The controversy called 17th Karmapa

His Holiness the Dalai Lama need to reassert or denounce his anointment of Ogyen Trinley Dorjee as the 17th Karmapa.

The Karmapa controversy is now a three decade old one. After the death of the 16th Karmapa in 1981, high-ranking monks Tai Situ Rinpoche, Shamar Rinpoche and Gyltsab Rinpoche had started a search for his successor. Tai Situ Rinpoche proposed Ogyen Trinley Dorjee as the successor, while Shamar Rinpoche favoured Trinley Thaye Dorje. The third monk did not agree with either.

Since then, both Ogyen Trinley Dorjee and Trinlay Thaye Dorje have been enthroned as the 17th Karmapa and have been independently performing ceremonial duties. Albeit, to quote Thinlay Topgay from his recent article , “the monasteries which dot the Himalayan region from Arunachal to Sikkim, West Bengal, Uttaranchal to Himachal Pradesh & Ladakh belong to different sects of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. There is no homogeneity as each of the four schools have their own spiritual leader and are not dependent on each other. However, all schools by and large owe allegiance to the Dalai Lama, the supreme spiritual and temporal head of Tibet.”

Arunachal has a large Buddhist following belonging mostly to the Geluk sect known widely as the “Yellow Hat Sect” (headed by the Ganden Tri Rinpoche). Sikkimese owe their allegiance to the Karmapa lineage since the 12th Karmapa, Changchub Dorji (1703-1732) built two Karma Kagyu monasteries in Sikkim. In Darjeeling there are monasteries belonging to the Drukpa Kagyu, Nyingma, Sakya, and the Karma Kagyu schools. Other monasteries in Uttarachanchal, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh profess the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition.

An overwhelming number of people in these monasteries have an opinion about Tibet, China and the Buddism. But not one of them over last hundreds of years has ever sheltered any anti-India element. They are a peace-loving, compassionate lot and proud to be part of the story called India.

The reaction to the recent allegations against Karmpa of being a Chinese spy has not gone unnoticed though. Hundreds of articles have been written and rallies organised.

In one article 16th Karmapa gave me my name Business Editor at CNN IBN, Network 18, Karma S. Paljor counts his options on the parameter of faith and facts. Read the article and it benumbs and boggles you about the way conclusions are being drawn by the security establishment and the media. Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police D.S. Manhas told a news channel in Delhi that ‘the whole fight between the two anointed people is basically over property’. Many in the current Indian administration believe him to be China’s “strategic asset”.

To deny Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee his sanity and faith in India is to deny India her own sanity. If Ogyen Trinley Dorjee is a Chinese agent so would be His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Because it is he who recognised Ogyen Trinley Dorjee as the 17th Karmapa despite China also recognising him. How can the government trust HH Shamar Rinpoche either who says that Tibetans in Tibet are happy?

Indian government has been altering its hospitality towards HH the Dalai Lama as per the cues it gets from China. The foreign ministry under Pranab Mukherjee and S. M. Krishna has displayed no shamelessness in adopting uncharacteristic hostility towards the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan movement. No wonder that during Beijing Olympics then Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee warned the Dalai Lama against any political activity damaging India’s relationship with China (India sends warning to Dalai Lama).

The controversy is in part due to the uncomfortable relationship between the Indian state and the Tibetans in India. India accepted the refugees when they had to flee China but generations after that it never accorded the Tibetans full rights of citizenship. This despite the fact that the current generation of Tibetans in India are born here.

“Many typical transactions, from buying land to depositing foreign currency in Indian banks, are either illegal for Tibetans or a bureaucratic nightmare — and, in no small part, an explanation for why Dorje’s monastery held onto the various funds it had amassed from donations”, wrote the Time in an article Why India is Investigating a Reincarnated Tibetan Lama.

It is natural for anybody who heads a global sect to have donations from across the world let alone China. That doesn’t mean that the person is anti-India. It is ironical that the security agencies have handled this issue with such little attention to the sense and sensibilities of the large following that the Karmapa enjoys.

While the controversy of who the real Karmapa is would be best left to the Buddhist community, the government would do well not to let its security establishment fiddle without evidence. The Dalai Lama has himself called for investigation and the security agencies would do well to limit themselves to their job without giving sound bytes.

The ongoing allegations in the backdrop of an already raging controversy of “Who will wear the black crown” is a sad development on the part of Buddhist community in general and Tibetan in particular.

The success of the struggle for an autonomous Tibetan homeland is interlinked with the staying together of Tibetans on the issue of their religion. It becomes all the more important when an autonomous Tibet is not going to be realised in near future. Even if Tibetan homeland is never realised, it’s important for the identity of not only Tibetans but all those who believe in any form of Buddhism to settle the Karmapa controversy amicably.

