2
Jul
2021
1st Karmapa Lama – Dusum Kyenpa
Dusum Khyenpa is known as the 1st Karmapa. Dusum Khyenpa is the founder of the Karma (Kamtsang) branch of the Kagyu Tradition. Dusum Khyenpa was born in Kham
He served as Abbot of Daklha Gampo monastery after Gampopa and founded the Tsurphu monastery. He is becoming the seat of the incarnate Karmapa lamas.
Dusum Khyenpa was the founder of the Karma Kagyu school and of its three main monasteries: Kampo Nenang Gon in 1164, Karma Gon in 1184, and Tsurphu Gon in 1189.
Dusum Khyenpa is known as dus gsum mkhyen pa in Tibet.
Table of Contents
- 1 - Biography of 1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa Chokyi Dragpa
- 2 - Thangka Gallery of Dusum Khyenpa
- 2.1 - 18th Century Painting of Dusum Khyenpa
- 2.2 - Dusum Khyenpa with Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro thangka
- 2.3 - Lama Teacher Dusum Kyenpa
- 2.4 - Lama Teacher – 1st Karmapa, Dusum Kyenpa
- 2.5 - Dusum Kyenpa Thangka
- 2.6 - Lama Teacher Dusum Kyenpa Painting
- 2.7 - 1st Karmapa – Dusum Kyenpa
- 2.8 - 12th Century Thangka of Dusum Kyenpa
- 2.9 - 18th Century Thangka of Dusum Kyenpa
- 3 - Statue of Dusum Kyenpa
Biography of 1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa Chokyi Dragpa
The 1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa Chokyi Dragpa, (1110-1193) was born in Tresho (tre shod), Kham. His father was a Bhairava practitioner named Gompa Dorje Gon (sgom pa rdo rje mgon) and his mother was Latogza Gangcam Mingdren (lha thog gza’ sgang lcam ming ‘dren), and was given the name Gephel (dge ‘phel). His father gave him instructions in the Nyingma tantric traditions, including Ekajati, and he is said to have met Vairochanavajra, an Indian alchemist who had previously been to the Chinese court where he drank a cup of mercury before the Emperor.
When Dusum Khyenpa was sixteen, in 1124, he took novice ordination with the Kadam monk Trewo Chokgi Lama (tre bo mchog gi bla ma), a disciple of Ngok Lotsawa Loden Sherab (rngog lo tsA ba blo ldan shes rab, 1059-1109) and his uncle, Ngog Legpai Sherab (rngog legs pa’i shes rab, d.u.). Chokyi Lama gave him the name Chokyi Dragpa (chos kyi grags pa). He entered into two years of retreat at Treka Drag (tre ka brag) with other Kadam lamas, learning the Chakrasamvara and other tantric lineages of Atisha from Yol Chowang (yol chos dbang, d.u.), who was a disciple of Atisha himself, and Geshe Trarawa (dge bshes kra ra ba, d.u.), Yol Chowang’s disciple.
It is said that when Dusum Khyenpa was sixteen he was given a black hat woven from the hair of ten thousand dakini (the physical hat the Karmapas don for their famous “black hat ceremony” was given to the 5th Karmapa by the Ming Yongle Emperor, r. 1402-1424).
At the age of nineteen Dusum Khyenpa went to Tibet, visiting a monastery called Tolung Satang (stod lungs sa thang), where he received teachings on logic and Madhyamaka from Tolung Gyamarwa Jangchubdrag (stod lung rgya dmar ba byang chub grags, d.u.). He took final ordination with Mal Dulzinpa (mal ‘dul ‘dzin pa, d.u.). He also studied with a number of other Kadam monks, including Ga Lotsawa (rgwa lo tsA ba, d.u.), who gave him the the Mahakala tradition later known as the Gonpo Karlug (mgon po kar lugs) which he had brought to Tibet, and Khampa Aseng (khams pa a seng, d.u.), a disciple of Ga, who gave him the Kalachakra teachings of the Jor Drug (sbyor drug). Both lamas were then residing at Gyal Lhakang (rgyal lha khang), a monastery in Penpo (‘phan po) that had been founded in 1012 by Nanam Dorje Wangchug (sna nam rdo rje dbang phyug, 976-1060). At Sangphu Neutog (gsang phu ne’u thog) he studied with the abbot Chawa Chokyi Sengge (phywa pa chos kyi seng ge, 1109-1169) and Patsab Lotsawa Nyima Dragpa (pa tshab lo tsA ba nyi ma grags pa), who taught him Madhyamaka.
