Clemens Kuby : Living Buddha, English

[Opening with Tibetan music]

[ 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.

[ 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 experiences

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

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.

''Goood'' 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.