KARMAPA:

'fl IE B1.,,\(,K I-IA1~ LAl\IA

()F

'TIBE'l~

CO,'II'ILL!)
hy
1\')/\ J)()U(;LAS
and
MEHYL WHITE

1.1lZAC & COMPANY LTD

46, GREAT IWSSELL STREET,
LO:\DON

1976
 m

THE BLACK HA T LAMA

The eighth incarnation of Kannapa, Mikyo Dorjc, the symbolic form of the Mabamudra
teachings, shown holding a book and wearing the Black Hat. He is surrounded by past and
future emanations of the Karg)'udpa Lineage. A detail from a large banner depicting the
complete Lineage 'tree' of the Kanna-Mrgyudpa sect, u,ed for visualisation. It is at Rumtek
mOn31i:tcry, Sikkim.
 "'iA'

• ...... ...... ..
HIS HOllN[SS TH£ GYRlWH ~~RMRPR RU~T[K WONAST(RV
GANGTOl<
 TRANSLATION OF THE MESSAGE

With boundle:" wi,,]om ~nd ~killful means Lord Buddha taught us to culti\'ate:
virtue and avoid wrong anions, especially ~tre,sing the value of true compassion,
in order that Liberation ;lIld Supreme Knowkdgt, be: rffcctiI'C:lr achit'\'Cd,

In ;1('('ordalH't' with thc prediction of my predc('l"sor I was, as a ('hild, f('cog'

ni,nlto Ol' of the unbroken lineage of the Gralwa Karmapa, It has bt'cn t'specially
diffirult for me to propagall' tlit, Noble Tc:achinp a, fully as my grt~at prc:dc:c('s,ors,
but I h:IH' /1Ioq ('arnot I}' l'J)(kal'ournl to bt truly bl'llcfieial and hdpful to all
heings, without distinl'lion, If hrnn'forth the true and purl' Buddhist Ttachinp
t'an p('nctratl' throughout the: world in cn:ry language then I belin't that all
\\Orldly troubles and misnin will be assuaged,

This book, on the origin and tradition of the gn'at Kargyudpa Lineagt', will be
Illost ht'lpful for undtTstanding the Buddhist Dharma and will be beneficial for all
who long for Enlightl'llment. I am therefore most gratl'ful to those who have
worhc:d with faith and dt'l'otion tr~nslating and compiling it.

At this tiTl1l' in tht, Dark Age, when thcrt, is dis{,;lsl', farlline, war and pcopk
----d i('-I)c fore t ht' ir--t iIlle -1- pr ay-tlra 1- t II clIln it- (1) t;li ncd -fro nn II is-W()r k-nr:. y-\Jc ne fi t--------
;i11 beings and bring PClt't', I ~Iso pray that all may karn IOl'ing kindm'" for om'
anothn, that rhne may bc a wealth of hal'pinn\ and that all will achieve
Fnligh !rnmt'nt,

I, the Gyalw3 Karrnapa, holdcr of the unbroken Lincagr, by my own hand

hal'e ~t.dcd this, The }Tar) 973,

(Seal and Signaturc)

 INTRODUCTION

Thi~ rcmarkablt do('unlt"nt, ~crupulously compiled from authentic Tibetan sources,

tdh of the trammi~~ion of mystic tl':lchinp from India to Tibet and their sub-
M'qucnt embodiment in the line of successive intarnate Lamas known as the
Karlll:lpa Black-Ilats, For thl' first time the T<C;Jchl'rs of the gTl'3t Kargyudpa 'Oral
'I Lln'mission' art ~hown as an inttrwnnl'Clt'd Lillt'Jgr Jnd their trul), t'xtraordinar>,
Iik'stllril'~ rdated in an hi~toril'al context, right up to thr present. Thl' wmcious-
IIns l'Xprnsed shows a distinctl), Eastern vir\\' of reality. in which the conn-pt of
Jrbirth and the 3 n:l' pta rlt'l' of the all'pcr\'ading influl'ncc of action (I\arm,l) in the
formation of tll'stiny is of particular importanc(',
Karmapa ml'am 'Man of ,\nion', ;J Ma~ll'r of J\;nm,I, As 3n t'manation of the
cOl11p.l'Sion:ltr /iudl.. i,\"t11J,1 A\'alokitnhwara Ill' was thr first incarnatt' Lama
('//1/}.;I/) of the Tii>ttans and has bcen honourni as a Li"ing Buddha for tht last
l'ight huntln'd ),ears, in an unbrokt'n succession, The present sixtn'nth incarnation
of Karmap3, His I\oliness Hangjung I{igpt, Dorje, wa~ rerognistd and !Jrought up
in thr m:lnll('r of his predt,(t'ssors, but the Chilll'st, inl'asion of his country forced
him to takt, rdugt, in Sikkim, whnt' ht, has foundt'd a large monastic Centre for
thl' pro!1lolgation of thl' Buddhist teachings, It wa~ through hi~ enthll~i;lsm and
g('nn(l~ity that this work UtllC into being, The story is hi~, told ill the tr~ditional
lll:llllH'r and under hi~ scrutiny and guidant't', In li!Jet Iife-storil",~ of emint'nt
I.amas art' bt-lincd to bt' exn,lltnt I'ehicks for ,In inner awakening and art' Tl'ad
in tht, ~pirit of al'lu:I1 initiation, In this English rcnlining (()pious footn()te~ and
r:l-h-rClll-l:;;-l)ill'c-\'t'i.'O;fd(ir-li--Whtrc re I('I 'J n t;- a ~-OI-mC'l m- t o-a id ing_t hcu'_3slJ:r IJl_
ullll.rstand the significOIJll'e of the incidtnts, It i~ hopt'd that the t:xtt'mil'c
'Ippl'lldicn and tht' lengthy glossary will make this a col1lpkt(, uook,
Tht' first part ('()ncrrm tht, ancient tramlllis,ion, which began in India about
(llll' t hO\Jsand years ago, Tht Yogi Tilopa rCl'ei\'e~ the highest init iat ions, perf el'ls
tht- Tantric \clchings and b('coll1l'S 'a Ma~ter. a Siddha, Ik transmit~ the t'~>cncc
of hi~ ,lItainll1cnt to hi~ di~ciple N3ropa, who in turn bel'Omes fully perfected,
Siddha l"aropa teaches Lama Marpa, a Tibetan, who later heromcs Healized and
undertakes the work of tramlating the esotcric teachings, Lama ,~1arpa accepts
Milart'pa as his disciplt and .!ftn many hard tests transmit~ the complete teachings
to him, From the Hermit'Yogi Milarepa the teachings pass to Gampopa, who in
turn initiates Dusum Khyenpa. the first Karmapa (1110,1193),
Traditionally the coming of the first Karmapa fulfils a prophec)' m:ldc by
l.oTd Buddha Mlll1e sixtc('n hundred y('ar~ pre\'iously, As an t'manation of the
B()dhi~att\'a AI'alokittshwara he t'omo to the world in order to help ;11I"I'iatc the
sllfferinp of humanity and immtdiatcly takes on the ta~k, Ik build~ monastl'rie~,
di~trihutes aim', heals tht sick and prtJ,hes to thc people, In subscqut'Tlt incar-
 nations, trJn:lIing widely, he ht"comn the Teacher of great EmplTors and Kinp,
using his intluence to further peace and spirituality in Tiuet, China, Mongolia,
Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and India. A Mastt'l of miraclt and prophccy, K:mnapa
use~ hi~ powers to emph:lsi~e the rtlcI'ance of his teachings.
The six tccn lifl--storit,s of the Karmapas, compiled from Tibetan biographies
and diaries, COITr right hundred Yl'ars of el'ents of great cultural and historical
importance. Dctaikd accounts of tht- initiatiom, \'isiom, miracles and prophecies
gil'e a great imight into the structure of Tihetan mysticism, pointing to para litIs
only recently being nplorni in the West. Throughout thl' life'stories th(' pia), of
/\Jrl/1.1 is l'l'er,dolllin:lIlt, tramccnding life-timn, forming tht' course of history. It
is in this reSptTt tllat the tLll'hinp of the Karm:lpas hal't a rdn'ann' particularly
suited to the prl's('nt age.
h'er), tffort has ken made to emure accuracy ,mel cbrity. Sometimcs it has
h('en I':duahlt, in the fO(ltnotl'S, to gin' a full tr:lJlsliteration from the 'I ibetan,
II'hl'rt'a' in the ttxt ibdf we ha\'(,: kept to:1 simpkr and more easily f('adabk form.
Various \\'estc:rn t('fms such as lkity, Goddt'ss, Sal'iour halT hcen used to express
Listt'rn concepts, which should be undns\(lod in their Buddhist sense. The manu-
~nipt was compikd undn n:trclJldy difficult conditions, owing to thn'ery limited
t Hlle in which the original Tibetan reftTenl't' works could be t'Ollsulted in Sikkim,
hn~1 additions and eorrel'liom werc made wllik accompanying /lis /I(llilleS~ The
SIXltTllth GplwJ Karrmpa 011 pilg-rim:lge in India. The fl'adn\ indulgenct i~
rcgul'qnl for allY minor errors which may rcmain.
Most gr:lldul Ihanb art owcd to JI. H. The (;plwa Karmapa and all those at
Ihe Humtd; monastcry who gal'l' their time to make this work pm'iblc. Further
-a"knowledgtllwnt~-art'dlle-to-the-Vcll~Eh(lb')'am'l'rurrgpa-/{inpoche-;-th-e-VCif'AKCJrlg
Hinpochl' and the \'en. Dor7ong Hinpoche for their kind help in supplying
I'aluablc <ldditional material, to Ihe Govcrnment of India, Iknan's lIindu Ullin'r'
,it)', Iknarc~ Samkrit Vnil'('fsit)', the Bengal A~iatic Society Calcutta and the
Tribhul'an Unil'Crsit)' of I'\epal for their assistanl'c in making available all research
LlCilitics. Special credit to the work of G. C. C. Chang. Karma Khcrhog I'almo,
Karma Tinl:!), Hinpoche, H, E, Richardson and G. N, Honil'h, as also to those
who have contributcd photographic material and ~('n·ic('s. Finally, particular credit
to Meryl White, who has worked with me on this projcct and to Messrs Luzar &
Co, wh(l have brought it to completion.
Nil.. Douglas
 PAin ONE

THE ANCIENT TRANSMISSION

 SIDDIIA TlLOPA
The statue w", carved from a rhinoceros horn by the tenth Karmapa incarnation, Chos Yin/:
Dorjc (J604·1674) and i, preser\'ed in the new Rumtck monaqer)" Sikkim.
 SIDDIlA TILOPA (9RR-1069) nib: 7'i-Io-p.1)

Tilopa wa~ horn into a IIrahmin family of Ea~tcrn India, I in the Illalt tarth mouse
year (9RR)_ Legend tells that a~ a boy he was put to a test by the grt:at Siddha
N:lgarjuna,' who asked for hi~ help across a ri\'C:r. Carrying the Teacher on his
h:l('k the young Tilopa waded feark~sl)' through the raging waters, Ilever doubtillg
that he would reach tht other silk saftly_
Some years later f'agarjun:1 again appeartd in the district and found Naropa
playing at bring a King, with two young girb as his Qutens, Tht, young man
immediatt'ly prostratcd himsdf befon' the Siddha, who asked him if he would
fI:ally Iikt, to become the King, Laughing Naropa replicd that indeed hl' would,
hut addl'd that it was unlikely l'\'er 10 happen, When the King of that rt'gion died,
howl-\'t'r, the State Ekphant, guided hy Nagarjuna\ Illagiral powers, pla('('d the
ritual \'ase of holy water 011 top of Tilopa\ he;ld, thu~ indicating the Divinl' choice
for the nell' Illonarch, At the salllt time the brrc1t ~age conjurnl up a might)' and
in\'incible arlll)' whil'h would only obey thl' ('(llIlmands of Tilopa,
The young,man was crownl'd King and after n:igning for scnTal years began
to weary of the lift, of luxury_ l{olOundng his kingdom hl' becamt a monk, lie
received formal initiatiom into the pricsthood, being ordained by his unck at the
Tantric tl'mpk of Somapuri, in l!tng.d, One day, whik cngaged in his pril'~t1y
dutie~. an ugly hag-lih wonWl appeart'd hrfore him and asked if he would lih to
atlain trUt' Enlightcnml'l1t. Tilopa rCl'ogni~l'd ht'r as a /).1/;;11;, a keeper of csotnir
~ecrrt~, and begged for her instructiom, She initiated him into the C!.'.1knHam:",Jr.1
Tal1lr.1~ and he was ahk to absorb the tt':ll'hings fully,
________ li!Clpa sta}'cd at SorllJpuri for twelve year~, engaging himsl'lf in the rt'\Takd
tt'arh ings:-'1c -y.;a;;-al'Fluvi<:it-fnTrl-Tl rnl~oh hrJ),1 k il1i.l;· 5Ur\'i\'ing-many-ordeals---
and temptations, culminating in his merting with the f),I/;;ni-Qul't'n' herself, from
whom he rcn'ived the full and final tr,lmmission of the teathings, lIl' unitt'd with
a Yogini-asl'etic, who was a pounder of sc~ame sccds, and on thi~ ael'ount was
drivcn out from the order of monks, lie went to livl' in londy tTl'lllation-grounds
and was belicved to be a madman,
Tilopa travelled throughout India, ml'eting many fine teachers from whom he
recei\'ed initiations into many esoteric practices, Sometime~ he poundt'd Sl'same-
seed (Skt: Til) to earn a living and it is said that his name deri\'td from thi~, His
main tl'al'her was the Celcstial Buddha Vajradhara, from whom he recri\Td the
direct transmission of the teachings, without the need of any intermt'diary, The
Mab.1111Udr.1 especially was revealed to him in this way, Of the Siddhas with
whom he came into contact some of the bnter known were Luipa 5 , Krish-
nacharin", Vajraghanta 7 , Mat:lngi", Vinapa 9 and Darikapada ' 0,
From the Four Dirl'Ctions he rectived the Four Precious Doctrinn, and the

