The Karmapa lineage is the most ancient tulku lineage in Tibetan Buddhism, pre-dating the Dalai Lama lineage by more than two centuries. The lineage is an important one as the Karmapa is traditionally the head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Unfortunately the recognition of the 17th Karmapa has become mired in controversy. Since the death of the 16th Karmapa in 1981 two different candidates have come forward, neither of which has gained universal recognition as the true Karmapa. The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924 - 1981) The Karmapa (officially His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa) is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa (Tib. ... In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is the reincarnation of a lama or other spiritually significant figure. ... Tibetan Buddhism is the body of religious Buddhist doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet, the Himalayan region (including northern Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Ladakh), Mongolia, Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia (Russia), and northeastern China (Manchuria: Heilongjiang, Jilin). ... The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933). ... The Kagyu (Tibetan: བཀའ་བརྒྱུད་; Wylie: Bka-brgyud) school, also known as the Oral Lineage and the Spotless Practice Lineage school, is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the other three being Nyingma (Rnying-ma), Sakya (Sa-skya), and Gelug (Dge-lugs). ... Rangjung Rigpei Dorje The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpei Dorje (1924-1981)(Wylie Rang byung rig pai rdo rje) , was born in Denkhok in the Dergé district of Kham (Eastern Tibet), near the Yangtze River. ...

Summary

There are two claimants — Urgyen Trinley Dorje (also spelled Ogyen Trinley Dorje) and Thaye Dorje — each supported by a number of important lamas from the Kagyu lineage. Both have already been enthroned as 17th Karmapa and perform ceremonial and ritual duties. As of early 2007, they have not met. The plaintiff, claimant, or complainant is the party initiating a lawsuit, (also known as an action). ... Urgyen Trinley Dorje at age 14, photographed in Tibet in 1999 shortly before fleeing to India. ... Trinley Thaye Dorje (Tibetan: ཕྲིན་ལས་མཐའ་ཡས་རྡོ་རྗེ་; Wylie: Phrin-las Mtha-yas Rdo-rje) (born 6 May 1983, Lhasa, Tibet) is recognized by many followers as the 17th Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Lama (Tibetan: བླ་མ་; Wylie: bla-ma) is a title for a Tibetan religious teacher. ... The Kagyu (Tibetan: བཀའ་བརྒྱུད་; Wylie: Bka-brgyud) school, also known as the Oral Lineage and the Spotless Practice Lineage school, is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the other three being Nyingma (Rnying-ma), Sakya (Sa-skya), and Gelug (Dge-lugs). ...

This situation has led to deep division among Kagyu followers all over the world. Each side accuses the other of lying and wrongdoing. It is therefore very hard to produce an objective description of the events, because the most important developments are known only from conflicting accounts by those involved.

Recognition of the Karmapa

As with any other lineage of tulkus, the question of recognizing the new incarnation is crucial. Sometimes, all concerned parties are sure that a particular child is indeed the new incarnation of that particular master. Such agreement was not the case with the 8th, 10th, and 12th Karmapas (each of which was resolved).^[1] A dispute has happened again in the case of the 17th Karmapa. According to Buddhism, there is a cycle of death and rebirth that can be transcended by the practice of the Eightfold Path. ...

Karmapas have often been self-recognizing. That means that many incarnations (at least seven out of sixteen)^{[citation needed]} claimed very early in life to be Karmapa, recognizing associates and colleagues of the previous incarnation. Also, each Karmapa has left indications leading to his next re-birth, often in the form of a letter. In such letters, indications regarding the location and parentage of the next incarnation were included, though usually in a poetic form that is difficult to decipher. However, the closest associates of the previous incarnation play a crucial role in the process of recognizing the next Karmapa. After all, it is they — adult and fully-realized Buddhist masters — who have been closely associated with the previous incarnation and will have to raise and teach the new one. The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924 - 1981) The Karmapa (officially His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa) is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa (Tib. ...

