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November 2009 
Karmapa XVI 1976
Posted on Jul 21st, 2008
by 
*Ladybear~
*Ladybear~
I was with His Holiness Karmapa XVI a few different times,
but the most personal was at 6 AM on Maui 1976.
My partner at the time was a grounds keeper at a condo complex on Maui.
When H.H. Karmapa came to Maui to do the Vajra Crown ceremony,
we were very active with the people hosting H.H. and owned the dharma center
property there.
We had been preparing the property for his visit for a week or more,
creating pathways and general clean up.
His arrival was such a thrill.
To greet him, along with a very young Jamgon Kontroul III,
and the rest of the monks in Karmapa's entourage.
I remember standing on the line as he passed for the blessing of the kata offerings
& placed them over our heads.
Following his arrival, a small group of us sat on the hillside watching them all
eat a lunch... of meat!
I forget if it was chicken or beef. But I was surprised to see that Karmapa ate meat.
The Vajra Crown Ceremony was beautiful.
This video shows his arrival at the site just before the ceremony.
It was done at consecrated land in Lahina on the opposite side of the island from where they were staying.
One day during their visit, there was a storm and driving back out past Haiku, we stopped at the beach and watched Karmapa as he and the monks watched the breaking 50 foot waves.
It was quite a sight to see these wonderful Tibetan monks,
and an incarnated Buddha, robes blowing in the wind, while standing in front of breaking waves 50 feet high!
There are some photos at this website of another event that happened while
H.H. was on this trip. Consecrating land for a stupa.
A few days following, Karmapa and his entourage were to leave Maui and they had been staying at the condo's where my partner worked.
We went to his condo to wait for the car to take him and the monks to the airport.
Because of the hour, it was just Karmapa, 4 monks, my partner and I on the porch
at 6 AM waiting for the car.
The Karmapa asked me to remove my Tibetan necklace & he played with it laughing
& trying to discern what stones were on it.
We knew the turquoise and coral, but the other stone, that looked like seeds, were a mystery to us all.
JUST BEING THERE with him was all emcompassing.
I still get excited when I think of that moment.
It didn't have to be a great dharmic Initiation,
it was just being present in the moment that was comforting & enlightening.
Each time I hold that necklace in my hand, I can see The Karmapa twirling it in his fingers.
but the most personal was at 6 AM on Maui 1976.
My partner at the time was a grounds keeper at a condo complex on Maui.
When H.H. Karmapa came to Maui to do the Vajra Crown ceremony,
we were very active with the people hosting H.H. and owned the dharma center
property there.
We had been preparing the property for his visit for a week or more,
creating pathways and general clean up.
His arrival was such a thrill.
To greet him, along with a very young Jamgon Kontroul III,
and the rest of the monks in Karmapa's entourage.
I remember standing on the line as he passed for the blessing of the kata offerings
& placed them over our heads.
katas
Following his arrival, a small group of us sat on the hillside watching them all
eat a lunch... of meat!
I forget if it was chicken or beef. But I was surprised to see that Karmapa ate meat.
The Vajra Crown Ceremony was beautiful.
This video shows his arrival at the site just before the ceremony.
It was done at consecrated land in Lahina on the opposite side of the island from where they were staying.
One day during their visit, there was a storm and driving back out past Haiku, we stopped at the beach and watched Karmapa as he and the monks watched the breaking 50 foot waves.
It was quite a sight to see these wonderful Tibetan monks,
and an incarnated Buddha, robes blowing in the wind, while standing in front of breaking waves 50 feet high!
There are some photos at this website of another event that happened while
H.H. was on this trip. Consecrating land for a stupa.
A few days following, Karmapa and his entourage were to leave Maui and they had been staying at the condo's where my partner worked.
We went to his condo to wait for the car to take him and the monks to the airport.
Because of the hour, it was just Karmapa, 4 monks, my partner and I on the porch
at 6 AM waiting for the car.
The Karmapa asked me to remove my Tibetan necklace & he played with it laughing
& trying to discern what stones were on it.
We knew the turquoise and coral, but the other stone, that looked like seeds, were a mystery to us all.
JUST BEING THERE with him was all emcompassing.
I still get excited when I think of that moment.
It didn't have to be a great dharmic Initiation,
it was just being present in the moment that was comforting & enlightening.
Each time I hold that necklace in my hand, I can see The Karmapa twirling it in his fingers.
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