Politics In Tibetan Buddhism: Karmapa Controversy

Buddhist scriptures first came to Tibet in the early 3rd century and since then, Tibetan Buddhism has seperated into four main schools of thought:

• Nyingma(pa), The Ancient Ones, the oldest and original order
• Kagyu(pa), The Oral Lineage, headed by the Karmapa (and has 4 sub-sects: Karma Kagyu, Tsalpa Kagyu, Baram Kagyu and Pagtru Kagyu as well as 8 minor sub-sects)
• Sakya(pa), Grey Earth Lineage, headed by Sakya Trizin
• Geluk(pa), Way of Virtue, also known as Yellow Hats, whose spiritual head is the Ganden Tripa and whose temporal head is the Dalai Lama, who was ruler of Tibet from the mid-17th to mid-20th centuries.

~From Wikipedia

The Dalai Lama (a title which means 'Ocean of Wisdom', first conferred by Altan Khan, a descendent of Genghis Khan) is not only the spiritual leader of many Buddhists, Tibetans and non-Tibetans alike, but he is also the head of state..the political leader of Tibet. In 1959, the Chinese annexed Tibet, and the Dalai Lama fled to Dharmsala, India, where he retains his seat in the Tibetan Government in Exile. The Dalai Lama was not the first recognized reincarnation of a spiritual leader, however. The first tulku (reincarnated lama, or religious teacher) was Karma Pakshi, the 2nd Karmapa (13th century). The Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, which is over two hundred years older than the Dalai Lama's 14th century rooted Gelukpa lineage. Both schools trace their roots back to similar origins. (On March 10th, 2002, which auspisciously happened to also be International Free Tibet Day, I took refuge in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.)




Before a Karmapa dies, he leaves a set of detailed instructions on how to recognize his next incarnation. The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje died in 1981.





Urgyen Trinley Dorje (born June 26, 1985) has been recognized since 1992 by Situ Rinpoche (3rd highest lama), Gyaltsap Rinpoche, the 14th Dalai Lama, and was the first Karmapa to be recognized by the government of China. The recognition by the Dalai Lama has traditionally never been required. Situ Rinpoche had a letter written by the 16th Karmapa predicting his future rebirth, however some believe the letter is a forgery. Thrangu Rinpoche (teacher of my teacher) states that he personally read the 16th Karmapa's letter, and that "the first of the two letters stated clearly that Urgyen Trinley Dorje of Tibet is the 17th Karmapa. The second letter written in Rumtek, which I had read, again stated clearly that Urgyen Trinley Dorje of Tibet is the 17th Karmapa." The official website of Urgyen Trinley Dorje is here.













Trinley Thaye Dorje (born May 6th, 1983) was recognized in 1994 by the Sharmapa (2nd highest lama, next to the Karmapa). Thaye Dorje's supporters claim that traditionally it was the Shamarpa who recognized the Karmapa, and therefore no additional recognition is required or even valid. When Thaye was just a young boy he began repeatedly claiming that he was the Karmapa. Trinley Thaye Dorje's official website is here.

Although only one will be chosen, the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi predicted that "future Karmapas shall manifest in two Nirmanakaya forms."

Chinese government officials plan on recognizing their chosen Karmapa as the spiritual leader of Tibet when the Dalai Lama passes away.