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SCMP Reporter

Tibetans are still waiting for the return of the 17th Karmapa Lama,  head of the Karma  Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, who 'left' Lhasa four years ago to 'retrieve religious artefacts', Xinhua said yesterday.

The Karmapa, whose given name is Ugyen Trinley Dorje,  is regarded by many as a potential successor to the Dalai Lama. His unannounced departure to northern India was an embarrassment to the central government.

Xinhua yesterday again cited a letter the Living Buddha left four years ago in which he said his departure did not mean to 'betray the state, the nation, the monastery or the leadership'.

The agency quoted lamas at the Tsurphu Monastery - the seat of the Karmapa in Tibet - as saying they needed the Living Buddha.

'Chila,  a lama who had attended the 17th Living Buddha for four years before he left China, said he [still] cleaned the Living Buddha's room every day,' Xinhua reported.

'All we do is wait for the return of the Living Buddha,' Chila was quoted as saying.

Xinhua also quoted lama Gama Lozhoi Sangbo, director of the monastery's management committee,  as saying the Karmapa's absence had caused much embarrassment.

'Although the religious policies of the state allow the Tsurphu Monastery to continue to grow healthily, many daily matters of the monastery have become embarrassingly difficult because of his absence,' he said.

The agency lamented that although it was a tradition for  the monastery to hold  its annual Buddha worship ceremony yesterday,   few worshippers had decided to attend the event.

'Both lamas of the monastery and Buddhist disciples expressed the hope that the Karmapa will soon return to chair the [Buddha worship] ceremony,' it said.

The Karmapa left the Tibetan capital  in late December 1999.   His departure  is described on his official webpage as being a daring escape.

The 17th Karmapa has settled near Dharamsala and was granted refugee status by the Indian government in 2001. There was no indication that the 18-year-old Living Buddha wants to return to China.

He has given lectures in northern India and has openly backed the Dalai Lama on many occasions.



Anxious Tibetans hope the Living Buddha will return soon