Within the Karma Kagyu tradition responsibility to recognize the Karmapa lies with four regents. In recent times, three of these regents have recognized competing candidates, confusing followers all over the world. Orgyen Trinley Dorje (left) was recognized by Tai Situ Rinpoche; Trinley Thaye Dorje (middle) was recognized by Shamar Rinpoche; and Dawa Sangpo Dorje (right) was recognized by Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. In-fighting between supporters of these candidates continues until today, a fact that has fractured the tradition deeply. Add to this the fact that the Dalai Lama interfered by backing Orgyen Trinley, a move with no traditional basis, the schism became a heated debate within the Tibetan community. In response, Shamar Rinpoche claimed that Orgyen Trinley’s recognition was incorrect, that he had evidence of this and that the Dalai Lama had no business in meddling in the affairs of the Kagyu lineage. Now Orgyen Trinley, who the Dalai Lama and the CTA nurtured for a decade has abandoned them and prefers to have freedom as a citizen of Dominica.
The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].
By: Shashi Kei
In the last few days Indian media platforms have published news of their government’s furor and withdrawal of support for the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, one of three claimants to the highest seat of the Karma Kagyu, the second largest Tibetan Buddhist sect after the Gelug. Interestingly Karmapa Ogyen Trinley who was recognized and enthroned by the Chinese government, was also the only Karmapa claimant endorsed by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1992. The Dalai Lama’s interference in the Karmapa succession issue was unjustified and went against age-old Karma Kagyu tradition resulting in dire consequences – first, it robbed the Karma Kagyu sect of their right and authority to settle an internal matter on their own, creating confusion and clashes within the lineage that remain until today; second, the Dalai Lama effectively acknowledged that China has the authority to recognize and enthrone high lamas, by endorsing the same candidate of their choosing.
The Indian headlines regarding the loss of confidence in the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley carry a number of significant implications for the Tibetan people-in-exile, both domestic and international:
1. The Tibetan leadership’s politicization of Tibetan Buddhism has backfired
It is clear that the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley does not wish to return to India. According to some news reports, whilst initially shocked he had secretly obtained a Dominica passport, India remained willing to grant Ogyen Trinley a visa to re-enter their country to attend the 13th Tibetan Religious Leaders Conference. The conference, which was subsequently cancelled, was to be held in Dharamsala in November 2018 but Ogyen Trinley reportedly made no attempts whatsoever to apply for such a visa.
Karmapa Ogyen Trinley.
Click to enlarge.
Still other media outlets reported that India refused to acknowledge Ogyen Trinley’s Dominica passport. These reports stated Delhi was unwilling to grant Ogyen Trinley a visa on his Dominica passport, and would only allow a return via his Yellow Book, an identity document issued by the Indian government indicating its bearer is a Tibetan refugee and protectorate of the Indian state. According to those news reports, Ogyen Trinley refused to use his Yellow Book, saying he was going to surrender it and would only accept a visa on his Dominica passport.
Notwithstanding the contradictory nature of these news reports, the clear message is that Ogyen Trinley has the means to, but no intention of, returning to India. Despite being touted as one of the Dalai Lama’s potential successors, a much-coveted position especially amongst those who seek to use recognitions in Tibetan Buddhism as political leverage, it is clear that the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley has decided that he and the Karma Kagyu are better off staying outside the influence of the Indian government. It remains to be seen whether this is a rejection of the Indian government per se or a skillful way to rebuff the control that the Dalai Lama’s office and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has been exerting on all Tibetan Buddhist schools, including the Karma Kagyu.
Either way, it appears that the Tibetan leadership has well and truly lost someone who could have assumed a leadership position in a post-Dalai Lama era, not only because they had a hand in splitting the Karma Kagyu but because they have failed to be a part of its potential reunification. Earlier this year, the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley signaled his intention to repair the split by meeting with the ‘rival’ Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje in France. Both Karmapas later issued a joint statement declaring their intention to heal the divide in the Karma Kagyu and reverse the damage caused by the Tibetan leadership. Throughout this process, the Tibetan leadership who were the main progenitors of this split, was nowhere to be seen. There could not be a clearer signal that the Tibetan leadership’s meddling in and politicization of the Karma Kagyu is no longer welcomed.
Joint Statement of His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje and His Holiness Trinley Thaye Dorje. Click to enlarge.
2. The CTA’s ‘culture of fear’ loses its bite
Karmapa Ogyen Trinley’s recent behavior could be a good indication that the Dalai Lama’s office and the CTA no longer command the same level of control over the Tibetan Buddhist schools as they did before. For certain, both the Dalai Lama and the CTA failed to compel the return of the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley to India.
Anyone who goes against the Dalai Lama or the CTA will automatically be labelled as a Chinese spy.
By tradition, each Tibetan Buddhist school recognizes its own head who holds absolute authority in all matters related to the lineage. However, being in exile provided the Dalai Lama clique with a rare opportunity to usurp these powers. Whereas previously the Tibetan leadership ruled by fear (with myriad oppressive devices such as ex-communicating those who were regarded as challengers to its authority or declaring anyone who opposes the Dalai Lama and CTA to be ‘Chinese spies’ and ‘traitors’), it would appear from Ogyen Trinley’s clear denial of the Dalai Lama’s wishes that the Tibetan leadership’s culture of fear is losing its effect.
Or perhaps, the need and urgency to rescue their respective Tibetan Buddhist schools now outweighs the fear of not toeing the Tibetan leadership’s lines, regardless of how valid or invalid the diktats are. Various Tibet watchers such as the Indian author Jayadeva Ranade have commented that the heads of the Sakyas, Kagyus, and Nyingmas have begun building bridges with Beijing independently of the Tibetan leadership, recognizing that this move may be necessary to salvage the integrity of their respective sects. A number of lamas from these various traditions have established their centers and bases in Chinese cities like Chengdu, openly courting and recruiting Chinese students. By contrast and ironically, any Gelug who attempts to perform the same bridge-building that should have been the CTA’s duty is browbeaten into submission, and accused of being ‘anti-Dalai Lama’ and ‘anti-Tibetan’.
3. The CTA is on the last leg of its ‘legitimacy’
The Karmapa Ogyen Trinley’s decision to apply for a Dominica passport and de facto disowning his Yellow Book is a clear signal that CTA-linked documents no longer have any gravity. The Yellow Book is issued by the Indian government to Tibetan refugees, identifying its bearer as a protectorate of India. It was previously deemed an acceptable travel document by a few key countries, and was used by the CTA to assert their legitimacy – having the Yellow Book meant India, at the very least, recognized that Tibetans were refugees from a legitimate state and for another nation to accept the Yellow Book as a travel document was, in the CTA’s view, tantamount to that country’s acknowledgement that they were exiled from their sovereign home.
