The controversy over the discovery of large amounts of foreign currency and some amount of fake currency found in the possession of Ugyen Thinley Dorje, believed by many to be the 17th Karmapa has rekindled interest in a subject that people thought was buried, since the arrival of the young boy in India in 2000.
It is not surprising that in a country like India where politicians and god men alike receive large donations in Indian and foreign currency and, also in kind, that large sums of money have been found in the Gyuto monastery. It is the place where Ugyen Thinley Dorje, resides and preaches from. As a Tibetan spiritual leader, he is widely respected and he does receive donations from Indian and foreign devotees from time to time. As the Dalai Lama has said, the currency found in Gyuto monastery is a matter for an enquiry to establish the source. “Karmapa has many devotees including from China. Some money would have naturally been received by him…there has been some negligence…better now have a thorough investigation,” the Dalai Lama is quoted as saying.
Ugyen Thinley Dorje, a Tibetan of Chinese origin and is a Chinese national by birth. Thanks to his mentor Tai Situ Rinpoche, he became a claimant to the position of Karmapa, head of the Karmapa Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. There are three other claimants to this position but his main rival, a lineage holder like him, is Shamar Rinpoche’s candidate Thaye Thinley Dorje. This controversy goes back to the early 1990s and is still a matter of debate and will not be settled till the chair of the Karmapa in Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim is taken by its rightful holder.
While the Chinese and the Dalai Lama have recognized Ugyen Thinley Dorje as the 17th Karmapa, in Indian eyes, the issue is still open. Not only is the control of Rumtek Monastery a matter of contention among the various rivals, Shamar Rinpoche ensured that the matter remained sub-judice for over two decades. Compounding the situation is the decade long process of indecision in deciding as to whether Ugyen Thinley Dorje is indeed the Karmapa. All this and much more (which would take many reams) makes the current controversy all the more interesting.
There are two problems with the present media attention given to the issue of foreign currency and as some reports suggest “fake currency” being found in the possession of Ugyen Thinley Dorje or in his monastery. When the reports first came in it was localized and related mainly to the finding of the money. By the next day, however, the Chinese angle had cropped up with media reports stating that intelligence agencies were raising the issue of Ugyen Thinley Dorje being a Chinese spy. This is because Chinese currency was found in Gyuto monastery! The link between the discovery of Chinese money and the issue of whether Ugyen Thinley Dorje is an agent of influence for the Chinese is a matter of media speculation.
On its part, Beijing categorically denied that Ugyen Thinley Dorje is Chinese spy. Similarly the office of Ugyen Thinley Dorje has categorically denied their “having any link whatsoever with any arm of the Chinese government”. It avers that “the allegations being levelled against the Karmapa and his administration are grossly speculative and without foundation as everyone who knows the history of our lineage and struggle is surprised by the allegations.”
The fact of the matter is that the discovery of currency notes from some 25 countries coincided with the availability of a large sum of money which may have accumulated from donations. It may have been pooled to purchase land as some media reports suggest.
It is possible that rival claimants may be seeking to embarrass Ugyen Thinley Dorje by leaking such information to the media. Additionally, there is a need to de-link the discovery of money with the issue of whether or not he is an agent of influence for the Chinese. That is for the authorities to establish; if they have not managed to do so till now, it is unlikely they will ever be able to do so!
When Ugyen Thinley Dorje arrived in India in January 2000 from Tibet there was great elation among Buddhists in India that their saviour had arrived. His disciples with a little help from the Dalai Lama have ensured that Ugyen Thinley Dorje is well looked after. Interestingly, it is not uncommon for disciples to purchase in cash gifts for their guru, such as luxury cars. Therefore the question needs to be asked as to what is the following of Ugyen Thinley Dorje. And if as it is commonly believed that he will be the head of all Tibetan Buddhists after the lifetime of Dalai Lama then he obviously has a huge fan following.
Little wonder then that Lonbsang Slangy of the Tibetan Government-in-exile said the Karmapa Lama was not involved in financial matters. It is therefore necessary to look at the issue of financial transactions in the larger context and not merely engage in discussion based on incomplete information. An investigation by Central Agencies will establish the source of money, but the larger issue that still awaits resolution is who the 17th Karmapa is.