The process of recognition has involved several different lamas since the first recognition in the early 13th Century. Geoffrey Samuel writes that, "From the late 14th century onwards until the 1790s, the primary responsibility for recognising and enthroning the Karmapa normally belong to the Shamarpa."^[2] The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Karmapas were recognised by individual followers of the early Karmapas, rather than by any tulku. The Shamarpa recognised the 5th, 6th, 9th (together with Tai Situ), 10th, 11th, and (via a search party) 12th Karmapas. Tai Situ recognised the 8th, 9th (together with the Shamarpa), 14th, and (together with Jamgon Kongtrul) 16th Karmapas. Gyaltsab Rinpoche recognised the 7th and 12th Karmapas, and the 15th Karmapa was recognised by the 9th Drukchen of the Drukpa Kagyu.^[2] (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Shamarpa (Holder of the Red Crown), also known as Shamar Rinpoche, is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Jamgon Kongtrul is a Tibetan Buddhist lama and tulku. ... His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual leader of Ladakh. ... The Drukpa is a major sect within the Kagyupa school of Tibetan Buddhism. ...

In the 1790s, shortly before the recognition of the 14th Karmapa, the Tibetan government in Lhasa banned the Shamarpa from reincarnating as a result of political intrigues. This had the practical effect that future Shamarpas lived in secret and were not available to recognise the Karmapas. This ban became irrelevant when the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa both fled Tibet in the late 1950s. The ban was formally lifted in 1963. Shamarpa (Holder of the Red Crown), also known as Shamar Rinpoche, is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. ... This article is about historical/cultural Tibet. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Samuel points out that, in the cases of the 7th and 13th Karmapas, the Shamarpa of that time had died at around the same time as the previous Karmapa, meaning that there was no adult Shamarpa available to take part in the recognition. Thus, Samuel argues that "the only real exception" to the Shamarpa's preeminent role, prior to his banning, was in the recognition of the 8th Karmapa in 1506.^[2] Tai Situ has been the next most actively involved in recognising Karmapas, including two of the three recognised between 1790 and 1963. 1506 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Split recognition of the present Karmapa

Of the two claimants, Urgyen Trinley Dorje has been recognized by Situ Rinpoche and Gyaltsap Rinpoche. In July 1992 both asked the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala to confirm their recognition. After checking it the 14th Dalai Lama confirmed their recognition that Urgyen Trinley Dorje is the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa. The head of the Sakya school, H.H. Sakya Trizin and the head of of the Nyingma school at that time, H.H. Mindoling Trichen Rinpoche also recognised Urgyen Trinley Dorje as the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa and the actual 17th Karmapa and composed long-life prayers for him.^[3] The government of the People's Republic of China has also accepted him. Other prominent Kagyu lamas who accept the recognition of Urgyen Trinley Dorje include the Ninth Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, the Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (a former Abbot of Rumtek Monastery and Supreme Abbot of the Karma Kagyu lineage), the Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and his Nalandabodhi organization, the Seventh Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (the youngest son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche), the Third Tenga Rinpoche, the Venerable Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, the Venerable Bokar Rinpoche, the Third Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, the Venerable Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche (abbot of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra), H.E. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and his organization, Shambhala International, the Venerable Drupon Rinpoche, the Venerable Akong Rinpoche and his Samye Ling Monastery and Lama Norlha Rinpoche, among others. Urgyen Trinley is also recognized by several reincarnate high lamas who are currently minors, including the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, the Eleventh Pawo Rinpoche, the Third Kalu Rinpoche, and the Twelfth Surmang Trungpa Rinpoche. All of these younger lamas were in turn recognized by Urgyen Trinley himself, or by Karma Kagyu lamas aligned with him. In Tibetan Buddhism the Tai Situpa is one of the lineages of tulkus, reincarnated lamas, in the Kagyu school. ... Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama. ... The 41st Sakya Trizin Sakya Trizin is the head of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism The spiritual leadership of the Sakya school is controlled by the descendants of the Köhn family, who around 750 got into contact with Buddhism and who were taught by Padmasambhava. ... The Ninth Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche The Ninth Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche is the current incarnation of the Traleg tulku line, a line of high lamas in the Kagyu lineage of Tibet Buddhism. ... Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Thrangu Rinpoche (/trɔŋgu rinpotʃe/) was born in 1933 in Kham, Tibet. ... The Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is president of Nalandabodhi, a leading Tibetan Buddhist scholar, and a meditation master. ... Nalandabodhi is a Tibetan Buddhist organization founded in the United States by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 1997. ... Yongey Mingyur Dorje Rinpoche (b 1976). ... Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche 1920-1996 (Wylie: Sprul-sku O-rgyan Rin-po-che). ... Tenga Rinpoche (1932-) One of the students of the 7th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche was the highly realised Lama Samten. ... Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche is a prominent scholar yogi in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Karma Triyana Dharmachakra is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Woodstock, NY, USA, which serves as the North American seat of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. ... Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche Sakyong Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche, Jampal Trinley Dradul (b. ... Shambhala International is a worldwide network of urban Buddhist meditation centers, retreat centers, monasteries, a university, and other enterprises, founded by the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (XI Trungpa Tulku) under the name Vajradhatu. ... Akong Rinpoche at Samye Ling Akong Rinpoche is a tulku in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and founder of Samye Ling Monastery. ... Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist complex associated with the Kagyu school located at Eskdalemuir near Langholm, Scotland. ... Jamgon Kongtrul is a Tibetan Buddhist lama and tulku. ... Nenang Pawo Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist lama, considered to be one of the highest lamas of the Karma Kagyu sect. ... Kyabje Dorje Chang Kalu Rinpoche, usually called Kalu Rinpoche (1905 - May 10, 1989) was a Buddhist meditation master, scholar and teacher. ... Choseng Trungpa Rinpoche, the XII Trungpa Tulku, Chokyi Sengay (Sengye/Senge), Lion of Dharma, is the present Trungpa Tülku. ...

