Devotees stand in solidarity with Karmapa

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Dharamsala: A day after Indian investigation agencies questioned him, a sea of Buddhist monks and devotees, including foreigners, turned up at the Gyuto Monastery near Dharamsala yesterday to express solidarity with the 17th Karmapa.

The Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the only major Tibetan monk reincarnate recognised by both the Dalai Lama and China, is caught in a controversy after nearly 70 million rupees (Dh5.6 million) worth of unaccounted foreign and Indian currency was recovered last week from the monastery.

‘Unprecedented rush'

"The devotees are back to the monastery to have an audience and seek his blessings. Since early morning there has been an unprecedented rush. Normally such a huge gathering is seen on special occasions," a security personnel at the monastery said.

With beads in their hands, the devotees were seen inside the massive complex praying for the well-being of their spiritual leader.

"Today I have specially come to stand by the Karmapa. He is not a Chinese agent. It's a false propaganda. He is here only to enlighten his devotees and preach peace, non-violence and Buddhism," Christina, a devout from Switzerland, told IANS.

Mobiles and cameras were not allowed in the monastery due to security reasons.

A police team, led by Una's Additional Superintendent of Police K.G. Kapoor, arrived at the monastery on Sunday in order to question the Karmapa about the unaccounted-for cash.

 
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