Dharamsala, April 10 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader the Karmapa Lama, who has got permission to visit the US, will remain there for over two weeks starting next month. “His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, will visit the US from May 15 through June 2,” said the Karmapa Lama’s spokesman here Thursday.

He will visit New York, Woodstock, Colorado, Seattle, Washington and talk on Buddhist teachings at these places, said the official.

China may not be happy with the permission given by the Indian government to Karmapa Lama to visit a foreign country, for the first time since he fled Tibet and sought refuge in India some eight years ago.

The Karmapa is the only major monk reincarnate recognised by both the Dalai Lama and China. He is head of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

This will be the first foreign visit in eight years for the Karmapa, 22, who lives in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in northern India.

His office has described his proposed visit to the US as “historic” and said that the Tibetan community was highly “appreciative” for the permission granted to him by the Indian government.