Restatement from DHAGPO KAGYU LING
European seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa

About the recognition of the seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa

Trinley Taye Dorje

Spiritual leader of the Kamtsang Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

Because there may be some confusion in the mind of the Buddhist practitioners about the existence of two Karmapas, Dhagpo Kagyu Ling and the dharma centers related to the Karmapa Trinley Taye Dorje wish to offer a clear statement about the situation.

Due to the controversy about the recognition of the seventeenth Karmapa, the situation in the Kamtsang Kagyu School has changed during the past few years. It is essential to emphasize that we do not discriminate between the Buddhist practitioners. Following the inspiration of Gendun Rinpoche, the meditation master chosen by the sixteenth Karmapa to develop the dharma in Europe, we have never wished to maintain an argument about the Karmapa.

Our position is simply to follow the clear choice made by Gendun Rinpoche who was recognized by all as a great wisdom master. When Gendun Rinpoche saw for the first time a picture of Trinley Taye Dorje, he looked at it with attention and recognized without the slightest doubt the Buddha Karmapa. Then, he set the picture on his shrine and asked that the same should be done on all shrines of Kundreul Ling.

In the temple of Le Bost at the Tibetan new year of 1994, Gendun Rinpoche prostrated three times in front of the picture of the Karmapa Taye Dorje in the presence of the Sangha. In 1996, he asked a group of Lamas to go to India and to offer Trinley Taye Dorje, in his name, Dhagpo Kagyu Ling, Dhagpo Kundreul Ling and all the centers and congregations founded in Europe. The Karmapa accepted in writing to continue the activity of his predecessor as mandala master.

Gendun Rinpoche always advocated tolerance and appeasement in the lineage. He emphasized that the most important for the disciples was to practice with diligence in order to discover the ultimate lama in oneself. He also insisted on the fact that the Karmapa always recognizes himself, which is the case with Trinley Taye Dorje who said repeatedly, as soon as he was able to speak: "I am the Karmapa". It is also in 1994 that Shamar Rinpoche, recognized by the sixteenth Karmapa as the most eminent dignitary of the lineage, intronized Trinley Taye Dorje in New Delhi as the seventeenth Karmapa. The Karmapas have always recognized the realization of the Shamarpas as equal to theirs.

The sixteenth Karmapa predicted to Gendun Rinpoche: "After you, Shamar Rinpoche will continue your activity". This is the reason why, a long time ago, Gendun Rinpoche had requested Shamar Rinpoche to take over the responsibility of the centers. Feeling that his life would be over soon, he recently voiced his request again, and Shamar Rinpoche accepted kindly.

In April 2000, the Karmapa Taye Dorje wanted to reassure the practitioners about the situation in the Kamtsang Kagyu school:

"It is not important to have one or several communities. What is important is that everyone may benefit from the dharma, and thus, it is essential for the teachings of the kagyupa lineage to be preserved and transmitted authentically. Those who do not have a deep comprehension of the dharma think in terms of division as if the kagyu school was an institution. For an authentic dharma practitioner, there is nothing else but the dharma."

In September 2000 during a meeting with a small delegation of the Federation of Tibetan Buddhism, his Holiness the Dalaï Lama gave his opinion about the existence of the two Karmapas. The four delegates of the four schools, that are independent as far as the spiritual questions are concerned, were present as well as the personal secretary and the French delegate of his Holiness the Dalaï Lama. An excerpt of the minutes of the meeting follows (translation from Mathieu Ricard):

"(…) Now, we would like to request some clarification from his Holiness about the existence of two reincarnations of the Karmapa (…). His Holiness answers that this question has two aspects: the first is about the practice of Buddhism, which is not questioned by any dharma center whatsoever, and second, the recognition of a reincarnation where each individual is free of his own choice. (…)"

We are happy to note that the position of tolerance expressed by his Holiness the Dalaï Lama is in harmony with the position presented by the Dhagpo mandala. We sincerely wish that all the Buddhist practitioners may progress on the spiritual path by following a master that inspire them.

The Lamas of Dhagpo Kagyu Ling and the centers related to the Karmapa Taye Dordje