The institution of Karmapa or Dalai Lama will come to an end sometime but the community would do a service to the great ancient tradition by letting prevail the impression that the fight is over money. The onus lays upon the Buddhist community, including all the heads of various Buddhist sects and of course the other claimants to the throne of 17th Karmapa to resolve their claims amicably and rally behind one or two Karmapa (s). His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche in a recent interview to iSikkim.com expressed hope of a cordial solution to the controversy.

Comment

- jsmurthy
  
  February 4, 2011 at 2:30 pm
  
  If India is uncharacteristic hostile in their behaviour towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama then why is he here. He should leave India and go .Go where there is more respect and freedom.
- Tilak
  
  February 4, 2011 at 2:50 pm
  
  Mr. Murthy,
  I never said that India was uncharacteristically hostile. It is the government. The government of Pt. Nehru welcomed Tibetans at one point of time. Without going into the debate of his legacy of a lost China war of 1962 I must say that Tibet is very much the part of Indian consciousness as Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and even Pakistan.
  Regards
  Tilak
- jsmurthy
  
  February 4, 2011 at 2:54 pm
  
  If Tibetans are unhappy in India then why almost 300000 of them are here?. Fifty long years of support and now all this muck coming out they are still trying to accuse the Indian Government. If the Indian government does not give permission lets do things illegally. All these from people who are in the business of preaching truth.
- jsmurthy
  
  February 4, 2011 at 3:02 pm
  
  Tibet is very much the part of Indian consciousness- sorry no. India has moved ahead and is economic power in itself now. Tibet is not our problem. Definitely not when they become a nuisance beyond a point.
  How come Dalai Lama is unaware of all these illegal land deals? Now that he aware what is he doing. Nothing voluntarily . Expect the Indian Government to dig out things.
  
  Are we supposed to spent the the rest of our future keeping a eye on Tibetans and digging out things.
- Tume
  
  February 4, 2011 at 3:28 pm
  
  This is an androcentric, ethnocentric, aristocratic/priestly caste, who , after living off the backs of 95% of their people, garnering all the wealth and keeping their people illiterate and “enthralled” they are trying to do the same thing in the rest of the World. We in the west have watched as they do the same thing here, they are not about anything but keeping themselves at the “top of the heap” of a monastery franchise system. What do they do with the billions they have garnered from faithfools around the world? They build more franchise monasteries, with more “gold-throne centers, mud hut fringeses. This is the biggest cult on earth, with one agenda public and the other hidden. They only care about themselves they believe, since they were toddlers that they are living buddhas who can do no wrong. This is the WAKE UP call for Buddhists around the world, that this has nothing to do with the Buddha’s teachings. This is about them, and only them, keeping their labrangs filled with millions from the faithfools while playing the humble monk. The CIA has its hands all over this, that is why the NY Times and other mainstream papers are reporting almost nothing.
  
  Stay firm India, you are stopping the spread of this lamaism, and in conjunction with a totalitarian capitalism of China? Think Pol Pot.
- Tume
  
  February 4, 2011 at 3:29 pm
  
  This is an androcentric, ethnocentric, aristocratic/priestly caste, who , after living off the backs of 95% of their people, garnering all the wealth and keeping their people illiterate and “enthralled” they are trying to do the same thing in the rest of the World. We in the west have watched as they do the same thing here, they are not about anything but keeping themselves at the “top of the heap” of a monastery franchise system. What do they do with the billions they have garnered from faithfools around the world? They build more franchise monasteries, with more “gold-throne centers, mud hut fringeses. This is the biggest cult on earth, with one agenda public and the other hidden. They only care about themselves they believe, since they were toddlers that they are living buddhas who can do no wrong. This is the WAKE UP call for Buddhists around the world, that this has nothing to do with the Buddha’s teachings. This is about them, and only them, keeping their labrangs filled with millions from the faithfools while playing the humble monks. Stay firm India, you are stopping the spread of this lamaism,throughout the free world. These lamas cannot exist or adapt to a democracy, they are still in the 11 c, but for 60 years., and in conjunction with a totalitarian capitalism of China? Think Pol Pot.
- jsmurthy
  
  February 4, 2011 at 3:36 pm
  
  Really suffering Tibetans have taken a back seat long back. One globe trotting and living in luxury lama and another is video games and rap music Lama. Power struggle among others?.
- Tenzin
  
