ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: The 14-year-old leader of one of Buddhism's most prominent sects is in India after he walked away from his monastery in Chinese-ruled Tibet in what is being called the most significant defection in many years. CNN's Kasra Naji reports from New Delhi.</s>KASRA NAJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the face of the young man who is said to be the 17th living Buddha, pictured here at a ceremony last year in Beijing. He is 14 years old and is known as The Karmapa, the highest lama of the Kagyu branch. He is the only prominent lama who has been recognized by both China and the leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, The Dalai Lama. Aides to The Dalai Lama say the Karmapa and four monks fled the boy's monastery just outside the Tibetan capital, Lahasa, on an unannounced seven-day journey through the snow-covered Himalayas, some of the way on foot, across Nepal and into India. This is the most significant defection from the Chinese-ruled Tibet since The Dalai Lama fled to India in much the same way 40 years ago. The Chinese authorities say the Karmapa left a note in his monastery saying he had left to obtain hats and other musical instruments used by previous living Buddhas. According to the Chinese authorities, the note also says the journey across borders was not meant to betray the state or the nation, monastery or the leadership. There is deep skepticism about the authenticity of the note among Buddhist scholars here. They say Chinese authorities have increased surveillance on his monastery and his movements, and there had been an attempt on his life. The Karmapa has not spoken on his flight from Tibet. He is said to be resting at the home of The Dalai Lama in the Northern Indian town of Dharamsala. His flight is deeply embarrassing to the Chinese authorities. It also puts India in a difficult position, as it has been trying to improve relations with China. Kasra Naji, CNN, New Delhi.
Leaving Tibet: The Karmapa Joins The Dalai Lama in India