The Dalai Lama’s endorsement of Ogyen Trinley went against Karma Kagyu tradition and placed the ancient lineage on a collision course with itself.
However, as the CTA’s favor with world nations has waned over recent years, so too has acceptance of the Yellow Book and it appears this rejection has filtered down to a micro level. With the CTA having banked their legitimacy on the Yellow Book, but with many countries now rejecting its validity, the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley’s decision not to return to India may well be due to his realization that the CTA is fading into oblivion and with it, everything that depends on the Tibetan government-in-exile. So it is not only nation states that are rejecting the CTA but also the CTA’s own people too.
The Karmapa Ogyen Trinley’s decision to give up his Tibetan Yellow Book in favor of a state-issued passport should not come as a surprise as many officials of the CTA have secretly secured their own Indian passports and applied for residency in other countries. To begin with, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay is well-known to have held on to his American citizenship. At the very least, it is a clear indication that the man entrusted to lead the Tibetan people does not share the same conviction as he demands of those under him. Similarly, Lobsang Sangay’s cohort, Dhardon Sharling, the former secretary of the CTA’s Department of Information and International Affairs (DIIR), has also procured her Indian passport and was last reported to have resigned from her CTA post, with plans to fly off to the United States. They are just two of many CTA officials who are known to have disavowed their Yellow Books, Identity Cards and Registration Cards, in favor of American and European citizenship. Clearly if the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley’s act of giving up the Tibetan Yellow Book is to be regarded as a betrayal, then it was the CTA that set the precedent.
4. Tibetan leadership’s transgressions created a trust deficit with India.
The most damaging implication of the Indian government’s disavowal of the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley will be felt by the Tibetan leadership and because of that, the Tibetan cause itself. The Karmapa Ogyen Trinley had the Dalai Lama’s endorsement and backing. In the past, that itself was enough as formal accreditation of a high lama’s status and a seal of worthiness. India’s rejection of the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley is tantamount to its rejection of the Dalai Lama’s to-date unquestioned authority to recognize and enthrone high lamas.
Two of the Karmapas – on the top is the Chinese enthroned Karmapa Ogyen Trinley that the Dalai Lama endorsed. India has since stated that it does not recognise Ogyen Trinley as the official 17th Karmapa; At the bottom is Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje whom the Dalai Lama rejected but has continuously received support from spiritual heads of other Tibetan Buddhists sects and also the royal family of Bhutan.
From the start, India had its reservations about Ogyen Trinley and suspected that he might have been planted by China to spy on India. However, India succumbed to the Dalai Lama’s constant pressure and reluctantly accepted the Chinese-enthroned head of the Karma Kagyu. That was without doubt due to the strong influence the Dalai Lama wielded over key Indian politicians. Whether or not the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley is actually on an espionage mission is speculation. If India’s suspicions turn out to be true, then it was the Dalai Lama who facilitated this infiltration. On the other hand, if there is in fact no basis for India to suspect him, then the Dalai Lama and CTA did not exert nearly enough effort to clear his name. Presumably with India’s apprehension hanging over Ogyen Trinley’s head, it would be much easier for the CTA to control him.
However, India is now clear in its rejection of the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley as it views the Karmapa’s lack of consideration for India’s kindness to be gross ingratitude. This negative sentiment will not end with just Ogyen Trinley. As a matter of fact, that the Indian government would openly disown the Dalai Lama’s man would also indicate that it is no longer willing to trust the Dalai Lama as it did before. To put it bluntly, it is a slap on the face of the Tibetan leadership and an indication that the Dalai Lama’s word is losing currency with Indian authorities. This issue first gained traction when it was learned that the Dalai Lama had secretly sent Samdhong Rinpoche to negotiate his return to China. India’s increasing weariness of the Dalai Lama and other CTA politicians spring from the fact that the Tibetan leadership have readily availed itself as a dangerous instrument of statecraft in Sino-Indian affairs, and indeed in the USA and NATO’s (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) rivalry with China. The Dalai Lama’s tag as a wily and opportunistic politician now troubles India as the Dalai Lama makes overtures towards Beijing, with blatant disregard for its impact on Sino-Indian relations.
Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje has himself received support from heads of state and religious leaders alike much to the dismay of the CTA. These include, the Former King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck (top left); head of the Drikung Kagyu sect, Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche (top right); Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, the reincarnation of the Nyingma master Dilgo Kyentse (bottom right); and Hambo Lama Damba Ayusheeyev, the head of Buryat Buddhists in Russia (bottom left).
In addition, the Tibetan leadership’s recklessness in creating two main Karmapa rivals have placed India in a no-win diplomatic mess with Bhutan. As the Indian journalist Vijay Kranti rightly pointed out, the Karmapas are also a spiritual patron of the Kingdom of Bhutan and so by referring to the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley as a “liar”, “fugitive” and other invectives, India insults a patron of the royal family of Bhutan. As it turns out, the Kingdom of Bhutan has had closer ties with the ‘rival’ Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, the candidate that India did not recognize, therefore placing India in an awkward position to have rejected the candidate that Bhutan chose to endorse. Either way India loses out and given the delicate and potentially incendiary Doklam issue between India and China, Bhutan’s location is strategic. Yet, once again, the Tibetan leadership’s machinations into Karma Kagyu affairs where it had no business has created yet another hurdle for India to cross.
Click to enlarge
India’s backlash will be ultimately borne by innocent Tibetan refugees who have trusted the CTA, and also by the Tibetan cause. This could not happen a worse time when India is clearly backpaddling from its erstwhile support of the Tibetan people. At the crucial time when China is making great efforts to be acknowledged as a valid authority to recognize and enthrone high lamas, the CTA’s mishandling of the issue resulting in the Indian government’s rejection of the Dalai Lama’s Karmapa choice severely dents the Dalai Lama’s credibility, creating an even bigger opportunity for China.
5. India’s rejection of the Dalai Lama-endorsed Karmapa also calls into question the Dalai Lama’s widely-assumed omniscience.
How the Dalai Lama could not have foreseen that his involvement in the recognition of the 17th Karmapa would ultimately jeopardize the standing of the Tibetan people with their Indian host, goes against the belief that the Dalai Lama is supremely clairvoyant.
This however, has not been the Dalai Lama’s only spiritual judgement that has been called into question of late. Other recent high appointments by the Dalai Lama have similarly raised eyebrows – the Dalai Lama’s selection of the 103rd Gaden Tripa Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche (spiritual head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism) passed away not even six months after the Dalai Lama appointed him to be the representative of Lama Tsongkhapa on earth. This was followed by the Dalai Lama’s appointment of the 7th head of the Nyingma school, Kathok Getse Rinpoche Gyurme Tenpa Gyaltsen who passed away less than a year after his appointment.