5
 KAHMAI'A, lilt Ill,ACK IIA'. LAMA OF l111L1'

thret esoteric teachings of l\'orhu Korscm " were aho re\'(·alt·d 10 him. lie orought
together tht many schools of Indian Tantra, romolidating thtm into ont syw:m,
I:Xprt:s~ibk in ~e\"cn parts. Thc ttJching~ derivc ooth dirtctly from tht Ctlestial
Buddha Vajradhara 12 and frolll hi~ nUlllt:lou~ human teachers. Thus;

(NOHTII)
Luipa
Drt'ngipa
Darikapada
Sukhadari
Dhobipa '3 Sukha~iddhi
Vinap'l Tanglopa 17
(WEST) TILOI'A (EAST)
Lawapa l4 Shinglopa '8
Indr'lbhuti'S Karnartpa
Nagarjuna
Arradtva 16
Chandrakirti
Matangi
(SOUTH)

IIc lived in dnertl'd plar('~ and became recognist·d a~ a great Yogi hy the
hCJ\Tnly light which wntinually surroundnl him. Onn· he appeared s(·ated on a
lion and manifcsttd the power of rontrolling both tht· ~un and tht moon, so
pUlling to shame a non-Buddhist Yogi called Mati who had boastt·d that ht
P()sscs~cd tht most occult power. On another occasion Tilopa flew high in thl' air
with his ronsOr! and could be seen from a crowded marktt'placc.
Tilopa had a number of fine di~riples, the foremost of whom were Lali-
tavajra 19 and Naropa. His teaching was the expression of the highest realization of
Yoga, He passed awa), in the female earth bird rear (I (69), at the age of eight)'-
(Inc and entered tht suhtle realms.

"Do not imagine, think or deliherate,

,\kditate, act, but ht at rest. lO
With an ohjl'u do not be collluned,"
(Tilopa)

(,
 l I n ANClHIT l"AN~MIS~ION

I OOrNO'I LS

) LUIlI., llH;tuathll !tH)'!> he: ........ ' bow ill alit Lll,trrll (it)' of C .. tifhilVO, idrollflC'd ., Chiua.glHlg. E. licngwl.
1 Tht" pCilt I'hilo .. ophrr-Y"fi lintl Alchrllli~I. Iht" fll\ln,kl of lh," A1.Jdl'y.HI/I/",J M:houll,f :\t.,}',J)·,lIio1 lie- Willi
hom ~oulh Illdili ~\holar!> lit(: \'t'I)' JlviJni "huut lhe rnioJ lIf hi .. Ide, lie r("\'t'otlcd tilt' t(,'H:hlO~ of
/·r.'j'J.lI'.1r.1mitQ
:\ A IHl:ljor Tantri( ("",olni" lc<t(liini:' a 'rool-lex,' of the Kllrgyudpa lord in 1 ihel.
Onl" hii!hl)' h)'11I1101lnll .lOr), Idl~ litH', ht' 'up":" tht /i.. L-iui QUC't"1l wnd IInB. gt'"t, lill the !'cOt'lltI.
A Ikllflili, who u!IonJ 10 eli! the cnll.il .. of fi~h.

to Fftlm O,i~:.a. Ihi!'> fa· ... ' Si,Jdha WIi' tilt- di"'~'il'lt" of Jlll:wdh:ui and .lit" ((,"Ilcller of "hnlipa.
'I il, /Joryt' 'J n/J"Jl'a
tI A Notth ~IlJ,th.

Wlw plil),rd 011 tht \'iOIl, II ~IIIU~('J ill'trulIlt"llt.

I 0 A Ikllpli. tht· J!'I il'lc- uf tht· SiddhOi I uipOi laud ,,1'(1 (If tht, ~~r(,lll "(~illi Lllhlllllillkllrll. ~ILldIUl DOlrikapadu
Wlulc (Ill the "'oll.1t II.,L-,., 'I.:mtr~

IIUt, .. In. . ,,111Iilll.'"':)'dC'''.

11 Tht" Ad, JIIJ,/.Jh.l. tilt, OTlfHhtl Buddha.

I ~ A vdt~h"rn);Ui, ":110 Ilvt"l1 III ~tlhputtrwllll}!ill, 1ft nu'l II Y0i!i who illitiatrd him 11110 tilt' 1Il)"u"rirl> hi
e}'Jkr.H/H'11'ar.J Aftcr "'Olllt· )'C1IT~ of Ilfa("lil,.'c ht' IHlllinC"d pcrft'dioll alld "t'nunc: a SiJdhll.. lie- t!lt'll WU" .hlr
10 dcull dlrly dothn II)" luncl)' \lI~lrhin~ tht"J1l.

I. Who wort' only iii \O.'uul blilllkcl. Thi .. lrlldilion i:o. I11l1illt~illnl hy IWIIl) 11(1), mel) V';l1dl'u1) ill India. LlI"lIpa
('jllle" hom tlit" HHIIlU)' of llr}o::)'t"11. Onl (. Ii [JolA'1I11 thrt'w MlIllC" at him illld ill fur), ht tUrIlrd all the W()IHC'II 111
till" .'C"iinlo ,.lwC'p. ftc ,.hC'illl·d thC'l1I and mude hil1l~df iii. wHolen hhl1lkrt-rohe f'om (hc' ncC"rC"~. lain ht
IUrllnl tlU' ,ht'("1' barl.. illttl womeJl .~aill.
I ~ A h:iu)! \\110 hn'arn(' • !\ld~lhll. the 'buhe, of .'lldl1ltl,-"mhhilvll (who t"~hhli,h(·d th(" Ht'd Hat Nyinl!llIlIl).
1".flui,' Huddhi .. m in Til>el). Ite ruled the ('OuJllr), ur
Uddi)"8Tln, the IotrcHt ('("nln' 'lrTIlJltriMll in the' t"u,rI)'
\'IlJ1jJ.l'.Hl,1 pc:riod ... UJdl)'II.IHI (If l!rl.~'C'n, i~ r-ithC"r 10 I.c Im'.lcd in Ori"w (I·: ... IC"rII Indiu mnll)' ",~'holltr ... huld
thi .. viC'w in lh(" li"".-III Hf l'onvindJ1i! c\'idcTll'c) (lr in the S""'U,1 rC"~ion 01 N()JthcrJ! I'.kit-Iall. t\11lJ! Illdrahhuli',
",jqef "'a' calln) L.k,hmi11t..;arfl. thc i!rn&1 \'ol-:ini" c;.;pnulldcr oj tht .~.J/,aJ'I)'J",;J t'OIl("CPt. aUld tC'lldlCr of ~id,th.
-Liluvlljul.--"nl('_1!!!!~{ fafHou, \\'(Hk of SII.IJh'l Indtuhhuli i .. Ihe }tl.lIId\l.lJI.',"
Ito . --------------------:---------------
A j.:lC'1I1 ~lIldhlt hum the ~outh. Author llf tlit, C,lla\f1JJ.I1'1.1/IriJ~·oraT/a
I? I'HtI1\ Northelll A"ltlll

J~ A Sidllh ... ""ho dtr .. \("d (111)' in IUHl-. and Icu\·C"!o.. In Jndi" !low.daY1- thi,tradilinn i .. !tulnrlinll''' fl)J&inulincd
h)' thr (;"., ~adlms.
19 Wlw introduced ",("'\'rral flCW Tunua:o. of impOfUIIl"(', ('~rc ..:i1llly the I\ri!oJ.'na),.HnJri '/antra
20 Thn(' art' the hmoul" '~i\ T"ril':o." uf Slddh. Tilnpa

7
The main Siddhas of the Kargrudpa sect. A detail from the great Lineage Tree thangka at
Humlek monastery, At the top is LotTO Hinchen. wilh the Siddhas Saraha and Nagarjuna to
Iht kft and right. llnd",n,'alh arc Siddha Sha\'aripa and S,ddha Maitripa and belo\\ Ihem the
)'oXi",·Siddha Yeshe Khandro (centre), with Siddha Matangi and Siddha Luipa to the Irft and
ri~ht. Chandrakini is helow Ye,he Khandro. with Siddha D.rikapada to the Irft and Siddha
Sukhad.ri to th,' riglll, Under Chandrakirti i, Siddha [)n'n!!ip. with Siddha Vinal" and Siddha
L1wapa to the kft and TI~IIl, Below is S,ddha DIlllloipa (renlTe) with Khandro K;dpa Zang to
Ihe kft and SiJJh. Tangl"pa to the ri!!ht. Under Dholoip. is Siddha Indr.lohuti \\ ith Siddha
Karnan'r' and S,ddh. Holpa to the Irfl and right. Finally at the bottom crntre is Siddha
Shin~lopa with Jnana!!.r!>h. 10 the I,-ft .nd Siddha Pentap', The Lineage Tn'c continues with
Ih ... Adi·Buddha, followed hy the direct Kargyudpa transmission of Siddha Tilopa. S,ddha
Naropa, Ma'pa. M,)arrpa. Gamropa. and the Karmar.'. Shamarp.'. Sit up." Gyait,aras and soon,
 SID[)IIA NAROPA
Thr statuto wa~ fan"cd from a rhin()ccro~ horn by the tenth KJrm:1pa incarnJtion, Chos YinF
Duri" (1604 ](,74) and i~ rrr,,'C\'cd in Ih .. nt'w "umlt" m()nJ~tt'f)', S,kkim,
 SI!)DHA t\:\ROPA (1016-1100) Cfib: Na-ro-pJ)

Naropa wa~ born into a royal family of Bengal, in the malt fire dragon year (1016),
There wert' many unu~ual and auspiriom onlt'm at the time of his birth, The
dlild was nanll'd Samantabhadra and was cartfully brought up with the idca that
11(' would n't'Iltually become King aftcr his father, howt'\'Cr his interests moved
tow;lIds the Buddhist Dharn);l, At the age of eight he den13nded to be allowed to
go to Kashmir for hight'r t'ducation, and aft!:r much dispute he was permiltt'd to
nuke the journey, Ill' arriv<:(l thn(' at the age of c!n'l'n and bt'gan to study the
arts, the sricncn. grammar, rhrtorir and logic under the most (,Illinent te,Khers,
The young scholar rt'mained in Kashmir for thrn: )'l'ar~ and tht'n ITturnrd to
hi, P;ll'l'Ilts, Ill' wa~ forced into m;trriage with a Brahmin girl, \~im;!ladi-Ri: and
hlt'd wllh her fOl ught years dUrlllg whIch tlllle shc IX'CJmt' hIS dlsnplc.'. ~' rhen
lit' imiqed that the marriagt' be dissoll'l'd, so tnahling him 10 wntinue with his
qutiics in K;!shmir. Thert he was ord:lint'll as ;1 novirt' and l'ngagnl hirmdf in
qudics for thrn: ycars, Ik ht'C,tnlt' rtllo\\'nl'd for his remarbblr scholarship and
karning,
At tht agc of tw(,nty-eight Narapa rt'luflll'd from Kashmir and wcnt to li\'l' at
Pullahari, lit- joined the ntMhy Nalanda uni\'l:rsity which was presided over b)'
four great Buddhist Mastt'rs," Upon thl' dt'ath of one of thclll hl' was dtTll'd to
the vacant plan:, Thm, takinj.: the nanll' of Abhayakirti, he htcamc an Abhot of
Nalanda, lIi~ fame sprtad far and he l'(lJ)\'t'ftt'd many to the way of Buddhism. For
t'ij.:ht Fars he taught at Nalanda,
Onl' day, whik studying his ho.{~k~, an old woman :ll'pl'ared hdorl' him, mani-
-feqing-thin)'-~n'l'n_ugL)'_f~.i!l!lLC~'\.,l',~~ l'm!todill1l'nt of the I'ajra /J<lkill;" ~he
fl'l'takd to him the futility of book-know!c.:dgl.:-aiiatxplaitll-i.lflfach-cr-"brolher-"-
(Tilopa) could transmit real hll(lwkdgt" N:lfopa left hi~ t'xaltcd positioll at the
univt'rsity, gal'c up his hook~ and ~tl out in starch of hi~ dcstilll'd teacher,
'I ravt'lling towards the East, with only a rohc, a staff, and a hegging bowl,
ht' cnt'Ountered many strangt' manifestatiom in thl' ~t'ardl for his teacher. As hl'
wa~ about to commit suicidt, out oj despair hc suddcnl), met Tilopa, "a dark
man drl'ssed in cotton trousers, his hair knotted in a tuft, and with protruding
blood-shot eyes,"
Tilopa rcveakd the Lincage'_~ teachings to Naropa and tlwn put him through
twrllt, hard tests, each of which ultimatcly resulted in the transmi~sion of an im-
portant esoteric tea,hing, Though Naropa suffered considlTably he persevered and
[('('eived all the higher initiatiom, For some years he frequented the cremation-
grounds of Eastern India and was generally takl'l1 to be a madman, Ilaving ;lbsorbcd
the full tran~mi\Sion of hi~ teacher. Naropa tra\'dltd to a rcmolt' region and there
t'll~agcd himself in meditation,

