[Opening with Tibetan music]
[ Tibetan long song sang at full voice ]
[ The hard sound of wore-shippers scrapping along the hard road ]
[ Interpreter ] - Where are you from?
- from the Riko monastery
[ Int.] -How long have you been doing this?
- For one year.
[ Int. ] - Where are you going? - To Lasha
[ Int.] -But it is at least 300 miles to Lasha.
How long it will take you?
[ Int] - About 3 months.
[ Int.] - How many prostration you do a day?
[ Int. ] - About 3000
[ Int. ] - A day? - Less than 4 miles.
[ Female Narrator ] -Prostrations are spiritual exercises.
It cleanses people of egotism, greed, aggression and ignorance.
[ Orchestral music ]
[ Local voices of prayers ]
[ Male Narrator ] -Tibetans make a pilgrimage to Lhasa
just once in their lives.
There they pray for their spiritual leaders; who fled the Country in
1959 in the face of Chinese treats to destroy them.
They honour and venerate Karnapa. Gyalwang Karmapa.
The head of a long established Kagyu line in Tibete.
Older than the Sect of the Dalai Lama.
Kamapa marched with more than 100 monks over the Himalayas into exile.
Untse? Karmapa's tutor, quickly formed a new monastic community.
And the ancient traditional teachings of Tibetan Buddhism continued to florish.
[ Many voices ]
[ Fem. Narrator ]This place is called Rumtek, a monestary Sikkim which
was then a little Buddhist kingdom,
North of India, on the southern slopes of the Himalayas.
The Rumtek monastery became the new headquarters of Karmapa in exile.
[ Male Narrator ] - Karmapa is the holder of the black crown; a
symbol of his mastership. He is the living link of an
undropping chain of enlighted
beings back to the historical Buddha Shakyamouni who lived in India
in 700 BC. He is Buddha.
Buddah Shakyamouni, transmits his qualities
to his people, who also became enlighted and are able to help thei pupils or
so to reach the stage of self liberation.
In the 12th century, this chain of enlighten beings, led to
the 1st Karmapa. Who then developed the unique ability to predict exactly and
in writing his own reincarnation. As did the 2nd Karmapa and
the 3rd and so fourth up to him
the present the 16th of reincarnation.
of Karmapa. He died 1n 1991 at the age of 57. His body was
cremated at Rumetk monestary. It was a State funeral. nd mourners
gather from all corners of the earth.
Karmapa has millions of followers.
He left behind 4 number of representatives or interim regents.
Sharma on the right, Tai Sitou on the left, Jamgon and Gyaltsab,
the youngest of the interim regents.
Rainbows over the blue sky of Sikkim. In Tibete a sure sign of an enlighten
being has left its body. In Buddhism death is not the end.
Karmapa died with the promise that he would give a clear sign by which
he could be recognised in his new life.
But for a long time no more clues were found.
Until eleven years later.
[ Dalai Lama ] - I've got something new. I've dreamed of the location, the area
- Says the 14th Dalai Lama...
-'' the... the location the area...
where the person is born... One valley is next...
to the stones and lawns... actually it looks high altitude...
and then facing the South
there are some streams...small beautiful streams... and then there is a main...
the picture. There is someone there...and it
told me... actually without its form.... that someone...some source, you see,
telling to me : ''This is the place! Where Karmapa was born.
[ Fem. Narrator ] where could this place be?
How could it be found?
[ Tromp Music + ]
[ Male narrator ] - Here in northern India, is where Taï Sitou, one of
Karmapas of 4 interim regents made an interesting disovery.
[ Sound of a box being open ]
[ Male narrator] - pressured by the faithful that hope and expected Karmapa has
left some clues behind, Sitou felt that he should open the talisman
Karmapa had given him 10 months,
before his death with the words: ''This will protect you and some
day it will be useful.
His Sanctity has given me this protection. ...pouch.... In early January 1981.
And one day it was sneaking here... I opened that and found an envelope.
And the envelope had red ink letter saying that this should be opened
in the iron horse year. And then I was very very happy.
And then after the , after I offer the letter to Rumtek...it would be taken
in March 1982.
[ Male narrator ] - Traditionally such talisman are never opened;
but since no one had
found any indication of Karmapa's rebirth, he decided to open it, afterall.
[ someone ]- But the letter is still... [ Taï Sitou ]- The letter is in Rumtek,
yes. The envelope and the letter, both... It's in alter.
[ Male narrator ] - here in the Rumtek monastery, in the late heathquarters of
the late Karmapa, this most important and holy document is protected by
the secret police; those from outside and inside.
