Karmapa

Origin of the lineage

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, whose coming was predicted in the Samadhiraja Sutra and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra.

The source of the oral lineage, traditionally traced back to the Buddha Vajradhara, was transmitted to the Indian master of mahamudra and tantra called Tilopa (989–1069), through Naropa (1016–1100) to Marpa Lotsawa and Milarepa. These forefathers of the Kagyu (Bka' brGyud) lineage are collectively called the "Golden Rosary".

Recognition of the Karmapa

The Karmapa is a long line of consciously reborn lamas, and the second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi (1204–1283), is the first recognized tulku () in Tibetan Buddhism who predicted the circumstances of his rebirth.

A Karmapa's identity is confirmed through a combination realized lineage teachers supernatural insight, prediction letters left by the previous Karmapa, and the young child's own self-proclamation and ability to identify objects and people known to its previous incarnation.{{cite letter |first=Shamar|last=Rinpoche|recipient=Robert Thurman|subject=Karmapa Controversy|language=en|date=6 June 2006|url=http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Letter_to_Robert_A._F._Thurman_by_Shamar_Rinpoche|access-date=29 July 2020|author-link=Mipham Chokyi Lodro|quote=Because when you recognize the reincarnation of a Lama, the past Lama's spirit had to come from Nirvana or the Bardo to a new human form. At that point, the appropriate spiritual teachers recognize it. And when one is such a spiritual leader, that Lama is recognized either by seeing it directly from one's supernatural mind, or via the prediction of one's personal yidams (white or green Tara, for example, or Dharma protectors).

Conflicts in recognitions

The 8th, 10th, and 12th incarnations, as well as the widely renowned 16th Karmapa, each faced conflicts during their recognition, which were ultimately resolved. There is currently a controversy over the enthronement of two 17th Karmapas.

Black Crown

The Karmapas are the holders of the Black Crown () and are thus sometimes known as "the Black Hat Lamas". This crown ( "self-arisen crown"), is traditionally said to have been woven by the dakinis from their hair and given to the Karmapa in recognition of his spiritual realization. The physical crown displayed by the Karmapas was offered to Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama by the Yongle Emperor of China as a material representation of the spiritual one.

The crown was last known to be located at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the last home of the 16th Karmapa, although that location has been subject to some upheaval since 1993 causing some to worry as to whether or not it is still there. An inventory of items remaining at Rumtek is purported to be something the Indian government is going to undertake in the near future.

List of previous Karmapas

1. Düsum Khyenpa () (1110–1193)
2. Karma Pakshi () (1204–1283)
3. Rangjung Dorje () (1284–1339)
4. Rolpe Dorje () (1340–1383)
5. Deshin Shekpa ()(1384–1415)
6. Thongwa Dönden () (1416–1453)
7. Chödrak Gyatso () (1454–1506)
8. Mikyö Dorje () (1507–1554)
9. Wangchuk Dorje () (1556–1603)
10. Chöying Dorje () (1604–1674)
11. Yeshe Dorje () (1676–1702)
12. Changchub Dorje () (1703–1732)
13. Dudul Dorje () (1733–1797)
14. Thekchok Dorje () (1798–1868)
15. Khakyab Dorje () (1871–1922)
16. Rangjung Rigpe Dorje () (1924–1981)
17. Ogyen Trinley Dorje () (b. 1985) or Trinley Thaye Dorje () (b. 1983)

Notes

References

• Official websites of His Holiness Karmapa www.karmapa.org or www.kagyuoffice.org
• Thinley, Karma: The History of the Sixteen Karmapas of Tibet, Boulder, Prajna Press 1980.
• Douglas, Nick; White, Meryl: Karmapa, the Black Hat Lama of Tibet, Milano 1975.
• Ken Holmes, Karmapa, Altea Publishing 1995, . Author's website (While the book and web site favours one candidate for the 17th the information on 1st-16th is useful and was the original source for this article)

References

1. The Karmapa, "The Karmapas Lineage", Kagyu Office
2. Orgyen Trinley Dorje and Trinley Thaye Dorje. 4 December 2023, "A joint statement regarding the reincarnation of Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche". ''Karmapa.org''. Retrieved 14 December 2023
3. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. (January 1993). "King of Samadhi Sutra: Oral commentaries given in Rinpoche's monastery in Boudhanath, Nepal".
4. [http://www.buddhistinformation.com/lankavatara_sutra.htm The Lankavatara Sutra] {{webarchive. link. (2006-01-13)
5. "Karmapa Concept Encyclopedia Analysis". Collab.itc.virginia.edu.
6. Wong, Sylvia. (2010). ""The Karmapa Prophecies"". Motilal Banarsidass.
7. Thinley, Karma. (1980). "The History of the Sixteen Karmapas of Tibet". Prajna Press.
8. Levin, Norma. (2013). "Miraculous 16th Karmapa: Incredible Encounters with the Black Crown Buddha". Shang Shung Publications.
9. Rinpoche, Thrangu. "THE KARMAPA CONTROVERSY".
10. {{cite letter. Shamar. Rinpoche. (6 June 2006). link