09 August 2005
Bishop of London caught in Karmapa controversy
Daily Telegraph reported that the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres was criticised for inviting the Buddhist monk Thaye Dorje to a multi-faith 'celebration of friendship and trust' at St Ethelburga's, a London church transformed into a peace centre since it was bombed by the IRA in 1993. The ceremony was also attended by Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs and Jains. Thaye Dorje is believed by his followers to be the 17th incarnation of the Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. However, he is not recognised by the mainstream Tibetan Buddhist community, who believe Urgyen Trinley to be the genuine Karmapa. The authenticity of Urgyen Trinley, who fled from Tibet in January 2000, is acknowledged by the Tibetan exile government and the Dalai Lama, as well as the Chinese authorities.