Absolutely no one has access to it.
Only Karmapa himself when he returns his new reencarnation
has the right to break these seals.
[ Sitou ] - But I have a copy here of the sacred letter and
this is in Tibetanian; so i read this:
[ Translation of reading by Sitou ] - Self awareness is always blessed.
A diamong dirt has no centre or edge; from here to the North
and East of the land of snow is a country where divine
thunders spontaneous blazes.
In a good nomads place
with a sign of a cow.
"methode is Deundroub and wisdom is Lolaga."
Born in the year one used for the earth.
with miraculous far reaching sound of the the white one.
This system is known as karmapa.
He is sustained by a lord Droupa.
Being no sectarian he prevades in all directions.
Staying close to some and distant from others
he is the protector of all beings.
[ Sitou ] -When I discovered these I was very pleased. and actually it
was a tremendous relief; it was
exactly the blessing and also
inspiration of the highest aspect.
In which we have been waiting
and we were finally blessed by it.
So I was very very happy.
[ Sound of a bell ]
[ Narrator ] - This letter was interpreted by Gyaltsab on the left
Jamgon, Sitou and Sharmapa on the right, workinng together.
They al came to a unanimous conclusion which Gyaltsab
reads to us. [ Translator/narrator male ] - From here to the North in the East of the land
of snow, we interpret here as Rumtek, where Karmapa
wrote the letter. And in the East of the land of snow means
we have to look for him in east Tibet because
land of snow is the Tibetan name for Tibet.
Where dine thunders spontaneous blazes
indicates a district in Eastern Tibet.
''Lha'' means divine and ''Thok'' means thunder.
There is only one community in Eastern Tibet named Lhathok.
The letter describes the area more precisely as a good nomad
place with a sign of a cow.
''Good'' means a good fertile area
this area must have a name which includes the syllabus ''KAh''
meaning cow.
The next line, the method is
Deundroub and wisdom is Lolaga
predicts the name of the parents.
It refers to the Buddhist symbolism.
The sun symbolises the masculine principle of the method. And the
moon symbolises the female principle of wisdom.
Therefore the father must be
named Deundoup, and the mother Lolaga.
Born in the year of the one used for the earth prophecises
the year of his birth.
During the relevant period of the Tibetan calender there
is in addition to snake, dragon, hair and tiger, only one animal
sign used for the earth, the ox, in 1985.
The words the miraculous far reaching sound of the white one
refer to the white conk shell that we use in Tibet in religious music,
which is always called the ''white one''.
Sustained by Lord Droupa, refers to Sitou whom buddhist name of honour is
Droupa. In his previous life, Sitou had identified the last
Karmapa and was chosen to exercise his function once again.
With respect so much for the moment
Jamgon, Karmapa's other Interim Regent
[ Interviewer ] -What do you think personally of the letter?
[ Jamgon ] - very precise
[ Interviewer ] - do you think that the information which the letter contained
and how you interpret it, will enable
you to find the reincarnation of Karmapa?
- Yes; we ought to say that. Yes, it is very clear and very precise. And that
is why we are all very confident
about finding his Holiness... or Him...
[ Narrator ] - Because of visa problems
a copy of the letter is sent together with the interpretation to Tsurphu's
monastery in Tibet.
Tsurphu, has been the seat of all Karmapas for 800 years.
[ The sound of the gong and the tromp ]
[ Male Narrator ] - Drupon Déchen, the abbot of the
monastery gives Lama Tomo
the task of leading the search with the letter as a guide.
[ Translator ] - Take Ashang Letro with you,
and travel to Kham, East Tibet and then follow
the directions in the letter.
The reincarnation of Karmapa, is something so unique; is like
an offering cup made of a pure blue gems.
Hopefully, after 12 years of waiting all our wishes are
going to be fulfilled.
The letter brings a blessing.
For Tomo this is the greatest task of his life. Only a handful
of people know of his mission;
because indications and conditions
could be manipulated and the search could therefore fail.
As discreetly as possible Tomo sets up on his long
journey together with his companions; 70 year old
Ashang Letro, with the white hat, Titi his attendant, a driver and Pato.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - no one in tibet
is allowed to travel without official permission. Therefore Pato
in the black coat government officer,
accompanies them.
[ Music beat for the road ]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - It is more than 1,600 km to Lathok, east of Tibet.
And several military check points
have to be passed.
[ Music beat for the road including a Tibetan song ]
- Pato! ''You simply will say that you are on a official inspection trip;
and that you were kind enough to take us along.''
- ''Tomo Lama will not tell anyone
of what we are looking for; we will pretend to be pilgrims.''
