Karmapa
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The Karmapa is the title given to the head of the Karma Kagyu (Bka' rgyud), one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
The 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (Dus gsum Mkhyen pa) (1110-1193), was a disciple of the Tibetan master Gampopa. A gifted child who studied dharma (Buddhist teachings) with his father from an early age, and who sought out great teachers in his twenties and thirties, he is said to have attained enlightenment at the age of 50 while practicing dream yoga. He was henceforth regarded as the Karmapa, a manifestation of Avalokitesvara, whose coming was predicted in the Samadhirajasutra and the Lankavatara sutra.[1] (http://www.kagyu-asia.com/l_kar1.html)
The source of oral lineage is traditionally traced back to the Buddha Vajradhara, was transmitted to the Indian master of mahamudra and tantra Tilopa (989-1069), through Naropa (1016-1100) to Marpa and Milarepa. These forefathers of the Kagyu (Bka' Rgyud) lineage are collectively called the golden rosary.
The 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi (1204-1283), is often said to be the first person ever recognized and empowered as a tulku (sprul sku), a reincarnated lama (bla ma).
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The Black Crown
The Karmapas are the holders of the Black Crown (Tib. 'shwa nag') and are thus sometimes known as the Black Hat lamas. This crown, rang 'byung chopen (the self-luminous crown), is traditionally said to have been woven by the dakinis from their hair and given to Karmapa in recognition of his spiritual realization. The physical crown displayed by the Karmapas was offered to the 5th Karmapa by the Chinese Yongle Emperor as a material representation of the spiritual one.
It is currently held in Rumtek in Sikkim, which was the last home of the 16th Karmapa.
List of previous Karmapas
- Düsum Khyenpa (dus gsum mkhyen pa) (1110 - 1193)
- Karma Pakshi (1204 - 1283)
- Rangjung Dorje (rang 'byung rdo rje) (1284 - 1339)
- Rolpe Dorje (1340 - 1383)
- Deshin Shekpa (de zhin gshegs pa)(1384 - 1415)
- Thongwa Dönden (1416 - 1453)
- Chödrak Gyatso (1454 - 1506)
- Mikyö Dorje (1507 - 1554)
- Wangchuk Dorje (dbang phyug rdo rje) (1556 - 1603)
- Chöying Dorje (1604 - 1674)
- Yeshe Dorje (1676 - 1702)
- Changchub Dorje (Byang chub rdo rje) (1703 - 1732)
- Dudul Dorje (1733 - 1797)
- Thekchok Dorje (1798 - 1868)
- Khakyab Dorje (1871 - 1922)
- Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (Rang 'byung rig pa'i rdo rje) (1924 - 1981)
- (Controversy over whether Ogyen Trinley Dorje (b. 1985) or Thaye Dorje (b. 1983) is the true reincarnation.)
Controversy over the current Karmapa
Due to a controversy within the Karma Kagyu school over the recognition process, the identity of the current 17th Karmapa is disputed. See Karmapa controversy for details.
External links
The history of the Karmapa lineage, including biographical details of the historical Karmapas, can be found at the following web sites. Notice that the websites are written to those loyal to one or other of the rival 17th Karmapas, and their accounts of previous incarnations may not be written from a neutral point of view.
- Karmapa lineage history (http://www.kagyuoffice.org/kagyulineage.17karmapas.html) on kagyuoffice.org, the website of Ogyen Trinley Dorje
- Karmapa lineage history (http://www.karmapa.org/karmapa_org_redesign/history/the_karmapas/index_karmapa.htm) on karmapa.org, the website of Thaye Dorje
- Information on past and present Karmapas (http://www.khandro.net/Karmapas.htm) from khandro.net, a website supporting Ogyen Trinley Dorje
- Karma Triyana Dharmacakra (http://www.kagyu.org/), the website of the North American headquarters of Ogyen Trinley Dorje
- Kagyu centers in Southeast Asia (http://www.kagyu-asia.com/), a website supporting Thaye Dorjede:Karma-Kagyü