Letter of the Gyalwa Drukpa concerning the overtaking of monasteries by Karma Kagy

10th September 2014

Over the last few days I have been receiving disturbing information from Tibet regarding the forced
conversion of Drukpa Lineage monasteries in the Mount Kailash region by the Karma Kagyu
Lineage. My followers in Tibet tell me that nearly all of the historic Drukpa Lineage monasteries in
Mount Kailash region are being forcibly occupied by the Karma Kagyu Lineage, using money,
coercion and certain Chinese support. Monks of the Drukpa Lineage looking after the monasteries,
are suddenly exiled from their spiritual homes by the Karma Kagyu monks.
Historically the Drukpa Lineage and the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism have shared a
deep and close spiritual bond. The Gyalwang Drukpas and Gyalwa Karmapas were known as
Gyalwa Kar-Druk Yab-sey or spiritual father and son because whoever was elder would give
spiritual guidance to the younger one. This close bond continued till the time of His Holiness the
16th Karmapa.
More than 15 years ago, Dri-ra Phug monastery, the seat of Gyalwa Gotsangpa who was the most
illustrious disciple of the 1st Gyalwang Drukpa Tsangpa Gyare, was forcibly taken over by monks
of the Karma Kagyu, saying that they were instructed to do so by His Holiness Karmapa Ugyen
Thinley Dorjee. I did not believe then that His Holiness Karmapa Ugyen Thinley Dorjee would
have given such an instruction because he was just a child at that time. Even today the name His
Holiness Karmapa Ugyen Thinley Dorjee is being used to forcibly take over and convert the
Drukpa Lineage monasteries to the Karma Kagyu. Historic pictures, images and art of Drukpa
Lineage Lamas are being defaced and removed by the Karma Kagyu in an attempt to rewrite

history. Despite what I have been informed, I still do not believe that His Holiness Karmapa Ugyen
Thinley Dorjee would give instructions to forcibly take over Drukpa Lineage monasteries and
convert them to Karma Kagyu.
However, it is definite that some high Lama of the Karma Kagyu with certain Chinese connections
is misappropriating the name of Karmapa. Therefore, for the sake of religious and humanitarian
harmony, I urge His Holiness Karmapa Ugyen Thinley Dorjee, as head of the Karma Kagyu, to
instruct his followers in Tibet and elsewhere to refrain from taking over and forcefully converting
Drukpa Lineage monasteries, and to issue a statement so that those within his lineage who have
been using his name to conduct such oppression to leave forcibly occupied Drukpa Lineage
monasteries and return those sacred heritage of all kinds, taken forcibly, to the Drukpa Lineage.
The Gyalwang Drukpa