[ fem. Narrator ] - The job they have to do is very risky; because
searching for reincarnation is condemned as a superstition
activity by the Chinese and severely punished.
Therefore they have to keep the reason for their journey
strictly a secret. And if they really find Karmapa their
hope is that Karmapa wil protect them.
Karmaka is not like an ordinary reincarnation; He is a living Buddha.
And the Chinese would provoke an upraise in Tibet
if the chose to condemn him; as they did up to now with many others.
[ Male Narrator ] - For 30 years the Tibetans
have been strictly forbidden for practising their religion.
In the meantime however very few selected monasteries
were given permission to rebuild.
The monasteries were centres of education for everyone.
the country on the roof of the world
is as big as west Europe or a quarter of the US.
But onlly with 6,000.000 inhabitants.
Since 1960, Beijing has been oppressing
Tibet wit one half million soldiers.
Colonising it for what there are now
8,000,000 new Chinese settlers.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - More than a 1,000.000
Tibetans have been killed. The country has been looted.
Tibet national resources are plundered and nearly all of
the wild animals have been wiped out.
Before the Chinese started to build roads one could see
great hordes of antelopes wild donkeys and Yaks.
Today only a few birds are left.
[ Male narrator ] - Tibetans do not kill animals just for fun or profit;
it would be against their faith.
The majority are nomads who live with and not against nature.
Tibetan sounds... traditional song with English theme ''misery'' ]
The Himalayan Valley can be so large that it takes
all day to cross it.
If the jeep has a breakdown there is no one who can help.
It is so cold that in the morning
one can drive over frozen rivers
but by midday they've thaw out again.
These extremes of temperature are repeated day after day.
Tibetan sounds... traditional song with English theme ''misery'' ]
[Fem. Narrator ] - This is a search where nothing can go wrong.
The monks from Tsurphu bear an enormous responsibility.
If they're not able to find Karmapa
they will disappoint millions of people whose faith in reincarnation
as a law of nature, would be deeply shaken.
[ Male Narrator ] - The search party now
has to proceed on horse back, because there are no roads
into the district of Lhathok .
They need 4 riding horses and 1 pack horse for at least 2 weeks.
Horses are rear and not easy to get but with friendly words
they quickly come to terms.
[ Sound of dialogue and bell ringing ]
Before drinking one always sacrifices
a few drops to the angry spirits.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - If the beer is made out of barley or salted
butter tea which tastes like a greasy grog.
[ Sound of dialogue and bell ringing ]
[ Male Narrator ] - The horses of the Himalayas are pretty small
and pretty tough.
[ Sound of dialogue and bell ringing ]
[ Male Narrator ] - Without giving themselves away the men
continue the search.
Now the arduous part of the journey begins. The day's ride
to Lhathok over high passes are too dangerous ravines
[ Rhythmic tambourine sounds ]
[ Male Narrator ] - The monks of Tsurphu have sent Pato on ahead
to see if the coast is clear and to find accomodation in Lhathok.
After thee days in the saddle
Pato reaches Lhathok.
Above the village at the C--- monastery
which was completed destroyed by the invaders
in 1966 and recently rebuilt.
The Abbot Lama Palden welcomes the camouflaged pilgrims fro Tsurphu.
He spent 25 years in prison.
Now once again he looks after the little boys sent to the monastery
for education.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - Could Karmapa only be among them?
[ Male Interviwer ]- Lama Palden, do you
have any unusual children?
[ Translator ] - Recently many children from the area have again begun
to enter the monastery and although
I am able to see if a child has special skills and qualities
I'm not able to see where they've been in their previous lives.
[ A Bhutanese Voice...]
[ Fem. narrator ] - Tradition says that there had been earlier incarnation
of karmapa who identified themselves
with they're very first words: '' I am Karmapa''
In the case of such a child however,
his personal data always has to correspond exactly with the
indications in the letter of prophecies.
[ Voices of happy children ]
[ Male narrator ] - Tomo and lodro not only interviewed monks . They also
talked to people outside the monastery.
[ Translator ] - They asked me about a place with "Kor" in its name.
Yes i said: Bakor the Valley of the cows.
And they wanted to know if there was a woman named Lolaga.
Yes there is. And her husband is called Deundoup.
The men said they ele... and they wanted to know all about their children.
So I told them Lolaga and Deundoup
had six daughters and three sons.
The eldest must have been born in the year of the hair.
The middle one in the year of the ox;
and the younger in the year of the pig.
When they heard all that one of them folded his hands and
begun to weep.
