|
February 6-8 |
-
Times of India |
In the recurring press-government reporting merry-go-round of speculation about the status of the Karmapa, Bisheshwar Mishra
of the Times of India
reports that a highly-placed source in the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said on Saturday that "There is no issue before the government 'of granting asylum. . . . [H]is status is that of a refugee like any other Tibetan, including the Dalai Lama.'" Given the tortured manner in which the government of India is proceeding on determining the Karmapa's status, there would appear to be some disagreement with this source's opinion.
One section of the government includes the China apologists, which may well include the MHA. This seeming fear of offending China is an extraordinary turnabout since the days when the Indian government decided to
test nuclear weapons in the face of China's unremitting opposition. Now, it seems, the press and government do not want to take any risk that the Chinese government may be annoyed by a government gesture directed at a
14 year old escapee. There also seems to be a segment in the Indian goverment that does not want to coddle the Chinese government by limiting the ability of the Karmapa to fully exercise his spiritual prowess in
India. There has until now been reported division among those in this group, allegedly because of a suspicion among the intelligence establishment that the Karmapa may be a secret Chinese plant. It seems clearer each
day that the "Chinese hand" theory is destined for the trashheap of history. Although the Karmapas have traditionally avoided making political waves, the presence of this "spiritual hero" -- if we may borrow the term
recently adopted by the South China Morning Post -- in India can only be a support for India's role as a haven for unfettered spiritual pursuit. It is indeed this role of India as the protector of so many
spiritual traditions which has since Gandhi so elevated India's moral standing among the nations of the world. Moreover, this moral right should be of great value even to those solely interested in geopolitical
positioning, since it provides very strong support for India's geopolitical independence. Such moral forces are today often translated into powerful geopolitical forces because of the pervasiveness of electronic media
and communications. Maybe once the intelligence arm of the government works through the extraordinary amount of disinformation coming from the anti-Karmapa camps in both India and China, we may well see an abrupt
turnabout in the government's position. Indeed, it has always seemed odd that the anti-China intelligence arm of the government of India has been reported to oppose the Karmapa on security grounds, since it is readily
apparent to informed observers in other countries that the main opposition to the Karmapa's residence in India is China, and its current bedfellow, the anti-Karmapa faction formerly associated with the Kagyu order. One
of the greatest disinformation achievements of the anti-Karmapa forces has been branding the Karmapa as a sympathizer with communist politics. There is, however, no evidence any more for this position. Unfortunately,
the Indian intelligence wing's refusal to change its position by reevaluating the evidence is not a feature unique to India, since such unwillingness to update intelligence analyses has been the historic achilles heel
of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States, as well. This intransigence has reportedly been responsible for some of the CIA's greatest intelligence disasters. We trust India is not seeking to make its own
mark in the arena of intelligence failures. In any case, surely the predominant Indian government view to date is not hard to find: act with great deliberation. Full text. |
-Boston Globe |
The dilemma for the government of India and Tibetan exile government is aptly expressed by Marion Lloyd, reporting from Dharmasala for
the Boston Globe. "Though only 14, the monk viewed as a possible successor to the Dalai Lama has already displayed the same star quality, combining flashes of brilliance with humility and composure with
impish humor, an infectious mix that has helped his mentor win international sympathy for the Tibetan cause." Karmapas are traditionally known for their extraordinary charisma and presence. In the current age of
instantaneous electronic worldwide news transmission, the Karmapa's capacity to reach out to a worldwide audience is already apparent. In assessing the impact of decisions about the Karmapa, organizations that depend in
some part on the goodwill of supporting constituencies must be wary of the Karmapa's telegenic power. According to reports from Dharamsala, the Karmapa seems already to have intuitively developed extraordinary skill
at getting his message out. "To outsiders, such breadth of character seems incredible for a 14-year-old boy, particularly one whose parents were illiterate farmers and who has spent virtually his entire life within the
confines of a monastery. But not so for Tibetans. They believe that as the 17th incarnation of an 'enlightened one,' the Karmapa possesses the accumulated knowledge of his 16 previous lives." "Even non-Buddhists
emerged from their brief meeting impressed. 'He definitely had a presence. Something illuminated from him,' said Megan Banigan, a visiting college student from New Canaan, Conn. She said initially she had been skeptical
of the adulation surrounding the monk. But, she said, 'there was definitely something there.'" Stay tuned to this channel. Boston Globe online. |
-Karma Triyana Dharmachakra official release |
The Tsurphu Labrang (the administrative body responsible for assisting His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa), released today a
record of resolutions made January 28 and 29, 2000. The resolutions were signed by, among others, His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche, His Eminence Tsurphu Gyaltsab Rinpoche, the Secretary to and Representative of His Eminence Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, the Representative of Kyabje Nenang Pawo Rinpoche
, Ven. Khenchen Thrangu
Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Kalu Rinpoche, Dondrup Rinpoche, Dorlop Tenga Rinpoche, Drupon Bokar Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche
and Dhilyak Drupon Rinpoche. Biographical information posted on the web is referenced by linked text for the above-named participants. Full text of the resolutions available at the KTD website. |
January 28-February 5 |
Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His
Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 28-February 5, 2000 |
January 24-27 |
Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His
Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 24-27, 2000 |
January 22-23 |
Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His
Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 22-23, 2000 |
January 20-22 |
Click here to go to the news archive containing
references to articles on His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 20-22, 2000 |
January 18-19 |
Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His
Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 18-19, 2000 |
January 15-17 |
Click here to go to the news archive containing references
to articles on His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 15-17, 2000 |
January 12-14 |
Click here to go to the news archive containing references to articles on His
Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa dated January 12-14, 2000 |
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 |
|
