Many Westerners have difficulties
accepting prophecies - including Tibetan ones since they can often be interpreted
in different ways. Westerners experience the predictions called "Mos"
as being quite accurate and relevant. However, in the last year the field of
prophecy has attained another tangible dimension.
The reappearance of a 350 year old historical thanka may be the strongest validating
confirmation which helps prove that Thaye Dorje in Delhi is the true Karmapa.
Hannah and I have known about this thanka since May 1996 when we talked with
Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. Recently, more details along with pictures of the thanka
have come into our hands. Without these, I would never have talked about this
subject. Openness and truth have until now always been our best friends, and
the Karmapa perfectly proves himself without miracles.
Here are the facts as I know them. In May last year Kunzig Shamarpa and Khenpo
Chodrak visited the monastery of the Chinese Lopon Rinpoche in Taiwan. The monks
there showed them a thanka which had been rescued from Tibet and taken to Nepal
six months earlier. The thanka depicts a Karmapa in the center and below him
a Shamarpa wearing unusual robes, clearly recognizable by his red crown. The
visiting Rinpoches were enthusiastic about the beauty of the work. After Shamarpa
had finished viewing the piece, Khenpo stayed behind and suddenly recognized
the thanka as being one of the prophetic thankas of the 10th Karmapa. These
thankas were painted by the 10th Karmapa while he was in exile during the period
when the Mongolian soldiers supporting the 5th Dalai Lama were busy destroying
the monasteries of the older non-Gelugpa lineages. It was during this time that
Gyaltsab obtained his title "Goshir" by joining the Mongolians.
As Khenpo Chodrak looked more closely he noticed that Karmapa Thaye Dorje's
name was written beside the throne (as seen on the enlargement).
He quickly called Shamarpa
who was extremely surprised and happy. A scientific examination of the thanka
by a team of experts has been requested in Taiwan in order that the same type
of scandal brought about from Situpa's forged letter does not happen again with
the thanka.
As soon as the results of the examination have been released we will inform
all of Karmapa's centers. When I asked Kunzig Shamarpa about the thanka, it
was his opinion that the 10th Karmapa foresaw the present controversy and because
of this, deliberately wrote the name of the 17th Karmapa on the thanka in big
golden letters.
Now, you all know what I know. It will be exiting if this story is confirmed
through the scientific laboratory tests.
All the best,
Lama Ole Nydahl
BUDDHISM TODAY, Vol.3, 1997
Copyright ©1997 Kamtsang Choling USA