Top: The 103rd Gaden Tripa Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche. Bottom: The 7th head of the Nyingma school, Kathok Getse Rinpoche Gyurme Tenpa Gyaltsen. Click to enlarge.
In Tibetan Buddhism, it is believed that rightful candidates for spiritually prominent posts will naturally have the merits to occupy the positions to which they have been appointed. Incorrectly-appointed candidates will face obstacles to their life and health, as a means of clearing the office for the appropriate candidate to assume the position. In the case of the Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje whom the Dalai Lama did not endorse (thereby implying that he is not the rightful head of the Karma Kagyu), he seems to be holding his own, with a commanding presence and spiritual loyalty from within the lineage and without any controversies. This begs the question, did the Dalai Lama get it wrong?
In recent times, the Dalai Lama’s reliance on the Nechung State Oracle has also led his judgement to be called into question. Tibetan Members of Parliament such as Tenpa Yarphel have questioned the wisdom of relying on a deity for state affairs and asked if such a reliance has any place in what is claimed to be a modern democracy. Their incredulity is based the Nechung Oracle’s frequently inaccurate predictions which have, time and again, disappointed the Tibetan people. In 2008 for example, the Nechung Oracle even predicted that the Dalai Lama would soon return to Tibet, a prophecy that the news channel France24 recorded the oracle’s assistant confidently reaffirming. It is, as history tells us, a prophecy that never came to pass.
Politically, the Dalai Lama’s endorsement of Lobsang Sangay, the present head of the CTA, is still the foundation that has emboldened Lobsang Sangay to do as he wills, sending Tibetan harmony down a ruinous course by enforcing divisive policies based on regionalism and religious discrimination. One thing is abundantly clear, that is, the Dalai Lama is prone to mistakes and has been proven to be wrong, often with disastrous consequences.
Conclusion
The Indian government has for the past 60 years been an extremely generous host and protector of the Tibetan refugees. India’s magnanimity has in fact sustained the Tibetan struggle since 1959, continually placing it at odds with China and all the time endangering the wellbeing of the Indian people. The fact that the CTA, the Dalai Lama’s ‘government-in-exile’ was able to form and exist as an administration within another nation was solely due to India’s benevolence. The Tibetan people and the Tibetan cause could not have survived without India.
The Tibetan leadership’s reckless self-serving agenda has landed its generous host in numerous diplomatic disasters over the years.
And yet, the Dalai Lama and the CTA have not wisely leveraged on this. The fact that the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley’s actions have created misgivings and negative sentiments against the Tibetan people is indicative of the Tibetan leadership’s gross mismanagement of 60 years of opportunities and of India’s kindness. Some Indian officials now claim that the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley acted in bad faith, inferring that he is ungrateful to India. Negative sentiments by the Indian people towards the Tibetan refugees have been on the rise in recent years and Karmapa Ogyen Trinley’s decision to snub India aggravates the situation even further. How the CTA has allowed this situation to deteriorate as it has warrants close examination and honest questions to be asked of the Tibetan leadership.
While the focus is on the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley today, it needs to be noted that the Dalai Lama and the CTA set this course in motion decades ago. That the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley felt “trapped” in India and was restricted from moving about freely is due to the ‘Karmapa Conflict’ that the CTA brought to pass. That, the Dorje Shugden conflict, and other catastrophes are the bitter fruits of the Tibetan leadership’s manipulation of Tibetan Buddhism for political objectives, creating schisms within the Tibetan monastic community when there were none. It was borne from perfidious intent and the CTA’s exploitation of India’s kindness to create enmity between India and China in order to inflate the significance of the ‘Tibet card’, which Indian thinkers are now calling to be shut down and given up. In inciting violence amongst the Tibetan community to distract them from the CTA’s failures, breaching the basic human rights of the Tibetan people on Indian soil and agitating inter-sectarian conflicts, thereby setting a precedent for potential inter-religious clashes, the CTA has in fact given nothing back to India except for rhetoric and self-serving speechifying. The Karmapa Ogyen Trinley debacle is just the latest in a long list of wreckage courtesy of the Tibetan leadership’s malpractices.
[THE WEEK]
Ogyen Dorje’s Identity Certificate invalid,
will have to apply for Indian visa
Source: https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/12/27/ogyen-dorje-identity-certificate-invalid-will-have-to-apply-for-fresh-indian-visa.html. Click to enlarge.
[THE TELEGRAPH]
Passport anger at Karmapa claimant
Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/passport-anger-at-karmapa-claimant/cid/1680144. Click to enlarge.
[INDIA TODAY]
India does not recognise Ogyen Trinley Dorje as
the 17th Karmapa Lama, say sources
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-does-not-recognise-ogyen-trinley-dorje-as-the-17th-karmapa-lama-say-sources-1418446-2018-12-27. Click to enlarge.
[THE TIMES OF INDIA]
‘Dorje no longer recognised by Indian govt
as 17th Karmapa’
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dorje-no-longer-recognised-by-indian-govt-as-17th-karmapa/articleshow/67279793.cms. Click to enlarge.
English
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Tibetan
Sonam Choephel
January 3, 2019
As the so-called spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama strictly abstains from drinking alcohol in accordance to traditional monastic codes. However, it has recently been reported that the religious leader owns his own vineyard in Switzerland! Apparently, various celebrities, including the likes of Roger Moore, Sepp Blatter and Zinedine Zidane have all made trips to the vineyard. What will people say when they find out that a Buddhist monk, who promotes abstinence from alcohol, owns a vineyard that produces wine for sale? This is certainly not going to sit well with his image of a religious leader and member of the Buddhist monastic order.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1546557813.mp4
Anonymous
January 3, 2019
Anonymous
January 4, 2019
K Sarmay
January 4, 2019
The CTA is political and its legitimacy is much in question.
It also has no country to run hence it is more like an NGO at the very best, rather than a government.
The Indian government has a country to run and the politicians have mandates to garner. They cannot put the needs of their citizens below that of the CTA NGO or any other organisation, spiritual or secular.
The Karmapa is a spiritual leader who cannot be bound by any political organization. It is his right and spiritual mandate to travel freely to spread the Dharma. The Karmapa has logically chosen to hold a Dominica passport so as to facilitate his “work”.
In my opinion, both the Indian government and the Karmapa have acted rightly. The “loser” is the CTA NGO who have no legitimacy either politically or spiritually. They should just accept that.
Tenzin Paljor
January 4, 2019
What you say makes sense. CTA is such a big loser.
Anonymous
January 12, 2019
I too agree with this 👍
Anonymous
January 4, 2019
Hugh
January 7, 2019
This article tells the truth and puts the blame squarely on Tibet government in exile. That’s where the blame belongs.
