Ogyen Trinley Dorje (right) and Trinley Thaye Dorge
To the surprise of many, Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Trinley Thaye Dorge – both competing claimants to the title of 17th Gyalwang Karmapa – met this past week in rural France to establish a personal relationship and to discuss ways that they may begin to “heal divisions” in order to “strengthen and preserve” the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
The decades-old dispute is the consequence of a disagreement pertaining to the process of recognising the reincarnated 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. While the majority of Tibetans, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, regard Ogyen Trinley Dorje to be the true bearer of this title, an influential minority believes otherwise. This division had been further exacerbated by the fact that India once suspected Ogyen Trinley Dorje of being a foreign agent acting on behalf of the Peoples’ Republic of China – a fear that has since been mitigated– leading the host nation to regard Trinley Thaye Dorje as the real Karmapa.
Despite the rivalry previously being said to have reached an impasse, the two Karmapas released a joint statement following the four-day meeting this past week that emphasizsed healing and urged followers to join them in their efforts to strengthen and preserve the lineage. Deeming it their “duty and responsibility to bring the lineage together,” this development is also viewed as important to Tibetan Buddhism as a whole since the Karmapa is widely regarded as a potential successor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the future face of Tibetan Buddhism.
The joint statement, which also expressed belief that the two would continue to “develop a strong connection,” was released simultaneously on both lamas’ official websites, with both signing their names alongside the title of “His Holiness,” as opposed to utilising the specific title of Gyalwang Karmapa.
The meeting is also said to have come as a surprise to Indian officials who have been working to negotiate the return of Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who still remains in the United States – purportedly for the purpose of receiving and recovering from medical treatment – after extending his stay last year. Since then, officials have indicated that he has acquired a foreign passport while abroad, which would permit him to travel with greater ease since India has previously restricted his movements both domestically and internationally, citing their concern that he was acting as a foreign agent.
It is unclear at present what effect this meeting will have on the timing or likelihood of Ogyen Trinley Dorje’s return, but some view it as indicative of an eventual homecoming. Not only has India offered sufficient land in the Indian capital of New Delhi for the establishment of a new residence that would be larger and more centrally located than his existing monastery outside Dharamshala, but top officials have also promised to allow him to travel more freely both inside and outside the country. Thus, some speculate that the recent meeting between the two Karmapas might actually be an attempt to settle another pressing issue ahead of his return.
In recent interviews, Ogyen Trinley Dorje has expressed some frustration with the scrutiny he had faced while residing in India, but he has also conveyed a sincere appreciation for India’s willingness to host Tibetan refugees. Such statements have led many to believe that he would be willing to return provided that certain assurances were made prior to his arrival, and that a foreign passport would serve as a means of evading any attempt by India to control his movements once there.
The full transcript of their joint statement is available here.
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