11
 KAIiM/d'A, 1111·: Ill.ACK IIAT 1.AMA OF 1 Ill!;"

Some timr passed and then Tilopa instruned other disciples to fetch Naropa,
declaring that there was ~ome work for him to do. Naropa rerurned to Pullahari,
where in a vision he ~aw the arrival in India of the Tibt·tan pilgrim Marpa, who
was soon brought to him. Marpa was arCl'pted as a disciple, was initiated into the
higher Tantras" and taught the Mabanllldru to perfection. On two other occasions
Marpa tr;l\,tlled from Tibet to meet Naropa, thus enabling tht Oral transmission
to be preserved into the fururt.
Naropa spent his last }'t'ars in isolation, onlr occasionally appearing to his
closest discipln in times of need. lit passed on to the subtle realms in the mall'
iron dragon year (1100), at the age of eighty·four. lIis fort'most disciples were:
(i) SlImllA DOMBIII HEHUKA (Dplllbhip:I): lit- was a King of Magadha, in
the East. From Siddha Virupa'.") hl' receivl'tl pr~linary initiations. Ill'
uniH'd with an olitcaSlC girl (Sahajarogini Cintar·2) and kept her as his
mistress. When his suhjects show('d disapproval the King went off to live
with hn in the junglt-s Thrrc was a famint in the land, after which tht King
rttllrned with his mistrtss, riding upon thl' back of a tigress and holding
poisonous snakes. Be survived an ordeal by firt, took over his Kingdom and
spread tIll' Dharma wid,·lr. Siddha Domhhipa \\~as a teach('r of Siddha Krish·
nacharin and also of Lama Drogmi (992·1072)?"·~the founder of tht' Sakyapa
S(Tt in Tibet.
(ii) SlDDHA SHANTIPA: Ik was born in Magadha, into a Brahmin family, and
studil'd the Vl'da~ a~ a young man. lit- became a monk and was admitted to
the Vikramashila unil'ersity where he received teachings from Jetari. He
bt'Came an Abbot of Somapuri and taught thert' for ~everal years. Then he
--3(,H'ptl'd-an--inl'itat-ion-to-Cc'ylon,-traITlling--thefe-in-urdn--t(Lspread-the----
Dharma further. After a stay of thrt'e year~ he returned to Eaqern India, on
thr way metting and initiating thl' future Siddha Kodalipa. 30 Upon his
arril'al at Vikrama~hila he wa~ appointed Abbot of the Eastern quarter and
quickly became famous for his erudite scholarship and supremc mastery of
dd,ate. He had many fine di~ciples, onc of the forrmosl of whom was Lama
Drogmi,l J the founder of the Sakyapa sect in Tibet. Siddha Shantipa passed
away at the age of Onto hundred and eight years.
(iii) SIDDHA MAITRIPA: A great teacher of the Lineage of Siddha Saraha. Be
influenced many of the important new teachers, especially Dipamkara Atisha
(982·1054) and Marpa. Ik was also the teacher of Bodhibhadra.
(iv) SHANTIBHADRA: A great Tannic teacher of Eastern India.
(v) PITOPA: Who developed and expounded the Kalacbakra Tantra. 32
... (vi) DIPAMKARA ATISHA: Be was born as the second son of a Bt'IIgali King, in
the year 982. As a young man he studied hard and soon became a maqcr of
debate. At the age of twenty·two he had a vision of Hcvajra and ~hortly

]2
 1111· ANLlE"'l T\("''''SMI~~ION

afterwards he met the teacher Rahulagupta, who initiated him into the
I'ajra nih",' Tal1tra. He met a I>.Jkil1i, who was wt>aring a nn'klace of bones
and ~kulls and from her he rcCt'i\'ed initiations and the mystic songs. The
Siddha A\'adhutipa bestowed further initiations on him. He abo studied
under the famom master Dharmakirti.
At the agt' of twenty-nint, Atisha rt'(ei\'ed ordination as a monk, after
\\hich he spent his time studying the many A1.liJayalla SlItras under the most
illustrious tcachers. He hecame Ahbot of Vikramashila, which prospered
grt'atly under his guidan(,t and idter ~ollle yean. accepted an in\'itation 10
\'isit Tibet, arriving there in 1042. Ik tran'IIed all over the country, preach·
ing and t'stahlishing religious cmtres. Ik passed away in the )'Car 1054. His
main discipk was the Lama DOllllOnpa. 3H
(\'ii) MARPA: The Tibetan "Translator", who carried the teachings to 'J'ioet, so
forming the heginnings of the Karg)'udpa sect. His lift"story follows.
(J012-1097).

H)()TNOTI'.S

, I)-illt- 6rl"al1lC' II gTntl Yu~ini. ~n(ly,'n &" t\ig~ll1la. and laul!hl (he T.ntrll.....
,,}, WIHI wert' n.lkd Shhrab Jungut'!'>., ~.~Iwllil (Kri~hnal'harin), ,('tari and Rawakara!<lohanti.
,:\ lib /Jury'- rh0J.!"'o,
z.... , .. Th('",C' ,hirl), ..ItI:°\lCIi u~l)' fUlur("'~ In- li"cnt'd 10 37 ....lIlhwll)"''' (r,;Jdl~). Ihe .uhtk ,-h a nll(,,," , I'. Ih.(ll0 37
"Mfnelll L.imh of worldly dll\... "tP.fil~-ti()n.
'H The' lint' of lllr('(,1 Iran",mi".. ion.
--.~-~' "i'-F'p(,,(:lill}-'---ttf<--JIh..'~jr.F1'(J'ltra~thc-(-,'ub)'a!O.lrnoljQ-lim,ra-and-lhC'_( hJJ.rJ.i;o.a'm~atol-':LaX'Ig--,------
, " Sahajl:l)'l,pni Clntl wa", • grnl f("o}ll(' .'('C'li(, • di,ciplc uf ~Hldh. l>:arikap'Hil.l.. ~h( WII.' • .1(">(I""C' of
\ 'aj"-al.dI tl'"
)'car~ I' the (atIlOU,. \'ikTllma",hilll Tunuil uni~"cr!oit)'. IIr
'lP' Lama Prll(:mi J.P(,fll t'i..,-rfll Wit' .1",,\ a di"'iplr of
~IJJhli Shantiplt., wlw initiurd him into tht' 1Ir"V,JJrtJ 'f'Dntra
29 Virur a. a di",ciplr of l..ahhmink.ra, tauJ!ht A\'a~lhlJt ira /I t"cal ~H1dha.
30 Sidtlha Kodaiipll v.'.", I farmr-r in the Sc,uth llf India. Shll.lltira I(IlVC him a IT\C"Chtation fur hill- wor).. and "(lOll
he Lt-l.·amc rc-drclcd.
,",)1 '"hi,. Lama J>J{)~i uu~ht Marpa San.krit.
;11 Which WiL' bruught from Shambala l"Ountry. whidl may hC' ...kmifiC'd a!o rhr rC''';on of !\amhll.lpur, in
Oris,., A wealth of n'idC'nc{' fiU~('M'" th.t '·itnp. ('ame from Ea.'tC"rn India SC'c "Hllddf)i~m 'n O,,.~,..l " hy
N. K. Sahu. puhli'hC'd hy lltkal l'ui\'(,Hit)'. 195J{, ra~C' 14H. Tht lontion of ~hamhala ha' alwap hc-e-n
linke-d In that of llrg),r-n, om'( hrl.r'Vcd to be- in thc Swat re-I-!;on of N. W. InJI&. but rC('('ntl)' more ro"iti\'ci)'
idC-lltiflC'd with OriJo.....
.41I-~ln{)5·10(l4), Tib Ihom Unn.

(For full dctails of N~ropa's life-story, ~ce "1'1,1' I.ifl' of ./\".IrO/hl", tramlated hy
H. v, Guenther. Oxford l'ni\'lTsit)' Press, 1963.)

13
 MAIH'A
Tht, ~tatu(' wa\ can"c"d from a rhirwn:ro!' horn by tht, I,"nlh J\arm~lpa incarn;Jtion, Cho\ Yin!!
Porj" (1(.041674) and i, prt''''rnd in Ihl" new Rumll"k mona',,·ry. Sikf.im.
 MARPA (lOl2-lUY7) (Tib M,Ir-pa)

"brpa wa~ born in the malt watn mou~e )T;tf (l012) in Southt'rn Tibl'!. Iii, fathtr
prophnied that hl' hall tht· potential for gn'at ,piritual attainments. prOl'idt'd tilat
Ill' chlJ'.e the right path. At an tarl), age he rlllhr:ll'ed Buddhi,m. taking the name
of Dh:lrlllaTllati. lit- studil'd Sanskrit with thl' S;rkyapa blll:1 Drogmi." Then hl'
ndlangt'd all hi, world), po\Sn,ions for gold and ,rt out for Indi:1 in tht' rom-
1':ltly of a friend.
Tht· journcy lOok tht' two Y(lling men through 1'\epal. wht'fe tlH'Y Illet two
di,tipln of thl' Siddha t\arop:1 "ho irnprnsnltht'Ill wcatl), with tht'ir pr.lctital
kno,\lnlgc. Aftn a long and difficult journey Marpa wa, It'll dirt'ctly to t\aropa.
who :'tTl'ptt·d him as a ,piritual ,on and ht-gan to tLITl'lllit tht' tcarhing, to hilli.
Marpa pre,cntt'd allth(' gold to hi, tl'arhn a .. an offning.
For ,i:>.l<Tn ),('ar, Marp:' rtl't'in-d initiation .. and tl':ll'hinp from t\aropa. lit,
rl'nilnl addit ion:" t('.'rhing' frolll J n:It1:'garbha H in tht' Wot and from Siddha
Kukurip:r" in th(' South. Anothn of Kllopa'" di,tipln. Siddha M:,itripa. taught
him the .Hd'.l1l1udr,l to pnft-ction. Marpa spmt so lilt' tifill' li"ing in nl'n,:ltion-
ground, and then rcturned to Tibn.
Marpa Spcllt man)' )'l'ars tr:lmlating tht, rnanu .. nipt cupie .. of the Tantric
teachings hrought with him frolll India. lit· ntaoli .. hn! ;1 l'tllllmunity farlll and
!llo'na,tetY at Lhohrag. and married D:lglllt'm:l who bOH' him '<Tnal son" I It' was
f..llOwn as .1 tl':lchcr by only a small l'xriusil,(, gr oup of disciI'll", amonpt whom
hl' dispnsl'd tht· l' .... t·lIlT of hi .. undn..randing, lit bt't'Jllll' falllom as a tram!ator.
The tl':lchn Marpa madt, a sl'Conti journt·y to India in ordn to bring had,
mort' te;Jchings to TilJl'!. llpon his Inurn hl' took Mibrep;1 as ;1 disciple. out
___ sul)nlittnLbjIlLt(LU·!1(,;tLC_d_-.J[.i;lL~tLli'1-1s-.llt:f(lrl· fjna 1I)'_J),t'c't (mjflg_ the St'(:r('~
tl':llhinp on him, In answn to a qun)' from Milarcpa concerning the moq seerct
Iholl/!, Jug H tl':lchings Marpa st';!rchl'd through all of his m;!nuscripts but found
that ht· had not the l'Xplanalory Ift'atiso for this practict'. Thncfore hl' dtTidnl to
H·tum O/lCC ag:,in to India. ill the hope of bt'ing abk to f('(Til,(, thosc teachings as
wcll.
Ik .. pite hi, 'ldI'Jllct'd age Marpa undn100k the long journey to India. his
di,eipks contributing gold for the l'Xpense of the journey and for prescntation to
l'\aropa, In India Marpa mt't up with Dipamkara Atisha. who informt'd him that
t\aropa was just about to leave the world, IJOWt'lTr O/l hi, arrival in Eastern India
hc was abk to halT a miral'lllou, ml'cting with his tt'achn, who appc!fl'd in .1
I'i .. ion and transmitted the rcquired tC:ll'hing to him, Marpa then rt·turned to
Tibet.
Marpa al\l':I)''' utili,ed dream' :Ind omens for undn\l;lnding tht, C(1ur .. e of
dC<,liny, /Ie \\'as a hard tl'.lt'hn; famou .. for his r.'ging tClllPl'fS. )'t't t'Llu:dl)' /lotnl

)5
 KARMAI'A, 1 Ill. IlLAC!'; IlAT LAMA 01' 1111~,T

for sudden moments of great gcnnosit), and good humour. Amongq his four
main disciples he distrihuted the esoteric teachings, along with \'arious holy relics
hrought with him from India, In the fc-malt fire ox year (1097) he passcd away at
the age of eighty-six, haring firml), established tht' heginnings of the Kargyudpa
S{'ct in Tiht,!. His fOft'most disciples were:
(i) ) ElSUN MILAREPA: From Gungrhang. Who rt'l't'in'd thl'!t'Jchings of the
Mystic Heat, somt' clothes which had belonged to Naropa and a hat of
.\bitripa.'7 (J052-1 135).
(ii) NGOCIlU DOH)E (Ngogdun Chudor): From Zhung. Who recril't'd TJntric
tt'achings, the Six Ornaments,)' a sacrificial spoon and a ruby ros:lr)' which
had bdonged to Naropa. '
(iii) TSUln ON WANGYE (Tsurton Wangnd: F!<J1Il DoT. Who rrcrivcd tht·
Transf('f('Jlcr tcachings. relics of Narop,l \ hair and nJib. precious pillsH and
a ht'Jd-ornam('Jlt of paintinp of thr five [)by,wdillddh.Js.
(il'j METON TSOl\:PO: From Tsang, Who reccin'd the Clt-ar Light tCJchings, a
thunderbolt·sceptre (I)orjr) and bdl (TriIlJU) whidl had belonged to Narop.l.
as well as a small douhk·drum ([).III1.Jrll) and an o),stcr'sht'lIlibJtion cup.

