Buddha’s Not Smiling: Uncovering Corruption at the Heart of Tibetan Buddhism Today

Erik D. Curren
Alaya Press (2006)
ISBN 0977225305
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/06)

“Buddha’s Not Smiling” is an eye opener.  Author Curren has greatly researched an issue that is taking place in India, Nepal, and Tibet at this time.  It is between who the real 17th Karmapa in the Karma Kagyalineage is.

In 1993, the Rumtek monastery was invaded by Tibetan monks and lamas with the support of the Chinese government.  The monks residing within were put into exile.  The monks who took over Rumtek stole the belongings of those that fled.  The Rumtek monastery was once described as a very spiritual place where wonderful things happened.  It was the home of the 16th Karmapa.  When he died, a dispute developed between several factions about who the reincarnated lama was.  It was actually this lineage that initiated the tulku system in which the lamas return life after life to teach their students. 

The Karmapa tradition preceded the Dalai Lama tradition by almost three hundred years, yet in 1992 the Dalia Lama stepped in to endorse Ogyen Trinley as a candidate even though the Dalai Lama belongs to a different order.  He is the first Dalai Lama to endorse a Karmapa.  The Chinese government is also endorsing this man.  Tai Situ is a lama that also endorsed Trinley. It is believed that he forged a letter supposedly from the 16th Karmapa to support this person.  It is suspected that Ogyen Trinley is being moved into place by Situ so that he can gain control of the Karmapa wealth and of the Rumtek monastery.  There are several ideas about the Dalai Lama’s involvement.  One of the beliefs is that he is doing so to gain favor with the Chinese government to help Tibet. If this is the case it is greatly disappointing and doesn’t reflect well to the rest of the world. The real seventeenth Karmapa is believed to be Thaye Dorje.   Dorje would like to meet with Trinley to work out a resolution to this situation, but it has not happened yet.

It is disappointing to learn that a situation such as this is occurring within the Buddhist system.  It truly goes against Buddhist principles.  To know that the Dalai Lama might be involved in helping the Chinese government appoint a puppet leader is shocking.

Curren’s book is really interesting. You do not need a background in Buddhism to understand it.  He provides you with a history of the practice and has a glossary
for quick references.  I do believe that Buddhist practitioners need to read this so that they can be aware of what is happening.

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