Following speculations in the media that the Indian intelligence agents are worried that His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee would not return from United States to India, the Buddhist leader in an interview on Monday clarified that there is no doubt or question that my return to India is absolutely certain.
The Karmapa, head of the 900-year-old Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, a branch of one of the four main traditions of the religion, is now in talks with the Indian government over his return and may go back as soon as November, though the exact date of his return is still unclear, the lama said according to report in Radio Free Asia on Monday.
“I have no doubt or question that my return to India is absolutely certain. In November of this year, there will be an important meeting of the heads of the major Tibetan Buddhist traditions in Dharamsala, India,” the His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa said during the interview.
The Buddhist leader explained that since the Central Tibetan Administration and exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama are expecting him to be present at the meeting, he needs to attend it. He also added that he is in constructive talks with the government of India and he is ready to return if things turn out well.
The Karmapa told that though he is not going through any major health concerns as of now, he is under careful medical supervision in the United States for his throat, possible indications of diabetes as well as over a minor issue with his heart.
Besides providing shelter to the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, he has been kept in tight scrutiny of Indian intelligence and police at Gyuto Tantric Monastery in Dharamsala for many years after coming to exile. The young Tibetan spiritual leader has not been able to travel freely both inside as well as outside India and only very recently India announced to allow him to visit the state of Sikkim where Rumtek monastery is situated even though he is still not allowed to visit the monastery.
17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee escaped Tsurphu monastery in Tibet on December 28,1999, and arrived at Dharamsala on January 5, 2000, trekking about 1,100 km while dodging the Chinese army. Later, Tai Situ Rinpoche, who reportedly managed the Karmapa’s escape, wanted to take him to Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, the traditional seat of the Black Hat sect to which Dorjee belongs.
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