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His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa
News Archive for January 12-14, 2000
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January 14

-BBC News

1/14/00

The BBC News has an interesting "Talking Point" (discussion forum) asking: "Should India grant asylum to the boy Lama?" A number of responses have been submitted. At the BBC Website.

-Woodstock Times

-International Herald Tribune

1/14/00

Media outlets have been all over the map in their coverage of reported factionalism in the Kagyu order, which Time Magazine described as "a schismatic attempt to split the Black Hats," in which "a group of lamas announced a rival Karmapa." These reports focus on events after the death in 1981 of the Sixteenth Karmapa. Two recent articles focus on the controversy in an illuminating way.

Woodstock, a small town in Upstate New York known (incorrectly) as the location of the famous concert, is the home of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, the seat of His Holiness Karmapa in the United States. It is also, by coincidence, the vacation residence of Robert Thurman, the renowned Tibetan scholar from Columbia University (and father of Uma). In the weekly Woodstock Times in "Flight of the Karmapa," Peter Occhiogrosso has an informative article featuring an analysis by Robert Thurman of the claims of the Kagyu faction which is contesting the Karmapa. Full text.

In an International Herald Tribune opinion-editorial, Lea Terhune, who as a journalist reporting on Buddhist issues has watched the issue play out over the years, notes that "The Karmapa story is not an easy one to sort out," but in this worthwhile article Terhune clarifies some important points regarding the controversy. Full text of the op-ed is available at the IHT site.

-The Hong Kong Standard

-Times of India

-Tribune of India

- The Hindu

1/14/00

-The Hindustan Times (1/13/00)

-The Hindustan Times (1/15/00)

-The Hindustan Times (1/15/00)

-India Express

- Deccan Herald

-Telegraph India

1/14/00

The richness of India's cultural and religious traditions are unsurpassed, and the Karmapa's arrival there seems fitting in some sense. India is the birthplace of Buddha and Buddhism. India's connection to Tibet assumedly can be traced to the coutry's shared heritage of the cultural and religious traditions. The Karmapa is now in India and the media outlets in India have taken centerstage in providing a source of newsreports, not only for the readers in India, but for the world. Ineed, media outlets around the world have focused on those reports and sent their own reporters to India to compete in newsgathering. As an example of the eyes on the press of India, the Hong Kong Standard reviews the varying pronouncements of the India press on His Holiness Karmapa.

We have been regularly providing references to coverage by the press of India on this site. To make our commentary more interesting,  we will on occasion provide consolidated references, such as the instant list on the left, which will offer those following this reporting to compare and contrast the position of different newspapers of India.

It has been reported that Karmapa has not officially sought asylum or refugee status in India. However, informal contacts have been made, and the the government of India is said to be determining the Karmapa's status. The press outlets in India are primarily focusing on how the government should in making this decision, as well as security issues. Seema Guha for the Times of India writes about the informed guesses from Indian analysts regarding India's likely course in granting the Karmapa some sort of residence statusin India.  Most Indian analysts see three options for India: Refusal of any status, granting asylum, or a middle course in granting some sort of refugee status. The Times recommendation adds an interesting wrinkle to the analysis of the latter: "The Karmapa is unlikely to get political asylum here. Nor will India turn him back. Going by precedents, no Tibetan refugee has been asked to return home. The government instead issues all Tibetans entering India a Tibetan Refugee Certificate. The Dalai Lama, however, is given a diplomatic passport, not as head of the Tibetan government-in-exile but as a distinguished religious leader. The Karmapa is likely to stay on in India as a religious leader, in keeping with India's past record."

The Tribune of India focuses on whether this great country is taking a proper leadership role in determining the Karmapa's status outside China: "In the global context, India's position appears to be as pathetic as that of a kitten trapped on a hot tin roof while the Karmapa controversy has given to the USA yet another chance to keep up the pretence of being the leader of the pack of alley cats." The Tribune's recommendation: "One option would be to use the Karmapa's Sikkim connection for resolving the issue. The monastery in Sikkim is considered to be the legitimate abode of the Karmapa and, therefore, no one should have any cause of complaint if he were to be allowed to 'return home'. Although there are two other claimants to the title of Karmapa, India can get past the minor hurdle by referring to the fact that Ogyen Trinley Dorjee is recognised as the incarnation of the 16th Karmapa by both the Tibetan Government-in-exile and China."

