INTERVIEW: Gyalwa Karmapa wishes to return to Tibet someday Monday, 20 April 2009, 10:40 a.m.

His Eminence the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje/File Photo (Sangjey Kyap/tibet.net)

Dharamshala:
Like His Holiness the Dalai Lama who escaped from Tibet in 1959, the
second highest Tibetan monk, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, secretly
arrived in India nearly 10 years ago as a teenager. But his desire to
return “one day” remains provided Tibetans are able to live with “full
religious and other freedom”.Though the boyish looks are now
changing into those of a young man, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, popularly
called Karmapa Lama, is readying himself to take on the
responsibilities associated with the high seat in Tibetan religion and
tradition that he holds.Not regretting his flight to freedom
from the Tsurphu monastery near Lhasa in Tibet to arrive here in the
winter of January 2000, the Karmapa says he would like to go back to
Tibet, but only if the situation is conducive for their return.“If
you ask about going back, the answer is yes. Everyone has the right to
go back to his own country. We are struggling for that opportunity (to
go back). One day, this wish will come true,” the Karmapa told IANS in
an interview at his temporary abode at the foothills of the
snow-covered Dhauladhar Himalayan range at the Gyuto Tantric University
and monastery at Yol Cantt near here.“Tibetans have seen 50
years of suffering after they had to let go their country by force.
They are stateless and homeless. Even after 50 years, Tibetans would
like to go back but that will happen only if the situation is ideal to
go back. The issue that arises is whether they will be able to live
like Tibetans with full religious and other freedom.”Everyday,
scores of people, mostly foreigners from Western countries, Australia,
Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and others arrive at his monastery to seek
blessings from the 24-year-old Tibetan religious leader.Among them last week was Hollywood superstar Richard Gere.Surrounded
by tight security of Indian Army trained Tibetan commandos and Himachal
Pradesh Police at all times, the young Karmapa clearly seems to have
gained in confidence and has become more assertive from the time when
he was first revealed to the world after his arrival here in 2000.“The
main purpose of coming out (of Tibet) was to have the opportunity to
pursue important religious study and get the necessary transmission of
religion. I have received that transmission now,” he said through a
translator.Though he knows English, he prefers to use
translators for media interaction – giving replies patiently and after
weighing his words.His tours have to be cleared by the union
ministries of external affairs and home affairs. In recent months, the
Karmapa has toured the United States and Hong Kong and some parts of
India. His entry to Rumtek Monastery near Gangtok in Sikkim, though, is
still banned by the central government.In the Tibetan exile
circles based here and other parts of India, the future role of the
Karmapa as the leader of the Tibetan community is acknowledged as the
Dalai Lama, 73, is ageing.“I would like to think of myself as a
person of substance. Even though I am a Tibetan, I hold the name of the
Karmapa which is an important responsibility. I have to uphold the
history of 900 years of the institution of the Karmapas. If a situation
arises, I will have to address it as the Karmapa,” he replied
indirectly when asked whether he was prepared to lead the Tibetan
community after the Dalai Lama.“In Tibetan religious tradition,
monks are not supposed to eat meat. But given the harsh conditions in
cold mountains, where vegetation is also not there, they have to adapt
to eat meat to survive. Similarly, if a situation arises, I will adapt
to it accordingly,” he added with an analogy.Referring to the
recent decision at a meeting of high lamas (monks) held here in March
in which it was decided that a law be brought to have all future
reincarnations of top lamas from within the exiled Tibetan community
only, the Karmapa justified the decision.“In free Tibet, the
earlier system (of choosing re-incarnations) worked very well. Now the
situation is different. The Tibetan community is split into those
living inside and outside Tibet. So the system needs upgrading
according to the prevailing situation. Some of the earlier things (on
selecting reincarnations) are not relevant now.”