After spending several years, in Gyuto Tantric University in Sidhbari, near here, the 17th Karmapa will soon have permanent residence of his own. His office has been looking for a piece of land close to Dharamsala for the setting up of a monastery to house the Karmapa and his staff.

Mr Drupon Rinpoche, general secretary to the Karmapa, confirmed that certain locations had been shortlisted but final decision was yet to be taken. “The Gyuto Monastic University has been the temporary residence of the Karmapa. We do not plan to set up a massive structure but it would definitely have a small monastery and accommodation for his staff,” he said.

The new location has to be close to the Dalai Lama. We do not prefer going too far from McLeodganj, he said. Gyuto Tantric Monastry is a place for studying Buddhist philosophy, tantric meditation and ritual arts.

The Karmapa had escaped secretly from Tolung Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet with a few attendants and reached Dharamsala in January 2000. Since then, he has been living temporarily at Gyuto Ramoche Tantric University near Dharamsala.

At Gyuto, he has been able to continue his studies in Buddhist philosophy and receive instructions, transmissions, and empowerments of Karma Kagyu vajrayana practices from masters of the lineage. During his stay in India, he has met visitors from the world, including religious leaders, politicians and celebrities. Every week, His Holiness give audience at Gyuto and occasionally bestows public empowerment.

On February 2, 2001, Kalon Tashi Wangdi, Minister of Religion and Cultural Affairs in the Central Tibetan Administration (Tibetan Government-in-Exile) had announced that the government of India had granted formal refugee status to the Karmapa. This was celebrated by the Karmapa’s followers in starting travelling.

Failing to convince the Indian government to shift the Karmapa to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, which is the headquarters of the Karmapa in India, it sought shifting of his official residence to some other location within Himachal.

An official said that present accommodation was inadequate for the Karmapa and disturbance, affects his studies.