[ Horse bells ]
Male Narrator ] - Earlier the next day
they rode on; if everything goes well
they can reach Bakor the same day.
[ Horse bells and excite voices of the riders...cries in the sky ]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - 12 years of waiting now only one more
pass to cross.
[ Instrumental sounds of music... sounds of the flute...]
Bakor, a valley where only nomads live.
Here there are neither houses nor mail nor electricity; the men
from Tsurphu find it hard to imagine
that their enlighten Karmapa the Buddha could have chosen this
of all places for His reincarnation.
What reason might he have?
[ The sound of lambs can be heard ]
[ Male narrator ] - Could this be Lolaga?
People here still live the way they did in primitive times.
[ The sound of the wheel... Natives dialogue...laugh...a dog barks ]
[ Male Narrator ] - Team L... the search party
finds its way to the tent of Deundoup and Lolaga.
If what they heard is true then thei middle son who was born
in the year of the ox must be Karmapa.
[ Sound of music coming to a crescendo...]
The indications in the secret letter and the facts as they find them here
are exactly the same.
The dream of the Dalai Lama has been confirmed.
[ The voice of the Dali Lama... has he spoke of his dream...] ''One valley
and some streams...small streams there is someone there...and all means
all this is the place, where Karmapa is born.''
33 years after the 16th karmapa had to flee from the Chinese
invaders and Tsurphu was completely destroyed
the 17th Karmapa returns once again to His ancestral home.
[ The sound of the tromps...]
Fem. Narrator ] - Karmapa's power to conscientiously change from one
life to another is something which evokes deep devotion
and respect from tibetans.
We don't see Him as a child, we see Him as a person who bears
with Him wisdom of 16 lives of Buddahwood.
[ Many native voices can be heard... tromp instruments and bells ringing]
[ Male Narrator ] - He's been shown is throne in the great wall of prayer.
- No not the little one, the large one over there!
Having been informed that karmapa had been found
Sitou comes to greet Him.
[ The sound of the tromps...]
...With Gyaltsab one of the Regents.
They come to welcome the new Karmapa.
[ Sound of Tibetan prayers... ]
[ Male Narrator ] - In Tibet, great moments such as this
don't happen spontaneously.
They are subjected to a srict traditional ritual.
[ Sound of Tibetan prayers... ]
Umzé the pupils tutor master of ceremonies of the previous
Karmapa in Rumtek.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - How much does Karmapa remember about Umzé
or the others who were so familiar to Him in the previous life?
[ Sound of Tibetan prayers... ]
[ Male Narrator ] - And this is the occasion to the official photograph.
To commemorate Karmapas successful reincarnation.
[ Sound of a camera...a flash. fast modern music ]
[ Male Narrator ] - The news spread
quickly; they are all over the world.
Karmapa's personality and his unique abilities arouse much
interest in the West.
Without any effort on his part his appearence coincides with
the general interest of Buddhism outside Asia. A little son of Tibetans nomads
from Lathok is officially recognised by the Dalai Lama,
as the true reincarnation of karmapa.
[ Interviewer ] - What was the bases for your recognition?
- ''so what I rely to? I do not simply relying...on just one or two test. So I
proceed some...my usual method.
Regarding the choosing of the reincarnation.
Then the indication is positive. So then I decided it. Ok, that's good.
[ Male Narrator ] - Ultimately a Karmapa proves himself by his deeds.
The letter of prophecy that he wouldn't
be staying close to some and distant from others.
He is the protector of all beings.
[ The voice of young Karmapa can be heard ]
[ Translator ] - A few of the holes are quite big.
[ Male Narrator ] - Some Karmapas have left the impressions of their
fingers in the stone, to prove the power mind over matter.
The Chinese left gaping holes in the wall which proves their
faith in the power that comes from the barrel of the gun.
and demonstrating their hatred of religion.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - Religion in Tibet is something all together different
from what Max, Mao, or other material meant by it.
Buddhism is not the opium of the people.
Buddhism made the people gentile and peaceful .
This makes their brutal fate particularly tragic and bitter.
[ Karmaka asking...] [ Translator ] - ''Is this Karmaka's house?''
[ Male Narrator ] - It was in this little house that the 1st Karmapa
begun his life of reincarnation.
At that time, in the 12th century there was no monastery;
only wilderness.
He meditated in here for decades.
In order to become master of his own spirit.
All of 16 karmapas were clearly identified by the
prophecies they left behind in their previous life.
And this way the line of reincarnations has remained
unbroken for 800 years.
The fist Karmapa became famous for his miracles.
