The second most important Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee is very keen to return to India and preside over his religious programs scheduled in December according to former advisor on Tibetan Affairs, Government of India, Mr. Amitabh Mathur post speculations over the cancellation of 13th Tibetan religious leaders meet.
The ‘13th Religious Conference of the Schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon Tradition’ scheduled to take place from 29 November to 1 December this year in Dharamshala was indefinitely postponed according to an announcement made by Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration, on November 24, 2018.
Although the Department announced that the indefinite postponement of the meet was made in respecting the sentiments of the followers of Nyingma tradition following the sudden demise of the supreme head of the Nyingma tradition, Kathok Getse Rinpoche, who passed away on November 19 this year, in Nepal, various reports speculating the postponement was made due Karmapa’s absence.
However, Mr. Mathur clarified according to a report in the ANI News that it is not true, “There has been unnecessary speculation about his possibility of his (Karmapa Lama) not attending as one of the reasons for postponement of the conference, as reported by Tibetan newspapers about the postponement. But, that is not true at all.”
Besides, the former advisor on Tibetan Affairs told that the Karmapa is very keen to return to India, “Now, from what I hear, he is very keen to return quickly and to preside over his school’s Monlam in Bodh Gaya, which will start in Mid December till end January or early February. If it (conference) can be scheduled during that time perhaps, yes, he will attend, but on the issue of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa has reaffirmed his loyalty to him time and again.”
“And he also accepts the authority of the Central Tibetan Administration, as now the political theme of the Tibetans. He also has a great rapport with the Sikyong, Dr Sangay. Dr Sangay, in fact, has a great rapport with all Tibetan senior monks. So, on the issue of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, Karmapa will certainly back whatever is decided by his holiness” he added.