The other claimant, Trinley Thaye Dorje, was recognized by Shamar Rinpoche. Other lamas who accept his recognition are the Venerable Jigme Rinpoche (brother to Shamar Rinpoche and nephew to the 16th. Karmapa), the Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche, the Venerable Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche (who passed away in 2003), Khenpo Chodrak Rinpoche (a former Abbot of Rumtek Monastery and nephew to the 16th. Karmapa), Ngendo Rinpoche (Dorje Lopon of the Kagyu lineage), Khenchen Tashi Paljor Rinpoche, Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Gyaltrul Rinpoche, Sabchu Rinpoche, Gendün Rinpoche, Sangsang Rinpoche, Trinle Tulku, Chagme Rinpoche, Tulku Lodrö Rabpel, Drupseng Rinpoche, Lama Tönsang, and Trehor Lama Thubten. Lama Ole Nydahl and his Diamond Way organization are prominent supporters of Thaye Dorje in the West. In Tibetan Buddhism the Shamarpa also known as Shamar Rinpoche is considered by some to be the second-highest lama in the Kagyu school, next only to the Karmapa. ... There are a few Tibetan Buddhism teachers named Jigme Rinpoche. ... Biography Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche (born 1918, Bhutan - June 10, 2003) was one of the greatest masters of Tibetan Buddhism. ... In Tibetan Buddhism, dorje lopön (Tibetan: རྡོ་རྗེ་སླb་དཔོན་; Wylie: rdo-rje slob-dpon) is a title given to high-level monks who preside over tantric rituals. ... Gendün (Tibetan: དགེ་འདུན) is a Tibetan personal name meaning sangha. Gendün is its spelling in the Tournadre and THDL Simplified transcription systems; it is also written Dge-dun in Wylie transliteration, Gêdün in Tibetan Pinyin, Gendun, Gedun, or Gedhun. ... Lama Ole Nydahl, London, 2005 Lama Ole Nydahl (b. ... Diamond Way Buddhism is the name used to describe an international association of Buddhist centers founded by Lama Ole Nydahl, a Danish student of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. ...

H.E. Beru Khentse Rinpoche holds a distinctly minority view, saying he believes both Karmapas are legitimate ^[4]. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche said that 'as far as my father' (Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche) 'was concerned, they were both to be respected and perceived with pure appreciation'.^[5] Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche 1920-1996 (Wylie: Sprul-sku O-rgyan Rin-po-che). ...