And a monastery grew up around his modest little house
that circle it.
Like the first Karmapa his successors withdrew from
monastic life to the seclusion of their hermitages and caves.
[ Fem. Narrator ] These existing places of retreating are objects
of veneration for pilgrims. Most of them are still in use.
[ Male narrator ] - Surviving here in winter at temperatures of - 40 degrees
is proof enough of extraordinary spiritual power.
[ Fem, Narrator ] - It was in this hermitage along with his mother,
that the 10th Karmapa spent 30 years meditating. In each
life again and again the karmakas
took profound discipline, attained
that clear sightedness which unable
them to see beyond the borders of death.
[ Male Translator ]- This is the cave where the 10th Karmapa meditated
most of his life.
[ Sound of prayers... bells ringing ]
[ Sound of steps... soft music... ]
- Reincarnation aside, all the little boys
previously identified by the letters o the deceased Karmapas
turned up to have outstanding personalities, musicians, poets,
engineers, philosophers, who
also had a gift of prophecy.
[ Sound, cries of birds...]
-The ninth Karmapa, sat here and left the imprint of his back in the rock.
Those who rub against it are sometimes healed of a desease.
[ Musical instruments... bells ringing; voices ]
[ Fem. Narrator] - Meditation without
any distraction is the only need of transcending the limits of the body.
In order to achieve highest enlightenment the 7th Karmapa
had himself rolled in here for 7 years.
Without words, eye contact.
Food and drink was given to Him
through a hole in the wall and
left to another opening in the bottom
of a tiny stone box where he could
not stretch his legs.
[ Sound of bells ringing and music ]
[ Male Narrator ] - At an elevation of 4,500 m the 2nd Karmaka had
his hermitage.
[ Sound of bells ringing music... heavy breathing ]
In this house he would survive an earthquake and the attacks
by the Chinese in 1966.
[ Sound of heavy breathing and voices ]
It is the testimony to the strength
of Tibetan Buddhism that despite everything which has happen in recent
years, the 17th Karmapa is able to once again reclaim his ancestor home
and give new life to it.
By once dying and returning with a new body and a new nationality
he surmounts political borders which would be impossible to
cross with the same body and as an exiled.
[ The voice of Young Karmapa...]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - This is His first outing since he has returned to Tsurphu.
It takes Him through the lower garden a passes by the protective
Mahakala, who watches over the
teachings of Buddah at the gates of Tsurphu.
[ The sound of voices... and of Young Karmapa...]
400 years before the birth of the 1st Karmapa, Padmasambhava
the founder of Tibetan Buddhism,
made a prophecy which said that completing the work of Karmapa,
would require 21 reincarnations.
Orgyen Trinlé is the 17th of the predicted 21 Karmapas.
[ The voice of Young Karmapa... other voices ]
[ Translator ] - ''There is something
in there. A demon lives in this stone.
It has to get rid of, or something will happen.''
[ 2nd Tanslator ] ''Can't we wait until
tomorrow? - No; now!
- Take them out and don't get tired.
- I will show you where it has to go.''
[ The voice of Young Karmapa...birds and human sounds ]
- ''That's where it should be buried.''
[ 1st Translator ] - but the wall may cave in if we remove the stone.
Should't we support it?
[ 2nd Translator ] ''No; ''
[ 1st Translator ] ''Very well then lets begin.
[ Dialogue among locals ]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - In Tibet it is not at all unusual for demons to take
possession of a stone to spread evil.
To break in such stone in a special ceremony, and forces the demon to sleep
is quite common.
[ The voice of Young Karmapa... other voices ]
[ Male narrator ] - apparently this demon is particularly unpleasant
and the Karmapa wants him buried.
[ The voice of Young Karmapa... other voices ]
[ 1st translator ] - ''It needs to get a decent funeral.
Only monks are allowed to dig its grave...
[ The voice of Young Karmapa... other voices ]
...and needs to be given a bed of flowers.
[ Human voices... the sound of thunder...storm approaching ]
[ The voice of Young Karmapa... other voices ]
[ 1st Translator ] - ''Here he'll find peace!''
[ 2nd Translator ] - ''Be there and come down!'' ]
[ Sound of the rain falling...]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - Did he just imagine all this? Or has he a
kind of perception which we lack?
[ Rain sounds music and laughter... ]
[ Male Narrator ] - Sitou and Gyaltsab
have arrived. They planned something special for today.
[ Sounds of music and laughter... ]
A vacation from the monastery
can last for a couple of days.
The Tibetans like picnics and outdoor activities.