At the age of thirty Dusum Khyenpa set out to meet Gampopa Sonam Rinchen (sgam po pa bsod nams rin chen, 1079-1153), the ordained disciple of the great lay poet-saint Milarepa (mi la ras pa, 1052-1135). At Dagpo Draka (dwags po drag kha) he first met and received teachings from Gomtsul (sgom tshul, 1116-1169) and Sharawa Yontan Drag (sha ra ba yon tan grags, 1070-1141).
He then proceeded to Dagpo Gompa (dwags po dgon pa) and received teachings and transmissions from Gampopa. He soon donned the cotton garb of Milarepa’s disciples, training in the heat yogas for nine months. Having shown great accomplishment, Gampopa sent him to Zangri (zangs ri) to continue his meditation, where he sat for four months at a cave named Til and another month and a half at Pagmodru (phag mo gru), before returning to study with Gampopa for another three years.
Dusum Khyenpa then trained with a number of teachers belonging to the nascent Kagyu tradition. These included Milarepa’s own disciple Rechung Dorje Drag (ras chung rdo rje grags pa, 1085-1161); Ponpug Tongyal (spon phug ston rgyal, d.u.), a disciple of Rongpa Gardewa (rong pa ‘gar dge ba, d.u.); Kyangmo Pangkhawa (rkyang mo spang kha ba), a disciple of Metonp Kunga Nyingpo (mes ston kun dga’ snying po, d.u.); and Relchag Tontsul (ral lcags ston tshul, d.u.) of Daryul. From these and other lamas he received the full transmission of Gampopa’s teachings, his blending of tantic yoga ? such as Mahamudra, Chakrasamvara, Hevajra, the Naro Chodrug (na ro chos drug) ? with Kadampa-derived monasticism. He also studied Lamdre (lam ‘bras) with the Sakya master Senpa Dorje Sengge (gsen pa rdo rje seng ge, d.u.) at Yarlung Pugmoche (yar klungs phug mo che).
Dusum Khyenpa spent the next several years in various places in southern and central Tibet and Bhutan meditating in caves and returning to report his progress to Gampopa. Among the sites were Gyu Palri (brgyud dpal ri) and Shau Tago (sha ‘ug stag sgo/ sa ‘ug stag mgo), near Sakya. At one point he met a disciple of Naropa residing at a monastery called Shunye Bardzong (gzhu snye bar rdzong) who gave him additional Mahamudra instructions. While in southern Tibet, in 1154, Dusum Khyenpa founded a monastery called Lhalung (lha lung) in Lhodrag (lho brag), which later became the seat of Pawo Tsugla Trengwa (dpa’ bo gtsug lag ‘phreng ba, 1504-1564/1566).
When Dusum Khyenpa was about fifty years old Gampopa passed away, and, following some last advice that he should return to meditate at Kampo Nenang (kam po gnas nang), he returned to Kham. There he founded the monastery of Kampo Nenang, in 1164. Later, in 1184, he founded the first seat of the Karma Kagyu tradition, Karma Densa (kar+ma ldan sa), also known as Karma Gon (kar+ma dgon), which remained an occasional residence of Karmapas through to the 20th century.
After twenty years in Kham Dusum Khyenpa returned to Tibet, bringing with him a considerable amount of wealth to distribute to the monasteries there. He stated that Gomtsul had charged him with founding monasteries in Tibet, to offer a Prajnamaramita written in gold to Dagla Gampo monastery, and to keep an eye on the violent and disruptive behavior of Lama Shang, Shang Yudragpa Tsondru Dragpa (bla ma zhang, zhang g.yu brag pa brtson ‘grus grags pa, 1123-1193). In 1189 Dusum Khyenpa founded Tsurpu Monastery (mtshur phu) in Tolung (stod lung), to the west of Lhasa, which became the principle seat of the Karmapa incarnations.
