'Obama Lama' to be the successor?
And the one leading candidate for the post was 25-year-old Ogyen Trinley, the 17th Karmapa, nicknamed 'Obama Lama' by US embassy'contacts' as he is "an inspiring fresh face on the Tibetan scene who speaks Tibetan, English and Chinese".
A New Delhi embassy cable that originated on February 27, 2009, and which is available on WikiLeaks, reveals that the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) had also supported the choice of Karmapa as a regent "who could continue to promote the Tibetan struggle on the international stage."
The TYC had also advised the Dalai Lama to begin travelling with the Karmapa to increase his exposure to foreign leaders and visibility in the media. The cable has quoted Sakya centre director Lama Lekshey saying that in the early nineties the Dalai Lama had made a controversial announcement regarding his desire to appoint "a number two," a second-in-command of the Tibetan community's secular and spiritual affairs who could immediately succeed him if necessary.
The cable also states that "the succession question cannot be simplified. The Dalai Lama and Karmapa belong to different sects and Buddhist leaders are not sure if a regent from a different sect can be appointed."
But the cable adds that as per the contacts, "The succession of the Dalai Lama cannot strictly follow historical precedents as this could mean a more than 20-year leadership gap while the Dali Lama's reincarnation is identified and educated."
"Tibetans realize they cannot afford this vulnerability vis-a-vis the Chinese during a crucial period for the movement," states the cable. 'The succession debate will continue to be muted and disorganized within the Tibetan community in exile as Tibetans understandably prefer not to face the Dalai Lama's eventual mortality," adds the cable.
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timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Obama-Lama-to-be-the-successor/articleshow/9963118.cms
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