For followers on both sides of this controversy, the issue is painful. Both sides pray that the rightful Karmapa may be able to do his dharmic duties and teachings. The teachers on both sides urge their students to continue their practice sincerely and try not to get too involved in the politics and remain compassionate and forgiving and as open minded as possible. Karma Kagyu teachers say that the future actions and spiritual realization of the claimants will show clearly which one is the real re-incarnation of the 16th Karmapa. The Kagyu (Tibetan: བཀའ་བརྒྱུད་; Wylie: Bka-brgyud) school, also known as the Oral Lineage and the Spotless Practice Lineage school, is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the other three being Nyingma (Rnying-ma), Sakya (Sa-skya), and Gelug (Dge-lugs). ...

Urgyen Trinley Dorje

Urgyen Trinley Dorje at age 14, photographed in Tibet in 1999 shortly before fleeing to India. According to author and Tibetologist Michele Martin, it is traditionally said that tulkus, or reincarnate lamas, mature much faster physically than ordinary children.

Urgyen Trinley Dorje was born in 1985 to a nomadic family in eastern Tibet. At age seven, he was formally enthroned at Tsurphu monastery, the traditional seat of the Karmapas in Tibet. In late December of 1999, he eluded his communist Chinese minders, who had prevented him from undertaking most of his traditional studies and teaching activities, and escaped over the Himalaya mountains to exile in India. He currently resides at Gyuto Tantric College in Himachal Pradesh, India and celebrated his twenty-first birthday on June 26, 2006. Image File history File links Urgyen Trinley Dorje, born June 26, 1985 This photo was taken at Tsurphu monastery in Tibet when Urgyen Trinley Dorje was 14 years old. ... Image File history File links Urgyen Trinley Dorje, born June 26, 1985 This photo was taken at Tsurphu monastery in Tibet when Urgyen Trinley Dorje was 14 years old. ... This article is about historical/cultural Tibet. ... This article is about the year. ... In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is the reincarnation of a lama or other spiritually significant figure. ... Urgyen Trinley Dorje at age 14, photographed in Tibet in 1999 shortly before fleeing to India. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about historical/cultural Tibet. ... Tsurphu (mTshur phu)is the seat of the Karmapas in the Tolung area of Central Tibet in the Dowo Lung valley,70 km from Lhasa. ... This article is about the year. ... Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Claims by his supporters

After the death of the 16th Karmapa Shamar Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche agreed to form a council of regents to take joint responsibility for the spiritual affairs of the Karma Kagyu lineage, alternating as the regent for the Karmapa every three years.

Supporters of Urgyen Trinley Dorje claim that his birth and parentage are consistent with the prediction by Chogyur Lingpa, who, it is claimed, had prophetic visions of various events in the lives of the 14th through the 21st Karmapas. Many believe that Lingpa's statement that the minds of Tai Situpa and Karmapa "are inseparably joined as one" refers to the 17th Karmapa and current Tai Situ Rinpoche. "The description ... is meant to show there is disagreement in this reincarnation and the mind of the 17th Karmapa and the mind of Tai Situ Rinpoche are inseparable from each other," explains the Kagyu lama Thrangu Rinpoche, who is one of Urgyen Trinley Dorje's tutors. Although the 16th Karmapa left two letters specifying a rebirth in Tibet, it is not these two letters but another prediction document, hidden in a locket and given to Tai Situ, that has prompted criticism from the rival claimant's camp. Chogyur Lingpa, alias Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (mchog gyur gling pa) 1829-1870. ... Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Thrangu Rinpoche (/trɔŋgu rinpotʃe/) was born in 1933 in Kham, Tibet. ...

In January of 1981, nine months before his death, the 16th Karmapa gave the 12th Tai Situpa an amulet with a yellow brocade cover, telling him, "This is your protection amulet. In the future, it will confer great benefit." Although Tai Situpa wore the locket on a gold chain for about a year after the Karmapa's death, he moved it to a side pocket, not realizing its significance or that it contained a message. In 1989, following an intuition, Tai Situpa opened the amulet and found the third prediction letter, inside an envelope marked "Open in the Iron Horse Year." The letter said that the Karmapa was to be reborn "to the north, in the east of the land of snow," and when interpreted at the March 1992 meeting of the council of the four regents, was taken to mean that he would be reborn in a specific valley in eastern Tibet. The letter is reproduced on the Kagyu Office website^[6], and reads in part: Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

From here to the north [in] the east of [the Land of] Snow

Is a country where divine thunder spontaneously blazes.

