from the United States, members of the Tibetan Community of North America offered a prayer for the long life of the Tibetan spiritual leader in New York City on 22 August.
Following this event, the Dalai Lama returned to his residence in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, northern India, on 28 August, with only a brief stopover in Zurich, where the Tibetan community also offered a long-life prayer on 25 August. It was during this short stopover that His Holiness was able to briefly reunite with His Holiness the Karmapa, for the first time since the Dalai Lama’s 34th Kalachakra teaching in Bodh Gaya in 2017.
In a subsequent statement about the meeting dated 28 August and shared over social media, His Holiness the Karmapa called on Tibetans to live and work in unity to help fulfill the Dalai Lama’s aspirations and touched on how moved he felt in recognizing that the Dalai Lama had aged since their previous meeting. The Karmapa’s statement also noted the Dalai Lama’s strong aspiration to undertake a pilgrimage to the sacred Buddhist site of Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province, China, which is associated with the bodhisattva of wisdom, Manjushri:
Recently, when I had the good fortune to once again see His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Zurich, Switzerland, and hear his nectar-like voice, I felt a mixture of joy and sadness. It was different than when I usually see him in videos or the like. Seeing his face in person, he seemed to have aged significantly, and even hearing him speak, his voice has grown weak. It was so different from how he used to be that I could hardly bear it. His Holiness has used all the strength of his body, speech, and mind for our sake, and when I saw him so physically frail, it was as if the feelings of sorrow and gratitude that filled me were competing with each other.
Given his physical condition and seeming exhaustion, I did not say much but expressed how there is nothing greater that he could do for Buddhism and sentient beings than to live long. I wrote down the other matters I wished to share with him and offered them to him. He spent ten minutes reading them carefully and then spoke about the predictions that he would live to the age of 110, about how his main wish was to go on pilgrimage to Wutai Shan in China, and the importance of preserving, protecting, and spreading the complete teachings of the Foundation vehicle, Mahayana, and tantra, which are like a unique jewel found only in Tibet.
In brief, to see his face and hear his voice gave me a feeling of how rare and precious he is unlike any I have felt before. Moreover, we must accomplish all his wishes for what he would like to accomplish in this lifetime soon; there is no time for delay or distraction.
The difficulties His Holiness has undergone for our sake are beyond comprehension. Considering his current age and physical condition, there is nothing more important for him to do than to rest and take care of his health. All of us, myself and others, must definitely be conscious and heedful of this.
In particular, if His Holiness could return to Tibet in this lifetime and once again set foot on its soil, that alone would fulfill the hopes of all Tibetans, both the living and the departed, and fulfill the guru’s wishes. Thus it is crucial for all of us Tibetan brothers and sisters to cooperate harmoniously in serving His Holiness to fulfill his wishes and, at the very least, to make aspirations and dedications day and night.
Regardless of the region we are from, the religion we follow, or the views or positions we hold, for the benefit of Tibet as a whole, we must do what is important and let go of what is minor—it is important not to mistake gold for brass or to reduce sandalwood to ash before selling it.
Most importantly, I urge everyone to keep in mind that we have such a lama and wish-fulfilling jewel as him and to rouse even greater dedication toward working for the dharma and the welfare of the Tibetan people. (Karmapa)
Following their meeting, during which the Karmapa urged the Dalai Lama to rest more, photos of the auspicious encounter were circulated widely on social media. Media reports said the reunion had sparked speculation over the possibility of the Karmapa returning to India, however there has been no reliable confirmation of this.
The Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest lineage of the Kagyu, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism—the others being Gelug, Nyingma, and Sakya. The institution of the Karmapa is the oldest tulku lineage in Tibetan Buddhism, dating back to the first Gyalwa Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (1110–93), and predating the Dalai Lama lineage by more than two centuries. Due to a disagreement within the Karma Kagyu school over the incarnation recognition process, the identity of the 17th Karmapa remains a matter of some dispute. The majority of Tibetan Buddhists recognize Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, while an influential minority recognizes Trinley Thaye Dorje.
Born in Tibet in 1985, His Holiness left for India in 1999, citing a lack of religious freedom. In 2017, the Karmapa traveled to Europe, during which time he acquired Dominican citizenship. Since then he has been unable to return to India due to red-tape surrounding his Indian government-issued residential certificate issued to Tibetan refugees. The Karmapa has a significant following in India, especially in the northeastern state of Sikkim.
– By Craig C Lewis