IOOTI'OTfS

33 Lama nrvgrni WI!. I di",ciplc of ~Iddha Shall1ira and from Siddhll [)()1lJhhi IlcrukM h(' rc-n'j\'rd thr
iniriation of IIrvajrQ
34 Who inilillrd Marra into (he (;JlbyJ~",,,j,, 1Im,r",
,B Who rN'civcd Lntipnrnmrnt lhroug-h hill dog. an rmanation of Ava/(Ikiu:.h1Nlra.
;H The /)ro"X jUK tuchinj!' arr fur ('nlnifll! the bodir-. of othc-r!o.. llM:d for ttK animation of "(lrr"C'~ Tht"
1 rln~formation Yoga.
3' Tht" S,ddha,. di!'('iplc of Naropa, IC'll'hrr of f>ipaml..ara Atir.ha .
.HI BOflC"'lpron, hat, .rnl'han{h, neddae-c, hracrirto. and (,aT-ring-.. The)" arC' symbol, of thr ('ofl\[itucflt, of the
initialor), M.,,,dQ!a.
JY Prrri{lu, pill, .r(' fC'nnal!) m.dc (If 1-'1\,(" J:h"ir!o. (~kl. l',wd'o1mn/ol), (Iflef) mi)'C'd wi 111 relic" Tht" prr,cnt '
(;Yfl'",~ Karrn:lpa dlqrihute, ,uch pill" ("'rC'('iaJly in ("(lnnrt,ti(J!1 wilh the HI;t(k Ibl c('fe-molly.

16
 JETSUt\ MILAR EPA
Thl" !>IJlllf \\.1\ coined (rnm OJ rhinocerl'" horn hy the tl'nth }\Jrm:Jpa incarn;u:'Hl, Chp~ Y~nt!
Dorjc (}()o';')674) and i\ pr,"\cr\'(:d in the nf\\ Humtd, nHlna . . lrry. ~iJ..kjm.
 MILAHEPA (1052-1135)

Mil:trt'pa 40 wa~ born in tht Gungth'lllg prOl'ict' uf Wntt'rn Tibet, c1o~t to tht
Nl'pak~e border,4J on tht' t\\'t'rlly-fifth day of tht' ~l'I'tnth month of tht IllJIe
water dragon yt'ar (1052). lIi~ fathn died \\'I)('n ht was onl), ~t'l'Cn, and tht, family
property \\'a~ left in tht' CIIT of grtniy rt'1atil'n who trt'att'd hi~ mother and him-
~l'lf ITr)' badly, Sht 1>t'CIIllt' I'tTy hint'r and a~ ~oon a~ hl'!" ~on wa~ old tnuugh ~ht
~l'Ilt him off to Irarn tht art of Black Magic in tht' hopt' that ht would hl" al,I(' to
aI't'ngl' tht- \IT(llIgdoillg~,
Thl' ),oung man quickl), Iearnt'd how to lllaIlOl"UITl' tht' p(l\l'l'r~ uf dntrllction,
lit- hrought hal'oc to hi~ I'illagt and cau~td tht, death of man)' peopk, 1I0Wl'l'tT hi~
tl'achn rqlt'ntnl for tht' mi~(kt'd~ and ~l-nt him off to find ~onll"ont' who eould
help him counteract all tht' had 1\.11"111.1.1 aCl'Ulllul:ltl'l1 through hi~ magical incan-
tatium. Thu~ hl" hel';lIlH' a pupil of ;1 :'\yingmap'1 43 LlIlla calltd Hongton, who
~O(ln dirt'rtnl him to M,lrpa·tht'·Trambtor, who wa\ IiI illg in Lhourag,
At till' age of thirtY-('ight Milart'pa hl'Llllll' a pupil of thl' grtat Lama ,\1.lrpa,
who had h:ld ~ I'ision uf hi~ coming, M:upa allollTd him to rt'main at Lhohrag hut
refused to admit him to til(' innl'f rircit- of initiatn Jnd would not gil'(' him any
teaching, /-'or ~ix )'car~ Mil;Jrl'pa wa~ treated like a ~en:ant and was gil'l'n l'Xtrl'nll'ly
diffi('uIt phpical work, Aftn ~tI'l'ral fru~lIating ;Ilt(,lllpt~ hl' finally huilt a
nint-qorini town ;!l'COI ding to the ~peeific.llioll\ uf ~brpa,
Dagnll'ma, Marpa\ wifl', hdprd Milarepa in his mOllll'llts of dl'\pair and
pkaded with hl'[ hu~h:!Ild to all()w Milan'pa the initiation which hl' ~()ught.
Finally the dlffi("U/t triab "TH' OITr, the had /\Ilr/I/,/ med up," and quickly
- - - M i!J rcpa--wa s-~'Tn-tht'- full-t ('a t'hin gs-a II d-i nit-i a ti on s~ Ma ~pa-prt'l'a rnl-h im-f()J~a­
lift' of solitary llH:ditation and imparted the ~('n('t tcachinp of Naropa, in par-
ticular th(' Yoga of thl' Mysti(' lit-at. Clad onl), in t'Ollon, Milarep;l lilTd fOf many
Yt'ars in total i~olation in high mountain {'al'e~, Ik ('ngaged hilmdf in the I'nfec-
tion of thl' !t';lchings tramrllill('d to him,
The yc:ars pas~t'(1 and the wtton-c1ad Yogi bl'caml' fully Enlightened. l'('(Jplc
got to hear about him and sought him out to liqen intelltl), to the m)'stir s()llgS
through which he l'xpoullded his teachings, Aftl'[ l'Omplt-ting nine full years in
isolation he kgan to accept disciples, He continued to Ii\'(, a vt'ry simple life,
spreading his teaching, through his mystic song~, many of whieh S\Il\·j\'t, to this
day. He hecame famous throughout Tibet.
In the f('malt- wood hart' )'l'ar (1135), at the age of t'ight)'-four, Milarepa
p:",cd away, k;l\'ing (·ight 'greater' and thirt(Tll 'In,l'[' di'("iplt-~. ri\'(, of the <'ight
di'cipll'S did not spread :lny teaching, and I\Tl1t str;Jight tothe subtk realms.ThHT
rcmainnl in thc world, two of which [l'cein'd and transmitted the c'otcric
t(',lchil1p of Siddha Naropa, Thoc forclllost di~("iplc~ WtTc:

19
KAI{MA~A, 1H[ IiLACK HAT LAMA OF 11111-T

(i) JE GAMPOPA (Dl'ag'po Lharje): From Nyal. He n·n·i\,ed the complete

teachings. His attainment was compart:d 10 the Sun. The dctailed life-story
follows. (1079-1153)
(ii) REClIUNGPA (Rechung Dorje Trakpa); From Gungthallg. He mel Milart'pa
at the age of dn'en. He: contractcd leprosy and at the age of fiftt·co he: set
out for India in search of a cure:. There: he met and wa~ initiated by Siddha
Balachandra," who abo cured his disease.
Rtchungpa returned to Tibet where he rrmet Milart'pa and rtcrivrd
instrunion from him. Sonw years later he again visited India and was then'
initiated into further teachings of Naropa and Maitripa. Thcse he passed on
to Milarepa and Jc Gampopa. His attainment was cOlllpart'd to the Moon.
0084·1161).
Tht· other foremost disciples were:
(iii) SHIWA OJ) REPA: A young nohleman who mrt Miiart'pa at a ri\'('f-rrossing.
lie bccame \'cry de\'oted to him aftn listt'lling to his sonp. I It- rt'nounced
the world and became a Yogi, ren'iving many of the teachings.
(il') SEWAN REPA: From Dota.
(\') NGAN DZONG CHANGCHVB GYALPO: From Chimlung.
(I'i) Kln'IRA HEPA: From Nyishang.
(I'ii) DHIGOM REPA; From Mus.
(I'iii) SANGYE KYAB REPA; From Ragma.

IOOTNOTES

40 At h.,- hirth hC' wa~ nlkd Thora~". nlcaninr 'Ikhght(ul-to-hrar'.

41 At Kylnga T .... , • fc"".. mila Ea!'1 of modern KyirooE:'
42 I\Qnt1JJ (A("tion~) hive I Icndmr), 10 acC"umulllt'.
• J Thc oldcr Rod Ila' ""ct.
44 An Indl.n Nllih Siddha, of the Carrliti-Gorichandra Line.

(For more details of Milarepa\ lift'-~lOr)', sec: "Tibet'~ (;T{'<lt Yogi Mila1e/',I",
edited by W. Y. h·am·\\'cntz, Oxford Unil'CT~ily Prc~~, 1928 and "OIl('lIundred-
Tbou~alld Songs o[Mil.1rcpa", translated by G. C. C. Chang, New York, 19(2).

20
 JE GAMI'OPA
(Paiminl' r",", Dolpo)
 CAMPOPA (J079-1) 35) crib: .I (.'.17I1-/,o-l'a )

Campopa W:I\ hom in Nyal, Eastern Tii>ct, in the f(-malt e:mh \hn'p ytar (]079),
lIi\ Llthn W:1\ an excel kIlt phpici:lll and l>rou~ht up his ~on with a thorough
LnOllil'dge of the pro!t\\ion, By tht, timt Galllpop:l \\'a\ fifttTn he wa, wdl \'t'r\l'd
ill 1lI.11l)' of Iht, T:lIl1I:IS and W;I\ abo ron\idert'd 10 be a comp('\tnt doctor, At the
a~l' of t\ITllty-two he manit'll, producing a \on and ;1 datJ~htl'f_ Thnc was an
cpidcmic ill Iht, region Jnd the t\l'O childn'n din! suddenly, Tht' young nun \l'a,
ITry UP\l't, npl'ci:dly whl'll his wife abo caught tht' di\l'asl'_ Try a\ he could Ihert'
\I',IS no 11,1)' \0 ("lm' hl'l ,Illd :I' \hl' \I.IS dyillg \hl' :I,kn! him to dnolt' hi\ lift- to
the Buddhi" Ilh:llma,
Ar rhl' ;lgl' of t\\Tllty-,i\ C:lllljlojla rl'u'ill'd (lrdin:llion :I, a mOllk, laking the
1l:lmt' Son:lm Hilllhl'll ;11lt! foJlOllillg lhl' doctrillt" of the I\adampa,,·' Ill- stlldil'd
1I111kr lllallY illu,trioll\ tt';lrht'r\ :1Ilt! qui(ll), dt'l'dopt'd :1 ~()ot! lIndnstanding of
tht, Bliddhi,t Dh;lfllla, AI tll(' agt' of thirty-two he ol'l'rheard ,ome kggar, lalking
,d'OUI Jl't,un Mil:Jrcjla, Imlllnli:ltl'ly Ill' fdl filled wilh dnotion ;ll1d TeJli,nlthat
thi, Yogi llIU~t \utdy bt- hi, destint',l {(::leh,'r,
G;llnpopa \('t out ill search of Milart'pa and afllT l1I:1ny hardships hl' managed to
filld hilll, 1-'<>1 a pniod of thinet'1J mOlllh~ he rt'('l'ilt'd tcachings dircctly, tht'
dortrino of N;lI'OP3, the Myqic Ikat Yoga in particular and .1'0 the eOlllpl('tt
tl.lcliings of Iht' .11.11.'1111111.11'.1, Then h(' Iran'lkd to DI';lgspO, in th<- South Eastern
IUrI of the pro"inCt' of 'U', and thta' tngagl'd hilmt:lf in d(Tp medit:llion, lit-
'P('n! mall)' y(;lr~ in rnrc;!t thnt' and founded a mona,qny which came 10 lit'
(,died Ih'aplh3 Campo,· " I-It- ~o()n attracted many disciples,
,k G:lllll'oi'a hl('IHkd the do('\rillt's of lh(' 1\;lll:tmp;ls with his own rCJliz:ltions
- - - I)f-T11c~\1;;D;J'i')T.'lr.I~1)foJuri!ljfllil-' IT;lSi,- forflll'11wl)' J 'llt~T~(jffIJl~ K;j Ig)' ifdpa~- .