[In] a beautiful nomad's place with the sign of a cow,

The method is Döndrub and the wisdom is Lolaga.

[Born in] the year of the one used for the earth

[With] the miraculous, far-reaching sound of the white one:

[This] is the one known as Karmapa.

Urgyen Trinley Dorje's mother's name is Loga; his father's name is Karma Döndrub Tashi, a name given to him by the 16th Karmapa. Although the search party sent to find him did not yet know it, both of Urgyen Trinley Dorje's parents' names were closely predicted in the 16th Karmapa's letter. According to Michele Martin, the letter was interpreted to mean he would be "born ... in the area of Lhathok, which translates as 'divine (lha) thunder (thog).' The name of the remote nomadic community where Urgyen Trinley Dorje was born is Bagor, of which ba means 'cow.' The next line indicates his parents, where the masculine principle method refers to his father Döndrub, and the feminine principle wisdom refers to his mother Lolaga. The one used for the earth points to an animal that plows, and Urgyen Trinley Dorje was born in the year of the Wood Ox (1985). The far-reaching sound of the white one indicates the sound of the conch shell that miraculously resounded in the sky for hours after the Karmapa's birth." ^[7]

On May 22, 1992, one month before his seventh birthday, Urgyen Trinley Dorje was discovered near Bagor, Lhathok, in Eastern Tibet. According to the kagyu official website:^[8] is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

After consideration of the evidence and additional meetings with Their Eminences Tai Situ Rinpoche, Tsurphu Gyaltsab Rinpoche and Shamar Rinpoche, His Holiness the Dalai Lama granted the Buktham Rinpoche, the official notification of the Dalai Lama's approval of the identity of His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa.

On September 27, 1992, Urgyen Trinley Dorje was formally enthroned at Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet, the traditional seat of the Karmapas, in a ceremony attended by 20,000 people. He lived in Tsurphu another seven years. In late 1999, 14-year-old Urgyen Trinley Dorje decided that the restrictions placed on him by the PRC government at Tsurphu limited his ability to teach his disciples and receive teachings from lineage masters. He made a daring escape over the Himalayas in the middle of winter, evading Chinese authorities and making his way through Nepal and on to Dharamsala, India, arriving on January 5, 2000. ^[9] is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Tsurphu (mTshur phu)is the seat of the Karmapas in the Tolung area of Central Tibet in the Dowo Lung valley,70 km from Lhasa. ... This article is about the year. ... Dharamsala “Dharamshala” redirects here. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

Supporters say that this retreat to India was predicted by the 16th Karmapa in his 1940 work entitled "A Song":

In the springtime, a cuckoo comes as a guest.

In the fall when the harvest ripens,

it knows where to go:

Its only thought is travel to the east of India.

In the lofty land of Tibet, the inhabitants, high and low,

And in particular, you, Tai Situ, the Lord and

Protector Maitreya,

Who remains above the crown of our head,

May your activities, like the sun and moon set in space,

Be continuous, stable, and without hindrance.

I pray that we meet again and again.

According to interpretation, the "spring...cuckoo" is equated to the cuckoo that landed on the tent where Urgyen Trinley Dorje was born - one of the miraculous signs said to accompany his birth. The "fall...harvest" is interpreted as Urgyen Trinley Dorje's adult travel "east" to "India." Above all, the supplication to Tai Situ Rinpoche and the prayer to "meet again and again" strongly suggests to his supporters that he is indeed the legitimate tulku.