[ Sounds of music and laughter at play... ]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - The 12th Sitou and the 17th Karmapa have
rediscovered a friendship which have lasted for 12 lifetimes. Stronger
than any family tie.
[ Male Narrator ] - At a party like this, even as someone as Gyalstab, one of
the interim regents can become playful.
Former state leader of Rock n' Roll.
[ Sounds of excitement and enjoyment from dancers ]
The surprise is ready; now Karmapa can come in.
[ TV Sounds in background ]
[ Male Narrator ] - A generator, a television set and a video recorder,
have been brought from Lhasa specially for today.
He's never seen machines like this before.
At least not in this life.
Sitou has bought along a special film which he now shows Karmapa.
[ The sound of tromps on TV ]
- It is a film about the 16th Karmapa.
[ The sound of tromps on TV mounting ]
[ As Narrated on TV ] - ''The last Karmapa was born in Tibet in 1924.
He fulfilled the prophecies of (Adna Amana). He was in Butan
in the 18th century his monastery will be the centre of the activity
of his successor Karmapas, who by that activity will liberate
a considerable number of central beings...
[ Group voice sounds and comments ]
[ As Narrated on TV ] - Many thousands of families in Tibet as closely as the
Karmapa people and always give generously to the monastery.
Tibetans are sure that the new incarnation of the ''Yelba ''Karmapa
one day will comeback to Thsurpu.'' [ End of Narration on TV ]
[ Sound of prayers...]
[ Male Narrator ] - In 1974, the 16th Karmapa blessed westerners
for the first time.
[ The sound of Tibetan tromps... then modern music ]
- On arriving in the United States he went to ''Araibe'' in the Arizona desert,
to pay his respects to native Americans the Hopi.
[ Rock n' Roll Music type...]
- The Hopis have an ancient prophecy
that says: ''when the man with
the red hat comes a bridge of wisdom will be built between
East and West.
[ Sounds of primitive music...]
- After Karmapa's visited, the Hopi called a meeting of medicine men.
They confirmed that karmapa had fulfilled their prophecy.
Karmapa then travel to a number of American cities.
[ Modern Western Music Mingling with Tibetan Tromp ...]
[ Karmapa/Translator ] - What is your name? - Lina
[ Karmapa/Translator repeat ] - Lina
[ Male Narrator ] - After he left centres for Tibetan Buddhism were founded.
[ Modern Western Music and many laughs ...]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - What is actually involved in this
continuity of the spirit?
What is it that persist from one life to another?
Levels of conscientiousness? Certain types of behaviour?
Belief in a direct connection between one life and another
is made possible by our own personal subjective experience.
[ Male Narrator ] - The Buddhists believe that every human being
is the focal point of a spiritual as well a biological heritage.
Karmapa is spiritually descended from karmapa.
Biologically this is is father.
Karma Deundoup Tashi. Aged 54;
[ Fem. Narrator ] - And this is his mother. Lolaga Poldosum. age 46.
[ Male narrator ] - They are nomads. In eastern Tibet , in the Province of Kham.
In the Lhathok district.
Music panning trough the fields ]
And this is the Bakor Valley.
The family have been living here for generations.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - By the time Karmapa was born in 1985
Lolaga had already given birth to (7) seven children.
There is (6) daughters today aged between 10 and 25.
They were all born in quick success after the birth of their
eldest son, Rabsel.
Together with the grand mother 12 people live in this tent.
[ Male Narrator ] - The climate up here at 300 m is one of extremes.
The temperatures range from 40 below zero to more than
a hundred above.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - After having the fourth daughter the family
had longed for a second son. when their 6th child turn up
to be another daughter he decided to have a serious
consultation with the old abbot of the ( ) monastery.
He gave them instructions to help them get the second son.
- Help these in need every day; feed the fish in the river and the
birds and the stray dogs. And in addition they were
to say the prayer of refuge, 111 thousand times.
But when yet another daughter was born the old abbot had died.
Lama Palden became his successor.
And he gave them the same advice.
I addition he recommended a pilgrimage to Lhasa.
The father travel to central Tibet while the woman stayed home
with family and continued to pray.
After 50,000 prayers Lolaga was pregnant.
The family prayers were intensified. The father said tens of thousands.
But the largest number, more than a 1,000 a day
were said by the grandmother.
She tells how the birth of her daughter
there had been signs that Lolaga
would greatly benefit Buddhism.
[ Swish... swosh... sounds... children voices ]
- She always offers to Buddha her first bowl of tea.Now Buddha
is part of her family; devotion is nevertheless the same.
[ The sound of bells ringing...]