The Hindu reports that Indian authorities are concerned about threats to the Karmapa's life by Chinese agents. The whole Indian security apparatus has been activated to protect the Karmapa, and the most credible targets are believed to be moles in Dharamsala. Despite this, segments of the press in India still question the "incredible journey," believing it may be a sham?

Meanwhile, The Hindustan Times in three articles has taken the position that the government should be very wary of the Karmapa, because he might be a Chinese agent. In an editorial on the 13th, the Hindustan Times editors write that Karmapa should be granted asylum only when the government has satisfied itself that he genuinely escaped Tibet. This line of analysis is also echoed in the press releases of the anti-Karmapa faction that seeks to undermine the validity of His Holiness. Admittedly, Karmapa's arrival in India seems miraculous, and if you don't believe in that sort of thing, you may have to assume that there is something fishy. Even if one suspends one's instincts regarding this powerful 14 year old and entertains the counterfactual proposed, it still strains credulity far beyond the breaking point to believe that China would pretend to let the Karmapa escape, thus self-orchestrating a world-wide humiliation of itself and savagely undermining the authority of its security system in Tibet. 

What possible gain could there be for China in orchestrating an escape? What does China have to gain from this fourteen year old that makes any sense of this theory? To gain control of the Kagyu religion? This hardly seems to be a goal of the overwhelmingly atheist Chinese government policy. To gain control of Sikkim? India is a modern, sophisticated country, and it is hard to see how the Karmapa's activity in Sikkim will in any way undermine Sikkim or Sikkim's ties to India. Still lacking from the Hindustan Times -- at least as far as this reader is concerned -- is a convincing analysis which makes any sense of the Machiavellian machinations which necessarily underpin this difficult to understand theory regarding the fourteen year old boy known to the world as His Holiness Karmapa.

In other reporting, the India Express also has an instant poll at its website: Should the Indian government give political asylum to the Karmapa?, which is running 4 to 1 in favor of the Karmapa being granted asylum. The Deccan Herald reports on someone purporting the be the Karmapa's uncle who asked Karmapa to return to Tibet to avoid reprisals to his family. The Telegraph focuses on the Indian government maneuvering to stall in deciding about Karmapa. Since China says he is merely visiting the country, they have made no official inquiry about Karmapa's asylum status and hence "South Block" is in no hurry to make the decision.

January 13

-Hindustan Times

The Hindustan Times front page has an internet opinion poll asking the question: "Should India grant political asylum to the young Tibetan Karmapa, regardless of Chinese objections?" Go to the Hindustan Times website.

-Time Magazine (Asian edition)

In a vividly written article entitled Thunder Out of China, Time Magazine's Michael Fathers reports from Dharamsala on Karmapa's dramatic journey out of Tibet. "The outside world viewed him as Beijing's stooge. But last week the 17th Karmapa, the impressively tall 14-year-old recognized as the reincarnated leader of Tibet's second-most important Buddhist sect, climbed out of a monastery bedroom and began an incredible journey--by car, horse, bus, train and taxi--that brought him eventually to India. After eight days on the run, he was united last week with the exiled Dalai Lama--to the elation of those who support Tibet's freedom."

In an impressive piece of reporting, Fathers pulls together into a coherent whole the disparate information in the press on how Karmapa exited Tibet despite intense security, and adds details not reported elsewhere. This is a riveting account of the Karmapa's secret journey through Tibet, Nepal and into India. Fathers also presents some nice background information, relying on the traditional story of the Karmapa's discovery, and tells sadly of the two attendants who's selfless actions allowed the Karmapa to depart unnoticed, and whose fate is not known.

Fathers ends with a comment on China's handling of the Panchen Lama, and compares it to their handling of the Karmapa: "A similar situation surrounded the Karmapa in 1994, two years after China and the Dalai Lama recognized him as the 17th incarnate. In a schismatic attempt to split the Black Hats, a group of lamas announced a rival Karmapa. China allowed the pretender, Tenzin Chentze, to leave for India and held fast to its earlier choice. After last week's humiliation, they must wish they had changed their mind." Full text of the article is at the CNN/Time Asia Now website.

-CNN/AP

1/13/00

CNN and the AP report that the Karmapa met students at the monastery at which he is staying in India, giving blessings and accepting offerings of respect.  The Karmapa is staying with Tai Situ Rinpoche, resting after his long journey. The report nicely explains the Karmapa's title by stating that "Senior Tibetan monks, who their followers believe to be reincarnations of their predecessors, are known by their positions rather than their names." CNN/AP also notes the tight security around His Holiness, with more than 50 Indian security officers plus the Dalai Lama's guards, many armed with automatic weapons. Visitors are subject to body search.

