Despite the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje being the supreme head the 900-year old Karma Kagyu tradition, of great importance historically and spiritually to Tibetans in Tibet and in exile, as well as his thousands of followers in Europe, North America, and most of Asia, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has been unable to get the official 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje to visit Sikkim and Rumtek Monastery, the monastic seat of the 16th Karmapa in India.
This failure to do so, for over 24 years, is of huge concern to the 17th Karmapa’s followers globally, but in particular his huge monastic community based in many Karma Kagyu monasteries in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
In addition, despite having over 900 signatories to this public petition (hundred of whom are Tibetans living outside Tibet) launched last month. none of the people contacted in the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), including Penpa Tsering (the elected leader of CTA) have responded when contacted with it. Why is that?
Where is the mass public media campaign and pressure by the CTA and (predominantly US-funded) Tibetan exile media outlets, to ensure the 17th Karmapa not only has a centre or monastery to call his own in India, but also is able to visit Rumtek monastery and other Karma Kagyu monastic institutions in Sikkim?
It is also worth noting that today photos were released on social media of the 17th Karmapa publicly meeting the 14th Dalai Lama in Switzerland on 25th August. There was no prior announcement that the 17th Karmapa was going to be there. However, what is clear, is that the 17th Karmapa was unable to publicly attend the cremations of one of his teachers, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche in Nepal recently. And the 17th Karmapa suddenly interrupted his month-long scheduled online teachings for another program, which seems to be a ‘pop concert’ type long life event with the 14th Dalai Lama. Surely it would have been more suitable and better for his followers for the Gyalwang Karmapa to have personally attended the cremations of these eminent Karma Kagyu teachers? The 14th Dalai Lama speaks about justice and civil liberties for Tibetans but what about the 17th Karmapa and those who follow him and the Karma Kagyu tradition as a whole in Tibet and outside?
Please write to the the Sikyong, Penpa Tsering and the Tibetan exile administration (CTA) with a link to this petition and ask for answers and support from the Tibetan exile elected representatives. Emails are provided in the ‘key-decision’ makers section of the petition which can be read and signed here.
