S. Korea allows Buddhist group to visit N. Korea for looted artifacts

Home Asia Pacific North Asia S/N Korea News & Issues

Seoul, South Korea -- South Korea said Friday it has allowed a seven-member Buddhist delegation to travel to North Korea next week for discussions on a joint project to return artifacts seized by Japan from the Korean Peninsula during the 1910-45 colonial occupation.

The approval is the latest apparent sign of lessening tensions on the divided peninsula. Buddhist officials from the two Koreas launched the joint project in 2000, but South Korea suspended it last year, blaming North Korea for sinking one of its warships, a charge denied by the North.

Representatives from the South's Lay Buddhist Association of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism will make the trip from Tuesday to the North's border city of Kaesong and meet their North Korean counterparts to discuss the project, officials at Seoul's unification ministry said.

"The approval was made because the project is a joint effort by the South and North to return our cultural properties seized during the Japanese colonial rule," a ministry official said on the condition of anonymity.

The ministry is in charge of South Korea's policies on North Korea. Inter-Korean relations remain tense following the North's two military attacks on the South last year, but Seoul has signaled a "flexible" approach to Pyongyang in recent months by expanding civilian contacts between the two sides.

A group of South Korean historians are now working on a joint survey in progress with North Koreans in Kaesong for another project to excavate an ancient Korean royal palace in its territory.

View the original article here

India allows 17th Karmapa to travel to US

Home Asia Pacific South Asia India

Shimla, India -- Amidst hectic lobbying by his followers in the corridors of power, government has finally Ogyen Trinley Dorje- 17th Karmapa, who is parallel head of powerful Kagyu karma sect of Tibetan Buddhist to travel to United States to attend Kalchakra.

Under scanner of investigating agencies for huge stacks of foreign currency recovered from his monastery, Ogyen Trinley Dorje had earlier expressed his desire to visit United States along with Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the – Dalai Lama for Kalchakra which commences from July 6th in Washington D.C.

According to Buddhist beliefs, the Kalachakra was first given by Shakyamuni Buddha, in ancient India. The Kalchakra in Washington will last for 11 days. During the first three days of the Kalachakra, from July 6 through 8, the Dalai Lama, along with the monks of Namgyal Monastery and senior lamas, will conduct rituals, which prepare and consecrate the venue.

Karmapa’s administration - Tsurphu Labrang in Dharamsala had written to the ministry of home affairs seeking permission to travel abroad.  It was late in the afternoon on Tuesday that Karmapa’s administration received intimation about the clearance given by home ministry. “ We have got clearance from the Indian government. We are extremely grateful to the Indian authorities” Sonam, Karmapa aides in Delhi told Hindustan Times.

Twenty-six year – old monk - 17th Karmapa himself  had been camping in Delhi since  past one week.  Karmapa’s high profile followers hectically lobbied in New Delhi to ensure that   spiritual leader is allowed to go abroad. This will be Karmapa second visit abroad ever since he escaped from Tsurphu in   China controlled Tibet a decade ago. Karmapa is likely to stay in United States for over two weeks and would return back to Dharamsala on July 25.

Looked with suspicion, Karmapa lives under the watchful eyes of the Indian agencies in the backside of  Gyuto Tantric monastery in Dharamsala. His movements within the country remains restricted his travel schedule is cleared by the home ministry. Karmapa made his maiden trip to United States in the 2008. He had visited the seat of his predecessor 16th Karmapa the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, who is largely credited for introducing Tibetan Buddhism in western countries. Rigpe Dorje had escaped to Bhutan in 1959 along with 150 of his students later he set up a monastery in Rumtek in Sikkim Rigpe Dorje who lived in United states died of cancer in Chigao in 1981 he was cremated at the rumtek monastery, that remains forbidden for the two claimants Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Shamar Rinpoche enthrone parallel Karmapa- Thaye Dorje.

Ogyen Trinley Dorje had made nations headline in January, since police during the raid in the monastery had recovered Rs 6.5 crore from the possession of   Rabjey Choesang treasurer of Karmapa headed Karmae Garchen Trust.  What surprised the investigating agencies was the recovery of   12 lakh Chinese Yuan. Karmapa’s followers denied   spiritual leader had anything to do with the money, which claimed was donated by devotees.

View the original article here