Thaye Dorje

Trinley Thaye Dorje

Thaye Dorje was born on the 6th of May 1983 in Lhasa, Tibet. His father is Mipham Rinpoche, the reincarnation of a very important lama of the Nyingma school. In October 1986 Chobgye Tri Rinpoche, senior Sakya master and head of one of the three Sakya lineages, contacted the Shamarpa and informed him about a dream he had had and about a relative of his from Lhasa who brought a picture of a child who reportedly and repeatedly announced that he was the Karmapa. In 1988 Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche was sent to bring more information about the child. Later an unnamed lama was sent to meet with the family and the boy without revealing the real purpose of his visit. Upon meeting with the emissary the boy promptly said "You were sent here for me." This along with other evidence convinced the Shamarpa that the boy was indeed the reincarnation of the late 16th Karmapa. In March 1994 Thaye Dorje escaped with his family from Tibet and travelled to New Delhi where he was formally recognized during a welcoming ceremony. He took monastic ordination from Chobgye Tri Rinpoche and is at present undergoing a very intensive education under the guidance of Shamar Rinpoche, also studying under extraordinary teachers such as Prof. Sempa Dorje, Khenpo Chödrak Rinpoche and others. He also travels extensively in the East and the West. Image File history File linksMetadata 17-Karmapa-Lon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 17-Karmapa-Lon. ... Trinley Thaye Dorje (Tibetan: ཕྲིན་ལས་མཐའ་ཡས་རྡོ་རྗེ་; Wylie: Phrin-las Mtha-yas Rdo-rje) (born 6 May 1983, Lhasa, Tibet) is recognized by many followers as the 17th Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Lhasa (Tibetan: ལྷ་ས་; Wylie: lha sa; Lhasa dialect IPA: [; Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), sometimes spelled Llasa, is the traditional capital of Tibet and the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ... This article is about historical/cultural Tibet. ... Lama (Tibetan: བླ་མ་; Wylie: bla-ma) is a title for a Tibetan religious teacher. ... The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism (the other three being the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug). ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Shamarpa (Holder of the Red Crown), also known as Shamar Rinpoche, is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Biography Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche (born 1918, Bhutan - June 10, 2003) was one of the greatest masters of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Shamarpa (Holder of the Red Crown), also known as Shamar Rinpoche, is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about historical/cultural Tibet. ... , This article is about the urban region that is the capital of India. ...

Claims by his supporters

Thaye Dorje's supporters claim that traditionally it was the Shamarpa who recognized the Karmapa, and therefore no additional recognition is required or even valid. Supporters point out that Karma Pakshi, the 2nd Karmapa, predicted "future Karmapas shall manifest in two Nirmanakaya forms." The 3rd Karmapa recognized the 1st Shamarpa as the fulfillment of this prophecy, giving the Shamar incarnates a special relationship with the Karmapas. This is supported among others by old Kagyu literature where one frequently finds the expression of the 2 Karmapas, black and red hat. Also, when referring to former reincarnation of the Shamarpa, these are often called Karmapa and can only differentiated from former Karmapa reincarnations by their name.

Supporters also accuse Tai Situpa of forging the letter ostensibly written by the 16th Karmapa and hidden in a locket, containing clues about his new incarnation. They have requested that the letter be verified by independent experts including graphologists. Tai Situ has thus far refused to allow this. Forgery is the process of making or adapting objects or documents (see false document), with the intention to deceive. ... Graphology is the study and analysis of handwriting especially in relation to human psychology. ...

Well aware of Chogyur Lingpa's predictions about the 17th Karmapas, supporters of Thaye Dorje suggest the prediction was already fulfilled with the 16th Karmapa, who actually was the 17th, even though only 16 had been officially enthroned. This claim may sound odd, but is supported by Chogyur Lingpa's life story, where he explains that one Karmapa died too early to be enthroned, and that as to Chogyur Lingpa's view, he needs to be included when enlisting the Karmapas. As Chogyur Lingpa is also the source of the prediction, this is indeed a proper argument. Furthermore, it holds true that the described event of the prediction took place between the then Karmapa and Situpa during the life of the 16th Karmapa. Chogyur Lingpa, alias Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (mchog gyur gling pa) 1829-1870. ...

Although followers of Urgyen Trinley Dorje point out that he was the only candidate enthroned in Tibet, both claimants were born in Tibet and so the prediction about the return to Tibet within these two letters is fulfilled by both claimants.