Hugh
BTW, good news Sharling Dhardon the useless opportunist is quitting her position in this regime. She achieved nothing and only created tremendous discord using religion. Shame on her.
Dondrup Shugden
January 9, 2019
Rejoice that young leaders like the two opposing Karmapas, though supposedly foes have come together to overcome all the politics which created their animosity to create a bigger cause, that is harmony and unity within the Karma Kagyu tradition.
It is my hope that this unity will extend to all traditions within Tibetan Buddhism.
The divide amongst Tibetan Buddhism traditions had been the work of CTA who in their feudalistic mind thinks of divide and rule.
From the ban on Dorje Shugden and schism in recognising heads of every tradition, CTA had done great disfavour to Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhism.
As their propaganda is waning, let there be harmony for the Dharma to grow speedily in 10 directions.
Jampa Youdon
January 10, 2019
Dear Tibetan government-in-exile (Dharamsala),
Sharmapa Rinpoche is the highest authority in the Karma Kagyu after Karmapa. By age-old tradition, Sharmapa is the one that confirms the real incarnation of Karmapa. He recognized Thaye Dorje as the genuine Karmapa. But Dalai Lama endorsed Orgyen Trinley as the real Karmapa. Dalai Lama is a great lama but there has never been a tradition of him recognizing a Karmapa.
Both ‘Karmapas’ have big followings in and out of Tibet. So which one should we follow? We have to follow the genuine Karmapa. If we follow the fake one, we will get fake teachings, fake lineage and no results. We can even take rebirth in the lower realms.
Only the Tibetan leaders can tell us which is the real Karmapa. You have told us which one is the real Panchen Lama. We follow the Panchen of your choosing. Since then we have condemned China and condemned the fake Panchen Lama. Now it is the same situation with Karmapa. We have denounced the fake Karmapa and ask him to step down. He is destroying the Karma Kagyu Lineage.
This issue has torn the Karma Kagyu sect in half. There are many who are so confused and some gave up Tibetan Buddhism altogether because of this. We must solve the confusion. This does not look good for the Tibetan government in exile because the confusion was started by Tibetan government. I support Dalai Lama and Tibetan government. But so many of us need to know the real Karmapa already. Don’t remain silent. Which one is the real Karmapa.
Tibetan government in exile, you have created two Gelugs (Pro-Dorje Shugden and against), you have created two Panchen Rinpoches, two Karmapas, two Dromo Geshe Rinpoches, two Kundeling Rinpoches and so on. When are you going to solve all the confusion. You are destroying Tibetan Buddhism.
Man prasad gurung
January 10, 2019
Respected lama la,
Thinley Thaye Dorje is real Karmapa. Coz The karma Kagyu Lineage Kunzig Sharmapa Rinpoche recognition Karmapa and Karmapa recognition The Sharmapa in history of The Kagyu Lineage. I respect His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso 14 th Dailai lama, but the karma Kagyu Lineage is own lineage. So His Holiness Dailai Lama does not have the right to interfere. Of course he is king of Dharma n king of Tibet. So please do not waste your time all the tibetan people and karma kagyu lineage friends. follow the real karmapa. Namaste n good night from Kathmandu .
Bob Thurman
January 10, 2019
This has been haunting me.
CTA please answer – which one? Which one? Which one?
Dsnowlion
January 13, 2019
Only the Tibetan leaders can tell us which is the real Karmapa. You have told us which one is the real Panchen Lama. We follow the Panchen of your choosing. Since then we have condemned China and condemned the fake Panchen Lama. Now it is the same situation with Karmapa. We have denounced the fake Karmapa and ask him to step down. He is destroying the Karma Kagyu Lineage. From Mountains at – http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=6239.0
So why wouldn’t they just do that? Since they can twist history around, ban incarnations, and murder high lamas. Heck, they even banned the Sharmapa from returning and the Karmapa had to secretly recognised him for 3 lifetimes and the funny thing is when he is allowed back, he went straight back into giving the Dalai Lama more headaches hahahaha.
And what about the next Sharmapa that the white KarmapaTrinley Thaye Dorje is rumoured to be born as his son? Now that will surely put the CTA and Dalai Lama to shame, because how can Sharmapa take rebirth in the fake Karmapa? Unless it is the Dalai Lama who recognised the fake Karmapa 😱😂😱
And please don’t tell us there is 2 Karmapas next! It’s becoming a lame excuse.
Thaye Dorje Rejects Dalai Lama
January 13, 2019
Very significant
A hair cutting ceremony can be done when someone is going to be a monk. Or when a person is being recognized as a tulku. Besides that, it’s rare there are hair cutting ceremonies for others reasons except for certain pujas.
Also the master who does the hair cutting should be someone of ‘high standing’, greatly respected and if possible a high lama with blessings. Many attendants of young tulkus will seek hair cutting ceremony with the highest or very respected lamas of their lineage. Many like to get this done by HH the Dalai Lama these days. So it is very unusual that Karmapa Thaye Dorje has his son’s hair cutting done by Luding Khenchen Rinpoche who is Sakya and not even Karma Kagyu which Karmapa Thaye Dorje belongs to. This signifies a few things:
1. Definitely Karmapa Thaye Dorje’s son is not becoming a monk at such a tender age. So the hair cutting signifies it is a incarnate lama or tulku.
2. To have his son’s hair cut should be done by Dalai Lama but instead they have this done by Luding Khenchen Rinpoche shows an outright avoidance of Dalai Lama.
3. Also Karmapa Thaye Dorje is telling Dalai Lama and CTA (Tibetan govt in exile) that they don’t need them. Karmapa Thaye Dorje does not need Dalai Lama or CTA to make it. They will be fine on their own. It is a very strong message to everyone.
Remember, the Karmapa Thaye Dorje has never taken one single photo with the Dalai Lama. Why is that? Because Karmapa Thaye Dorje and followers reject the Dalai Lama.
Drolma
January 16, 2019
More and more people are going against the CTA and the Dalai Lama. In the past, only the politicians were doing that. For example Lukar Jam Atsok, Penpa Tsering and Dhamchoe Nyima. Now the Karmapas are also going against the CTA and the Dalai Lama.
The Karmapa Ogyen Trinley was under the control of the CTA since his arrival in India. Now, he rebels by getting a Dominican passport and says bye bye to the CTA. He is not going back to India anymore. He has kind of cut his contact with the CTA and the Dalai Lama.
His meeting with Karmapa Thaye Dorje was also another big slap to the CTA. The CTA did not recognise the other Karmapa. All these years they only endorsed the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley. But now the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley went against the CTA and went on to try to settle the division in Kagyu lineage himself by meeting up with the other Karmapa.