-The Times of India

1/13/00

Jagdish Bhatt of the Times of India reports as follows:

"The Karmapa has expressed a desire to stay in India - preferably at any of the Tibetan monasteries in the Dharamsala region."

"Talking to a delegation of the Bharat-Tibet Sahyog Manch and Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association on Wednesday, the Karmapa said India is a great country with a rich culture and deep-rooted traditions, besides being home to many religions.

"'I am happy that these two associations have come through their delegations to meet me and have welcomed me to stay in India and preferably at Dharamsala. As far as possible, it will be my endeavour to stay within the region of Dharamsala.'"

"The delegation members were asked to say what they wanted to and then listen to the Karmapa and ask no questions. Looking relaxed and radiant, the Karmapa appeared far mature than his age." It is in fact unclear  Full text at the Times of India website.

-The Hindu

-The Hindu

Sujay Mehdudia of The Hindu reports that the Tibetan government-in-exile is lobbying the Indian government to grant asylum to the Karmapa, and seeking the assistance of the United States in the effort: "Though it may be a coincidence, the visit of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population and Migration Affairs, Ms. Julie Taft, who also happens to be the Special Secretary for Tibet, is also being watched with great interest. Ms. Taft, who is here to overlook the scheme initiated for Tibetan refugees, reportedly held consultations with senior Tibetan officials last evening over dinner. The possibility of her meeting Ogyan Trinley Dorjee is also not ruled out."

Mehudia also writes that officials from the security bureau and external affairs ministry are meeting with exile government officials in McLoedganj, and provides a variety of facts about various preparations in the area to prepare for the Karmapa. Full text.

Separately, The Hindu reported that the United States had called upon China to reopen negotiations with His Holiness Dalai Lama.

January 12

-BBC

BBC Religious Affairs Correspondent Jane Little provides an insightful and exceptionally well-researched analysis in Hope For An Exiled People? Her premise is that the Karmapa's exit, as "well as the diplomatic impact, the Karmapa's surprise arrival in Dharamsala, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, has great spiritual resonance." In perhaps the most concise and precise explanation of the concept of reincarnate lamas in the recent press, she explains that "Leading lamas like the Karmapa are believed to be Boddhisatvas - beings who voluntarily reincarnate to help others."

Little notes that the Karmapa is only the latest among 50,000 people who have left Tibet since China asserted its authority there. She provides an accurate synopsis of the four schools and their relationship to each other, as well as a good picture of the exile community. Full text at the BBC website

-South China Morning Post

-South China Morning Post

Willy Wo-Lap Lam of the South China Morning Post, in Monks, Nuns Feel Pressure After Escape, writes that the Chinese state security apparatus has stepped up surveillance of monks and nuns, particulary at Tsurphu, in the wake of the Karmapa's departure. One of those questioned is said to be a relative of the Karmapa. Though putting on a brave face, he reports, "analysts said Beijing was reeling from the shock of his defection. . . . The analysts said as part of a carrot-and-stick approach, more state investment would be committed to Tibet, Xinjiang and other areas with restive ethnic minorities." Full text.

In a related column, Lam provides historical perspective on China's thinking about the Karmapa's depature, terming it a "glaring security lapse": "In China, control is the name of the game. Chinese administration as we know it was born a couple of millennia before Christ when a group of savants and engineers tamed the floods. Through the centuries, whoever could collect taxes from - and command the acquiescence of - the warlords in this far-flung land got to crown themselves king. From 1949 onwards, the Chinese Communist Party claimed virtually absolute control via indoctrination and 'tools of the proletariat' such as the army and the security apparatus. Chinks in its armour, however, have been widening. . . . [G]iven the saturation of state security personnel in Lhasa and the sophistication of their surveillance, that the Karmapa and his entourage made it on their six-day westward trek was a slap in the face of central authority." Full text.

-BBC

The BBC reports from Japan that the Indian defence minister stated that India would seek talks with China should the Karmapa apply for asylum in India. "If it is confirmed that he is in exile, it is imperative for both countries, China and India, to discuss and consult on the matter," he was quoted as saying. Minister George Fernandes was in Japan to meet with Japanese officials. Full text.

