The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Addresses DC Area Tibetans and Friends of Tibet

During His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Rinpoche's visit to Washington, DC, he addressed a gathering of around three hundred local Tibetans and friends of Tibet. In the afternoon of April 16, the Karmapa Rinpoche was welcomed by the Representative Kaydor la, Capital Area Tibetan Association's board members, and local children in traditional dress holding ceremonial offerings.

The Karmapa Rinpoche spoke for around thirty minutes and he streesed Tibetans to follow the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the importance of Tibetan unity. He told anedotes about his experience listening radio broadcast in Tibetan from Washington, DC when he was in Tibet, and how a particular braodcast made him think about visiting Washington, DC one day. This was his second visit to the capital area. For many Tibetans it was their first time being in the presence of the Karmapa and many felt deeply moved by his speech, which was puntuated often by expertly delivered jokes.

At the end of the speech, Gyalwang Karmapa blessed the audience one by one and gave Gyal-du, blessed red thread.