Tibetan Lama Karmapa in Europe for the first time in over 20 years. 6000 people meet him in Dusseldorf, Germany on the 2nd and 3rd January, 2000. Chinese candidate for the same title flees Tibet and seeks refuge with the Dalai Lama in India.

While the most serious candidate for the title of Karmapa, Thaye Dorje, rallies with over 6000 students from all over the world in Germany, Urgyen Trinley, who has been appointed by the Chinese government as bearer of the same title, escapes from Tibet. Some lamas of the Karma Kagyu School are of the opinion that the two incidents may be connected. The international media coverage of the escape has been very limited in describing the various aspects of the case.

The Karmapa is the head of the Kagyu School, one of four main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, second in the Kagyu hierarchy, does not recognise Urgyen Trinley as either the legitimate bearer of the Karmapa- title or as the head of the school.

Lama Ole Nydahl, who, along with his wife Hannah, was the first Western student of the previous 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, said in an official statement that those who benefit from this escape are members of a faction of the Kagyu School under the leadership of Tai Situ Rinpoche.

Lama Ole Nydahl also mentioned that the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Urgyen Trinley as the 17th Karmapa could make Tibetan Buddhism appear "ethnic and sect-like". However sad it is when spiritual matters get muddled with politics, it is necessary to present all sides in the international press. The rich Tibetan culture, with all its unique meditation techniques, is dangerously close to extinction and must be protected from inconsistencies.

The Karma Kagyu School was founded in the 12th Century by the 1st Karmapa. Known as "the School of Accomplishment", the Kagyu lineage was one of the most significant Buddhist lineages in Tibet, right up until the Communist Chinese occupation of Tibet began in the 1950's. The Kagyu lineage has since grown to become one of the major Buddhist schools in the world. This is largely due to the tremendous effort and personality of the 16th Karmapa who died in 1981. His first western students, Hannah and Ole Nydahl, were assigned the task of expanding his work into the West. Today, the Kagyu School consists of more than 400 centres around the world, of which over 260 were founded by Hannah and Lama Ole Nydahl. Since the 16th Karmapa's death, Karma Kagyu students have awaited the appearance of the 17th incarnation.

In 1992, a Tibetan nomad boy Urgyen Trinley, now 14, was recognised and appointed leader of the Kagyu School by the Chinese Communist government in alliance with a Kagyu faction headed by Tai Situ Rinpoche and other senior lamas. Urgyen Trinley was subsequently approved as the 17th Karmapa by the Dalai Lama. Historically, neither the Dalai Lama nor the powers-that-be in Beijing have had a saying in the choice for the highest Kagyu throne. Their selection, however, rests on the so-called "letter of prediction" which Situ Rinpoche claimed to have received from the 16th Karmapa. In the past, a number of Karmapas left such written testaments that described the details of their next rebirth. Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche and most western Buddhists believe the letter to be a forgery and have called for a forensic test of the disputed document. The letter is right now being guarded at Rumtek monastery, Sikkim, India, Karmapa's headquarters outside Tibet.

After his recognition, Urgyen Trinley was delivered into Communists' hands and kept a "privileged hostage" at Tsurphu monastery, the main seat of the Karmapas in their native country. The child was then used by Beijing in its design to split the Tibetans and - ironically - weaken the Dalai Lama.

In 1994, a Tibetan boy, Thaye Dorje, now 16 years-old, was recognised as the 17th Karmapa by Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, second after Karmapa in the Kagyu tradition. He and his family were quietly smuggled out of Tibet. Today, Karmapa Thaye Dorje is acknowledged by a majority of Karma Kagyu centres world-wide. These include centres founded by Lama Ole Nydahl, most French cloisters and groups, and a number of Indian, Nepalese, Taiwanese, Singaporean, and Malaysian Kagyu monasteries. In 1997 Thaye Dorje was officially welcomed by the Bhutanese royal family and the government of Bhutan as the 17th Karmapa.

Karmapa Thaye Dorje, who lives and studies in Kalimpong, India, is currently on his first tour of Europe. During the first days of the new millennium, 6000 western Buddhists met the 16-year old Karmapa in Duesseldorf, Germany. He has a perfectly natural and friendly authority. At the same time he possesses high intelligence and a good sense of humour. Karmapa Thaye Dorje has not yet commented on recent events.

In a surprising move, the Chinese appointed Urgyen Trinley arrived on January 5th, 2000 in Dharamsala, India, following what has been described as an escape from Chinese control. His flight has received media attention from Reuters, the BBC, CNN and others. China has officially admitted that Urgyen Trinley left the country "bypassing immigration procedures". The Communist leadership has appealed for the boy to return in order to reassume his religious duties. The fate of the boy's lamas and attendants who helped him flee Tsurphu but stayed behind is unclear. Two monks are reported to have been arrested during a raid on the monastery by the Chinese police. Urgyen Trinley's family also remains hostage to the Communists inside Tibet.

So far the attention of the international press has focused on the sensationalism of the escape and on the consequences for the regional balance of power between China and India. Some vital pieces of information - such as Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche's recognition of Thaye Dorje as the 17th Karmapa and the fate of Urgyen Trinley's people left behind in occupied Tibet - have thus been ignored. These need to be included in order to give comprehensive coverage of the events as they unfold.

Also, see 'Rogues in Robes' by Tomek Lehnert, Blue Dolphin Publishing, Nevada City, California, 1998.