[ Male narrator ] - climate of Tibet 20 or more cups of salted butter
tea every day are a matter of survival.
Their main food is Tsampa. Barley flour kneaded with butter tea.
In addition they eat a fair amount of meat.
Vegetables do not grow up here.
Their eldest son Rapsel, 27 is responsible for the heards.
Karmaka's family owns about 90 yaks. This is enough
to supply their own needs, and produce surplus of butter which
they can trade for the barley grown in the lowlands.
[ The sound of a flute... a dog backs... happy tune ]
- They use every part of the animal.
Not just the meat and milk. The hair of the yak is spunned into the threads
with which they make their tents.
The fir itself is made into blankets and coats which are won
in winter and summer. Nothing is thrown away. For the Tibetans
Nature is sacred.
[ The sound of various human voices musical instruments... happy tune ]
- In 1985 the summer pasture of th Karmapa family was only one
valley away.
(4) Four times a year the family packs up and moves the heards
to knew grazing lands.
[ Musical instruments... the flute...running water. ]
They set up their tents there in earlier June...
[ Fem. Narrator ] - In the last month of Lolaga's pregnancy; the 111
thousands prayers still not all said anxiously they asked
themselves... - Will it be a boy this time?
[ Male Narrator ] - She dreamed of (3) three white cranes who
brought her a golden letter from Padmasambhava,
- the founder of Buddhism in Tibet.
They told her to keep the letter a secret
until the time was right.
[ Lolaga's Translaor ] '' This is the place and the tent. In it Karmapa
was born on the 26 of Jun 1985.
It was an easy birth; short before sunrise, on a beautiful morning.
[ Deundoup's Translator ] - I can't explain but the evening before
there was a rainbow over the tent even the sun already sat. Naturally
I had no idea that the child was Karmapa.
There were many wondrous signs which accompany his birth made
us very happy; and gave us the certainty that this child would
be a grate benefit to Buddhism.
[ Lolaga's Interpreter ] - At hiis birth the king of birds landed on the tent
and sang a wonderful song.
[ Deundoup's Translator ] - On the 4th day after his birth we also certainly heard
conk shells horns resounding everywhere.
At first I thought it was an aeroplane. Everyone around here heard it.
this sound lasted for one hour and a half.
Our neighbours, the (seepers, the stray dogs and the shadsons)
will tell you the same thing.
I looked out but I couldn't see anything.
[ Mysterious Tibetan sounds echoing... ]
- We question the neighbours... '' Were you were here, when Lolaga's
second son was born?
- Yes; naturally. - Did you notice anything unusual?
- Oh yes; very strange. Suddenly
everywhere in the valley you could hear a sort of dawning
sound. I thought was a swallow of bees; but there
was nothing to be seen. It lasted for 2 hours.
When i was outside I thought that the sound came from inside.
And when I was inside I thought
the sound came from outside.
[ Interviwer ] - Excuse me could we ask you a question?
- When Lolaga's second son was born can you remember
hearing anything unusual?
-Was there any special sound?
- Everywhere! Everywhere!
[ Tibetan voices and sounds ]
- I thought the a High Lama had had come ridding into the valley
and an orchestra was accompanying
him with lots of conk shells. We looked
all around; the music could be heard everywhere.
I couldn't tell from where the sound was coming from.
There was no Lama either.
Nothing; just this loud music in the air.
- How long did it last? `About 2 hours.
- And when was that? Summer; in the year
of the ox I think. - That's it.
[ The great sound of the Conks ]
[ male narrator ] - Jokhang temple in Lhasa is the focus of
Tibet's spiritual strength. It is located below the Potala
the Dalai Lama's Palace.
Here in the Trokan Temple Karmapa's hair will be cut
ceremonially as symbolic to his bond to Buddha.
Normally this wright is performed in front of
the Dalai Lama; but to Karmapa
is at the feet of the Jowo.
[ The sound of Buddhist Prayers ]
The Jowo is the most revered Tibetan statue of the historical
Buddha, Shakyamouni.
This is only the second time in Tibet's history that Karmapa
has celebrated hi hair cut ceremony
here in the holiest places of Tibet.
Karmapa is receiving is personal Buddhist name for this life.
- Orgyen Trinlé Dorjé.
Plus nine other names. Now the time has come. Sitou cuts a few hairs
and Orgyen Trinlé Dorjé becomes a monk.
[ The Monks recite some Prayers ]
In a religious ceremony such as this
could take place with the knowledge of the Chinese occupiers
also has its political consequences.
