Will the Karmapa Visit Sikkim?

By Tsering Wangdue / July 15, 2016;

The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee

In Sikkim, devotees of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, came out on the streets of Gangtok to urge the central government of India to allow Gyalwa Karmapa to visit Rumtek Monastery, his official seat.

The Peace and Aspiration Rally was held on July 10. Over 5,000 participants, including Tibetans, monks and devotees gathered, carrying large portraits of Gyalwa Karmapa, banners and Buddhist flags. The slogans on the banners read “It’s now time that our dharma guru visits Sikkim”, “Please allow Karmapa to visit and bless Sikkim” and “Government of India, you have sovereign power to allow Karmapa to visit Sikkim”.

The rally was joined by the former Sikkim CM Narbahadur Bhandari. “We the people of Sikkim unanimously resolve that the Government of India must immediately grant permission to Gyalwa Karmapa to visit and bless Sikkim,” the organisers said in a statement. They also initiated a hunger strike campaign which will continue until the central government agrees to their demand.

A circular issued by the state government of Sikkim states that the authorities have appointed Acharya Tshering Lama of Simick Chandey as the Chairman of the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department for welcoming the spiritual leader in the state. It also mentions that Gyalwa Karmapa will be accorded a cabinet rank reception.

According to sources, the other claimants to the throne of Karmapa have raised objections over this move by the Sikkim Government.

The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee was recognised by the Dalai Lama and is followed by a majority of the Tibetan population and other Buddhist devotees. The other claimant to the throne, Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorjee, was recognised by Shamar Rinpoche.

The Indian government has banned the 17th Karmapa from visiting the Rumtek Monastery for the past 17 years, following his escape from Tibet in January 2000 and the controversy over the real reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa.

Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of the Tibetan Buddhists. Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim was originally built by the 12th Karmapa Changchup Dorje in the 18th century. It was later rebuilt and renovated by the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje after his escape from Tibet in 1959. Since then Rumtek has became the sole seat of the Karmapa lineage in India.