lie W:1S a fine writl'T, ITIJ(l\I'ncd for his (larir)' and d(TP :malytical imight. Ill'
;dll';I)'\ ~trnsl'd Ih(' impt>rt,'lHT of simpliril)' in IlIJt1ns of dortrinl', Popularly he
heLiIlIt' known a' Dl'appo Lh.lrjt', tht, Do('\or of j)\'agspo, though moq of his
1.11('1 )'ear~ \ITTt' d('I'otnl to tilt' Ilt'.ding of ,pi I itual rather lhan physical sickness,
'I hnt' arc Tij,rlan traditiolJ\ deriaring him to bt' tht, reinc;lru;llion of ChandrJpla-
hhakumara,'" whnc;ls others declared him to be that of King Srong TsC/l
G;1rnpo:' the fiN Buddhist Hult:r of Tihet. Of the two main disciples of Jelsun
MiJar<-pa h,' wa\ entrusted with Ih,' transmission of the complete Icat'hings,
Th(' four main di\ciples of Je Gampopa forml'd tht' four 'larger' uranch('~ of
the Kargyudpa, Eighl \mallcr' di\'isions dl'l'l'lopcd latcr, of which Ihft'c were to
l)('('om(' vcry importJnt, There \\el,(, t\l'O kinds of disciple those who Wl'rC taught
11i(' 11.'!',l1liu./r.1 nriusilt'ly (about fin' hundrt,d in numher) and lho~l' who r('('cived
thl' lOlllpktl' trall\mi~,ioll of the \'.1jr.,y,m.1 in addition (ollly fin'),
In the fl'mak \IJllT bird year (1153) Je Galllpopa pa,~ed away, at the age of

23
KAIlMAPA, 111E IILACK HAT LAMA OF TIIlET

~event}'-five, having firmly established the Kargyudpa teachings. At thi~ time there
were many remarkable and auspicious omens.
His foremost disciples were:
(i) DUSUM KIIYENI'A: From Khams, Eastern Tibrt. He was the rarliest and
most devoted of all the disciples. lie received the compkte transmission and
founded the Khams-hang-Kargyud branch and the Line of successive incar-
nate Karmapas. His life-storirs follow in detail. He was the first incarnate
Lama (Tu/ku) of Tibet. (1110-1193)
(ii) I'HACMO GHU DORJE GYALTSEN: From Talung, Eastern Tibet. At the
age of nine he took the primary ordination and over a period of years he
Hudied under sixteen different Lal1la~. At thl' agr of twenty-five he took the
final ordination from Lama Dunzin. I Ie travdkd to Sak)'a monastery where
he n:ceived the high{'f initiatiom from S;lkya Kunga l\'yingpoH (1092-1158).
Then he prrft'cttd the Subtle Breath Yoga.
Later in his life he met Je Gampopa, who cOllJplimented him on his
spiritual attainment and imparted the trachings of tht Mal>a111udra. Lama
Phagmo Gru founded the first great Kargyudpa monastery of Densa Thil (in
1158), which became bener known as the Phagmo monaster)'. Thus he
established the Phagmo Gru braneh 49 of the Kargyudpa and produced eight
smaller di\'isions in it. He had about eight hundred disciples, five hundred
of whom became skilled in the practice of meditation. At the agt of sixty
Lama Phagmo Gru passed away.so At this time there were many auspicious
rainbow omens in the sky. Auspicious relics were rcco"ned from hi~ funeral
pyre. (111 (}-1170). His foremost disciple~ were:
-(a) JIGTEN-SUMGUN: -From-Khams,-IIt'-sp~nt--twellt-y-cight- months_with __
his teacher and quickly attained perfl'ction in higher meditation. He was
a victim of leprosy, but, on account of his grcat compas~ion for all
beings, the: disease left him. At the agc of thirty-five he: took full ordina-
tion from Lama Shongsam Topa. In the year 1179 Lama Jigten Sumgun
founded the great Drigung monastery, thus establishing the Drigungpa
subdivision within the Karg),udpa. This monastery was soon to house
more than eight hundred monks. Lama Jigtcn Sumgun was believed to
be an incarnation of the Siddha Nagarjuna. He produced an incarnate
Line of successors, as well as many fine di~ciples. (1143-1212)
(b) L1NGREPA PADMA DOHJE: From Nangtod. At an early age he had
visions of the Protector Milbakala, Yamantuka (The Lord of Death), and
Cbakrasammru. He met Lama Phagmo Gru and received the teachings
of Mabilmudra from him. Within three dars he had the full Healization
of it.
Lingrepa founded the important monastery of Halung (c.1180) and

24
 Tllf. ANCIENT TRAN~MISSION

t:stablishcd the Drukpa subdivision 54 within the Kargyudpa. Once, in a

dream, he h3d the complete teachings of the Kaujur" rel'ealed to him.
He n:l'ealed many precious teachiflg~ and wrote a finc commentary on
the great Tantra of CbakrasamVilra. From Dusum Khyenpa, the first
Karmapa, he received important initiations. Hefore hi~ passing he trans·
mitted e"erything to his disciple Tsangpa Gyare, the founder of the
Tsangpa Kargyudpa. (1128-1188)
(c) TANGPA TASH) PAL: He was born at Yungshu. Up until the age of
eight("t"n ht" studied under many teachers. At the age of twenty-six he
met Lama Phagmo Gru and received important teachings and initiations.
As 3{h'isrd by his nrw teachrr he perfected his meditation and then
tran:lkd to Taklung where he built a large monastery (between 118()-
1185), to be known as Taklung.'l Thus he founded the Taklungpa sub-
divisions within the Kargyudpa. He had many disciples and successors,52
and pam·d away at the agt· of sixty-nine. (1142-1210)
(d) CHOSJE MARWA DRUPTOP: Also known as Martsang Sherab Scngc.
He founded the Martsang subdivision, pas!>ing the teachings to Ycshe
Gyaltsen and Rinchcn Lingpa.
(e) DROGON GYALTSA: Founder of the Trophu subdivision.
(f) YERPA YESHE TSEGPA: Founder of the Ycrpa subdivision. He
established the great Ynphug and Tarna monasteries.
(g) ZHARAWA YESHE SENGE: Founder of the Yamzang subdivision, and
the monastery of tht· same flame (in 1206).
(h) NYIPHU GYERGOM CHENPO: Founder of the: Shugseb subdivision
and_thclllQlla~erygLtl1es~Ill~f1ame (at Nyiphu).
(iii) WEUNGOM TSULTRIM NYINGPO: Hebccanle-a discipk of jc Gampopa
and received many important teachings and initiations. He founded the
Tsalpa hraneh of the Kargyudpa, through his famous disciple Lama Shang
(J 123-1193), who established the important monasteries of Tsal (in 117S)
and Gungthang (in 1187). He wa~ also known as Gomtsul.
(iv) DHARMA WANGCHUK: From Bahram. He received many important teach-
ings and initiations from je Gampopa. He excelled in meditation. He
founded the Bahrampa branch of the Karg)'udpa and the monastery of the
same name.
jc Gampopa had a fifth disripk, SALTONG SHOGAM, from Khams, to whom
he also transmitted tht' complete teachings. He remained in meditation and did
not take any disciples.
Thus it can be seen how the four main disciples of Jc Gampopa formed the
four 'larger' schools of the Kargyudpa sect, continuing the unbroken transmission
of the precious teaching~ through their di~ciples and the future incarnations.

25
KAI!MAPA, 1I1E ilLACK ItAT LAMA lH TlIl!:T

H 'OTNOTES

4!i t-'oundC'd b)' Lama [)onuoJlpa (1 U08·1 0(4).

y( Founded in 1121.
4(' Thr ..Oll of. wulth) hOUM"lwIJ(,T an Rajgir (Bihar), ~'ho had .~l...cJ Lord Buddha 10 plndl tht s.,t1I.Jdb,ril
,.ulltra.
47 Who died c:.649. lie had two wivC'!I.. ont hum NepHI IJIl! lht' othr;r from Chinlt. Thc), l'ollvcncJ him to
HuJdhi!l.m.
~ di..,ciple ()f Kunchol... Gyalpo, founder of Sa"'y. mOna\lf'r)',
YNot all illnlTfHIIC LinC'.
~o An'ordjn~ to tilt Dcb Tel-MIlT-Po. "llt: an"otllpli,.htd 1.0 mUll)' df'rd~ fllr tht' he-lldit of mht"" dUll iI cannot
("\'("11 he' ("ClIH:ri\'cJ." (p. 2(3),
~ I Canonintllilrfaturt', of 100 or 101\ \'olumn ('BudJlau ',. WVld .. ').
52 NOI an ilu:arnalC" Lint' until the fir..1 Malu} Tulku. Tht' prC"Io("1lI incurIlulioll j" ill lJulhou!o.jc, India.
5 I The Tdduni: mOlllt"t'f')' had thrn thou~.IIond monk!..
S4 Tilt: Dru'-r ll )'ubJi"i .. illll dC"\'r!opl-d (,,~pt'c.:il/;II)' ill HhulBIl and Llld.. kh.

(I;or morc dl'lails of Gampopa and his tcal'hings, ~l'C "C;,UIIPOP(J" Tbr Jewel
Onl<l1l1cnt of rii>cr.1tiol1 ", translated by H. V. GUl'nlhn. Hidn & Co, 1959).

26
 PART TWO

TilE LINE OF KARMI\PI\S

(Life-storil·~
from the Tibetan)
 THE LJt\E OF KARMAPAS

Jllcamalia'l

15t DUSUM KIlYENI'A (1110-1193)

2nd KARMA I'AKSIB (1204-1283)

3rd RANGjUNG DOHjE (1284-1339)

4th ROLI'E DOI{jE (1340-1383)

5th DEBZIIIN SHEGI'A (1384-14 I 5)

6th TONGWA DON DEN (14 I 6- I 4 5 3 )

7tl\ CIIOS TRAG GY AMTSO (1454-1506)

8th MIKYO DOR]E (1507-1554)

9th WANGClIUK DOHjE (1556-1603 )

10th C!lOS YINC; DOHjE (1604-1674)

11th YESIIE50HjE --0076-'1702)-

12th CHANGCHUB DORj E (1703- I 7 32)

13th DU DUL DOH)E (J 733- 1797)

14th THEG CHOG DORjE (1798-1868)

15th KHA CHAB DORjE (1871-1922)

16th RANGjUNG HIGPE DORjE o 924-prescnt)

29
 THE LIFE-STORIES OF THE G\'ALWA KARMA PAS
Compilt-d from
The '}).1wa-Cbu-Sbcl-Gyi-Trcl1g-l1'a', the 'Moon-Wattr-Cry"al-Rosary', or the
~-tiglifhSitu~Iulku~~~h()sh}-jll1l)gl1<:_~(17_()0~ 1_7?~2------- - - _ _ .
-The--'/{i>c-/'bi-G'a- TOl1',-the-'rxposition_oLJ'aJ)_dil~<;',-llL_tllt:._~('Cond- 1'3-\\'0--- ---
'I ulku, Tsuklak Trengwa (1504-1566). - ------ -
-1-hc-'}-)d'~7-'cr~."'gOtd)o-',_thl"'Bll.!.cAnnals',J>y Go Lotsaw,l Zhonu Pal (l392-14Hl).
TI1l' ~~pokcn c(;nmlclllar-yl:if I [-H.-The- Six tcent h -Cyalwa-Karmapa,-Rangjung
I{igpe Dorje, the present incarnation.
Vlldcr tbc direction of:
(i) II. H. The sixteenth Gplwa Karmapa.
(ii) The Ven. Sharma Tulku, Choskyi Lodru, the thinet'nth inclrnation.
(iii) Thr eighth Tranb'll Tulku, Khenpo Karma Lodrll Ringluk Naseng.
(iv) Damchos Yungdll, Gennal Senior SCCfl'lary to the Gyalwa Karmapa.
(v) Jamkar Gonpo Namgyal, Personal SetH'tar}, to thl' Gyalwa Karmapa.
(vi) Tel17.in Namg}'al, Secretary in the Tibetan department of Rumtck
monastery.
(vii) Dr. Urg}'cn Jigmc Choswang (Chllngdr Tsrring), Personal Physician and
General Srerctary (English Srrtion) to the Gyalwa Karmapa.
(viii) Lama Chotrak Tcnphrl, Gennal Assistant.
COli/pi/cd by:
Karma Yon ten Paljor Karma Dolma Chosphc1
and
(Nik Douglas) (Meryl Whitt)

-ALthc_~mtek monasteTY...
in Sikkim,
~':::::::~__ =~:Jll t.he=-_-= -
water mouse andy.'atcroxye-a.rs~
(972/3)

MAY IT BE AUSPICIOUS!

