Ogyen Trinley Dorje

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Ogyen Trinley Dorje
Karmapa lama.JPG
TitleHis Holiness
17th Karmapa Co-claimant along with Thaye Dorje
Personal
Born
Apo Gaga (Happy Brother)

(1985-06-26) 26 June 1985 (age 39)
Religion Tibetan Buddhism
Denomination Vajrayana
School Karma Kagyu a.k.a. Kamsang Kagyu
LineageKarma Kagyu
Senior posting
Predecessor Rangjung Rigpe Dorje
Reincarnation Karmapa Co-claimant along with Trinley Thaye Dorje
Website KagyuOffice.org

Ogyen Trinley Dorje (Tibetan : ཨོ་རྒྱན་འཕྲིན་ལས་རྡོ་རྗེ།, Wylie : O-rgyan 'Phrin-las Rdo-rje, Chinese :鄔金欽列多傑; born 26 June 1985), also written as Urgyen Trinley Dorje (Wylie : U-rgyan 'Phrin-las Rdo-rje) is a claimant to the title of 17th Karmapa.

Contents

The Karmapa is head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Thaye Dorje are the persisting claimants to that office and title.

Biography

Ogyen Trinley Rinpoche was born Apo Gaga in 1985 in Lhatok Township, Chamdo County, Tibet Autonomous Region, to nomadic parents. [1]

The 14th Dalai Lama issued an official statement of recognition and confirmation of the 16th Karmapa's reincarnation as Ogyen Trinley Dorje, on 30 June 1992. [2] He was enthroned as the 17th Karmapa on 27 September 1992 at Tsurphu Monastery (Wylie : Mtshur-phu), the traditional seat of the Karmapa in Tibet, and there he began his Tibetan and Buddhist studies. [3]

Ogyen Trinley Dorje received the official sanction of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, who declared him to be a "living Buddha", the first time the People's Republic of China has officially confirmed a tulku. A year later, the Chinese announced during the UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna they would train him in Tsurphu for his future task as the successor of the Dalai Lama. [4]

Escape from Tibet

In 1999, at the age of 14, the Karmapa escaped Chinese-controlled Tibet during the winter, traveling to India through Nepal, [5] arriving at the Tibetan exile quarters at McLeod Ganj on 5 January 2000. Ogyen Trinley Dorje stated he was unable to obtain in China the specialized instruction he needed to complete his studies and to realize his full spiritual authority. He has resided at Gyuto Monastery in Sidhbari, near Dharamshala up to 2017. [6]

Travel through the United States and Europe

From May 15-June 2, 2008, the Karmapa made his first trip to the US, visiting New York City, Boulder, Colorado, and Seattle [7] and was formally enthroned in the North American seat of the Gyalwang Karmapa at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra monastery in Woodstock, New York. [8] He gave multiple teachings on compassion and the environment, gave the reading transmission for a new form of ngöndro, and bestowed several empowerments, including those of Avalokiteśvara and Padmasambhava. He also spoke about the special challenges of the rapid pace of modern society, and the virtues of the Internet as a tool for the study and practice of Buddhism. [9] Ogyen Trinley Dorje Visited the United States again in 2011, [10] as well as France, Switzerland in 2016 and the United Kingdom in 2017. [11] [12]

Ogyen Trinley Dorje at age 14 Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje1.jpg
Ogyen Trinley Dorje at age 14

Residing in US and becoming citizen of a Caribbean nation

As of October 2018, Ogyen Trinley Dorje was residing in the United States [13] and had been outside of India continuously since May 2017. In 2018, to facilitate travel abroad, he became a citizen of the Caribbean nation Dominica [14] through a provision widely used which allows citizenship through investment. [15]

Tibetan culture, unity, language and literacy

For many years Ogyen Trinley Dorje has emphasized the importance of preserving Tibetan culture, unity, language, and literacy; underlining the importance of sustaining the written and spoken Tibetan language, because it is the very root of the Dharma in Tibet and its culture. Tibetan language is the lifeline that links Tibetans to their culture, arts, and spirituality. [16] [17] [18] Tibetan culture, he states, is the mind and life force of the Tibetan people. [19]

Dharma digitization

Ogyen Trinley Dorje has undertaken the important and long-term task of digitizing Buddhist texts so that as many scriptures, commentaries, etc. are available in digital format as possible for future generations, students, scholars and monasteries around the world.

There are four main websites – [20] Dharma Treasure, [21] Adarsha, [22] Ketaka, and [23] Dharma Ebooks – each one dealing with a different format, tool, or translation. Adarsha, for example, makes the Kangyur, Tengyur, and Tibetan masterpieces available in digital format and has been catalogued under the guidance of Ogyen Trinley Dorje.