  February 4, 2011 at 3:54 pm
  
  To jsmurthy
  We tibetans always appreciated India’s long standing support to Tibetans community in India, we considered India as our home……..but yes whenever Some sections of Indians remind us of our origins we are appalled and unanimously recognize the very fact we are still outsiders waiting to get some freedom to preserve our identity in our fatherland……..but i also want to assure my indians counterpart that Tibetans always owe allegiance to its second home India and will always keep trust untouched….not many people know about the roles Tibetans in India execute in the form of spreading pro India messages to all Himalayan enclaves in india which gaurantees India’s rule without having to mobolize armed troops unlike other border regions and tibetans in india are very much aware of their allegiance since India solicited many Tibetans lamas particularly HH the dalai lama…i really dont want to reveal about the sacrifices Tibetans made for India but since we have to, let me tell you that there are about 10,000 tibetan people who serve in an elite commondo unit which is not a part of India Army but rather under direct supervision of the prime minister of India….they have participated in many battles infact they were the first one to be dumped on the frontline if all those all are still not enought to keep Tibetans in india and doesn’t recognize the fact that tibet is very much in india’s national interest then yeah me must be kicked out………………….
- jsmurthy
  
  February 4, 2011 at 4:36 pm
  
  Tenzin- Did we not support you all these years? Even Today We are your biggest supporters. But when you own leaders are like this what we can do.
  Why Dalai Lama cannot appoint one good man with clean record and say to whole world he will the carry struggle forward.
  To gather all of them make a good media reports and fill papers.
  Nothings has changed in Tibet because of these cartoons.
  China is destroying what is left after the recent earthquake.
- jsmurthy
  
  February 4, 2011 at 5:08 pm
  
  It was very Important for Dalai Lama to do damage control. But he did not bother.
  Just watching and continuing his routine programs etc this do not go well with the Indians.
  Handful of trouble making Tibetans should have been immediately sidelined. Nothing voluntarily . Expect the Indian Government to dig out things.
- Norphel
  
  February 4, 2011 at 7:18 pm
  
  I really do not understand what most of the people are commenting on this issue. I am Tibetan born in india. An per this issue i think i know much more and more than you people know.
  
  What you people know about Tibetan Buddhism, India relation with China, Benefit for India for keeping Tibetan refugee, benefit for TIbetan for Staying in India, India’s help towards tibetan and tibetan contribution towards India.
  
  There are lots of things you need to know before writing some bad things on Tibetans, Dalai Lama and Karmapa.
  
  We tibetans consider Dalai Lama a god king. More than God and more than King with faith, respect and in our heart. So before commenting you should think whether your comment will hurt others or not.
  
  Now as per the Karmapa issue. Its upto Tibetan people whether we consider Ogyen Trinley Dorjee or Thinley Thaye Dorjee. Indian govt. cannot decide whom we should follow. As per karmapa lama., He is a tibetan lama and tibetan will decide whom we should followed.
  
  Now the problem at the moment is issue of money including foreign currency at the monastery.
  So before coming to any conclusion how can Indian visual media label his Holiness Karmapa as chinese agent? Thats the main question.
  
  Many people are writing lots of baseless allegation against his holiness Karmapa. Before you write you should think that his holiness main seat in India is in Gangtok Sikkim thats Rumtek Monastery.
  
  His holiness 16th Karmapa was given land to built monastery near Gangtok.That was when sikkim was independent. So has to be enthroned in his own monastery.
  
  I have lot more to write on this issue but i dont have much time now.
  So lastly i am appealing to all the people incluing indian, tibetan and foreigner to not write any bad things on anyone without any proof and logic.
  
  There are lots of people in the society taking advantages of the situation.
  
  Finally as a tibetan born in India. I love Indian and India. But i dont like much the way politician and media works. They write story without proof and making people sad, angry and fool.
  There should be much maturity in Indian electornic or visual media.
  
  Free Tibet, Jai Hind.
- jsmurthy
  
  February 5, 2011 at 2:46 am
  
  Norphel- Tibetan Born in India is not an Indian.
  You do not understand doing illegal things in India?
  
  Still blaming others instead of being sorry? .
  Are we supposed to be blamed for your politics and internal bickering. There are two contestants
  for the Karmapa post?
- rose
  
  February 5, 2011 at 5:11 am
  
  I do not understand jsmurthy.’s view point. In canada, if one was granted refugee status, one is consider Canadian residents – enjoy freedom of movement, freedom of speech and most important human rights. After residing for a specific length of time, one can become a Canadian.
  