The fact is that the Chinese consider reincarnation pure
superstition. even so they recognise Orgyen Trinlé
as karmapa. And what's more they do so only because the political
enemy, the Dalai Lama as identified Him has the true reincarnation.
In view of the fact that the Dalai Lama can't visit Tibet, and is
forbidden to even menntion his name the Tibetans were
immensely gratified to see Karmapa officially received the Dalai Lama's
congratulatory scarf or Katak
in full view of the Chinese occupiers.
[ The conk resounding in celebration followed by Buddhist prayers ]
Tibet now has a spiritual leader who is inside the Country.
And who is closely connected to the Dalai Lama. This is only a
fist step but is a hopeful sign for the survival of Buddhism in Tibet.
[ Various voices mingling with Buddhist prayers ]
[ A vehicle is revved up ]
- In order for karmapa to travel freely through out the world
and meet as many followers and to complete the work of the 16th Karmapa
he will have to perform a delicate political act between China, occupied
Tibet and the outside word.
[ Laughs and explicits by the monks plus Karmapa ]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - If it is possible for someone to decide where
and when the spirit will enter another body, then one might ask why Marmapa
actually choose to be born her in Bakor.
He could have been born in Sikkim, or in the United States where he died
or as a Butanest Principe, but nothing like that. These were his
playmates; [ Dogs barking in the distance ]
They led almost identical lives and yet he is completely different.
Was there a sense of compaction that
moves Karmapa to chose this place?
These people? This martyr land for his rebirth?
[ Children's voices...]
- His mother Lolaga, has only animal dung as fuel for cooking
and heating the tent. She has to pond it flat for drying. When she
was a child she collected dead wood in the forests around here.
[ Male Narrator ] - It is hard to believe that this area like the enormous expanses
of Eastern Tibet, was once a huge forest.
Full of trees so large that took several men with outstretched arms
to circle them.
- What happen to the trees? - In my childwood there was a
dense forest here; but during the last
decades all the forests have been cut down.
One mountain after another has been stripped. Here there are only tree stumps.
This is all we have left. The trees all have been floated to China.
Now nothing grows here. It's terrible.
[ Tibetan Male Voice explains...]
This little tree was planted by Karmapa
shortly before he entered Tsurphu.
The spring here had almost completely dried up. And we
didn't have water left for ourselves and our heards.
Now it's bubbling again; Karmapa conducted a ceremony
in front of his freshly planted tree.
If he had't saved the spring the summer pasture up here would have
been lost and we would have to move down to river to find water
for our animals. But there the grasses have all been eaten away...
[ Sounds fro teacher and pupil ]
[ Fem Narrator ] - Umzé was in close contact with the 16th Karmapa
throughout his life.
He went into exile with him in Sikkim and now at the age
of 72 he has returned to Tsurphu.
[ Karmapa reading the texts aloud... the birds singing in background. ]
[ Fem. Narrator ] - Karmapa does often feel like school.
But there are some texts which he knows by heart after only one reading.
[ Karmapa reading the texts aloud... the birds singing in background. ]
[ Melodious flute in the background ]
[ Male Narrator ] - It was June the 15th; the day Karmapa arrived as our abbot
Drupon Déchen, told me, I was to teach Karmapa. Traditionally one
starts with the alphabet; but he learned all that at 12 already.
When he wants to he can learn well and fast. He is very much
like the 16th Karmapa. He loves birds.
He likes to play. His mentality is like that of his predecessor.
Later he will study metaphysics at the very highest level. And some day he
will have some monks to educate so he must become a great master himself.
He will be a leader who frees people from their suffering, and brings
them great happiness. He is the living Buddha. He embodies Buddha's teachings,
and will disseminate them on all rounds
of existence. He will achieve great things.
At the moment he is a child. And so there are still things that I can teach him.
Later this will no longer be the case.
I will serve him as long as I am too. I am not a master myself, so there
isn't much I can give him. Besides I am old and frail, I could be dead
in a month or in one or two years, one doesn't know.
To the future he'll determine his own activities. They will depend
on the power of his spirit and
the greatness of his compassion,
and on the degree of his enlightenment.
[ Fem. Narrator ] - Enlightenment is neither a present nor an accident.
In his former life Karmapa achieved this fro selflessness.
[ Male Narrator ] - It is sad that the 16th Karmapa accepted is cancer
out of love for the people of the west.
He spent his last days in this american hospital.
- Watching, as a physician... an unstoppable disease
ravage his body, and yet, there was kindness that never stopped.
[ Doctor ] - Every morning I would go in an ask him:
- Are you having pain? And he would
smile at me and say: No. - No pain. No pain.
It was very confusing for the staff.