INFORMATION: Urgyen Trinley Dorje

Karmapa Urgyen Trinley, recognized by Tai Situ Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government

This article about the Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje is featured on our website purely as background information to this article, which compares the Karmapa controversy with that of the Dorje Shugden issue. DorjeShugden.com does not wish to comment on which is the “correct” Karmapa, understanding that this is an internal affair of the Karma Kagyu school, which we are not a part of or associated to.

Birth and recognition

• Born in 1985 in the Lhatok region of Eastern Tibet.
• When he was around 7, he asked his family to move their home to another valley and told them to expect a visit from travelling monks. Soon after, followers of the 16th Karmapa came to look for him with a prediction letter written by the 16th Karmapa before his death.
• Urgyen Trinley’s birth and other details matched the letter.
• The 19th-century master Chogyur Lingpa made a number of predictions about the Karmapas and his predictions for this incarnation also matched the details of Urgyen Trinley’s birth.
• 27 September 1992, formally enthroned in Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet, the traditional seat of the Karmapas.
• The Dalai Lama recognized Urgyen Trinley as the incarnation of the 16th Karmapa. The Dalai Lama said he had a dream about the birthplace of his incarnation.
• The government of China has also recognized Urgyen Trinley as the 17th Karmapa.
• 1999 fled Tibet for India; arrived in Dharamsala, India 5 January 2000.

India

• Urgyen Trinley met the Dalai Lama for the first time when he arrived in Dharamsala, on 5 January, 2000.
• Urgyen Trinley continues to live in Gelug Gyuto Tantric Monastery in Dharmasala, India and often travels around India to preside over important Karma Kagyu events, ceremonies and teachings.