Indian police have charged exiled Tibetan leader the Karmapa Lama ( second in succession to Dalai Lama ) after seizing about $1.4m (£900,000) in cash at his monastery in Dharamsala. 

They allege the cash was being held in violation of foreign exchange rules.

But the Karmapa's aides say that it was provided by thousands of supporters in the form of donations to his monastery.

The Karmapa heads one of the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism and is expected to play a prominent spiritual role in the event of the death of the Dalai Lama.

Correspondents say that the district court where the criminal conspiracy charges were filed will soon make a decision as to whether the case should come to trial.

A statement released by his office on Thursday said that so far no official or court notice had been served against him.

"The Karmapa Office of Administration has always provided the authorities with complete details and documents pertaining to the case," the statement said.

"At no point of time was His Holiness ever called or examined by the investigating agency."

The statement said that that the Karmapa was consulting with his lawyers over the next course of action "which will be decided only once the court takes any decision on the charge sheet filed".

'Thorough investigation'

The Karmapa is seen as the third most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.

He fled Tibet in 1999 and arrived in Dharamsala - in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh - which is the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

The Dalai Lama said in January, when the money was seized, that there should be a "thorough investigation" into the matter.

Police said at the time that the "unaccounted" money was made up of 24 currencies.

The Karmapa is reported to have told investigating agencies that he received the money in donations from followers and that it was being used to purchase land for a monastery.

He has argued in the past that he is not involved in the financial affairs of his religious order.

I am not denying that is probably corruption and impropriety within the Dalai Lama's organization in the way that these things happen in any non-profit organization. But I would also be curious to know what kind of pressure China must put on India in relation to the Dalai Lama.

Considering that China puts immense pressure on Nepal in relation to Tibetans, it would be very interesting to know all kinds of pressure that China puts on India.

Speaking strictly in terms of Religion, it seems so nonsense to even bring up the charges. For the stature of lama like Karmapa, $1.4 million is not a big figure.

If you go to Boudhanath, behind Swayambhu, and Pharping, there are tulkus and rimpoches building monastries with budget of $10-$15 million. Believe it or not, all their donations come from Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China. Just walking around Boudha, you will see so many Chinese devotees.

A student of Karmapa ( Trangu Rimpoche from Kagyu sect) has build huge monastry in Namo Buddha ( 10 km walk from Dhulikhel, probably costing $millions. That monastry brings so much business to local economy. Rimpoche also operate free schooling (free education, lodging and fooding) for unpriviledge kids from gorkha, mustang, karnali and all over himalaya region. Rimpoche also has a huge monastry in Saranath in India (where Buddha gave the first sermon). Trangu Rimpoche just complete building $15 million monastry in Vancuover, BC with most donations coming from rich Chinese migrating to Vancuover BC.

Trangu Rimpoche is just one student of Karmapa in Kagyu lineage. There is Tulku Urgyen who is building 1,000 monk assembly hall in Lumbini. Chogyam Trungpa has a NAROPA UNIVERSITY in Boulder, Colorado.

Karmapa gumba in Woodstock, Upstate New York added new building adjacent to the main gomba of $12 million with help coming from ($1.5 mil from Chinese and another $2 mil from American follower).

I heard Thartang Tulku ( Dont know which sect) spent $3 million renovating gold glitters of Swayambhunath Bhagwan. It probably took couple of years to do that works so that its importance and heritage can be maintained.

Given that Kagyu sect is one of the most successfully established Buddhist dharma institute all over the world, it is not a big deal at all  to see that much of donations in the monastry. Mistake was Karmapa office should have kept better records.

When regular tulku and rimpoche builds such a grandier monastry costing $millions, for Karmapa this amount is not a big deal. I heard Thartang Tulku was offered over 100s of millions when one of the student passed away. so he spent money to restore main stupa(shreepage) of Swayambhunath. Good news is all these Tulkus and Rimpoches are building monastries locally so that local people benefits and all those poor kids who joined monastries to learn dharma.

