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About Karmapa
Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa, itself one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Düsum Khyenpa, 1st Karmapa Lama (1110–1193), was a disciple of the Tibetan master Gampopa.
A talented child who studied Buddhism 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 fifty while practicing dream yoga.
He was henceforth regarded by the contemporary highly respected masters Shakya Śri and Lama Shang as the Karmapa, a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara.
Dakini Translations - Adele Tomlin
Happy Dakini Day!
5
Mar
2024
Dakini Translations - Adele Tomlin
Karmapa – Tibet’s first consciously incarnating lama
The Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyu, itself one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Karmapa was Tibet's first consciously incarnating lama.
The historical seat of the Karmapas is Tsurphu Monastery in the Tolung valley of Tibet.
The Karmapa's principal seat in exile is the Dharma Chakra Centre at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, India.
His regional monastic seats are Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in New York and Dhagpo Kagyu .
13th Karmapa Dudul Dorje
Dudul Dorje is known as 13th Karmapa. Dudul Dorje is able to teach the word of the Buddha to both humans and animals. He was the head of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.
Dudul Dorje was born in Champa Drongsar and recognized by Gyaltsab Rinpoche at the age of four. He received an education in the monastery from the age of eight by both the Kagyu and the Nyingma schools. Dudul Dorje became head of .
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 .
6th Karmapa – Tongwa Donden
The birth of the 6th Karmapa, Tongwa Donden (1416-1453), at Ngomto Shakyam near Karma Gon in east Tibet, was marked by many auspicious signs. One month later, carried by his mother as she went begging, he became highly excited when their path crossed that of Lama Ngompa Chadral, a student of the fifth Karmapa.
When Lama Ngompa Chadral asked who he was, the child smiled and replied
“I’m the unborn, free from all names, places, and .
Explaining Lama Teacher Karmapa Rolpai Dorje
Rolpai Dorje who is known as the 4th Karmapa wearing the black crown and Khacho Wangpoa was the 2nd Shamarpa.
The Life of Karmapa Rolpai Dorje
In this portion, we are going to learn the life of the Karmapa Rolpai Dorje, after the short etymological description of the word Karmapa Rolpai Dorje itself.
Etymology of Rolpai Dorje
Rolpaie Dorje (1340- 1383) was the fourth Gyalwa Karmapa.
Earlier, we learn about the life of Rolpaie Dorje. Now, we are going .
Thrangu Rinpoche Sixteenth Karmapa
Thrangu Rinpoche was born in Kham in 1933. At the age of five, he was formally recognized by the Sixteenth Karmapa and the previous Situ Rinpoche as the incarnation of the great Thrangu tulku. Entering Thrangu monastery, from the ages of seven to sixteen he studied reading, writing, grammar, poetry, and astrology, memorized ritual texts, and completed two preliminary retreats. At sixteen under the direction of Khenpo Lodro Rabsel, he began the study of .
The Tulku system & the preservation of Dharma lineages
A tulku is a reincarnate custodian of a specific lineage of teachings in Tibetan Buddhism who is given empowerments and trained from a young age by students of his or her predecessor.
Historically, the tulku system of preserving Dharma lineages operated in Tibet with the first being the Karmapas.
After the first Karmapa died in 1193, a lama had recurrent visions of a particular child as his rebirth.
This child (born ca. 1205) was recognized as .
Karma Kagyu Lamas – The whispering Mahamudra teachers
Karma Kagyu lamas are recognized for being masters of the practice of Mahamudra, a mystical path of Tibetan Buddhism that aims to achieve enlightenment by realizing the essence of mind.
They are often referred to as the "whisperers of Mahamudra," in reference to the oral transmission of these teachings which is done confidentially and intimately between the teacher and student.
Origin of the Karma Kagyu lineage
The Kagyu school, also transliterated as Kagyü, or Kagyud, which translates .
Avalokiteśvara – The embodiment of compassion
Avalokitasvara is the bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.
In Sanskrit, Avalokiteśvara is also referred to as Lokeśvara ("Lord of the World").
In Tibetan, Avalokiteśvara is Chenrézig and is said to emanate as the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa and other high lamas.
An etymology of the Tibetan name Chenrézik gives the meaning of one who always looks upon all beings with the eye of compassion.
One prominent Buddhist story tells of Avalokiteśvara vowing .
Honorific titles in Tibetan institutions and clergy
Buddhist monasticism is an important part of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, all the major and minor schools maintain large monastic institutions based on the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya (monastic rule) and many religious leaders come from the monastic community.
There are also many religious leaders or teachers (called Lamas and Gurus) which are not celibate monastics and in some cases the lama is the leader of a spiritual community.
Some lamas gain their title through being .