The CTA and the Dalai Lama are losing control now. I believe after the Karmapa incident, there will be more people including spiritual practitioners who will go against the CTA and the Dalai Lama.
Anonymous
January 17, 2019
Anonymous
January 17, 2019
dorje
January 23, 2019
I find that Buddhism is just getting more complicated. Why must it be that way? Why can’t one just practice their own tradition without interferences from other sects? Why must the DL and cta poke their noses in everything. Can one just imagine the confusion what all these controversies did? I just cannot understand how much more complicated they want to make this! For goodness sake, this is Buddhism we are talking about. Supposed to be about wisdom and compassion yet I am wondering why it is not that way. Look at Dorje Shugden ban itself. How much hatred and discrimination it has created. Cta meddling in other sects, disrupting the ‘balance’ and most of all, disturbing even those in their own sect. Look at what is happening to the Gelug and all the problems it has created with just Dorje Shugden ban itself. How much more complicated can religion be. Spirituality was supposed to bring peace and calm when we practice. Not make us more confused. I really to hope that all theses controversies will come to an end soon and everyone can just practice and not meddle in politics.
Samayakeeper
January 23, 2019
Whether the Dalai Lama listened to Nechung or the CTA or anyone else and made a decision based on what they said or opined, it was still the decision ultimately made by the Dalai Lama. If the Dalai Lama, who is regarded by Tibetans to be the incarnation of Chenrezig, did make such mistakes then surely he had also made mistakes about what he said about Dorje Shugden. Also he made the mistake by saying his guru, Kjabje Trijang Rinpoche, was wrong. How come the Dalai Lama is always right when others are wrong including his guru?
Chidook
January 23, 2019
CTA is the trouble maker. They don’t care about others welfare but themselves. I found it this leadership is so damn stubborn and spiteful until now they still craved for power and money. Interfering on religious freedom had caused excretory and now on engaging into separation of sects. There no compassionate in CTA but only dwelling of ruling and being materialistic.
Ryan Tashi
January 23, 2019
I can’t be 100% sure of what Dalai Lama says these days. His Holiness is becoming consistently inconsistent these days with his statements. Judging from what His Holiness said about Dorje Shugden, and we can be sure there will be an element of doubting His Holiness.
Vajra10
January 23, 2019
The one who is clearly ungrateful has to be the CTA.. They did nothing good for their people, abuses the power & sources they have received from many kind people.
Dragoni
January 23, 2019
I feel very touched reading the joint statement of His Holiness Orgyen Trinley Dorje and Trinley Thaye Dorje when they mentioned they will work together to heal the divisions which was unfortunately developed within the previous Karma Kagyu and will bring the lineage together and they take charge to restore the harmony. As a Buddhist practitioner, I want to see harmony in religion, and freedom to choose our spiritual path and have a peace of mind in our religion practise. I do not want so much confusion especially CTA likes to do so. I pray for one day CTA will awake and say so that they will no interfere anything anymore in religion, and they will take responsibility to unite the Tibetans and create harmony in religion practice.
Bennie
January 24, 2019
The title of this article should change, should turn around said how ungrateful CTA and His Holiness Dalai Lama intersect to choose Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the right karmapa causing Karma Kagyu sect separation. I am glad to see two Karmapa had met up and have discussion hope Kagyu sect will unite again, bring harmony to their follower and gain faith to Kagyu lineage again.
Belinda Mae
January 25, 2019
It is not the Karmapa that is ungrateful but he was force to the situation whereby he rather give up his yellow book than to stay back in Dharamsala and see the CTA keep hurting people and minding their business instead of others. The CTA will be gone very soon if situation like this continues on.
Richard Tamlak
January 26, 2019
Is the Dalai Lama always right? If the Dalai Lama is always right, then what about the issue of Dorje Shugden, where H.H The Dalai Lama claimed that the practice is wrong. Whereas, more than half of the high Lamas in Gelug including The Dalai Lama’s own tutor Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche also practiced Dorje Shugden. If his own Guru also practiced Dorje Shugden, the practice that he claimed has problem, that means all the while Dalai Lama followed the teaching of a Guru with problem? If in that case, why should we (the people, and Dalai Lama’s followers) still want to listen to Dalai Lama? Which, he had already shown many mistakes like appointed the Gaden Tripa and head of Nyingma school who’s unable to carry the title for longer than a year. The Dalai Lama and the CTA had made many statements that doesn’t require any responsibility. Like, he claimed that Buddha didn’t born in Nepal. But the people, the Tibetan fight among each other against the statement that the Dalai Lama and the CTA made. That’s called to unite the Tibetan? Please….. think deeply. What other things that the Dalai Lama and the CTA had said, that actually break up the Tibetans?
Tracy
January 27, 2019
India is so angry that they said they don’t recognise the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley as the real Karmapa. I don’t think the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley cares if the Indian government recognises him or not. If he is after fame, power and money, he would not have run away from the CTA and met up with the Karmapa Thaye Dorje. Meeting up with the other Karmapa could mean that they have to decide who will be the throne holder.
From the video that was once released by the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley, he sounded very sincere when he said he does not want to get involved in politics and he only wants to spread Dharma. He was very unhappy in India because he could not get the education that he wants and do the things that he wants. He could be seen as ungrateful but I think he is compassionate in the sense that spreading Dharma is more important than the fame, power, and money the CTA can give him.
But anyway, the recognition from the Indian government is not important, they don’t have the authority to do that. The Karmapa has no intention to go back to India and to be controlled by the CTA anymore. Now he has the freedom to do what he wants. The CTA has lost an influential high lama, their position is very shaky now.
Tenzin K
January 30, 2019
The Indian government may see the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley as ungreatful but what is the cause of him move away from India or rather CTA. It’s stated by himself that he felt trapped and restricted from moving freely which causes by the CTA. If Ogyen Trinley consider ungreatful because holding Dominica passport, then how about Lobsang Sangya to have America citizenship? The greater cause of all this is from the Tibetan leadership that pushes many Tibetans to leave them due to lost hope.
Carole McQuirre
February 1, 2019
I’ve been operating an online hate group on FB against the NKT. I use to be a part of that organization. I loved my guru Geshe Kelsang, but I didn’t like some of the underlings who ran the organization. I was there for over a decade and it was time for me to be given a position of a teacher and have the respect I felt I deserved. I didn’t get what I wanted and I felt angry and slighted. It reminded me of my abandonment issues I’ve had throughout my life. I’ve never belonged anywhere and people usually left me and I just couldn’t stand it. I got my personal emotional issues mixed up with my spiritual direction. I projected my personal issues onto my teacher and the organization and I have done that so many times in my life ruining good situations.