In Nepal and India, they don't really know what is the core meaning of buddhism. They think it's sin to follow others religion. Buddhism is the only religion which you can practice even without totally boycotting your own religion. They just flaunt buddhism as part of their country's religion but never really care to study it. Go and ask any westerner and foreigners, who've spent lives on it and written books upon books, they know what it is and they practice buddhism more seriously. They know what's the message.
'Buddha nepal ma janmeko bhanera matrai karaudai ma kehi huney wala chaina'.. just show it in your behaviour as well.
Some of these followers are billionaires, millionaires, if willingly someone donates, overtime, amount like $1.4 million gets accumulated , which is not a big deal. And, they don't use it for their gain, they so far I've seen build monastery and donate further to uplift poor's lives.
Whatever, we should united discourage news like these.
Indian police can go and eat the s-h-i=-t.

Totally agree with the posts above, and particularly that of Bittertruth.

Beside remittance from workers abroad, gumbas might be another good source of remittance. Imagine how many gumbas are in kathmandu alone. Altogether it must be $100s of millions of $$$$$$$$$. While our leaders and officers takes money outside, these people bring outside money back home. Imagine 100s of people building monastry, buying local hardwares and then employing locals to keep the monastry running.  Best of all, those who joins monastry are the poor and minorities. Rich kids dont go to monastry. And they all learn Dharma which is what is needed in time like this.

Foreign currency source of income
marketing Nepal as a land of Buddha Dharma
Local Employment
Teaching Dharma

Monastries are as good as any other industries that employs people. My hats off to Tulkus and Rimpoche and 3 prostations. While factories produce goods, monastries try to produce enlightened mind.....greatest gift of humankind. And there is no place like Nepal to build monastry.

PEACE

@babal Khate..It would also be interesteing to know the pressure US and the West puts on international media and the governments alike to potray these Tibetans as victims or saints; considering the fact that these Tibetans can be seen in Casinos, Disotheques, Dance bars and indulging in just about every vices in Kathmandu every night.

@citizen of nepal, that's another bitter truth :D 

$1.4 million is nothing compared to the amount some Indian temples have.
These indian cops need to raid some of those temples starting with Sai Baba.

The very famous temple in India where people go to donate their hair ( I forgot the name) sells off the hair received from Indian women in european market. Business making tons of millions selling hair received from devotees......

I also see many Tibetans hanging out in party, clubs, casinos, corners which  shows off too much. Then there are also Indians, our political leaders and their chamches and family members, chinese. I dont know if it is worth going after individuals after what they do. Paras did the same   in the scale of 10 times and he even killed the singer.

I wish we are perfect so that we could tell others to follow us. But our own leaders and people are so tainted, lets not blame others. I think Tibetans have done enough good in Nepal. Gumbas and carpets are their contribution. Of course every side has pluses and minuses.

 

@ citizen of nepal:

Dude, frankly speaking, your comments reek of hatred.

First, after reading the article, it turns out the story has nothing to do with Dalai Lama.  So why did you put Dalai Lama in the topic.  Have you even read the article you posted?

Second, what do you mean by "these Tibetans"?  So you saw few Tibetans in the casinos and discotheques.  Even if that is a condemnable behaviour, as per your definition, should all Tibetans be condemned for depravity?  And how would you feel if Indians begin referring to us as "these Nepalis"?

@nepali_american

The last person I need lesson about civility is from a deshdrohee like you. Stupid schmuck.

Police said at the time that the "unaccounted" money was made up of 24 currencies.


Okay....Do you all not see the huge print on the article that says " UNACCOUNTED" on the article. The problem is  not how much Buddhist monk had accumulated but the problem is how he accumulated it and where he planned to spend it. Like all other corrupt organized religion Buddhists have thier own " Sai Baba" way of collecting " unaccounted" wealth from its "donors" and "spend" it for their own "cause".

Some of you jump in defending the Monk saying all religion has provision for keeping donotation unaccounted to the public and government. Really??? Is that what your justification is? Just becasue Hindu Temple and Sai Baba is keeping amense amount of unaccounted wealth at a personal level such as the monk above in a cult like manner does it really present a good justification for the action Buddhist monk took.

Bottom line..all religious organizations are involed in unaccountable wealth to be used for unaccountable purpose in the same way criminal organization is involved with unaccountable wealth. Ask yourself how this Monk is different from greedy Sai Baba and Pashupati's Bhatta???

Enjoy !!

https://youtu.be/6ZThJEzdzqo