Praise
of the Gyalwang Karmapa's Buddha Activity
Of the
one-thousand buddhas of this fortunate eon,
it has been said that the sixth buddha known
as Simha, the Lion, will take birth over
and over again to free beings from suffering.
The Karmapa’s buddha activity is the
same, for he is the current incarnation of
this Great Lion, the tamer of beings. With
the lion’s fearless roar, the Karmapa
proclaims the doctrine of the victorious
ones.
The wisdom-body
of the all-pervading Vajradhara,
whose very essence is everlasting and inseparable
from everyone, emanates as infinite buddhas,
providing endless benefit to all beings without
exception. The Karmapa’s wisdom-body
is the same, for it is unchanging, yet he
appears in human form for the benefit of
beings. If the Karmapa was placed in the
night sky, he would outshine all the stars;
the sky would become such a bright blue that
no one could ever again distinguish the day
from dawn.
The love
of the all-seeing Avalokita,
whose limitless benevolence has no bias,
extends throughout the expanse of space,
reaching even the tiniest amoeba. The Karmapa’s
love for beings is the same, for it is unceasing,
yet always adaptable based on the needs of
each individual. With one eye looking inward
and one eye gazing outward, the Karmapa sees
and has compassion for all.
The amrita
of the all-knowing Precious
Guru from Oddiyana, whose activity spans
the three times, is sweet natured and sublime,
uplifting those of us swept up by the waves
of birth, old age, sickness, and death. The
Karmapa’s amrita is the same, for it
is overwhelming, yet satiating to the tongue.
As the heart emanation of the Guru from Oddiyana,
the Karmapa, whose fine skin radiates a dark
maroon color, nourishes beings with the sweet
nectar of the Buddha's teachings.
The might
of the all-powerful protector Mahakala,
the Great Black One, whose feet trample mara’s
troops of demons, overcomes and defeats all
obstacles, transmuting our tortured afflictions
into pure wisdom. The Karmapa’s might
is the same, for it is unfailing, yet genuinely
understood only by those with a pure mind.
Our valiant warrior-king, the Karmapa, whose
head is adorned with the be-jeweled black
crown, triumphs over inner and outer
enemies.
Even
the greatest of mountains will one day topple,
and even a buddha’s human body will
decay, but the Karmapa’s activity will
never cease, so long as the cries and agony
of beings remain.
As once said, the
sun of buddha dharma that benefits others
always blazes.
May that sun blaze brightly both in the East and
the West, so that all may experience warmth and
goodness.
* composed on January 1, 2011,
in honor of the year-long 900th
anniversary celebrations of the First Gyalwang
Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa *
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