-CNN Video

- CNN

-CNN

CNN's Kasra Naji reports from New Delhi in a streaming video segment  that "analysts" believe that India will almost certainly offer refuge to His Holiness Karmapa if he does decide to seek it. Naji also reports that the Karmapa has caused a growing sense of "euphoria" and "optimism" among Buddhists, both those living in India and elsewhere in Asia and the growing numbers living in the West.

The accompanying article (which features a recent picture of the 14 year old Karmapa), conveys a proper sense of well-researched reporting, with one discordant note: the Karmapa is described as the "17th reincarnation of Buddha." This description of Karmapa's reincarnate status is quite garbled. Karmapa is the seventeenth Karmapa, the 16th reincarnation of a person named Dusum Khyenpa (1110-1193). "Buddha" typically refers to the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni, who lived in approximately 500 BC. At that time in Tibet, there was no institutionalized system of reincarnated teachers (Tib. Tulku), but attitudes began to change after the birth in 1206 of Karma Pakshi, the Second Karmapa, as he subsequently became known. The second Karmapa was instrumental in establishing the practice  in the Himalayan region of recognizing reincarnated teachers, who were raised in the monastery in which their previous incarnation had lived and were vested with the responsibilities of that previous teacher.It is interesting to note that the seventeenth Karmapa, through his dramatic exit from China, is raising awareness of the notion of reincarnation worldwide.

While the media cannot be expected to understand the complexities the subject, they would be well advised to learn some basic points if they make reference to reincarnation in their writing. The short article "Memories of a Past Life," by David Templemen, in Lopez, ed., Religions of Tibet in Practice (Princeton 1997) provides a hint of the complexities of the subject. Full text.

The 14 year old Karmapa's departure is having widespread ramifications on a variety of fronts, and has been incorporated into the agendas of a variety of governments and media spokesmen worldwide, who cite his arrival in India as an example of the poor Chinese record on protecting religious and human rights. Unsurprisingly, then, in CNN's article on the State Department plan to seek censure of China's human rights policy in the United Nations, entitled China Blasts U.S. Plan For Human Rights Censure, CNN reports that "The Karmapa's eight-day journey across the Himalayas was considered by some to deal a blow to China's officially atheist government's efforts to control religious activities." Full text.

-Reuters/Infoseek

-Reuters/Infoseek

1-1-12

Sunil Kataria of Reuters submits an article, entitled Tibet Lama's Exodus Revives Wrangle Over Black Hat, which discusses criticism of His Holiness the Karmapa by an anti-Karmapa faction who apparently wishes to replace the Karmapa with its own candidate. The article is to be commended for the accurate synopsis of the doctrine of reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as its pithy statements on the four major schools of Tibet. However, the article loses focus in accepting the dissidents' line that there is a "row within the Kagyu's Karma sub-sect over the rightful ownership of the hat." Kateria unfortunately makes no attempt to assess the claims of the anti-Karmapa faction, and is content to quote statements from a spokesman for the group, such as "We will not hand over the hat." While there are undoubtedly ruffled feathers between the official Kagyu order and the dissident group quoted in the article, the dispute is perhaps not helpfully clarified by terming it a dispute over a hat. Full text.

In an analysis, Jeremy Page of Reuters in Lama Escape Caps China Religious Crisis notes that "the faithful are struggling to break free" and causing great consternation in Chinese government circles. The 14 year old Karmapa's actions appear to analysts to be the most significant sign of yet of a religious reawakening in China beyond the authorities ability to control: "'This is a major embarrassment and may cause Chinese authorities to be more and more repressive in coming months,' said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, director of the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China." Full text .

-Telegraph (London)

David Graves in Dharamsala and David Rennie in Beijing cite unnamed senior Indian officials as saying that the Karmapa will be allowed to remain in India. These officials suggest a scenario designed to prevent further antagonizing the Chinese government. In the next week to ten days, the Dalai Lama, at the request of the Indian government, will withdraw his application on the Karmapa's behalf to grant the Karmapa political asylum, and New Delhi will announce that the Karmapa "can remain in India to continue his religious education." (The Dalai Lama's spokesmen and India both deny that any such application for asylum has been made.)

Continuing its reporting on US intentions, the Telegraph goes on to indicate that "However, in the unlikely event that the Indians decide that the Karmapa should leave India, it is expected that he will be given asylum in the United States. Senior Tibetan officials held talks with a senior US envoy yesterday in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile are based."

"Julia Taft, an Assistant Secretary of State with special responsibility for Tibetan affairs, has been assured by the Indian government that the Karmapa will be allowed to remain in India, which at present hosts more than 100,000 Tibetan refugees." Full text.

