A few weeks ago, I updated the petition to request that people contact CTA leader, Sikyong Penpa Tsering and a six person delegation from the CTA in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India regarding their visit to Ravangla, Sikkim to attend the 600 year anniversary of the First Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche lineage at the Palchen Choling Lachi Monastery.
Addressing the state of Tibetan Buddhism in Sikkim, Penpa Tsering expressed his gratitude to the leadership and people of Sikkim, along with Buddhist leaders, for their tireless efforts in representing the matter to the Government of India. In conclusion, Sikyong Penpa Tsering referenced a recent development concerning a legal case in Himachal Pradesh that had been lodged against the 17th Karmapa and his community administrators. “Just yesterday, there was a hearing regarding the Enforcement Directorate case, and the outcome of that proceeding seems promising. I believe it will create a conducive environment that may further encourage 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Rinpoche to return to Sikkim,” Sikyong Penpa Tsering concluded.
This shows the power of the petition and the pressure being placed on people with some influence in India to take action. It is the first time in two decades that the leader of the CTA and other representatives (publicly at least) have shown any signs of trying to support and help the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.
Today, I was informed that Penpa Tsering and the CTA speaker, met with the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang Golay for the opening of a new Buddhist monastery, Denzong Mindroling Zangdok-Palri in Phudung, North Sikkim. While this is a positive development for Buddhism in that region, there was no statement from either politician regarding the situation with the 17th Karmapa. Their meeting and event was shared on social media by Tibet.net and on the page of the Chief Minister.
TAKE ACTION
Please make comments on the social media posts about this meeting respectfully requesting an update/statement from the politicians on the 17th Karmapa situation and visiting Sikkim, and what they are doing to ensure that happens.
Please also email both these political figures and ask them the same questions. Email addresses are provided in the key decision-makers details on this petition.
The 17th Karmapa should have been able to visit and teach at Rumtek Monastery, and perform the sacred black hat ceremony there years ago. In fact, he was expected to visit Rumtek in 2018 during his 33rd Birthday after getting the permission from the Indian authorities to visit, yet this never materialised either.
Despite his young age, and all the major obstacles and challenges facing the 17th Karmapa since he was enthroned as the official Karmapa at the main seat of the Karmapas in Tshurphu Monastery Tibet, with the support of the main Karma Kagyu heart sons and the majority of Karma Kagyu monastic institutions in Tibet and internationally, the Karmapa has amazingly still managed to demonstrate to many his unique and progressive vision and wisdom, in particular on the status of women and nuns in Buddhism, the environment and the importance of not eating slaughtered animals.
Thank you to all who supported and continue to support this petition. Let us never give up and stand up for the civil liberties and religious freedom of the 17th Karmapa and his followers!