His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa to Appear in Toronto at the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions
The Parliament of the World’s Religions
is Honored to Announce the Presence of
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Spiritual Head of Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism
at the 7th Parliament of the World’s Religions
November 1 – 7, 2018 • Toronto, Canada
Spiritual leader to millions of Tibetan Buddhists, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa will make his premiere appearance as an honored guest and keynote speaker of the 7th Parliament of the World’s Religions, coming to Toronto, Canada from November 1 – 7, 2018.
At the age of 32, His Holiness the Karmapa has contributed significantly to progressing Buddhist teachings and practices to meet the needs of future generations. Participants in the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions will be enriched by the 900-year old teachings of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism and its contemporary practices, centered on green activism, women’s equality, interfaith relationships and spirituality in the digital age.
Executive Director Rev. Dr. Larry Greenfield says, “The Parliament of the World’s Religions is greatly honored to host His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa. His presence and teaching will emphasize the interconnectedness of Eastern and Western traditions in a way that evokes the revolutionary nature of the 1893 Parliament — here, on the 125th anniversary of that incredible event. On behalf of our family of faith and conscience from around the world and throughout Canada, we gratefully celebrate His Holiness’ acceptance of our invitation. ”
The 7-day Parliament will feature more than 500 artistic, cultural, scholarly, and interactive sessions, presented by a diverse and international group of selected session leaders. Each day will be anchored by plenaries and major assemblies focused on the Parliament’s core issues and constituencies: Interfaith Understanding; Grassroots and Global Movements; the Dignity of Women; Indigenous Wisdom and Faith Systems and the Sharing of Indigenous Traditional Spiritual Knowledge; the Next Generation of Leaders; Climate Action; Countering Hate & Violence, and Advancing Concrete Change for a More Just, Peaceful, and Sustainable World.
Specific dates and engagements for His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa at the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions will soon be announced. Guests are encouraged to secure full conference registration for best access to his featured programmes, although day-pass registrants will also have access to events featuring His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.
BIOGRAPHY OF HIS HOLINESS THE 17TH GYALWANG KARMAPA
OGYEN TRINLEY DORJE
His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, heads the 900-year-old Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.
He guides millions of Buddhists around the world. At the age of fourteen, he made a dramatic escape from Tibet to India to be near His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his own lineage teachers.
Currently 32 years old, the Karmapa created an eco-monastic movement with over 55 monasteries across the Himalayan region acting as centers of green activism.
He spearheaded plans to enable full ordination for women, a step that has changed the future of Tibetan Buddhism. His latest book, Interconnected: Embracing Life in our Global Society, is based on his interactions with American bio-university students.
Preserving and renewing Tibetan artistic forms, the Karmapa paints, draws calligraphy, writes poetry and plays and composes music.
Traveling the world, the Karmapa skillfully teaches traditional Tibetan Buddhist Dharma while also advocating topics such as environmental conservation, feminism, digitization of the Dharma, and much more, bringing the Karmapa lineage activities fully into the 21st century.
About the Parliament of the World’s Religions
The Parliament of the World’s Religions cultivates harmony among the world’s spiritual traditions and fosters their engagement with guiding institutions in order to achieve a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. Its origins are rooted to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where the historic first convening of the World Parliament of Religions created a global platform for engagement of religions of the east and west. Headquartered in Chicago, Il, USA, the Parliament of the World’s Religions is an international 501c3 NGO affiliated to the United Nations Department of Public Information.
The Parliament hosts the world’s premier interfaith convening in cities across the globe. Past Parliaments have convened nearly 50,000 people across the world in Chicago, IL, USA; Cape Town, South Africa; Barcelona, Spain; Melbourne, Australia; and Salt Lake City, USA. Early Bird Registration for the forthcoming 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions to be held in Toronto, Canada is open now.
