Urgyen Thinley urges China to free aides he left in Tibet
"I appeal to the Chinese government and the Tibetan Autonomous Region government that those arrested may be released quickly, and that they may be spared harsh treatment while in prison," the Karmapa told RFA's Tibetan service. "I am greatly disappointed and also worried," he said. "I escaped to pursue my religious studies, and not to achieve political goals."more...

The KARMAPA's daring escape from China keeps hope alive for Tibetans
More than two years have passed since a 14-year-old monk from Tibet made his dramatic escape over the Himalayas to India and caught the imagination of the world. He was the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, one of Tibet's most important religious leaders. To me, a Tibetan born and brought up in exile in India, news of his escape came like a reviving gust of fresh air that blew away the cloud of confusion and inertia that seemed to have descended upon our decades-old freedom struggle. With that one act of desperation and courage, the Karmapa exposed the Chinese lie that Tibetans were happy and prospering under their rule and that they were free to practice their religion.more...

Politics is a no-no for Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje
Buddhist politics took the back seat at Lumbini in Nepal, the birth place of the Buddha, when the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje inaugurated the Drubgyud Choeling Monastery. Dispute over who is the genuine 17th Karmapa - Trinley Thaye, who lives in Sikkim, or Urgyen Trinley Dorje, who lives in Himachal Pradesh - was briefly forgotten as Buddhists stood for hours in queue to receive Trinley Thaye's blessings. The 18-year-old performed with aplomb for 48 hours to the satisfaction of the Karma Kagyu Buddhists who had come from all over the world. These non-Tibetans saw in him the 16th Karmapa, whose reincarnation he is believed to be.more...

Interview with HH17 Karmapa, at Lumbini during Opening of Drubgyud Choeling Monastery
At the age of 11, Trinley Thaye Dorje was officially recognised as Gyalwa Karmapa by Kunzig Shamarpa Rinpoche, the second highest lama in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The controversy over the third highest lama, Situ Rinpoche, presenting Urgyen Trinley Dorje as Karmapa does not appear to have affected Trinley Thaye, though he would not like to discuss it. Confident and articulate, he says that people should recognise the real Karmapa by his deed. When asked what his response would be if he came across the Dalai Lama or Situ Rinpoche, he did not take a second to reply that he would give them due respect.more...

Shamar warns theft case, reveals Regent attempts to sabotage inventorisation
Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, the second in the hierarchy of the Karma Kagyu Lineage, has warned that if major articles of faith are missing from the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre (DCC), a theft case will be filed against whoever was in charge of the properties of the DCC after 1993, when a majority of the monks had been thrown out by force by the State Police with the help of some senior Rinpoches.more...

Commissioner's work draws flak
Gangtok: Many senior and responsible officers in the district administration here are very unhappy with the manner in which Commissioner VK Sharma, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, had conducted the inventory of the properties of Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre (DCC). The inventorisation process, which was dragging on with little progress till the afternoon of 13 July, was suddenly over by early evening, and the Commissioner left town the next day.more...

Missing Dorje with Ugyen Trinley
Rumtek: At least four items have been found to be missing so far and one of them given away to Ugyen Trinley Dorje from the articles of faith belonging to the Karmapa at the Rumtek Dharma Chakra's enthronement room. The work inside the main treasure room did not begin till the time of going to press because none of the parties involved could produce the key to the door of the room, bringing in another twist in the controversy.more...

Rumtek inventorisation takes a beating
Gangtok, July 09, 2002 - The process of inventorisation of the wealth of Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, the headquarters of Karma Kagyu sect of Buddhism, suffered a setback on the second day on Tuesday as the key of the main treasure room could not be traced though counting of other monastery articles went on, official sources said.more...

Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche's speech in Dhagpo Kundrol Ling, France
The statement made by Shamar Rinpoche at the time that H.H. 17th Karmapa entered retreat in France (late May) was recently posted on the Dhagpo website. Among other things, the statement defines and explains a new role and focus for Shamar Rinpoche, in the second half.more...

The arrival of Gyalwa Karmapa at Kundreul Ling
The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa arrived at Kundreul Ling on the evening of 25th May after a brief stay in Paris. He was accompanied by the three tulkus Nendo Tenam Rinpoche, Drupsing Rinpoche and Gyaltrul Rinpoche, who are going into retreat with him to receive the transmission of the six yogas of Naropa. more...

The KARMAPA's daring escape from China keeps hope alive for Tibetans
More than two years have passed since a 14-year-old monk from Tibet made his dramatic escape over the Himalayas to India and caught the imagination of the world. He was the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, one of Tibet's most important religious leaders. To me, a Tibetan born and brought up in exile in India, news of his escape came like a reviving gust of fresh air that blew away the cloud of confusion and inertia that seemed to have descended upon our decades-old freedom struggle.more...

Sikkim Buddhists threaten protest over Karmapa Lama's ascension
Gangtok -- The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of All Sikkim Buddhist Organization, demanding the ascension of boy monk, the 17th Karmapa Urgyen Thinley Dorjee to his "original seat" at Rumtek Monastery since 1992, has now hinted at a 'bigger mobilization' of people in the state if its demand was not met.more...

Tibetan Sherlock shakes up the movement
VANCOUVER The Tibetan writer Jamyang Norbu was one minute into his coffee-shop speech on "The Myth of Tibet and Shangri-la" when a cell phone beeped and all eyes turned to a Tibetan in the audience rummaging through his clothes. "There goes another one" - Norbu quipped as the offender grinned in apology - "that we communicate telepathically."more...

Court order on Rumtek treasure kicks up a row
GANGTOK/KOLKATA: Does anyone but Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorjee have the right to touch the Vajra Mukut housed in the sacred Rumtek monastery?more...

Interview with HH17 Karmapa, at Kalimpong, New Years Day 2002
Gyalwa Karmapa, Thank you for taking some time for this Talk: First of all we want to wish you a Happy New Year 2002! Thank you, and Happy New Year to you too. In the west people often make good wishes on New Year's Eve if they want to accomplish special things in the following year Do you have any special plans or projects for this new year? more...

Karmapa denied a visit to his guru
NEW DELHI, Thursday, January 24, 2002 (Deccan Herald News Servic) - To keep China in good humour in the wake of growing better bilateral relations, the ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs have refused permission to Tibetan spiritual leader, Karmapa Ogyen Trinley, to take part in a special religious ceremony at his Guru Tai Situ Rimponche's monastery at Norbulinga in Himachal Pradesh. more...

Karmapa enters Buddhist shrine bare foot
GAYA: Ugyen Trinle Dorje, the teenaged chief of the Karmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhists made a bare foot entry to the world famous Mahabodhi Temple, the seat of Buddha's enlightenment on Sunday morning.more...