  If India granted Tibetans refugee status, why treat them as a burden. Tibetans should have basic human rights, (fyi I’m not tibetan)
  
  Dalai Lama did a lot of good to India. Without Him nor HH Karmapa, I would never have visited India, spent thousands of dollars in India. Tibetans brings a lot of benefit to India by bringing in their students from all over the world. Please be grateful.
- Namgyal Wangchuk Bhutia
  
  February 5, 2011 at 7:14 am
  
  Dear mr norphel, it is wrong on ur part to say karmapa lama is tibetan n only tibetan will decide whom to follow than what about us, the followers of karma kaguk lineage n other buddhist followers all over the world.I hope u got my point n might have realize ur mistake.this type of statement will offend non tibetan followers of H.H KARMAPA n H.H DALAI LAMA. these type of Dharma Guru does not belong to any caste or creed instead they belong to the compassionate people of the world,who believe in them.
- tenzin
  
  February 5, 2011 at 8:53 am
  
  Jsmurthy, I am a Tibetan and trust me I understand your sentiments, that Tibetans need to get their act together. We are learning and trying to eliminate centuries of sectarian and inter-sectarian politics of high lamas. And trust me, as days go by, we are learning it the hard way! As for His Holiness intervening at this stage, I think His Holiness and for that matter every one understands the importance of not intervening due legal process in a democratic country. Lets the dust settle down, then I agree, we do have to do a lot do damage control and rebuilding from the scratches. Trust me, when the legality of it all is settled, His Holiness will intervene. Who else can?
- jsmurthy
  
  February 5, 2011 at 10:09 am
  
  Rose and Tenzin- India never treated Tibetans as a burden. But some refugees in guise of Tibetans have clear Chinese connection how are we supposed to tolerate this. Proof is also being given to them. Only some trouble makers have restricted movements.
  If Chinese props and agents take control of the Tibetan movement will you like it?
  Rose- India has been supporting them almost 200000 of them since the last 50 years.
  We ourselves / were a very poor country.
  Recently when Dalai Lama went to Arunachal Predesh In spite China objection India clearly said He is our Guest free to go any where.
- jsmurthy
  
  February 5, 2011 at 10:30 am
  
  All you guys are thinking we are criticizingly only you people. See how we are kicking our cartoon politicians daily.
  Wake up don’t follow them blindly analyse and ask answers.
- bd
  
  February 5, 2011 at 5:04 pm
  
  jsmurthy, Indian like yourself is the reason why the world look down on Indians. You can claim rise in your national status all you want, the truth is India is never respected in world stage, and if most Indians are like yourself, it never will.
- Tiger
  
  February 6, 2011 at 4:03 am
  
  2Rose… I got your point… just for an example if you are granted refugee status of China or of any other countries in the world, I supposed’’ if you are the suspect against their law will the Judicial court let go of you unless your are proven innocent? So do not think you are above the law think that you cannot be punished by the law. Status of refugee it does not mean a license for irresponsible behavior. I didn’t intend to hurt your sentiment but as local and national citizens we need to grow the capacity to understand our citizen’s role and to act in ways that respect the integrity of our mother-land.
- ano
  
  February 7, 2011 at 12:55 pm
  
  This line of reasoning is incorrect: “If Ogyen Trinley Dorjee is a Chinese agent so would be His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Because it is he who recognised Ogyen Trinley Dorjee as the 17th Karmapa despite China also recognising him”.
  
  Let me explain why. The Dalai Lama has refused to cooperate on Chinese recognized reincarnations before. The Panchen Lama was of his own linage. It got him nowhere. It got the tibetan people nowhere. And that is where the Dalai Lama’s responsibility lies. So it may be the case, in fact it is highly likely, that the Dalai Lama cooperated by “recognising” a reincarnation from another linage to gain political leverage.
  
  I would also like to point out, a fact that is often forgotten, that the Dalai Lama has no saying whatsoever in the Kagyu lineage of Buddhism. His predecessors even prosecuted the Kagyu and other non-Gelug sects. The DL recognising is like the Democratic party appointing the Republican nominee for the presidential bid.
  
  As for the accusations, you are probably right, they don’t strike me as very convincing. I’m just saying that the line of reasoning doesn’t hold up.
- iSikkim
  
  February 8, 2011 at 10:33 am
  
  Dear Ano,
  
  I must agree with you that the reasoning doesn’t hold. It is the controversy surrounding Karmapa that made me put such a line for those who say that the Karmapa is a Chinese agent. If you start listening to the different versions of the story surrounding who the 17th Karmapa is, no one including the the ministers in Indian government would appear as Chinese agent.
  