Some Thaye Dorje supporters also point out that the Dalai Lama’s recognition is not necessary for the Karmapa and this was in fact verified in the context of a law case in New Zealand by Prof. Geoffrey Samuel. ^[10] At the same time, Tomek Lehnert's book claims the Dalai Lama was tricked into recognizing Urgyen Trinley by Tai Situpa who told him that all four Kagyu regents agreed he was the right candidate. Tomek Lehnert Tomek Lehnert was born on August 15, 1956 in GdaÅ„sk, Poland. ...

Finally, some supporters of Thaye Dorje claim that Tai Situpa and Urgyen Trinley are puppets in the hands of the government of communist China, which they claim planned to use Urgyen Trinley to tighten its grip on Tibet. According to them, China had planned to identify its chosen Karmapa as spiritual leader of Tibet after the current Dalai Lama passes away. This article is about historical/cultural Tibet. ... The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933). ...

Ole Nydahl says that time will show which of the two contenders is indeed the Karmapa, as each candidate's actions will confirm whether he is the reincarnation or not. He and other lamas that support Thaye Dorje have called for the two young men to meet and discuss this between themselves, but as of early 2007 this has not occurred. Lama Ole Nydahl, London, 2005 Lama Ole Nydahl (b. ...

Recent developments

Rumtek Monastery

Control of Rumtek monastery, which was the seat of the 16th Karmapa in exile, was hotly contested between its rival claimants. In 1961 the 16th Karmapa established the Karmapa Charitable Trust. Urgyen Trinley's followers claim that the trust was solely established for the sake of seeing to the welfare of the Karmapa's followers, providing funds for the maintenance of the monastery, and for the monks' medical fees. On July 5th, 2004 the Indian Supreme Court delivered a final judgement to grant Rumtek monastery to the Karmapa Charitable Trust^{[citation needed]}. Download high resolution version (900x665, 193 KB)Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim. ... Download high resolution version (900x665, 193 KB)Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim. ... Rumtek monastery Rumtek (Tibetan: རུམ་ཐེག་དགོན་པ་, Wylie: Rum-theg dGon-pa), also called the Dharmachakra Centre, is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in the Indian state of Sikkim near the capital Gangtok. ...

Urgyen Trinley Dorje (middle), Shamarpa (right), Chökyi Nyima (left)

According to the official Sharmapa website, Urgyen Trinley Dorje met with the Shamarpa in the Oberoi International Hotel in New Delhi on 9 January 2007. Urgyen Trinley Dorje had mentioned his desire to meet the Shamarpa, and requested Chökyi Nyima arrange a personal meeting with him. The Shamarpa declined the first invitation in 2005, which was received by telephone call from Drigung Chetsang Rinpoche, because to have accepted it "at that time would invite unwarranted suspicions from the India government upon himself." According to Dawa Tsering, Administration of Shamarpa, "He (Urgyen Trinley Dorje) was confident that this meeting would bring peace in the Kagyu School in general and thus help in flourishing Buddha Dharma. This meeting has created a basis to re-unite all in the Dharma Sangha. Therefore, such an initiative should be appreciated by all."^[11] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Urgyen Trinley Dorje at age 14, photographed in Tibet in 1999 shortly before fleeing to India. ... Shamarpa (Holder of the Red Crown), also known as Shamar Rinpoche, is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Oberoi Hotels is an Indian luxury hotel chain established in 1934. ... , This article is about the urban region that is the capital of India. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Shamarpa (Holder of the Red Crown), also known as Shamar Rinpoche, is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. ...

External links

Recommended by supporters of Urgyen Trinley Dorje

• Home Page of the Karmapa and Kagyu Office website
• The website of Rumtek Monastery
• The site of the Tai Situpa
• Site of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
• Office of the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje's center and branches in the United States, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra
• Interview with Thrangu Rinpoche on the Karmapa controversy
• Documents on the Karmapa Controversy

Recommended by supporters of Thaye Dorje Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Thrangu Rinpoche (/trɔŋgu rinpotʃe/) was born in 1933 in Kham, Tibet. ...