31
 Dl1SUM KHYENPA, THE FIRST GYALWA KARMAPA.
This Slalur. made of mixed red. yellow -and while preciou. metal. pTt"ervcs the funerary relics
of Dusum Khycnpa and is believed to be a good likenes> of him.
(The slatue j, one of the most precious trc",urcs krpl at Rumlek. Sikkim).
 DUSUM KHYENPA: THE FIRST KARMAPA (Til>: Dus-gSum-mKbycn-pa)
(1110-1193)

"Dusum Khyenpa was born in the male iron tiger year (11] 0). in the village of
Ratag. situated in the snow range of Treshod. Do Khams. Eastern Tibet. His father
was a Yogi-de\'otee: of }'amantaka. 55 called-Gompa Dorje: Gon and his mothe:r.
Gangcham Mingdre:n. a natural Yogini. He was a remarkable: and gifted child and
----was-given-the-namt-oLGephe:L______ __ ___ _
- - "- From his father he received the Manlra H of Ek.1]ata. 5T --inc great ~tcrtt
Mother-Goddess and Protector and by his c\evtnth year he had propiti;tted and
realiud her fully. From Lama Jagar Bhairo he learnt the rites of the great Pro-
tector Mabakala H and quickly perfe('led them. Obtaining miraculou~ powcrs H
he made a dear imprint of his hand and foot on a rock.
AI the age of sixteen the unusual boy rt'ccived ordination from Khenpo~o
Cho~kyi Lama and Chepa Cho~k}'i Senge OOI and was given the new name of
Choskyi Trakpa. Ik studic:d the rites of Cbakrasamvara 61 according to the method
of Palden Atisha and soon btcame ve:ry adept at them. At the age of nineteen he:
travelled to To'd Lung where he met the famous Geshe· 2 Gra Marwa. became his
disciple and learned the Doctrine~ of the Future Buddha Maitrcya and the l'raj-
nhmula teachings.
For one year he travelled from teacher to teacher, eventual1), meeting Geshe
Zharawa. who introduced him to the Doctrines of the Kadampas.· 3 Lama Patsap
Nyima Trakpa. a great Translator, taught him the 'Six Treatises of Siddha
Nagarjuna'64 and these he aho q~iekl)' pnfectt·d. Through a vision of Maitrl'ya.
the Future Buddha. he was initiated into five important csoteri(' practices. In the
presence of Khenpo Mal Duldzin and Lhelop65 Ye~he Lodru he was, at the age of
twenty, full), ordained as a monk and set himself the task of thoroughly studying
the Fil/aya H precepts.
Dusum Khyenpa travelled to the Penyul Gyal(·11 monastery and there met the
great teacher Pal Galopa ario-otners,-wn-o gavchrnrthe-tcaEhings-ef-the-gl'eaL __ _
. ruzla.::bakra61-cydc,togc;ther with those ofMabqkalakakamlJkba. the crow·headed
form of Mabakala. At the-age oftnitry h-e decided to go to meet JeGampopa and
set off on the journey. Arriring at Dvagspo Tragkha he met the master Gomtsul
and Shapa Lingpa, who were residing there. From Gomtsul he learnt the Maba-
)Iogini Tantra and at that time had a most auspicious vision of the white Tara
Goddess. Then he proceeded to the Dvagslha Gampo monastery, where he met Je
Gampopa, his destined Lama.
Dusum Khyenpa presented a silk scarf and obtained precepts from Je Gam-
popa, who taught him the I-amrim H of thl" Kadampas and said. "I meditated on
it' So sho~ld )'ou!" Sometime later he begged for further teachings and was

33
 KARMAPA: TilE BLACK IIAT LAMA Of TIBET

initiated into the mysterie~ of Hr;,ajra. During the empowerment rites Je Gampopa
manifested before him in the form of Hrvajra 09 himself. Within a period of nine
_days Dusum Khyenpa received the full transmission of the esoteric teachings. His
Inner Heat was developed and he felt a strong feeling of wdl-being. Wearing only
a single cotton-cloth he went into retreat for nine montbs,fasting and meditating
under the guidance of his teacher. A great faculty for concentrated trance was born
_ inhim at thj~JiITlC::lTldof ~e hundreds of disciples of Gampopa it was reali~ed that
he had the greatest ability at me&tation. C;a:in-popa llla-dc3prophecya!Jout-him.
Stil1 continuing his meditation he travelled to the Til cave at Zangri, where he
stayed for four months. Then he went to the Phagmo mOllastery where he
remained for one month and five days. Attaining the power of fixing his mind on
anything whatsoever he rerurned to his a'acher and remained with him for three
more years. From Rechungpa, a dbciple of Jetsun Milarepa, he learnt the teachings
of Naropa and Maitripa, the 'Six Doctrines' and others. As indicated by Gampopa
he stayed in a cave at Ri Wo Che and there, in a vision, a woman said to him
"Don't stay herel My mother is coming back l" Ta\.1ing this as a good sign he spt.:nt
fourteen months practising the meditation of compas~ion6" and as a result gained
complete control of the Inner Heat. Many wonderful signs manifested, so he
returned to Gampopa.
Dusum Khyenpa explained his realizations to Je Gampopa, who told him to
continue with his meditation for some months more. Six months passed, and, like
the sun bursting through the clouds, he attained complete Enlightenment. Gam-
popa rt'cognised the great attainment of his disciple and laying a hand on Dusum
Khyenpa's head he said, "My Son, you have severed your bond with the world of
phenomenal cxistence," adding that it would henceforth be his duty to impart his
realizations to others.
According to an ancient scripturc·· b Lord Buddha had once predicted that
approximately sixteen hundred years after his own passing there would be born a
man ot-great spirituahrttainment-and-infinile-~0mpa~sion.-J"his_man~0uld sRread __
the Buddhist Dharma for many successive incarnations and would be known as the
-Kaflllapa,'Man-of-Karma'.Je Gampopa and iheiWogreat Mast:ers=~ohhattime;-~-­
Lama Sakya Shriue from Kashmir and Lama Shang, '0 recognised that Dusum
Khyenpa was indeed the Karmapa foretold of in the prophecy.
Acting on the instructions of Je Gampopa, Dusum Khyenpa, the first
Karmapa, left for Mon and went to the residence of King Gathung, who imme-
diately became his patron. Then he travelled all over Tibet on pilgrimage and
began preaching and teaching. He spent three summers and winters on a rock at
Yabzang and attained the power of being able to pass right through solid rocks
and mountains. For four months he remained on the 'Flat White Boulder' at
Phabong Karleb, which had been a ~cat of Guru Padmasambha\'a and there he was

34
 THt. LINE OF KARMAPAS, FROM Tilt: llBETAN

fed by the Dakinis. He returned to his teacher once again and was told to visit
Kampo Nesnang "as it would be of great benefit for living beings".
Sometime passed and then Karmapa heard of the departure of his teacher.
~: Immediately he returned to the Dvag~lha Gampo monastery, where he met two of
. the disciples, who were in tears. He had a \·i~ionof· )eGampopa in the sky and
then engaged him~clf in extensive rites for the·propagation of the.Kargyudpa Line.
h was whilt he was there that he promised his di~ciplc:s that he would lin' until
··--hiseighty-foul'thyear.--_______ __ . ______._
--.. The Protector Dorjc Pa/ neg of Nesnang, in ihc:Khamsf)fo\;inc'-c;-rcq-uCstt-dT
that Karmapa visit the area, which he did, establi~hing the large Kampo Nesnang
monastery there in his fifty-six th year (1165). This place is noted for the huge
rock upon which the Tibetan letter 'Ka' appears whenever a new Karmapa
incarnates into this world.' I
One day, while practising the Light Yoga of Siddha Naropa, fifteen heavcoly
ll.Jki7ll·s appeared before him, manifesting in the circle known as Volma }'csbr
KhoT/O, the Ma7lda/a H of. the Goddcss Tara?3. On another occasion Karmapa
miraculously travelled to Singara, Ce}'lon, where he had an audience with Siddha
Vajraghanta i-teruka," who gave him the greater initiation of Cbakrasamvara. He
next travelled to the heavenly realm of Gaden and again met the Future Buddha
MllitTeya, from whom he received many important teachings. It was at this time
that the Nesnang monastery was completed.
At the age of seventy-four Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa left Kampo Nesnang for
a place called Tri-o, in Khams, situated on the banks of the Dri river. Reaching
Dampa Choschug he Slopped and preached to St'vera! thousand monks before
continuing on through the province of Treshod, Do Khams, where he intervened
to end hostilities between rival villagers. In the village of Leh he established a new
monastery, calling it Khams Mar. Then he travelled to Karma Gon, where he
found('d another monastery, which later became one of the largest and most
important KarQ'\Jdpa centres. At this time Karmapa bestowed many blessings,
teachings and initiations onme pEOple,-:rn,,'dhrs-miraeuleusly-healing..thoS!: who_ _ .~_
.·· ..·weresjek; He made-the-blind see again. __
One of Je Gampopa'sOi.~ciples,JigtencSumgun, sent a message aSKing Karmapa
to visit the Dvagslha Gampo monastery, in accordance with Gampopa's last wishes
that his foremost disciple should reside there for some time_ Karmapa undertook
the long journey and upon his arrival began reconstructing his teacher's monastery.
He bestowed blessings and initiations on the many monks and Lamas there. As
soon as supervision of the alterations was completed he travelled to a place about
fifty miles West of Lhasa, called Tsurphu, and there arranged for the building of a
large ~ew m~nastery?S of that name, which became the principal scat of the Kar-
mapa mcarnltes.

3S
 KAI{MAPA, 1Ht "LACK HAT LAMA 01' 1'1111'1'

Karmapa sent seven large turquoises and seventy Yaks laden with tea to the
Dvagslha Gampo monastery. He arranged for four copies of the greater Pruj7la-
p.lramita to be written in gold and along with a further ont" hundred and eight
-,'olumes of religious scriptures, ten more large turquoises andfi(tyfine hor~es, he-·
-sent-them alla.~ an additionaLoffCTing to the monastery of his teacher.-' .... --
He made a predict ion containing all the details of the'p-lacc ";hcrchi~\ 'next
Jrl.carnation would be found and Itft it in the care of Drogon Rt-chen, one of his
_foremc)st oisciples.IIC'- dC-c1arcdtnar therc~'(j(jld he many'future--*armapas-.---
adding that there were already other incarnations of hims~lf ill-existence: w one - ----
being in the region of Purang (near Ladakh), one on the Nepal-Tibet borderland,
another in Eastern India as an tmanation of the Uodbisal/lla AViI/okitrsbwara n
and a fourth in the Eastern world as a King named Trakpa Taye. During tht last
),t-ars of his life the letter 'Ka' appeared on the large rock at Kampo Ntsnang. He
told his senior attendant to diqrihute his accumula\(-d we,t1th amongst the
monastic communities. Then, in the ftmale water ox year (1193), at the ag(' of
c:ighty-four, he passed awa), and was rec:eived hy numerous /)ilk;ni~. Many mira-
culous omens appeared at that time and auspicious relics were recovered from the
funeral pyre. His foremost disciples were:
(i) DECHUNG SANGYEPA: Renowned for his accurate prt·dictions.
(ii) BATSA TRAG DELWA: Renowned for his miraculous powers.
(iii) DROGON RECBEN: A fine spiritualguidt- and teacher.
(i\') CHOSPA JIGTEN SUMGUN: Founder of the Drigung subscct.
(\') TANGPA CHENPO: Founder of the Taklung sub~ect.
(vi) GYALWA L1NGREPA: Founder of the Drukpa branch.
(vii) DROGON TSANGPA GYARE: H Founder of the Tsangpa ~ubsect.
(1161-1211)
(viii) SANGYE YONTEN: From Ring Gong.
(ix) KADAMPA DESIIEG:

FOOTNOTES

55 Lord of !kIth. Til" Shin',),.

S6 My",i, sylllblc>.
50' Lit. fOtIC Uair" • Kerf't MothC'r-Goddn...,", espc-cial1)' familiar to the Nylngrnlp. 1oC"""I. A Tannic (orm or
A1Jbokali, dcpic-tC'd with one ('ye, onc tooth, one brc-I .. t and 00(" h.ir.
S! The Grel' lIIack One.
S9 S,ddl,i.

