Letter from KTD President Khenpo Karma Tenkyong

February 5, 2017

Karma Thegsum Chöling Directors and Members Karma Kagyu Study Group Directors and Members

Dear Members,

We hope you are well and enjoying good practice to make a meaningful life. Soon we will enter a New Year: the Year of the Fire Bird.

The past year at KTD has been very busy with many activities. During 2016, KTD was happy to host a total of 62 programs, including 19 weekend teachings, 13 long retreats, 5 empowerments, 3 Nyungne practices, 4 Drubchöd, 8 special practices, 3 Fire Pujas, 3 Family Days, a weekend of Earth Day activities and education, a Meditation retreat for teenagers, our annual 10-day teaching, the Chöd retreat for Spanish speakers, the Mahamudra retreat for Chinese speakers, and 2 webcast teachings for the KTCs. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche’s 7 teachings during the year were a highlight for the students. KTD also hosted a month long Tibetan language learning intensive this past summer.

2016 was also special in that Karme Ling graduated a number of students who completed the traditional
3 year 3 month retreat, guided by our beloved Abbott Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. 2016 also saw a new group of retreatants enter retreat in the fall.

KTD also hosted 3 special weekend teachings by His Eminence Chamgön Tai Situ Rinpoche, Ven. Mingyur Rinpoche, and Ven. Lodro Nyima Rinpoche, as well as the special 12-year cycle of Guru Rinpoche puja practice. The Long Life Thrangu Drubchöd was especially meaningful to our students.

Many students visited KTD in 2016 — some for the first time — and we look forward to having them participate in study and practice programs and retreats in the coming year.

Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche’s health continues to improve. He is eating well and exercising; his doctors are very pleased. He is an inspiration to all of us and an example of how to live a dharmic life.

During 2016, we have been able to renew the Gompa cupola, rebuild and refresh the main gate, install a new and large Dorje Chang statue in the Lineage Shrine Room, install a new and large Green Tara statue in the Green Tara Shrine Room, assembled a precious collection of 108 volumes of written teachings by the 1st to 15th Gyalwang Karmapas, and we have begun the effort to assemble a collection of the written teachings of Karma Chagme. All of these wonderful events are due to the kindness and blessing of His Holiness 17th Karmapa and the tireless work of our beloved Abbot Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche and the support of your members and friends. If you rejoice in these actions, your merit will be instantaneous.

There is much work yet to be done and with the blessing of His Holiness and Khenpo Rinpoche, and the hard work of the KTD Trustees, staff, volunteers, and members, we have confidence that great things will be accomplished on behalf of Buddha Karmapa.

You all are in our KTD mandala — throughout the world — but we would love to see you at KTD in person! Come and study and practice at your monastery.

In Dharma,

Khenpo Karma Tenkyong President