I left NKT and told whoever would listen to me who I was abused in NKT. I started a FB page to encourage other ‘victims’ to speak out against NKT. Being the vast organization that NKT is, it was not difficult to find other people who had left for one reason or another and had things to say against NKT. Our little group even got close to some of the events coordinators of the Dalai Lama and we were given a chance to take pictures with Dalai Lama which we promptly did. The photo with the Dalai Lama we thought gave us some validation towards our stance against NKT-but it backfired. It gave us a high to have a photo with the Dalai Lama but after a while we realized we can never be close to the Dalai Lama. We can never get the care and amount of teachings we use to get from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Being close to the Dalai Lama is like celebrity worship not so much as having a personal guru who is there for us.
I regret opening my FB page as it vented out my rage and it was the platform for many other people who had blame and anger issues to collect vast amounts of negative karma. We were never able to have any cases or legal suits against NKT with all of our bantering because there was nothing substantial or genuine in the so called abuses we claimed we received while in NKT. NKT continues to grow while the rest of us who left are nowhere in life. Nowhere in our spiritual practice and just living empty lives. For me I’ve gotten tired of the page I’ve started and FB and it’s a horrendous effort to go there to post things or read any comments. Barely anyone visits the page anyways these days. How much can people vent out their anger at someone or something which is not to blame in the first place?
I don’t have the courage to apologize to my teacher or rejoin NKT because I am a coward. I’ve always been a coward looking for the easy way out. But I am thinking about it. I realize my mistakes. I realized my mistakes which comes from me.
Babu
February 7, 2019
Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje is not recognized by the Indian government anymore and it is very possible that Tibetan leadership is the one that influenced the Indian government on this matter. The Karmapa has been rebellious against the Tibetan leadership for quite some time now.
A year ago, he fled to the western countries in the name of seeking treatment and refuses to come back to India until now. In the meantime, he talked about how the Tibetan leadership is controlling him and how he is very miserable to not able to perform his duties as the Karmapa due to all the restrictions that are imposed on him by the Tibetan leadership.
Now he has taken up a Dominican passport and he forfeited his IC which is given by the Tibetan leadership. With this step, he is able to break free from the Tibetan leadership and he is able to travel to wherever he wishes without the need for approval from the Tibetan leadership. This is a huge slap on the Tibetan leadership’s face because of their very own Karmapa that they nurtured is going against them. This has proven that Tibetan leadership is not good people and they can even exploit and manipulate the high lamas for their own benefits.
Karma Kagyu School Does Not Need Dalai Lama
February 10, 2019
Karmapa Thaye Dorje Ignores the Dalai Lama
(1) Decades ago, the Shamarpa asked the Dalai Lama to endorse Thaye Dorje as the Karmapa. Shamarpa proved to the Dalai Lama that Thaye Dorje was the Karmapa. The Dalai Lama still refused as it will make the Dalai Lama look bad for endorsing Ogyen Trinley. ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJJXYAz3Bz0
It is known that Tai Situ Rinpoche recognized Ogyen Trinley by stealth. Tai Situ Rinpoche used the Dalai Lama’s fame to promote his Ogyen Trinley candidate in order to secure the Karmapa wealth of many generations.
(2) Even though the Dalai Lama endorsed Ogyen Trinley as Karmapa, Thaye Dorje could not be restrained and continues to grow immensely in popularity all over the world. Even without the Dalai Lama’s endorsement, the Karmapa Thaye Dorje is growing in importance. Tai Situ Rinpoche thought that without the Dalai Lama’s endorsement, the Karmapa Thaye Dorje would fall and become nothing. He was wrong.
(3) Shamarpa Rinpoche had asked the Dalai Lama to at least ordain Thaye Dorje as a monk when he was very young and the Dalai Lama refused. This refusal hurt Shamarpa and the Karmapa Thaye Dorje very much. The Dalai Lama sidelined Shamarpa Rinpoche and Thaye Dorje. It was a grievous insult and detrimental interference. In the Karma Kagyu tradition it is the Shamarpa who is the first and foremost to recognize the Karmapas and only in his absence do other regents recognize the Karmapas. Not only did the Dalai Lama interfere in Karma Kagyu affairs but the Dalai Lama took sides. That caused so much fighting and disharmony within the Karma Kagyu school of Buddhism. Tai Situ Rinpoche was wrong not to consult with Shamarpa Rinpoche in all of this.
(4) The Dalai Lama had no business interfering in Karma Kagyu traditions by recognizing a Karmapa. In the history of the Karma Kagyu school, there has not been one Karmapa recognized by a Dalai Lama nor did they ever need the Dalai Lama’s endorsement. This interference by the Dalai Lama has caused the Karma Kagyu school to take two sides and broke them up and created much disharmony. The disharmony, fighting and mud-slinging as to which one is the real Karmapa has continued to this day in 2019.
(5) Shamarpa Rinpoche passed away in 2014 and it is up to the Karmapa to recognize his incarnation without the endorsement or interference of the Dalai Lama.
(6) Now the Karmapa Thaye Dorje recognizes his son born in 2018 as Shamarpa Rinpoche’s incarnation and he does not ask the Dalai Lama to endorse this incarnation. He does not need it. The Dalai Lama has done enough damage. This will shift the dynamics of the Karma Kagyu school again in favor of the Shamarpa Rinpoche’s side. Unfortunately, it will make Ogyen Trinley look strange and left out in the cold. Within the Kagyu school, the Shamarpa is the next highest incarnation after the Karmapa. The Karmapas always recognized Shamarpas and vice versa. It shows that the Karmapa Thaye Dorje has the full authority to recognize the next highest incarnation within their school on his own. This Shamarpa will be spiritually trained by the Karmapa Thaye Dorje himself without the influence of the aged Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile which most Karma Kagyus consider a regime.
(7) During the Kagyu Monlam prayers in Bodhgaya on January 2019, Thaye Dorje was there leading the Monlam (New Year’s prayers) and so was the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, giving teachings in another location nearby. The Dalai Lama, while in Bodhgaya, wanted to meet Thaye Dorje but Thaye Dorje refused. Thaye Dorje avoided the Dalai Lama. It was an insult to the Dalai Lama that he had to accept for all the damage he had done in their Karmapa affair and Karma Kagyu school.
The Dalai Lama had sidelined Shamarpa and Thaye Dorje when asked to endorse Thaye Dorje decades ago. Now that the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley has run away to the USA, the Dalai Lama wants to be friendly with Thaye Dorje so that he can get on the Karma Kagyu school’s good side. Without the Dalai Lama’s permission, the two Karmapas met in France and decided to mend the rift. This will make the Dalai Lama look bad. Even the Dalai Lama did not think in such a big way or a middle way to help mend the rift. Too bad and too late for the Dalai Lama to make friends with the Karma Kagyu school of Buddhism.