• Home Page of Karmapa (Thaye Dorje)
• Home Page of the Karmapa Documentary Project
• Home Page of Shamarpa (Homepage of HH Shamar Rinpoche)
• List of more than 640 Thaye Dorje supporting centers World Wide
• The Karmapa Issue website - information on the controversy
• Trouble in Purelands, reprinted from Buddhism Today vol 3
• The Truth About the Karmapa Controversy, by Shamar Rinpoche
• karmapa.controverse.free.fr A detailed site in French and English, but not updated after 2001.

Media coverage

• BBC News story: Who is the Karmapa Lama?

Notes

1. ^ http://www.rinpoche.com/controversy.htm
2. ^ ^{a b c} Affirmation of Geoffrey Brian Samuel in Reply, Affirmed 11 November 2004. pp. 17-18. Statement of Professor Geoffrey Samuel, submitted as part of a court case in Australia. Samuel cites his source as Douglas and White, The Black Hat Lama of Tibet, 1976: 31-110, which summarises information primarily from the Tibetan text zla wa chu shel gyi phreng ba
3. ^ Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje by Ken Holmes, ISBN: 3-89568-027-3, page 56
4. ^ http://www.rigpedorje.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=11&MMN_position=19:18
5. ^ http://www.gomdeusa.org/newsitem.php?id=37
6. ^ http://www.kagyuoffice.org/karmapa.reference.recognition.predictionletter.html
7. ^ Music in the Sky: The Life, Art, and Teaching of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Michele Martin. Snow Lion Publications 2003, ISBN 1-55939-195-2
8. ^ http://www.kagyuoffice.org/karmapa.biographicalinfo.html
9. ^ http://www.kagyuoffice.org/karmapa.reference.officialreleases.010427Statement.html
10. ^ http://www.karmapa.org.nz/articles/2005/geoffreysamuel.pdf
11. ^ http://www.shamarpa.org/letters/ut-07/index.htm]

References

Publications before controversy

• Karmapa, the Black Hat Lama of Tibet by Nik Douglas and Meryl White (1975) ISBN 0-7189-0187-8
• The History of the Sixteen Karmapas of Tibet by Karma Thinley (1980) ISBN 1-57062-644-8

Recommended by supporters of Urgyen Trinley Dorje

• Music in the Sky: The Life, Art, and Teaching of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Michele Martin. Snow Lion Publications 2003, ISBN 1-55939-195-2. Written by a Tibetan translator, who lived for years in Nepal and India and also made many trips to Tibet. The book also gives a generous sampling of his poetry and teachings as well as the stories of the 16 previous Karmapas. The author is a student of Situ Rinpoche.

• The Dance of 17 Lives: The Incredible True Story of Tibet's 17th Karmapa, Mick Brown, Bloomsbury 2004, ISBN 0-7475-7161-9. This book covers the life of the Urgyen Trinley Dorje and clarifies the politics surrounding his recognition.

• Karmapa: The Politics of Reincarnation, Lea Terhune, Wisdom Publications 2004, ISBN 0-86171-180-7. Provides some background material to the present situation as well as an account of Urgyen Trinley Dorje's life. The author is a student of Tai Situ Rinpoche.

• His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje, Ken Holmes, Altea Publishing 1995, ISBN 0-9524555-4-4. Details of previous Karmapas as well.

• Wrestling the Dragon: In search of the Boy Lama Who Defied China, Gaby Naher, Random House Sydney 2004, ISBN 1-74051-279-0. As stated in the book itself, this account is fiction mixed with fact. It is focused on the author's meeting with Urgyen Trinley Dorje.

Recommended by supporters of Thaye Dorje If you were looking for the UK journalist, see Mick Brown (journalist) Mick Brown (born ca. ...

• Rogues in Robes: An Inside Chronicle of a Recent Chinese-Tibetan Intrigue in the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Diamond Way Buddhism, Tomek Lehnert, Blue Dolphin Publishing 2000, ISBN 1-57733-026-9. The author is a student of Thaye Dorje.

• Buddha's Not Smiling: Uncovering Corruption at the Heart of Tibetan Buddhism Today, Erik D. Curren, Alaya Press 2005, ISBN 0-9772253-0-5. The book places the controversy in the context of sectarian conflict between the Karma Kagyu and the Dalai Lama's government in Tibet and in exile. The author is a student of Shamar Rinpoche.