Dusum Khyenpa famously made predictions about his future incarnations. He is said to have given a letter to his main disciple, Sanggye Rechen Peldrag (sangs rgyas ras chen dpal grags, 1148-1218), foretelling where his next incarnation would be born and instructing him to locate the boy and train him.
Dusum Khyenpa has an older appearance with gray hair and the head turned to the side. He performs the mudra of Dharma teaching with the hands held at the level of the heart in the similitude of a Dharma wheel. Atop the head is a black vajra crown adorned with gold ornamentation – received as a gift from the Dakinis in acknowledgment of his realization.
Dusum Khyenpa is Wearing in the red robes of a fully ordained monk. Dusum Khyenpa is further attired in a meditation cape. Dusum Khyenpa wears an ornate throne and jewel-carved backrest covered with brocade. Dusum Khyenpa sits in vajra posture gazing to the side
Thangka Gallery of Dusum Khyenpa
The gallery of Dusum Khyenpa Thangka contains the old thangkas that are preserved privately and in museums in different parts of the world.
18th Century Painting of Dusum Khyenpa
The thangka of lama teacher Dusum Khyenpa is from Eastern Tibet. The thangka of Dusum Khyenpa is made between 1800 to 1899 AD. Dusum Khyenpa is from Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist lineages. The size of the painting is 33.02×24.13cm. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. Presently, this thangka is the collection of Rubin museum of art.
| Name | Dusum Khyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Origin | Eastern Tibet |
| Date Range | 1800 – 1899 |
| Lineage | Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Size | 33.02×24.13cm (13×9.50in) |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Collection | Rubin Museum of Art |
Ga Lotsawa Zhonnu Pal
Ga Lotsawa Zhonnu Pa is appearing at the upper left of the thangka. Ga Lotsawa Zhonnu Pal is wearing a red Pandita hat, monastic robes. Ga Lotsawa Zhonnu Pa is performing the mudra of generosity with the left hand.
Ga Lotsawa Zhonnu Pa is in a relaxed posture on a western-style chair with the right leg extended and the left folded. Ga Lotsawa Zhonnu Pa is surrounded by radiant spheres and cascading rainbow light
Solitary Monk
Solitary Monk is on the left side of the thangka. Solitary Monk is with the hands raised and joined in respectful devotion sits on a traditional monk’s mat.
Chaturbhuja Mahakala
Chaturbhuja Mahakala is positioned in front of the thangka. Chaturbhuja Mahakala is known as the wrathful protector. Chaturbhuja Mahakala is with one face and four hands.
Chaturbhuja Mahakala is dark blue in color. Chaturbhuja Mahakala holding a curved knife and skullcup in the first pair of hands and a sword and spear in the second. Chaturbhuja Mahakala is surrounded by the orange flames of pristine awareness.
Ga Lotsawa
Ga Lotsawa is the upper left of the thangka. Ga Lotsawa is wearing monastic robes and a red Pandita hat. Ga Lotsawa is seated in a western-style chair.
Previously, we learned about the life of Dusum Khyenpa, the iconography of Dusum Khyenpa, and depicting lama teacher Dusum Khyenpa thangka. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Dusum Khyenpa with Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro thangka.
Dusum Khyenpa with Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro thangka
The thangka of lama teacher Dusum Khyenpa with Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro is from Eastern Tibet. The thangka of Dusum Khyenpa with Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro is made between 1700 to 1799 AD. Dusum Khyenpa with Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro is from Karma (Kagyu) lineage. The size of the painting is 56.52×34.93cm. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. Presently, this thangka is the collection of Shelley & Donald Rubin.
| Name | Dusum Khyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Origin | Eastern Tibet |
| Date Range | 1700 – 1799 |
| Lineage | Karma (Kagyu) |
| Size | 56.52×34.93cm (22.25×13.75in) |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Shelley & Donald Rubin |
Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro is at the top center of the thangka. Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro is the first Tibetan lineage guru of what would later become the Kagyu Tradition who one of the four pre-eminent schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro is with short black hair, a mustache, and a goatee.
Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro wears the garments of a layman and with both hands performs the mudra of earth witness.
Milarepa
Milarepa is at the left of the thangka. Milarepa is the main student of Marpa. Milarepa is wearing long black hair, a simple white cotton garment, and a red meditation belt.