So much damage has been done. But the Karmapa Thaye Dorje is on the way to mending all this.
Karma Tsogyal
Jing Jing
February 10, 2019
I always think HH Trinley Thaye Dorje is the real Karmapa as he was recognised by Shamarpa himself. As tradition, that should be the way. After the system was set we must follow. But then HH Orgyen Trinley Dorje another Karmapa was then recognised by Tai Situ Rinpoche and endorsed by HH Dalai Lama, which is now spliced the Karma Kagyu lineage badly. This is all due to political power issues.
Now HH Trinley Thaye Dorje has a son and recognised as Sharmapa himself without HH Dalai Lama consent. Well, it actually do not need to. So is that mean HH Orgyen Trinley Dorje is the FALSE Karmapa? HH Dalai Lama has to say something.
CTA and HH Dalai Lama created the mess not only in their own lineage such as Dorje Shugden case but, also very good in creating mess in other lineage.
Now who’s the Chinese spy again now? It does not make sense anymore. People are not stupid. HH Orgyen Trinley Dorje now left India for good. Both Karmapa met up for good. I rejoice.
Palmo
February 17, 2019
The Tibetan leadership has been very quiet about the Karmapa issue considering that they are the one who insisted to recognize Karmapa Ogyen Trinley. They made a lot of noise too when they recognize their own Panchen Lama and starts to talk bad about the Panchen Lama that was recognized by the Chinese.
They are the one who created the 2 Karmapa mess and they will have to suffer the consequences. The Tibetan leadership will suffer either way and they will not like it. This is why they should not have stuck their hand into the Karmapa issue within the Karma Kagyu sect.
Now that they are unable to get Karmapa Ogyen Trinley back, they will be panicking for the post-Dalai Lama era where His Holiness has passed away and the new reincarnation is not recognized yet. During this time, CTA needs a strong and powerful Lama to control the Tibetans and now since they do not have anyone that can replace His Holiness, their power will drop significantly and soon they will lose the influence on the Tibetans.
Vivek
February 22, 2019
Contemplate this-
Indian journalists sound desperate when they talk about terrorist attacks on India. As this article correctly states, there is little that India can do to address terrorism as they seem to operate from Pakistan. To deal with the terrorists, Indians will have to literally attack Pakistan which it cannot do.
Well, there is something India can do which is to stop Dharamsala’s terrorist activities against China being executed from Indian soil. The Tibetans have been attacking China for decades, yet they say they wish to return to Tibet. How do you return to a place you constantly criticize? The Dalai Lama is literally begging China to allow him to visit the Five Peaks of Manjushri pilgrimage site in China and also his birthplace in Amdo, Tibet. But if the Dalai Lama keeps criticizing China, why would they sit at the bargaining table with him? India allows for all of this to happen on Indian soil, so that would irritate China.
Yet India wants concessions from China on the terrorist issue. Meanwhile, Beijing equates Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed to India supporting the Dalai Lama against China for five decades now. Furthermore, India wants China to speak up against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Masood Azhar. But India does not speak up against Dalai Lama. Whether the world thinks the Dalai Lama is the good guy or not, he is a thorn in China’s side so anyone that supports him is not supporting China. Similar to the situation, LeT’s Hafiz Saeed and JeM’s Masood Azhar are a thorn in India’s side but they do not bother China and her allies, so why should China do anything about them? If India does something on the Dalai Lama, then it would be fair to ask China to do something about their support of Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Masood Azhar. Simple equation.
These reports are really bare-faced hypocrisy. It implies one nation is helpless against terrorists because the terrorists camp out in another country. But that did not stop the US from heavily bombing Iraq on the basis that it was harboring terrorists. The US did not hesitate to overthrow the government and murder its leader Saddam Hussein.
It is also very hypocritical that the same journalists who are outraged at China’s annexation of Tibet are quiet about Israel’s annexation of Palestine.
It is interesting to note that most terrorist attacks are aimed at the US and her allies. Everyone conveniently forgets that the US has been throwing their weight around for decades and can even determine which leader they want in other countries.
Back to India – if China can convince North Korea to have détente with the US, China can similarly help India with the JeM. India simply has to give up the Tibet card. The article is also a one-sided opinion piece because India faces as many terrorist threats from Bangladesh, with just as many terrorist camps, but because Bangladesh is not China, their involvement is not mentioned.
India is a great country. China and India as friends will be able to influence the globe literally economically and, eventually, militarily. But India has to play fair. By supporting the Dalai Lama, India will get nothing and furthermore, it will be a stumbling block to China’s 1.4 billion people becoming friends with India’s 1.3 billion people.
The Dalai Lama has to be compassionate and stop speaking against China because he has to consider the difficulty he places India in as his host. Each time he criticizes and allows his refugees to protest against China and ask for western support, it makes China look bad. So if the Dalai Lama wants China and India to become closer and benefit each other economically then he has to be silent on this already.
The Diplomat’s Prarthana Basu sums it up very well by saying in the article below that “Now with another terrorist attack infuriating India’s populace, the mystery behind this Chinese silence remains unsolved. While most attribute China’s apparent silence as a favor to Pakistan, as both continue to maintain their “all-weather friendship,” others argue that China holds India responsible for granting political asylum to the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama, whom Beijing equates to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed.”
Drolma
April 12, 2019
The CTA and Mr. Lobsang Sangay are definitely very delusional and refuse to see the truth. They still think the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje is coming back to India. The Karmapa is not coming back, full stop! Who will be so stupid to go back to India to be controlled and under the surveillance for 24 hours, 7 days a week? The 17th Karmapa has already expressed his unhappiness towards the CTA, how he was not allowed to learn from many Kagyu masters and to spread Dharma. He is not that stupid to go back to them.
Not only the CTA makes the lives of the Tibetans miserable, but they are also making the lives of the lamas miserable and depressing. This is how capable the CTA is. They are destructive and bring no benefit to anyone. Thus, to ask if the CTA can help to preserve the precious Karma Kagyu lineage? The answer is no.
The CTA is only after their own benefits, they don’t care about the Tibetans, the preservation of the precious Tibetan Buddhism or anyone. This has been their culture even before they went into exile. The Dalai Lama wishes very much to change the political culture and mentality but he has failed. The Tibetan leadership still wants to control the Tibetans like in the old days, treating them and exploiting them like slaves.
Anonymous
April 12, 2019
Have you heard? The Indian government does not recognise Karmapa Ogyen Trinley as the 17th Karmapa now.