  It is a very difficult path to tread. I just wish that the controversy be settled and the current imbroglio be over.
  Thanks for your comment.
  Regards
  Tilak
- elibuchen
  
  February 8, 2011 at 5:49 pm
  
  All these allegations about Chinese Connection first came from the tibetan government in exile calling the people who practice dorje shugden as Chinese spies. Too long have they used the Chinese spy card now karma is returning back to them.
  His Holiness the Dalai Lama does not really have the right to given kagyu matters, each of the four schools have their own particular head. Though HHDL belongs partly to the Gelug Sect he is not the head of it , it is the Gaden T.ripa
- Jane Kent
  
  February 9, 2011 at 5:14 pm
  
  What does seem apparent is that the world is listening less and less to the Tibetan government in exile. While everyone does have a tremendous respect for the Dalai Lama, his government have very little influence on the rest of the world. For now, they act under the power of the Dalai Lama, often using his name in vain.
  
  Elibuchen: I hear ya. The attacks on Dorje Shugden practitioners are horrifying. What government permits this? But once the Dalai Lama passes away or is no longer in power, who will really listen to the TGIE or allow this to continue? It is happening already – this Karmapa issue shows clearly that the Indian federal government always has more say in any matter than the Tibetan government in exile. The TGIE’s actions towards the Dorje Shugden practitioners have directly contravened the Indian government’s laws, which permit freedom of religion. Once the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader passes away, WHO WILL LISTEN TO THEM? Who will listen to an exiled government who doesn’t even comply with the laws of their own host country?
- CJustice
  
  February 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm
  
  Just a note:
  
  sharmapa should be addressed as “His Eminence” sharmapa,
  
  while the term “His Holiness” is rightly used for head of sects like “HH Dalai Lama” and “His Holiness Karmapa”.
- Norsang
  
  February 10, 2011 at 7:05 pm
  
  Dear Murthy,
  I think there has no bigger word to say thank you by giving shelters for the Tibetan people who comes in India and take refuge. The relation between India and Tibet is not just 50 years back but more than thousand years old between the two nations as Masters and Student.
  And many of them do feel India is our second home town where we can trust and share our sorrows. We even had joined with the Indian army when the nation was in need to fight for the country. We lost many Tibetan brothers and however we consider that this was our solidarity for India being so helpful to us.
  We have 1 lakh eight thousand Tibetan leaving in India and we never said that we are not happy India because people like me we are here since by birth. And for kind information Indian law says that Tibetan who was born in India from 1959 to 1986 can take Indian citizenship. But majority of them have stayed in RC-Registration Certificated for Tibetan.
  We don’t want to capture any Indian Territory by dealing land. It’s clear that we have to go back once we restore our freedom in our own nation.
- subhas
  
  February 13, 2011 at 9:52 am
  
  Long live India _ China friendship. Long live world peace. The Tibetan in should remember the war against China from mustang base or from Kalimpong or Gangtok or Tezpur. Be practicle. Indians love peace and not war.
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- Dharmaheart
  
  June 14, 2013 at 2:43 am
  
  It is different for me. I as a Child met the 16th Karmapa. I was being anxious and impatient waiting. No clue why I was there. However in his presence, and outside his serious face during tradition, he was a jovial man. I called him “Chinese Santa CLause” because I didn’t know any better as a kid.. so long joke.
  I was just happy around him, calmed and happy. So For me, I felt it with Thaye Dorje, not Oygen. Thaye speaks more around the world. It was the 16th Karmapa’s wish that the Kagyu teachings spread west, weither through the tamed craziness of a white guy named ole, or other ripoche’s. Which Thaye openly supports (as long as it fits guide lines).
  
  Now the Dalai Lama’s have no say in Kagyu tradition. Keep in mind the first was a student of the 4th Karmapa (The Kagyu lineage, black hats, and red hats, are older then the yellow hats).
  
  While the Dalai lama is in a hard spot and may have to make wrong choices to stabilize issues, it furthered the divide and we can only hope it will again bring the lineage together some day. Or maybe the east to west split has a purpose and we need to know mind and stop debating it all. By Tibetan and Kagyu tradition, the Dalai Lama’s recognition is invalid.
  
  Keep Dharma in the heart. Focus on ones mind and let the debates die.
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- karma
  
  September 15, 2014 at 4:10 am
  
  people who “think” HH dalai lama has no role in identifying heads of kagyu or other lineages should remember that the HH 16th Karmapa was recognized by HH dalai lama and thus officially recognized. there is no controversy but there is an “attempt” to create a controversy. though obviously and apparently only a few and handful minority is indulging in it. what matters is the Buddha`s teachings. thats why we`re called Buddhists in the first place, right ?