60 I\b""po mcan~ Abbot.

36
 TIll, LINE OF I(ARMAPAS, FROM lilt llllElAN

601 In tht vicinit), of Gaden mon."tcr), thrrc arc to be" .cco hand and (oot print!!. of thi" Lam., tmttf"ddcd in
the H ... k. (...r "Grogr.rh)· of Tibet" b)' Wylie, r. 86).
6. Tutelary.
62 Gn#)( is. dC"grC'C', iimilar to our 'Donor of Philo.ophy',
63 ThC'- Ki4'-'-UP.Ii."C'C't. foundcd through-PaldC'n-Ati!loha.-
6_~ !~,~ 'B!K" ",bug) drug', of the A1~.II·'ya",iA:D. -
6~ Lhc10p a.-.~ O;dc~~ ~io~C' 10 Abbot.
66 Tht' \';nQya ~'u,rQ) deal with vow!> ll( monkhood.
=6-'T~_~- 'l'ill)~:-YL;lr' ull(·hing,.---:--
to". Pcnyul Cral , I K~dilf1)r. ~lOnlSlC'r)' in tht' Prn)'ul vatiC')' foundC'd -in fof2 b),--Oo'ijc Wangchulo.-:
fit! Tht mC'diution wIY.
t.9 Jlrv"/fJ U. • Tutti.,)' Dril)' O"idom). It ii ... id in the 7pnlr", that "Guru and }'idam art alwaY' Oor",
691 Mai,';.
69L 11)(' ~JI',a in whidl tili-.. prc:diClion (lCcun. it. the' "mf)o"7'ing ·c.:bi"~rGyal-p()lt.
69C' Lama Sakrll Shrlhha.in, whu Wi!'. the laM Abt..m of thr great Vikranllu.hil .. "anlric collC'j!f'. Hr .prot Un
),r." in Tibet. (1127,1225)
,0 (1123-1193).
'71 Tht' kttrr 'K.' ic-n~ral1y Ippnt-. tn I linC', next to thr prC'\'iou~ one, For the rr~nt Karmapa it arrearC'd
lar"~f, and .hoyt' thr other5.
7l My.ti(" Circle, ,t'nC'ulty of initiation.
~' Til>: lJoJrna. tht UudJhl"t S.vioufC' .....
7. A Siddha of the Saraha Un('a~.
75 T.urrhu founded (.118S.
76 ~YrrlLl inClrnari(ln,. can cxi.t limuitaneouloly: c .... of Hody, of SpcC'ch. of Mind, of Knowlcd,c, cott.
77 The Camp.Aionate Oor, whOM' Man,rp ~" ·Om·mlnj~padmC'·hum. Hril"
.,,, Droson T.. I!ni:p. Crart' WL\ born in Nangtod in the yraT 1 J 61, At the- &gt' of twt"lv(' he WI.' admitted to the
I(ulu mon .. trry. At the age of twcnty-thr« he met G)'olwa Lingr<ra at Rolung. and became hi, di.ciplc. lie
f('(.'C"i\.'C'd the complete 'C'achin~. takine onl)' .eVen dl)'t. to perf("ct thr YOil of the Intl('r HCIt. Ordained by
Laml Shang he foundC"d monuleriC1o It Longdol and Namdruk. Iii. best diiociple was. Go TaanJPI Gonpo
Dorje, who took only f'ighlC'rn dl~ to Ittlin pc-rfC'ction. Lama Co Tllngpl WP thC' teacher of the Siddha
Urgyc-npa, who C1rouhJi.heu the' 'upper' divi!..jon of the: [)rukpa branch.

37
l(!d{MAPA, TtH. BLACK IIAT LAMA OF TillE"

the centre of the forehead which, acwrding to local stories, came from the
mouth of the celestial hawk Garuda. The image had been designed by the
eighth Gyalwa Karmapa (1507-1554) and he himsdf had carved the sandal-
:-:y.·o()d throne. Theim;lgnof the pa~t-and future Buddhas were made of clay _
_ mixedwith_consrcrated. hnbs; .therwcre dccorau-d with prtboussrones and
each had a ruby on its forehead. A tablc: for offerings wasplace-d-brforn:lch--
Image.
_--~-Sc-en HOTntlR'-oolside,-the-monastery-was-a-grand-sight-wit h_the_ faSLOQW.-_
ing river bdow and th(- scret:ll of mountaim-hehilid. It-was builtinthrn: tins;
the uppermost roof o\'er the high chamber of the thn-e Buddha images was
gilt surmounted by a golden serlO, a nest ornament denoting dignity, largely
used in Tibet ovt-r monastt"fies.
The cloisters wntained eight Buddha images and four Stu pas ten feet
high, made of precious metals and placed under gilt canopies. All these had
bern brought from India ill former times; thrt·c of the Stu pas came from
Nalanda.
The monastery of Karma was a wonderful example of the artistry of the
incarnation of Gyalwa Karmapa and especially of the sevcnth, eighth, ninth
and tenth of the line; these Lamas were experts in car\'ing, sculpture, painting
and embroidery, and in smelting and caqing precious metals. Karma was a
unique example of the: beauty of the traditional art of Tibet",

40
 KARMA PAKSHL THE SECOND KARMAPA (Tib: Ka-rllla P.. k-sbi)
(1204-1283)

Karma P.lkshi ",as o,lrn in the male wood rat ),t:ar (1204) in Drilung Wontod, as
- tlll'~on-of a n(lbl{, -fafnilr lrolll the racCofthe-grt:ar-Tihctan King, hi Srong-
--/)c:t~tI1.H-Thtrewtrt'--manyau~picious signs_at bi~birth andhe wa~~()()n noticed--
to he quitt an exceptional child. lit: was givcn tht name of Cho~dzin. By th(' age- - -
__ !lr~).--'lC:_",·~~ullLProfi('itnt in the art of writing, C\Tn though hl" had no teachcr.
- At t{'nllt had compku:cJ-a31ud)~-cJrtnt· rdiitiou~ -ttxrs:il'-;rilablno-hinrand-only-
ncctkd to glance at a text or hear it once in order 10 know it fully. It w;\\ this
power of natural knowledge which finally ronvincnl hi~ par('nt~ thai ht had a high
spiritual birth.
lIi\ first Icad){'[ was LIma Cyaha), Born Trakpa, a disciI'll- of IJrogon Rcchtn,
whom the first Karmap;! bad entrusted with thl' pn'diction details of his future
incarnation. Tht, Lama said to him, "Today tht Ikwo' o and nIhll;.1 appe3fl'd
in the sky like a rnas~ of doud\. You willl.)t' bk~st:d by /).d.:;"i~!" Thl' sam{' night
the Tutelar}' l>t-itie_~ informed the teacht:r that the boy was thl' new Karmap:\ and
thrre wert: many auspicious indications to confirm it. He told the boy "You arc
fortunate! All the Kargyudpa teachers, including Dusum Khytnpa, hal'e appcartd.
Nt!'w you shou ld practise the doctrinrs!"
At the age of elel'cn Karma Pakshi rC,[l'il'ed the primary ordination"' from
Khatog Champa Bum and was given thl' n:lmt: of Choskyi LIma. He was taught
the mystic l>oba- sonp 8' of Siddha Saraha and the Gampopa tC'aching~ of thc'
Mab .. mudra. Whilst instructing him in the art of meditatioll his tcachr:r found that
the young Lama was already perfected ill it. He was initiatt'd into the mystic
teachings of Siddha Tilopa and during this period had a I'ision of AV,l/o/':itcshw.. ra.
who manifested in tht, form with cleven heads and many aTIm. For ten yean he
practised meditation. perfected the Yoga of Inner Ikat"3 and frequently re(eived
visions of the Goddess Tara while reciting her Mantras.
--I:)j-sturbalTces-bfoke-ellt-ill-thE-H~-gi(m-and..thc-}'Qung..Karmag;Lkft for Tashi _
I'om Trag. Eastern Tibet, where he stayed in the Tsorong Gon monastery and
engage d himscl f- indecp=-in-cQ ita t ion. ~Thcic nc:lfad as i.sJOIT:()f:th (:-Prot cc!orDorjc·· .
Pal Tseg of Ncsnang. who asked him to visit his territory, Karmapa undertook the·
journey and on his arrival there scated himself upon a large rock close to the small
Nesnang lake and Ollce morc practised his meditation. He had a most auspicious
vision of Cbakr.. samvara. and used his powcrs to control man)' demom and demi-
gods who were living in a nearby mountain. To the human eye the mountain
appeared to dissolve in landslides. The Protector Dorjr 1'.. 1 Tug thcll promised to
protc'ct all future disciples of the Karma-pas.
Once, while visiting a placc of pilgrimage called Sharchog Pung Ri, Karmapa

41
 KARMAPA, TilE BLACK IIAT lAMA 01' 1'1111'1'

saw many lJ.Jki,Jis dancing together and the Great Protector MJbJk.lla u himself,
apparently busy conmurting a building. Feeling that the place must be ex-
tremely auspicious Karmapa decided to found a mona~tery there. The l>Jk;n;s
informed him ilJaithf singingDf Milrltras during the building .... 'orkwould greatl}'
help- the progress. H _As a result of this_ Jhe _monastery was completed in a
remarkably short time. Karmapa resided at this place for elt-ven yean and cngaged
himself in the practice of the Subtle-llreath B6 teachings. On many occasions rain-
bov.~"~ereseenan-arounanimand c6Iolirc:Cnignrstre;rmc-d-out-of-hislmdyc-His--
fame spread far and wide and many pilgrims came to receivc hi~ blessings.
In the South there was a place calkd Rong Tsen Kawa Karpo, known to be
inhabited by thc Tutelary Cbakra~amvJra. No human had ever been able to find a
way to reach the sacred spot but Karmapa had a vision of the route there and had
soon opened it up for pilgrimage. He spread the teachings far and wide, and
brought the doctrines of the Kargyudpas right to the regions on the Sino-Tibetan
borders. lie journeyed to Tuk, in central Tibet, to rebuild the monastrrit·s of
Dusum Kh)'t'npa and also to reritalise the spread of tht Buddhist Dharma in the
prOl'inces of Dri and Den. Then he visited eighteen regions of Southern Tibet and
staycd for a while in the great monastery of Karma Gon. Hearing of cxCt'ssive
hunting in the country of Jyang he sent a message prohibiting it.
Karmapa travelled to the important Tsurphu monastery, badly damaged
during local wars.17 Completely rebuilding it he spent six years thne and
bestowed many teachings and initiations on the Lamas, monks and lar-pwplc. lie
left for Eang. in Western Tibet, passing by the Lam lake from which the great
Lake-Goddess Lam T50 Lhamo appeared and presented him with a goldt'll elixir-
jar. I I
At this time China was partially under Mongolian rule. Thl' Emperor of
Mongolia wa~ called Mongkor Gen (Mongka) and his brother Kublai (Gorbe La)
was ruler of the Sino· Tibetan border regions on his behalf. From Kublai an envoy
-wa~-~cnt-be-aJ'ing-aJ'J-ip,\·-it-at-jQn-fQr-Ka..mapa_to_\'isjLCbina.~ t the age of fortY:-
seven he set out on the long journey. Travelling for a period of three ),ears he
spre-ad~thc-Kari>1Japiteacniiigs~",;jdcl)':arid~rcac}jC:d:th~~gc~an"'-ukl'o": p:ila,,-eil!:::
the female wood rabbit year (1255).19
The Sakya Pandita, Kunga Gyalt5en,90 had been staying in the palace for
some years pre\'iously, but had passed away before the arrival of the Kargyudpa
party. Karmapa was highly honoured and there were many fine celebrations,
culminating in his blessings being bestowed on Kublai and his court. By this time
the Sakya sect was firmly established in China. through the influcnrr of the Sakya
Pandita, who expounded the Buddhist teachings to the Mongolians. Unfortunately
political factions resented the arrh'al of the Gyalwa Karmapa, and threatened
inter-sectarian schisms. Karmapa decided to return to Tibet. despite repeated

42
 THE LINE 01' KAkMAPAS, FkOM TIlE TlIll:TAN

requests from Kublai, who demanded that he must remain. He left the palace and
travelled to the Mi Nya prol'ince, there establishing a large temple and many
smaller ones. Thousands were con\'erted to the way of Kargyudpa Buddhism.
In the S('cond month of the _Jllale fire dragon ),ear(1256) he reached Amdo
Tsong Kha region of North Eastern Tibet. In the meantime there had been disputes
-I)Ctv.'een-tlie Mongolianrulers:-KuLlai had-been-oustedby Mongkor Gen,'1 who
now ruled over Mongolia and a large part of China. Hearing of the wondrous deeds
of'-the--KarmapLthc-EmpeI'OLiDxit~d__ biIlL!!a_cLtQChi!)3,-Th!__inv~tion was
acceptl'd and upon his return- Karmapa was very royall)1 received at the -ncw--
Emperor's palace 92 . He bestowed many teachings and initiations.
On the nineteenth day of the eighth month of that year (1256) he visited Sen
Shing, Tao Si and Er Kaow, where in a deLate he defeated many non-Buddhist
Sages and converted them all to Kargyudpa Buddhism. On the twelfth day of the
ninth month he performl'd thl' miracle of stopping the snow and the wind, evcn
though it was the middle of winter. He abo arranged for all prisoners in the
region to be set free. On another occa~ion Karmapa recited Alarllras to drive away
hordes of insect~ which had attacked the crops. Other pests were likewise dis-
pelled by casting a single handful of soil at them. He then r<~turned to Tibet, on
thc way establishing a new monastery at Tao lIu Chu Makha, where he stayed
for scveral months.
After four years Karmapa reachcd the Sino-Tibetan border region of lIa,
where he was informed that the Emperor Mongkor had died, to be succeeded by
his son Ariq Boga, who had subsequently lost a war with Kublai. Thus Kublai
established himself as Supreme Khan and Emperor of both Mongolia and China
(in ]2(0). Karmapa was much grin-ed to hear of all the fighting and bloodshed
and spent seven days in the: region, meditating and saying prayers for the future
peace of China. On the last day of his meditation he had a vision of Lord Buddha
standing before him. In this vision hc was instructed to arrange for the building of
a large statue of the Buddha, twenty-six arm-spans in height, in order to establish
-aTasting peacc-ancHor die salvation ofthc(nous-:rffds-kitlcd-in-thc-war~---------
. The: Emprror KublaiKhan, hearing that Karrnllpa wasinllaand remembering
how seven years earlia hchadrc.'fufe-dKublai'srequest:to-prolong his-stay in the
palace, sent thirty thousand soldiers to arrest him. When they confronted Karmapa
they were immediately paralysed by his two-finger Mudra," but feeling com-
passion for them he restored their movements and freel), allowed them to seize
him. They wrapped him in a cloth and tried to tic him up, but his body was like
a rainhow, with no substance and they found the ta~k impossible. Then they
forcl'd him to drink poison, but far from having any effect blinding rays of light
bcgan to stream from his body instead and the soldiers were very afraid. The),
took him to a high mountain and pushcd him off, but hc glided down, landed on a

