M A I N   N E W S

Third contender emerges

GANGTOK, Jan 11 (PTI) — In a new twist to the Karmapa controversy of the Rumtek Monastery, a fresh contender has emerged in the field and posed challenge to the other two candidates for the post.

Dawa Sangpo Dorjee, who was born in 1977 in north Sikkim’s Mangan, has asked the two present contenders for the post of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, in a challenge before all the high lamas and other religious heads in front of TV camera, to “stay on the throne (of the 16th Karmapa in Rumtek Monastery) from seven to 21 days without suffering.”

The other two contenders for the post are Ogyen Trinley Dorjee — who escaped from Tibetan capital Lhasa and reached Dharamsala a week ago — and Thai Thinley Dorjee, a Tibet-born boy.

No role in escape: Rinpoche
From Pratibh Chauhan

DHARAMSALA, Jan 11 — Tai Situ Rinpoche, considered the "mastermind" behind the 17th Karmapa ogyen Trinley Dorjee's escape from Tibet, today denied his involvement in the same at Mcleodganj.

Talking to TNS at the Gyuto Tantrik Monastery, where the Karmapa has been staying for the past two days, denied he was in any way responsible for the Karmapa's escape from Chinese-occupied Tibet. The Rinpoche, who was instrumental in the selection of the 17th Karmapa, refused to comment further.

The 46-year-old Tai Situ Rinpoche, who has emerged the most important figure in the Karmapa issue, remains elusive and spends practically the entire day with the Karmapa at the monastery in Sidhbari. He drives down every morning in his Lancer from the Sherbaling monastery at Bhattu near Baijnath where, according to unconfirmed reports, the Karmapa is likely to be shifted soon.

Tai Situ Rinpoche along with Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche had selected the 17th Karmapa. Out of the four Rinpoches of the Kagyu sect, only Shamarpa Rinpoche has opposed the selection.

Rangjung Rigpe Dorje Ogyen Trinley Dorjee's selection was also confirmed by the Dalai Lama, who saw the birthplace of the reincarnate in a vision.

His enthronement took place at the Tsurphu monastery on September, 27, 1992. The first Karmapa, Dusum Khenpa, founded the Tsurphu monastery in central Tibet which since remains the main seat of the Karmapas.

Shamarpa Rinpoche, who is one of the four regents of the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, has in March, 1994, termed the selection of Ogyen Trinley Dorjee as a plot by the Chinese to promote a religious leader within Tibet. The Karmapa affair, which had China and Taiwan evincing much interest in the enthronement and for the control of the powerful Rumtek monastery in Sikkim rolled into a major controversy in March, 1994. Supporters of Tai Situ Rinpoche and Sharmapa Rinpoche launched a vitriolic campaign against one another in Mcleodganj in favour of their discovery of the reincarnate.

With the arrival of the 17th Karmapa here in Mcleodganj, the controversy has been once again raked up, with Shamarpa Rinpoche alleging that his escape had been stage-managed in connivance with Chinese leaders. Questioning the selection process of Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, he is learnt to have refused to accept him as the head of the Kagyu sect.

However, a majority of Tibetans in Mcleodganj say since Ogyen Trinley Dorjee has been selected by the Dalai Lama, there is little doubt about the "legitimate" Karmapa.

The President of the only Tibetan political party, the National Democratic party of Tibet (NDPT), Acarya Yeshi Phuntsok, after meeting the Karmapa, said practically all Tibetans went by the word of the Dalai Lama. Since Ogyen Trinley had his consent, he was the "real" Karmapa.

Similar sentiments were echoed by the Secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC).