Bodhgaya, Dec 19 (ANI): The 17th Karmapa Lama, Ogyen Thrinley Dorje has visited a free medical camp in Bodhgaya.
Dorje is monitoring the week-long camp set up by the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corporation in collaboration with the Kagyupa International Monlam Trust as part of the ongoing International Kagyu Monlam prayer festival.
“I’m from Taiwan. The Karmapa invites us. We can offer free medicine and service to the people who come here,” said Chichun Liu, founder of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corp.
Sanjay Kumar, a patient, said he had come to the camp for treatment.
The eight-day long festival aims to promote and establish worldwide peace, harmony and happiness, a tradition that was commenced in Tibet over 500 years ago by the Kagyu Sect, which is one of four major sects in Tibetan Buddhism.
Over 7,000 Buddhist monks, nuns and devotees have congregated at the Mahabodhi temple to pray for the first time since 1983.
Dorje, one of the highest lamas in Tibet’s Buddhist hierarchy, is the only senior monk to be recognised by both Beijing and The Dalai Lama.
The Karmapa escaped to India in January 2001 after an undertaking arduous 1,400- km (875-mile) journey through the Himalayas. He is now settled in Dharamsala, the headquarters of The Dalai Lama. (ANI)