In a first, rival Karmapas meet to 'know each other personally'

October 11, 2018 19:32

In a significant development, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the so-called 'Chinese Karmapa', and his rival Trinley Thaye Dorje, the so-called 'Delhi Karmapa', met for the first time in France, a joint statement issued by the two says.

Ogyen Trinley Dorje is recognised as the legitimate Karmapa by Beijing, the 14th Dalai Lama and most adherents of the Kagyu sect.

A statement issued on Karmapa.org says that the two 'met over the last few days at a rural location in France. Their purpose was to get to know each other personally'.

'They also discussed how they might work together to preserve and strengthen the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism,' the website says.

Following is the joint statement released on the website:

"We are both very pleased to have had this opportunity to meet and get to know each other in a peaceful and relaxed environment. We both had this wish for many years, and we are gratified that this wish has now been fulfilled.

"The purpose of our meeting was primarily to spend time together so that we could establish a personal relationship. We were able to talk together freely and to learn about each other for the first time.

"We were thus able to begin what we expect will develop into a strong connection. While we were together we also talked about ways that we could work to heal the divisions that have unfortunately developed within our precious Karma Kagyu lineage in recent years.

"We view it as our duty and responsibility to do whatever we can to bring the lineage together. This undertaking is critically important for the future of the Karma Kagyu lineage as well as for the future of Tibetan Buddhism and the benefit of all sentient beings.

"We therefore ask everyone within the Karma Kagyu community to join us in our efforts to strengthen and preserve our lineage.

"We view it as our collective responsibility to restore harmony to our tradition which is a lineage of wisdom and compassion."

Photograph: Kind courtesy www.karmapa.org.

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