The Karmapa In India

Government Gives Karmapa the Freedom to Stay in India
March 10, 2001

Editors' Note: "Karmapa News" is a regular feature on the Nalandabodhi website (www.nalandabodhi.org). This site began actively reporting when His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa escaped from Tibet and arrived unexpectedly in Dharamsala at the doorstep of the Dalai Lama, an event that surprised and delighted the Buddhist world. Extensive historical information and links to articles of interest may be found at the website.
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by Martin Marvet

His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa is now on pilgrimage in India. After a thirteenth-month wait, the Indian government in February granted the Karmapa "Tibetan refugee status," which allows him to stay in India and provides some freedom for him to travel. As we go to press, the international news media is covering the Karmapa's pilgrimage, as interest in His Holiness' movements continues to be intense.

In this installment of Karmapa News, we look at the current news about the Karmapa in India, and also examine his historical ties to India and in particular, Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the traditional seat of the Karmapas in India. Though restrictions on the Karmapa's travel have been relaxed, he is not presently allowed to return to Rumtek.

The Karmapas in India

The Karmapas' connection to India in recent times may be traced back to the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese army. In 1959, His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa decided it was time to leave Tibet:

[A]ccompanied by an entourage of one hundred and sixty lamas, monks and laymen, Karmapa left Tsurphu monastery, the ancient seat of the Karmapas since the twelfth century, and proceeded towards Bhutan. . . . Meanwhile, in Sikkim, the Royal family headed by Sir Tashi Namgyal had been discussing what could best be done to help Karmapa in this time of difficulty and uncertainty. The Maharaja had not forgotten the long-standing links of the Royal family and the people of Sikkim with the Line of Karmapa incarnates. It was decided to offer him a permanent place in Sikkim. [Given the choice of several sites for the location of the new monastery,] Karmapa selected the site at Rumtek, where a Karma Kargyudpa monastery had been built during the time of his ninth incarnation, Wangchuk Dorje. This place possessed all the auspicious attributes needed of the site of a seat of the Karmapa: seven streams flowing towards it, seven hills facing it, a mountain behind, snow ranges in front and a river below, spiraling downhill like the form of a conch-shell.

Sikkim became the seat-in-exile of His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, who resided there until his parinirvana in 1980. Almost 20 years later, on December 28, 1999, the 14 year-old Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa stealthily climbed out the window of his erstwhile retreat room in Tsurphu Monastery, carefully evading security guards and robed undercover agents. With a few chosen companions, he set off by car, on horseback, by helicopter, and by train, through Tibet, over the Himalayas, through Nepal, and into India. On January 5, 2000, at the end of a 900 miles trek, he reached the freedom of Dharamsala, home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, stunning the world with the audacity of their great escape from Tibet.

Dharamsala has become the first stop for Tibetans fleeing to the refuge of India. The Dalai Lama has become the beacon for Tibetans, maintaining a Tibetan refuge in India, and a flame of hope for those remaining in Tibet. Yet, His Holiness Karmapa's home in India is not Dharamsala, but Sikkim, a place that had long been set by the activity of previous Karmapas. When the King of Sikkim offered refuge to His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa in 1959, the Karmapa reportedly replied that just as "as the ninth Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje had commissioned the building of Rumtek monastery, he, the sixteenth Karmapa," would also "establish his seat in exile" in Rumtek.

The reference to the ninth Karmapa refers to the original founding of Rumtek Monastery in the sixteenth century by the ninth incarnation of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje (1556-1603). According to the life histories of the Karmapa, H.H. Wangchuk Dorje had just completed three major works on mahÏmudrÏ, which to this day are considered to comprise the most complete set of instructions on mahÏmudrÏ ever compiled. Shortly thereafter, the Karmapa

received an invitation from the King of Sikkim, requesting him to visit his country, but since he himself was unable to make the journey he sent a highly qualified Lama in his place. This Lama founded three monasteries in Sikkim; the Ralung, the Potong and the Rumtek. Karmapa was asked to consecrate the new monasteries, to which he replied that he would do so from Tibet, as he was unable to make the journey there himself. He sent instructions indicating the auspicious time, day and month of the ceremony, saying that everything should proceed accordingly. At the time of consecration of the Ralung monastery three large eagles came from the direction of Tibet, flew three times around the new monastery and dropped consecrated grains of yellow rice right on top of the new roof. 

Thus Rumtek Monastery is deeply embedded in the lineage of Karmapas.

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This excerpt is part of the contents published in Bodhi Issue 7 (Spring 2001). You can purchase this issue or subscribe to Bodhi at the Bodhi Dharma Store.