Will the real Karmapa please stand up
Ogyen Trinley Dorje is no stranger to controversy. Crowned the 17th Karmapa at the age of seven, he fled Tibet when he was 14 and arrived in India after a tumultuous journey a week later. But the biggest albatross around his neck is Trinley Thaye Dorje — who claims he is the real Karmapa, not Ogyen.
Thaye Dorje surfaced barely two years after Ogyen was crowned the Karmapa in 1992. The controversy, though, dates back to November 5, 1981, when the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, breathed his last. Tibetan Buddhism comprises four sects —Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug. While the Dalai Lamas belong to the Gelug sect, Karmapas head Kagyu.
The search for the new Karmapa began after the 16th Kagyu chief passed away. Four senior lamas of the Kagyu sect — Tai Situ Rinpoche, Shamar Rinpoche, Jamgon Kongtrul and Gyaltsab Rinpoche — were given the responsibility for finding Rangjung Rigpe Dorje’s reincarnation. On March 19, 1992, Situ Rinpoche — officially the thirdranking lama in the lineage — presented a letter to his fellow Kagyu lamas. Situ Rinpoche claimed the note was the “prediction letter” of the 16th Karmapa, which told them that his reincarnation would be found in Eastern Tibet.
Jamgon Kongtrul was on his way to Tibet to find the candidate when he was killed in a car crash in 1992. But Shamar Rinpoche, who wanted the prediction letter to be tested forensically, withdrew his support for Situ Rinpoche and his candidate. In 1994, he produced a rival candidate, Thaye Dorje.
Ogyen Trinley Dorje was crowned the 17th Karmapa at the Tsurphu monastery, the traditional seat of the Karmapa, on September 27, 1992. Both the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government supported his appointment. But in 1994, Thaye Dorje was enthroned as the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi.
Shamar Rinpoche and Thaye Dorje’s followers continue to claim that he is the real Karmapa. On June 7, 1992, Dalai Lama — who belongs to the Gelug sect — announced his official support for Ogyen Trinley Dorje. But Shamar Rinpoche, who supported Thaye Dorje, repeatedly urged Dalai Lama to stay out of what was seen as strictly a Kagyu issue.
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In 1980 just before I left Rumtek Monastery and an extraordinary time in the company of H H 16th Karmapa, he made a prediction of a joint activity. When he died on November 5th 1981 thoughts of that came to an end. Years later when news of the discovery of the 17th Karmapa arose, the possibility of it happening seemed possible, at a stroke it would prove to me the reality of reincarnation. Later another candidate was proposed which put myself potentially knowing who is the real Karmapa. should this activity take place. I have not chased meeting either candidate leaving it to karma. Of course I may die and it could be my next life. Along with many I look forward to knowing who is the real Karmapa.
TELL ALL THE NEWS CHANNELS THAT THE TRUE KARMAPA IS BORN HERE IN INDIA ON 30 SEP 1982, SPECIALLY IN THE HIMALIAN REGION….. HE IS AN INDIAN CITIZEN OR NATIONAL NOT A TIBETIAN…. BY THE WAY HE IS THE ONE YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR NOT THE FAKE POLITICAL PUPPETS….. MADE BY THE SITU & SHAMAR RINPOCHE……HUMMMMMMMMMM THE DARK AGE IS HERE AND YOU WONT SEE THE TRUTH UNLESS U HAVE FAITH & DEVOTION TO THE REAL KARMAPA………….BUY THE WAY I KNOW HIM PERSONALLY AND THE REAL ONE DOES EXIST …….GURANTEED TO FACE THE WORLD SOON…………. KARMAPA IS HERE……. AND HE WILL SHOW UP WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT………..THE TRUE DESTROYER OF POLITICS WITHIN RELIGION…………..MAY THE TRUTH PREVAIL…….. SARWA MANGALAM……… SHAME ON ALL OTHERS WHO CHASE & SUPPORT THE FAKE ONES…………..
What if the 17th Karmapa was reincarnated in the Western World, closer to where His Holiness the 16th Karmapa passed, in the US? He was an advocate for western teaching of tibetan buddhism… why wouldn’t he reincarnate there? This may explain the controversy… it should be unquestioned who he reincarnates to. To me it’s bad luck to have it questioned. Something for the higher ups to look into… check the United States… he/she may be there. Throw out all the politics… His Holiness the 16th did not care for politics and only cared about education and sharing his knowledge. What better way than to reincarnate in the western world?