He holds the right hand up to the ear and the left is pressed to the ground behind. Milarepa is seated in a relaxed posture on a grey deerskin.
Gampopa
Gampopa is at the right of the thangka. Gampopa is the main student of Milarepa and the main teacher of Dusum Khyenpa. Gampopa performs with the two hands at the heart the mudra of Dharma teaching.
Gampopa is wearing a red cap with wide lappets. Gampopa is attired in the orange and red robes of a monk.
Hayagriva
Hayagriva is at the bottom left of the thangka. Hayagriva is the wrathful activity deity of the Padma Buddha Family. Hayagriva is red in color.
Hayagriva is with one face. The right hands of Hayagriva is holding a skull stick. The left hands of Hayagriva are holding a lick of red flame.
Vajrapani is at the right of the thangka. Vajrapani is known as the wrathful Lord of the Vajra Buddha Family. Vajrapani is blue in color with one face and two hands.
The right hands of Vajrapani hold upraised a gold vajra. The left hand of Vajrapani is in a wrathful gesture at the heart. Both wear wrathful vestments and are surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness.
Lama Teacher Dusum Kyenpa
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa thangka is from a private collection. He is from Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu), and Buddhist lineage. He is monastic in appearance. The material used to make this thangka is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Location | Tibet |
| Lineage | Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
Lama Teacher – 1st Karmapa, Dusum Kyenpa
The thangka of lama teacher Dusum Khyenpa is from Tibet. Khyenpa is from Karma (Kagyu) lineage. The materialused to make this painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. He is monastic in appearance. This thangka is from a private collection.
| Name | Dusum Khyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Origin | Tibet |
| Lineage | Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
Dusum Kyenpa Thangka
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa thangka is made in between 1900 – 1959. This thangka is from a private collection. He is monastic in appearance.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Date Range | 1900 – 1959 |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
Lama Teacher Dusum Kyenpa Painting
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa thangka was made in Tibet. He is from Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist lineage. He is monastic in appearance. The material used to make this thangka is Ground Mineral Pigment. This thangka is from a private collection.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Location | Tibet |
| Lineage | Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
1st Karmapa – Dusum Kyenpa
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa thangka is from a private collection. He is monastic in appearance.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
12th Century Thangka of Dusum Kyenpa
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa thangka is from a private collection. This thangka is made in between 1200 – 1299. He is from Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist lineage. He is monastic in appearance. The material used to make this thangka is Ground Mineral Pigment on Paper.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Location | Tibet |
| Date Range | 1200-1299 |
| Lineage | Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment on Paper |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
18th Century Thangka of Dusum Kyenpa
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa thangka is from a private collection. This thangka is made in between 1800 – 1899. He is from Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu), and Buddhist lineage. He is monastic in appearance. The material used to make this thangka is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Location | Tibet |
| Date Range | 1800-1899 |
| Lineage | Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
Statue of Dusum Kyenpa
1st Karmapa Dusum Kyenpa Statue
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa statue is from a private collection. This statue was made in 1700 – 1799. He is from Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu), and Buddhist lineage. He is monastic in appearance. The material used to make this statue is Metal, Copper Inlay, Silver Inlay, Gold Inlay.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Date Range | 1700 – 1799 |
| Location | Tibet |
| Lineage | Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Material | Metal, Copper Inlay, Silver Inlay, Gold Inlay |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
Lama Teacher Dusum Kyenpa Statue
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa statue is from a private collection. This statue was made in 1600 – 1699. He is from Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu), and Buddhist lineage. He is monastic in appearance. The material used to make this statue is Metal, Mercuric Gild.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Date Range | 1600 – 1699 |
| Location | Tibet |
| Lineage | Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Material | Metal, Mercuric Gild |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
Dusum Kyenpa Statue
This lama teacher Dusum Kyenpa statue is from a private collection. He is from Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu), and Buddhist lineage. He is monastic in appearance. The material used to make this statue is Metal.
| Name | Dusum Kyenpa |
| Tibetan Name | བླ་མ། |
| Chinese Name | 喇嘛 |
| Location | Tibet |
| Lineage | Kagyu, Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist |
| Material | Metal |
| Classification | Person |
| Appearance | Monastic |
| Gender | Male |
| Collection | Private |
