The Karmapa Prophecies

In 1981, the revered 16th Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, passed away. His death set in motion a process to identify his reincarnated succe-ssor that originated 900 years ago.

Since the early 1990’s, the identification of the 17th Karmapa has been mired in controversy, causing a schism in the Karma Kagyu sect. Two competing factions within the sect have recognized different candidates. To help sort out the competing claims, Sylvia Wong believes that an unbiased voice can be found in the past — namely, in the prophetic words of previous Karmapas. Not only does she offer the Karmapas’ words, but using a combination of accurate translations, sound interpretation, proper historical research, and investigative reporting, she also marshals new evidence and analysis to show that those predictions have come true in our time.

In part one Wong presents the true voices of the 5th and 16th Karmapas through their writings, namely, their prophecies that forewarned of treachery not unlike the present schism in the Karma Kagyu.

Part two refutes mistruths about Tibetan history that several recent publications have spread.

Part three presents the first-person account by the present Shamarpa, about events just prior to the 16th Karmapa’s passing and until his own recognition of the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje.

Part Four, the concluding section examines the key figures and their master plan in the takeover of Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, on August 2, 1993. Today, neither of the two 17th Karmapas can set foot in Rumtek, as their predecessor foresaw.