108 Translations

108 Translations was initiated in 2015 by Ogyen Trinley Dorje in order to produce a needed body of reading material that can promote the reinvigoration of Tibetan language. Rather than focussing on translating a few famous works that match the interests of a small group of well-educated readers (which has been the case for translations into Tibetan up to the present), 108 Translations aims to provide a plethora of good and easily accessible reading materials for average Tibetan readers. The translations must be easy to understand and pronounce in Tibetan, and the selected works need to meet the interests of the readership. [24]

Supporting the female Buddhist community

Ogyen Trinley Dorje has taken an interest in the welfare of the female Buddhist community, and encouraged equal rights and opportunities for women practitioners. [25] [26] [27] He has, in particular, taken the responsibility to restore full ordination for Tibetan nuns. [28] [29] [30]

Buddhist vegetarianism

"Gyalwa Karmapa" (Ogyen Trinley Dorje), by painter Claude-Max Lochu, exhibition for the project of Temple for Peace in France, 2008 GYALWA KARMAPA-HST-80x80-IV 08.jpg
"Gyalwa Karmapa" (Ogyen Trinley Dorje), by painter Claude-Max Lochu, exhibition for the project of Temple for Peace in France, 2008

On January 3, 2007, Ogyen Trinley Dorje mandated a purely vegetarian diet in all his monasteries and centers and strongly urged vegetarianism among all his students, saying that generally, in his view, it was very important in the Mahayana not to eat meat and that, even in Vajrayana, it is preferable for students and practitioners not to eat meat. [31]

Buddhist environmentalism

Commenting on the Buddhist tradition of life release, where animals destined for slaughter are bought, blessed and natively released, Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje said the meaning of this concept was broad and that practitioners should use their intelligence to expand the tradition. In 2007 during the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, he suggested that planting a single tree is more beneficial than performing life release for many beings, and recommended that monasteries should plant one to two thousand trees. In addition, he urged monks to practice restraint when sponsors offer technology upgrades. [32]

On Earth Day, on 22 April 2009, he gave 108 instructions on protecting the environment. [33]

In recent years, Khoryug, a network of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and centers that work on environmental protection in the Eastern Himalayas, was developed under the auspices of Ogyen Trinley Dorje as part of the World Wildlife Fund's Sacred Earth: Faiths for Conservation program. [34] In his April 2015 interview with Yale Environment 360, he said, "The environmental emergency that we face is not just a scientific issue, nor is it just a political issue, it is also a moral issue. And therefore, all of us approaching this issue have to pick up our share of the responsibility to find and implement solutions. The scientific aspect of it, of course, is the supply of information — the creation of models and predictions and the introduction of techniques that we can use to remedy this. But our share of this responsibility is to take what scientists teach us to heart, so we actually transform our way of life into one that is sustainable.” [35]

Controversies

Title Claim

Mipham Chokyi Lodro, 14th Shamarpa (the second-longest recognized tulku lineage in the Karma Kagyu tradition, and who in previous incarnations is said to have held and transmitted the Kagyu lineage between Karmapas) did not recognize Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the Karmapa. Shamarpa instead recognized Trinley Thaye Dorje. (Wylie : Mtha'-yas Rdo-rje) Shamarpa's camp argue until the reincarnation line of the Shamarpas was forbidden by the government of the Dalai Lama, [36] the successive Shamarpas were the persons in charge to recognize the Karmapas, whereas the Dalai Lamas played no role in the recognition. [37]

On 10 and 11 Oct 2018, in rural France, Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Trinley Thaye Dorje met in person for the first time and issued a joint statement. [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] On 27 October 2019, Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Trinley Thaye Dorje co-authored a long-life prayer for Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche’s reincarnation. [44] [45] In February 2020, both claimants agreed to recognise the reincarnation of the next Shamar Rinpoche incarnation together. [46]

2011 police raid

In January 2011, the Himachal Pradesh Police seized money in currencies of 25 countries including China, valued at over 60 million, during raids on the offices of a trust backed by Ogyen Trinley Dorje. [47] They also seized several traveler's cheques and land deal documents, suspecting a hawala scam. Initially, the police suspected the money was being used to spread Chinese influence in India, and that the Karmapa was a Chinese agent helping the Chinese government control Buddhist monasteries in India. [48] This allegation was unanimously rejected by all quarters of Tibetan society including the Dalai Lama, the entire Parliament, leaders of the Tibetan government-in-exile and prominent members of the Free Tibet movement. [49]

Himachal Pradesh Police said even if the Karmapa was able to explain the source of the money recovered, he might be held liable for violating the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. [50] The Karmapa denied all the allegations and said the seized money came via the donations from his followers. [51] [52] A New York Times report on the matter noted an unnamed rival Karmapa candidate has "close ties to Indian intelligence officials". [53] On 11 February 2011, it was reported the central Indian government had cleared the Karmapa of all charges, finding the money in question had been donated by followers. [54]

In April 2011, a statement was released by the Karmapa's Office to address some of the insinuations and fabrications that had been circulating. [55]

