The Karmapas

The Gyalwa Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. He is unique among the great lamas of Tibet, having reached full enlightenment centuries ago. During a previous incarnation, Karmapa was at the side of the historical Buddha as the great Bodhisattva Loving Eyes (tib. Chenrezig). From the year 1110, he became the first recognized incarnate lama of Tibet and continues to take successive conscious rebirths.

H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje

H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje was born in Tibet on May 6th 1983. He was the first son of the 3rd Mipam Rinpoche, a great Nyingma Lama, and Dechen Wangmo, the daughter of a noble family descending from King Gesar of Ling. At the age of one and a half the boy started telling people that he was the Karmapa. In 1994, he and his family managed to escape from Tibet to Nepal and then to India. The young Karmapa arrived in New Delhi in March of the same year, where during a welcoming ceremony H.H. Shamar Rinpoche formally recognized him as the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. The 17th Karmapa was given the name of Trinlay (meaning Buddha activity) Thaye (limitless) Dorje (unchanging).

In 1997, H.H. the 17th Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje was officially invited to Bhutan for the cremation ceremony of Topga Rinpoche where he was received with full honors. A three-hour drive from the Bhutanese border to the capital Thimpu took seven hours as thousands of well-wishers greeted him along the road. On October 17th 1997, three thousand people came for his blessing and the whole royal family including the king and four queens received him as the 17th Karmapa.

In October 1999, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa embarked on his first international teaching tour and gave initiations to several thousand people in Singapore and Taiwan. The beginning of the new millennium was marked by his first historic visit to the West. In Dusseldorf, Germany, Karmapa was enthusiastically received by 6,000 students from several hundred Diamond Way Buddhist centers from over 30 countries.

In the summer of 2003, H.H. the 17th Karmapa conducted his first official program in the United States, giving a series of empowerments and teachings. On July 19th and 20th 2003, he gave the Karma Pakshi and Medicine Buddha empowerments in San Francisco, California. The event was hosted by the Diamond Way Buddhist Centers, USA.

In December 2003, after completing his formal education, the 17th Karmapa was declared „Great Tantric Master“ (skt. Vajracharya). The 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje currently resides in Kalimpong, India, where he continues his spiritual training and Western education.

1. Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa, 1110 - 1193
2. Karmapa Karma Pakshi, 1204 - 1283
3. Karmapa Rangjung Dorje, 1284 - 1339
4. Karmapa Rolpey Dorje, 1340 - 1383
5. Karmapa Deshin Shegpa, 1384 - 1415
6. Karmapa Thongwa Donden, 1416 - 1453
7. Karmapa Chotrak Gyamtso, 1454 - 1506
8. Karmapa Mikyo Dorje, 1507 - 1554
9. Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje, 1556 - 1603
10. Karmapa Choying Dorje, 1604 - 1674
11. Karmapa Yeshe Dorje, 1676 - 1702
12. Karmapa Changchub Dorje, 1703 - 1732
13. Karmapa Dudul Dorje, 1733 - 1797
14. Karmapa Thegchog Dorje, 1798 - 1868
15. Karmapa Khakhyab Dorje, 1871 - 1922
16. Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 1924 - 1981
17. Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje, 1983 - now

Official web page of Gyalwa Karmapas you can find at www.karmapa.org.