I do not think the Indian government is not recognising the 17th Karmapa will be any effect on Karmapa Ogyen Trinley. The Indian government has no authority when it comes to spiritual matters in the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. On the other hand, Karmapa Ogyen Trinley got His Holiness’s recognition a long time ago as the 17th Karmapa.
But it is evident that the Indian government is not happy with the Karmapa’s recent activity of accepting a Dominican passport. It is possible that the Indian’s government decision to be fuelled by the Tibetan’s government tricks to put pressure on the Karmapa. They are trying to take revenge on him since he chose to abandon them.
Karmapa Ogyen Trinley has a lot of students in the west, and he should not come back. After so many years, he finally can taste the freedom away from CTA and carry out his duties as the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Tracy
April 14, 2019
Hey CTA! The Karmapa ain’t coming back to India! The Karmapa was telling the media that he would go back to India to attend the religious conference organised by the CTA. But in the end, he did not. The reason he gave was that the Indian government refused to give him the visa to return.
The Karmapa gave up the Indian IC was a smart choice. If he continues to use the Indian IC, he would still be under the control of the CTA. If he ever travels to India with the Indian IC, he can be easily detained by the Indian government. His movement will be very restricted.
To become a political puppet is not what he wanted, he has said he just wanted to be a Dharma practitioner and a Dharma teacher. He regretted coming to India thinking he would have more opportunities to learn from the great masters but it was not the case. This is what CTA does, they don’t care about the continuity of a lineage, they just want to make use of the high lama to achieve their personal interest.
Dhadul
April 17, 2019
India until now is still being influenced by the Tibetan government and that is why India is now no longer recognised Karmapa Ogyen Trinley as the 17th Karmapa. Karmapa was being controlled by the CTA when he was still in India, and he does not have any freedom at all. He can’t even get the proper education that the Karmapa should have to carry out his religious duties.
Without knowledge and freedom, the Karmapa is not doing his job to lead the Karma Kagyu people. This is precisely what the CTA wants. They want a puppet that is famous but controllable so that he can do their bidding for them.
Too bad their plans failed, and Karmapa manage to escape to the US. However, I heard that Karmapa is thinking about going back to India and I wish that the news is fake. If the Karmapa enter into India’s border, I am sure the Tibetan government will regain control on him again because there are a lot of court cases created by the CTA to control him. Karmapa is better off in foreign countries because it has proven that he is more productive outside of India.
Roy
April 19, 2019
The Indian government did not like it when the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley did not inform the Indian government of his intention to give up the RC card to become a citizen of the Republic of Dominica. They think the Karmapa is ungrateful not because of his choice. It was mainly because the Indian government has actually given the Karmapa some favours before he flew to the US and they felt betrayed.
Before the Karmapa went to the US, the Indian government has allowed the Karmapa to visit Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, except Rumtek monastery. They issued him the visa to visit US for a short period of time. However, the Karmapa did not come back to India within the given time period and kept giving excuses to avoid going back. What made the Indian government even more upset was his plan to take on the citizenship of the Republic of Dominica and he didn’t inform the Indian government.
I can understand why the Karmapa did that. He has always wanted to travel so he can meet his international students and give them Dharma teachings. Living in Dharamsala and be controlled by the CTA were not something very pleasant for the Karmapa. He had to do this in order to escape from the CTA. I believe he does not disrespect the Indian government, but the CTA has left him no choice but to do this.
Mountains
April 27, 2019
1st Time Dalai Lama Finally Admits His Illness Was Serious
In the past it is customary to cover up the Dalai Lama’s illnesses. It could be to not worry his flock. It could also be to not show the world he is just another vulnerable human being. Or it could be he does not want to disappoint people to show he is not a god? Whatever the reasons, the Dalai Lama and regime are well known for covering up his serious illnesses. In the past few years he had cancer of the prostate and that was covered up till the press dug it up. Now with this new video just out April 2019, Dalai Lama admits he was recently very ill. It was serious.
Unfortunately the Tibetan cause will die with the Dalai Lama when he passes. He did nothing to groom up a new leader as he is a dictator. A ruler for life. He has been in power for over 60 years. He will never groom up another person to replace him because he is touted as a god.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1556343635.mp4
Ngawang Jigme
May 31, 2019
Unlike 5 years ago, Tibetan leader Lobsang Sangay is not invited to Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony this time. It is clear that PM Modi of India snubs the Tibetan leadership once again in favour of deeper ties with China. The Tibetan leadership finds itself increasingly isolated as nobody wants to offend China by lending any support to the ungrateful Tibetans.
Devi
June 12, 2019
It is not difficult to see how the CTA operates. Everything they do, they make sure they get benefits for themselves. It is never about the welfare or benefits of the Tibetans.
In the beginning, the CTA happily ‘recognised’ the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley who escaped from China to India because the CTA was already planning to groom the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley as the successor of the Dalai Lama. It is not because they want to preserve the precious Karma Kagyu lineage or being the mediator to help to resolve the conflict in Karma Kagyu lineage. Their involvement in the two Karmapas issue had actually complicated the things and cause more tension in Karma Kagyu lineage.
Now that the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley has run away from India and never to come back, the CTA has not said anything to clear people’s doubts. The two Karmapas met up, what’s next? This is what people are interested to know but the CTA remains quiet about it. The reason is simple, there is no benefit for CTA to get further involved in this issue so they refuse to react to it.
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Anonymous
November 8, 2019
The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje is a sincere Dharma practitioners. He wants to spread Dharma very badly because that is his mission of life. He can get money and fame by staying with the CTA and all he has to do is to listen to them but these are not what he wants. He took the risk to run away from the CTA so he can fulfil his wish to become a Dharma teacher.
Another courageous thing the 17th Karmpa Ogyen Trinley Dorje has done is the reconcile with the other Karmapa. If the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley is a power and money hunger lama, he will never reconcile with the other Karmapa. He will be doing what Lobsang Sangay is doing, traveling around the world, undermining the other Karmapa and claiming he is the real one, but he didn’t. Both Karmapas even jointly written a long life prayer for Sharmapa. How wonderful!
The Karmapas can put down their difference so their lineage can continue to spread and benefit people, when is the CTA going to do the same to resolve the conflicts in the Tibetan community?
L
November 15, 2019
Since the older time, the Tibetan leadership has always been exploiting the Tibetans. Common Tibetans were used as slaves to work for the landlord. After the Tibetans escape from Tibet, it is still the same, the CTA is using the Tibetans to ask for free money from the sponsors. Not only the CTA used the normal people, they also use high lamas to make money for them. The CTA knows the Dalai Lama is old now so they want to groom the 17th Karmapa to be the successor. Fortunately, the 17th Karmapa refused to become their puppet and ran away from them. The CTA is a lousy and failed leader. Tibetans cannot rely on them anymore.
Anonymous
August 20, 2020