- Times of India

-Times of India

-Times of India

1-1-12

The Times of India writes that the State Department spokesman James Rubin expressed concern that the Chinese were seeking reprisals against Tsurphu Monastery residents over the Karmapa's departure. "We are concerned about reports that the Tsurphu monastery, from which the Karmapa Lama fled has been raided and that two monks have been arrested. We will be trying to confirm this report. We have long been deeply disturbed about the human rights situation in Tibet, and particularly the tight restrictions on Tibetan Buddhism." Rubin also declared that the Karmapa had left Tibet because of "repression of religious activity." Full text.

The Times quotes an unnamed Indian official as "reject[ing] as hypothetical any questions about whether India would consider giving the Karmapa political asylum, but pointed out that India ''had not sent back' any Tibetan who came voluntarily to the country."

The article has some good reporting on China's current official statements on the Karmapa, indicating that Chinese officials were taking the position that the youthful Karmapa may have come "under the influence of his advisors and some 'bad elements' among them may have given him `wrong advice'. Contending that the Chinese authorities had allowed the Karmapa all the freedom he wanted, the Chinese official speculated that "perhaps it was concern over his immaturity that had persuaded officials in Tibet to deny permission" to travel." 

Regarding Rumtek monastery, the Times notes that "the Karmapa has many followers here, especially in Sikkim where the Rumtek monastery, the second most important seat of the Kargyu sect, is located." The Times goes on to assert that the Monastery is currently controlled by a faction which does not recognize the Karmapa, a statement which appears to be an error, as discussed elsewhere. Full  text.

Jagdish Bhatt of the Times reports that Tibetan exile government had not asked the Karmapa why he had left China, but were waiting for him to rest before putting such questions to him. "The Karmapa will himself decide when he want[s] to come out in the public." Full text.

- Hindustan Times

Hindustan Times

1-1-12

The Hindustan Times presents some curious reporting in today's edition. According to the website edition, on the front page of the paper is an article entitled China Issues Veiled Threat in which the paper reports on Chinese statements, and on official Indian reaction. A police official is quoted as saying they are waiting to here from the government on starting a registration process or not. Full text . 

By contrast to the sober reporting from the front page, Anand K. Sahay has no such constraints in writing in the Nation section, and startles the reader by referring to the Karmapa as a "Beijing-reared pretender." Though echoing the press releases of the anti-Karmapa faction, Sahay does not attribute his report to them, but instead refers only to unnamed "knowledgeable sources" whose affiliation is not disclosed. Sahay does not explain why the Chinese wanted the Karmapa to appear to have fled the country, rather than just granting him an exit visa, if it wanted to assert control. If what Sahay says is true, the Chinese government has single-handedly engineered intense world-wide media scrutiny and widespread condemnation by creating such a ham-handed plot. Possible motives suggested by Sahay which might explain the alleged Chinese plot are far-fetched. Sahay argues that it is "China's desire that its own nominee head the famous Tibetan Buddhist sect which now happens to be headquartered in India," overlooking the Tibet headquarters left behind by the Karmapa. Sahay also makes the exceedingly odd suggestion that the Dalai Lama knowingly supports this purported mainland Chinese agenda of undermining India, simply in order to punish Taiwanese Buddhists for certain religious practices. Suffice it to say that such claims cry out for more balanced reporting and analysis from a respected news organization. Full text.

-The Telegraph - Calcutta

1-1-12

The Telegraph - Calcutta reporters Sujay Gupta and Pranay Sharma cite an unnamed official in the Dalai Lama's administration in Dharamsala to the effect that "a decision [to grant refugee or asylum status is already believed to have been taken to treat him like other Tibetans refugees, who number around 1.3 lakh." Unnamed "senior" Indian officials are also cited as privately stating that the Karmapa would be treated as another "Tibetan refugee."

These unnamed officials also expressed the view that the Karmapa would go to his traditional monastery in Sikkim. "That the Karmapa 'recognised by both China and the Dalai Lama' fled on his own accord has made India's task easier. By recognising his status as the heir to Rumtek monastery, the Kagyu's headquarters-in-exile,' Delhi can tell Beijing that it is toeing its line on who should get the Black Crown." Full text.

January 11

Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 11, 2000

January 10

Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 10, 2000

January 9

Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 9, 2000

January 8

Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 8, 2000

January 7

Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 7, 2000