“Education is invaluable, because it helps us to cultivate the innate pure qualities that we all possess as human beings. The emphasis and direction of education should be to help develop consciousness, and support people in nurturing the innate values of wisdom and compassion that we all possess, for the benefit of society.” – The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje
Karmapa International Buddhist Institute is a place of academic studies and individual learning, reflecting and meditating, and our library is one of the heart elements of the Institute. Here you’ll find books and magazines comprising all Buddhist fields of knowledge, as well as related subjects such as language and art. Also, we offer access to relevant research tools and databases in the form of e-media.
In the Tibetan section you will find a treasure for all Buddhist libraries: two complete sets of the Kangyur and Tengyur. One is the Derge edition in pecha format, which was brought to KIBI by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. The other one is the 2001 Pedurma edition (dpe bsdur ma) in book format.
Mission
Founded by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa with the aim of developing a Buddhist education centre for a worldwide audience, the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute, now under the management of KIBS, is dedicated to the fulfillment of their objectives as set out in the earliest stages of its history. KIBI Library understands itself as a contributing factor for realizing those by means of two primary aims: the provision of authentic Buddha Dharma to all seekers, as well as the preservation of existing material, for the benefit of both the present-day students as well as generations to come.
Vision
In order to meet with the demands of a technology-based society and its various needs, we are currently in the process of modernizing our facilities. The institutes’ requirements towards its library for offering an academic degree program shall be met, while at the same time remaining a place where the general Dharma students may develop their innate wisdom.
What we have
Below an overview of the material at hand. However, we would like to invite you to browse our online catalogue (work in progress), or visit us on Facebook. Enjoy!
- Numerous philosophical works (e.g. the Five Treatises of Maitreya, the Four Siddhantas, Tsema)
- Particular Mahayana teachings (e.g. Lamrim and Tenrim, Lodjong)
- Buddhist tantra
- Lineage specific teachings
- History (e.g. of Buddhism, life stories)
- Reference material (e.g. comparative works, scholarly writings)
- Language material (Tibetan, Sanskrit, Pali, Hindi, etc.)
- Buddhist art
- Tibetan medicine and astrology
- Magazines
- Tibetan, Sanskrit and Chinese language sections
- Non-Buddhist subjects (different philosophies, religions, science)
- Further material for KIBI students.