> [...] a rival school of Buddhism,
> the Kagyu, a small order [...]
>
Kagyu school is not a "small order", but probably the largest tibetan buddhism school in the modern world. Dr A.Berzin wrote in his letter to the monks of Ganden, Drepung, and Sera:
"Within Tibetan Buddhism, the Kagyus have probably the largest number of centers, next would be the Gelug, then the Nyingma and the Sakya."
There are more then 800 Karma Kagyu centers under XVII Karmapa Thaye Dorje guidance and about 600 Karma Kagyu centers supporting XVII Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje.
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"He's young," says Lhadon Tethong, the executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, which has 30,000 members worldwide. "Everyone talks about this. He's clearly a strong, dynamic character in Tibetan life, not just religious life, but spiritual and political life. He represents a new generation that continues to defy Chinese efforts to control Tibetans."
Asked during a second interview if he was in communication with the Chinese, the Karmapa at first demurred and deflected. He spoke instead of an enlightened Chinese policy toward Tibet, one that would be based on demonstrating China's Great Power status and accommodating Tibetan desires for genuine autonomy along the lines proposed by the Dalai Lama. The Karmapa then rose to leave, before being called to a halt by a reminder that the question was about contacts with China.
"I have no contacts, nothing political with anybody," he said—and then shrewdly conceded that some form of contact had taken place. The Chinese had conveyed, via India, that the Karmapa Lama should not engage in any political activities, he said. Yet if he remains purely a spiritual leader, China will not close a door on him.
"That's perfectly fine. I don't even know what politics is," the 24-year-old monk said with a broad smile. It was impossible to know for sure, but the smile could have been signaling just the opposite.
© 2009
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