In December 2011, the Himachal Pradesh Police filed a chargesheet against Ogyen Trinley Dorje, naming him as an accused in the cash and foreign currency seizure case. [56] The Karmapa's office said Dorje was not involved in the financial administration. [57] Indian police said on Tuesday 24 April 2012 that they had dropped all criminal charges against Ogyen Trinley Dorje. [58] However, in 2015 a judge at the Himachal Pradesh High Court overturned the earlier ruling and began criminal proceedings over the recovery of around US$1 million of foreign currency. His spokesman stated, "He strongly believes truth will prevail at the end". [59] Karmapa, along with nine other accused, was charged on 7 December 2012 and was asked by the court to appear personally on 6 March 2013. He failed to appear as he was out of Dharamsala. All of the accused were as of July 2015 on bail. [60]

Sexual assault and family law case filed by Vikki Hui Xin Han

After losing contact with Ogyen Trinley Dorje starting January 2019, on July 17, 2019, Vikki Hui Xin Han commenced a family law case seeking child support, a declaration of parentage and a parentage test against Ogyen Trinley Dorje. He was accused of sexually assaulting and impregnating Han when she was a nun-in-training at a New York monastery in 2017, according to the lawsuit.

The woman also alleges that she and Ogyen Trinley Dorje developed a spousal relationship and they planned to live together, though they only met four times. Dorje argues that an intention to live together at some point in the future is not sufficient to show that an existing relationship was marriage-like. The allegations were made public in a ruling by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. [61]

A representative of the Supreme Court was reported to have said of the case "Can a secret relationship that began online and never moved into the physical world be like a marriage? ... Ms. Han's claim is novel. It may even be weak. Almost all of the traditional factors are missing". [62]

On May 17, 2021, an additional spousal support claim against Ogyen Trinley Dorje was added. [63] [64] Reports show Vikki Han gave birth to a child in June 2018. Ogyen Trinley allegedly sent her more than US$700,000 for the purpose of buying a house and a wedding ring. [65] [66] The trial was set to begin on June 7, 2021; though the parties were not prepared to proceed. At a trial management conference on May 6, 2021, the trial was adjourned to April 11, 2022.

In October 2022, Vikki Hui Xin Han voluntarily discontinued the pre-action petition related to this case. [67]

See also

Notes

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  36. see: Shamarpa#Controversy
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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche</span> Tibetan Buddhist abbot and scholar

The 7th Dzogchen Ponlop is an abbot of Dzogchen Monastery, founder and spiritual director of Nalandabodhi, founder of Nītārtha Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies, a leading Tibetan Buddhist scholar, and a meditation master. He is one of the highest tülkus in the Nyingma lineage and an accomplished Karma Kagyu lineage holder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Way Buddhism</span> Tibetan Buddhist lay organization

Diamond Way Buddhism is a lay organization within the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The first Diamond Way Buddhist center was founded in 1972 by Hannah Nydahl and Ole Nydahl in Copenhagen under the guidance of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa. Today there are approximately 650 centers worldwide, directed by Ole Nydahl under the guidance of Trinley Thaye Dorje, one of two claimants to the title of the 17th Karmapa. Buddhist teachers such as Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Lama Jigme Rinpoche and Nedo Kuchung Rinpoche visit Diamond Way Buddhism centers and large meditation courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mipham Chokyi Lodro</span> 14th Shamarpa of the Karma Kagyu lineage

Mipham Chokyi Lodro, also known as Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, was the fourteenth Shamarpa of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Shamarpa is the second-most important teacher of the Karma Kagyu school, after the Karmapa.

Nenang Pawo is one of the highest lamas of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Pawos form a lineage of tulkus, of which the first was born in 1440. They were traditionally the heads of Nenang Monastery in Ü-Tsang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche</span> Tibetan Buddhist lama (1924–2019)

Khenpo Karma Tharchin Rinpoche, widely known by his abbreviated name Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, was a senior lama of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Before his death he served as abbot of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) Monastery in Woodstock, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pema Tönyö Nyinje</span>

Pema Dönyö Nyinje is the 12th Tai Situpa, a tulku in Tibetan Buddhism, and one of the leading figures of the Karma Kagyu school. He is the head of Palpung Monastery.

The name Karma Chagme refers to a 17th-century Tibetan Buddhist (Vajrayāna) lama and to the tülku lineage which he initiated. Including the first, seven Karma Chagme tülkus have been recognized. The Neydo Kagyu sub-school of the Karma Kagyu was established by the first Karma Chagme, Rāga Asya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lama Jampa Thaye</span> British Lama

Lama Jampa Thaye is a teacher of the Sakya and Karma Kagyu traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. He has been teaching for over 30 years and is the spiritual director of the Dechen organisation of Buddhist Centres. He is the author of several books on Tibetan Buddhism and has a PhD in Tibetan Religions from the University of Manchester. He is renowned for being one of the first Westerners who are authorised to transmit Vajrayana teachings.

References

Buddhist titles
Preceded by Reincarnation of the Karmapa
Co-claimant along with Thaye Dorje

1992-present
Recognized in 1992
Incumbent