43
 KARMAPA, Til" "LACK HAT LAMA 01' TlllfT

lake and travelled acro~s the surface like a duck. Unsuccessfully they tried to burn
him, throwing him with two of his discip1cs 94 into a blazing fire. Streams of water
-came out of thdr-bodies and_s()OnpUI out the flames. The Emperor Kublai Khan
_h~ard of the events and ortkrcd that Karmapa should bei(K'kc:d tip ,,'ithouf any -
pro\'isions. Fora period of m'en days ptople could-ob~er\'e- htal'enlr_beings _
providing him with food and drink. Tht Emperor relented· 5 and bl:c3mc his
-di~cip\c; - For-s0me-time--he_rtmain~d_itL!h~_gT:~~jJala~9. and waS highly
-h-(lnoured. ----------
Karmapa recalled the vision with the instruction for the building of a large
statue of Lord Buddha. The task was soon to be undertake-n, st'\'en large loads of
gold being sent to Tsurphu monastery, accompanied by a mcssagt· that a smith
from Tsang who was living there was one of Karmapa 's manift-stations and should
be put in charge of the work. His disciple: Den Gom, h;)\'ing bcen sent back from
China to Tsurphu, supervist'd details of the construction of the great statue.
Matt~rials and funds wt're continually sent from China so that the work could be
successfully undertaken. After three ycars it was completed, but the image
curiously appeart'd to be leaning over to the left.
Karmapa spent six years. in China 97 giving teachings, blessings and initiations.
He built many monasteries and temples. His grateful disciples honoured him with
mallY gifts, which he threw into a spring ncar Shang Tu before Ica\'ing the
country. Upon his return to the Tsurphu monastery, some two year~ later, the
prrsmts were all miraculously recovered from a pool nearby.
The return journey passed along the borders of Mongolia, wh('re Karmapa
found a huge golden roof. It had been taken as boot)' when the Mongol army had
attacked India, but left behind on their way home as so many soldiers were sick
that they could no longer carry it. Karmapa took the roof to Kha Chu, on the
Sino·Tibetan border, but a bad omen indicated it would be wisest to lea\,(' one half
of it there. The other piece was taken with him to Tsurphu, where it was bent in
half and placed on top of the monastery along witlnwo-g()ldtcn-p~aG0G~s-and_
~OI::g()ldcn~-rinna('Ic-.-AtTsurphu_monastery_ Karl1la~a__ sat in meditation posture
before th-ehugeCnew ~~tatueof \...oid-Buddlra; lining his bOd)' up\\~iththe~tiltoC~
the image. Slowly he straightened himself up into a vertical position and simul-
taneously the statue did likewise.
The Siddha Urgyenpa,9I a disciple of Rigdzin Go Tsangpa, visited the
Karmapa and imparted several additional teachings of Siddha Tilopa to him.
Karmapa told him that he would be the teacher of his next incarnation. A couple
named Chosphcl and Changden, from Tingri Langkor in Southern Tibet, came to
Tsurphu on pilgrimage and had an audience with Karmapa. He told them that his
next incarnation would be born as their son and that he had already transmitted
part of himself into the womb of the woman.

44
 TilE LINE 01- KARMAPAS, fROM 1IiE lIBE1AN

Five months passed, and then, on the third day of the third month of the
kmale water sherp year (1283) he passed away. having performed the rite of
Con~riousness-Transference.99 There were many curious and auspicious omens
and- on- the ninth day Jhe cremation was performed. Numerous relics were
I'ccov-ered fron\ tht ashes, among them those of his heart. fongucand eyes, as well
a~ aazzlinlC c-()Iith:like -forms-twisted -to the-right-and _interconn_ected letters.
symbolic signs and images. Be was in his eightieth year. 1 00 His foremost dis-
-ciples-wc:-re-:--
- (i) -- DR UPTOP-URGYENPA: ThcSiddha from Urgyen.
(ii) NYENRES GEDUN BUM: A great Lama. who taught the next Karmapa
incarnation.
(iii) MACHAWA CHANGCHUB TSONTRU: A great scholar and teacher of
the Afddb)lomika.

fOOTNOTES

.,9 Who fulC'd wi .. r:I)· (,.740798), Ind corutrucu'd the Jrnt Samyt monutcry.
10 V"'"l.
8' Til>, R.I>/um G,nu/.
al Til,: no-loa d\pro'gSlim
13 Tib, g1'u",.",o.
84 lIlu.II)' uf wrathful II'pcar&ncr, colouTC'd bluC' or bllck.
85 It WI". traditionatly, thC' ('Rt time that Mantras wert lune in th;~ way.
16 Tib: rT,a Lllng, the' lubtlc nervc," Iud breath. A \'og' technique developed by the SiddhD.
II' StartC'd hy nhni, I robbC'r-chic-ftain.
B8 Til" """,.b.
-1'-9-AccordiogT(rH:-Ri-clrardr.on,K-a-Fffia-pl-joincd_KublaLat Rong):'ul Satod, which he- locat" IOmC'whcre ncar
Tachienlu. (in ).R.A.S., 1958).
-~!Cl..Tht=sak-Y'l'iodiil(1182·125 I); 1- di..-iple-of Sakya-Shribhadra from Kuh_",ir,r~criv<d Ihe followin,
leiter from Godan Khan in Ihe- yiar-In·.-,- "I. the' m05l--po_rful-and-p""pc:rou'_l'rin~-G"dari. wi,h 10
inlorm Ihe Sikri Pandi" Kunga G)'al ..en thaI we need I L&ma 10 1<Iv;'e m)' i,"orllll people on how 10
conduct lhcrmdvn mora1ly and spiritually. I n('cd Ioomconc to pray for the wc1Cart' of my dcccued parenu".
II would, of course, he euy for rtlC' to ,,'nd a large body of troorfi to brin, you here, but in doing iO harm and
unbappin('!o!> might be brou,ht to the- innocent. So come quickl)'!"
91 In c.1247 the Sak)'a Pandill WI' Ippoinled Mon~liln Vice-R<g<nl in Tibet by Godan Khan. Jundoon 01
GhcnJ:hi7 Khan and Gcw('mor of the Nonh·tut('m ITgiom hordering on Tibet. AftC'r variou~ di~put('~ ~ to
y.. ho ,h(lulJ. be Supreme Khan the power ru~('d from Glldan' .. family to anoth('r branch of the Ghcnghi7 line,
and the JTand~()n Mon~ka bc-caTllC' Grand Khan. The SakYI Plindita died just bdorc thi, chanfC and his
ncphC' ...., Ph.lJ:Pa (who died in 12RO, having invC'nlcd (he Mongol "("fipt) diplomali(:allr ".... ilC:hcd hi" luyaltiClro t(l
Kublai, Mongk .., younger hrouu:·r. Phagpa ('nthroncJ Kuhlai in 1260. and sfH"nl mOM of hi:o. remaining yeah in
the court (If the rmpcror. It wa~ m. ('l), that he wa~ therr durin~ the star of Karmara in thr pal Ice.

45
 KARMAPA, THE BLACK IIAT LAMA OF TI8ET

92 Ac.'c,.'ording to B, RirhardM..m, he wC'nt to the grand palace of 7.i-}{a Ur-Do in On-Gc'i Yul. South (If Mongka',
hndquartC'n. at Karakorum.
__ ! l Tht' TantTic 'paral>'''111g: pt_u~_ (M"dr.:J).
-94-Rin-('hcn Pal and Vttohc Wan~~huk~1'~~ Or-hl~- f~;~~~)~[ diloC-i-plC'\: -- __ _
-95- Kuhl.i Khari-pwcd In-rdin;-dcdaring: -"In Tii>t't &nd oth(,I.('ountriC'," y(~\,J ~'r ~~w_p_~a(.·tk"(' your rdiBio~-
an'ording to your dnirc, and If't you offer pr.ych (or me," -- -- - --- -- -
96 Acc,'ording to Marco Polo; "'nc palac..'C' ii the lafgt"il that was (''\IC'r ..cen. It hl~'
high roof. lm~idc. the
"CT)'
-watr~-ol-tll-fn.ll-';-ind-cliarnlicl'i-ar('-aU-covC'rC'd-with-J()ld-and_.i'-~cLand_d_~£Y-.!~!~~i!!~.J~icturn of dragon~ and
-- hirlh and ho~cmC'n and variou& l'Tccdlo of bca!>u, and ~'tllC"" oLbattlc, Thc "citing i~ limitarIYaawi c(fTI1C'-nall---
'
i\ a.u large; that a ",cal might be w-n'C'd for a.ix thou».nd pC'orlc in it. The whole b-uilding i~ M.dmmrnft.C' and
weH·mltX thlt no improvement could bt mlde, The roof ~ .11 .htalC' with ~... rle-l. ,r('en, blue and ~now".

9' In '7vr 1rat'rls III Marctl p(,}o' (Tr: Rorudd Latham, Folio S(KiC'IY. Lunoun, 196M) thert i~ tht following
iOie-rcning rderenn to the goin~·on at Kut.lai Kh"h'~ court; ... , ,tlere i~ another fC'mark.hie facI about
th~e- ('nchanlen. (Ut,"a~). Or l1alcb)bi IJt, tltt)' arC' called. J ~\urC' you thlt. whC'n tht Great Khln it. KatC'd in
hi" high hall It hi,. ublC', which i~ ni,.ed morC' thin eight ruhin, ahove the noor. and the ('Up~ arC' on the tahle
of the haH, a rood ttn pact'''' di"uhI from the table', and arc full of wine and milk and other drinka., lh~
1,,,kb5bi contrive- b)' their rnchantmenl and their art that the full ('up!. ri!>C' up of Ihrjr own ac('ord from thC'
floor on which thC'), have bC'C'n iunding and ('ornc up to thC' (;relt Khan withuut an),one touching thC'Ol, And
thi~ the-y do in thC' .ig111 of ten lhoutoanrl men, "'lat I havc told ),ou if' the plain truth, without. word of
f ..l~hood.'·
The Il1akbs.LIi' rcfer~d to Kerns. to be the folhlwe-n of Karma Pilhbi, ,ince ht' w." the innuC'ntial
'~n"hanlcr' of Ulle time, In the' nK'moin of Lama Phagp. (the Sak)'.Ilpa) IIC' mcntion", thlt KutJlai Khan wu
friendl)' with a strangc-r from I far-awl), land. Unduu\lledl)' thh-, rcfC'R to Mar,'o Polo, who lived for nutny
yeah in the coun of KuMai.
98 llrgye'np. wat. born in Vermo Tang, EUlcrn Til>C't, in thC' ),CIU 1230. lie took ordination,. from 8odong
RingtlloCpl and .1udiC'd with Go T"ngpa Cooro Dorje, the fOfemO!'oe di.ciplC' or
Dro~on Tungpa CyarC'
(founder of the Tungpa Kargyud a.ub.C'ct). He vitoite-d man)' 1-1t)1), plal'C''' and trl\'clkd on pilgrimage to the
land of Urg)'cn (whrrc Padma!Ulmbhlvli. WIt. born), wh('rc he' uw the' great Dahni \'ajravarabr and thu,.
i)("l'lmC' I Siddha. Be tTiYellC'd on pilgrimage .11 around India, visited Ceylon and to(:C'thn with tht Ccy-
loncK King contributed to th(' fe-plir of the' rrc*t 80dh Gaya tcmple, Ue vit;.ilcd T"urphu mOOL\tcf)' and thrn
Went to China, whrr(' he bccamC' Itucher of the Fmpc-ror, After hi" return to "ibet hC' p&!o\e'd away th('rC' It
the Ii.'t' of ,"('VC'llty. He' had mlny di!.cipl('fo., the forcmo"t of whom W&1> Gyaiwi Yang Gonpl,
'9 Ti~, Ph,..,,"o. One of 'he 'Six Yoga,' of the Siddhl Narorl.
100 III the 'Ill.r Anno'" of Zhonu PII (Tran.llled by G. N. Rocrich, Calcut .. 1953) it <Inri)' giVClo Karml
Plk,hi .. birth dlte I. the mile wood rat yelr (120-4) Ind hi, pI •• in~ L< 'he femlle watet .h«p yelr (J2R3),
mcntioninl: that he' Wilt in hU. C'ighticth year when he left hi!> body, OthC'f ,'ibe'tln J;ource!. di~aiTec in the
year ciChi.tlinh-;-wtri1:h-i~-put-two-rean-ll-tt-r-:-thC'-matC'_£iu---.ljltrL~car (1206), Altlre in a.rrccmcnt with the
yea, of hi, pas,ing. It _rm that the records of Zhonu Pal Irc mo" likely 10 be reliable.

46
 RANGJUNG DORJE: THE THIRD KARMAPA (Tiu: Rang-byutlg rDo-rje)
(1284-1339)

-:-~ HangjungDorjewas oorn on the eighth day of the first month of the male: wood
_T!lonkey -year (1284), in the evening, just as -the TIloonYiasTising, on the roof of a
h()use in Tin-griLingkoT, Southtrn-Tiuet. After- his birth he sat cross~lcgged and
said, "The moon has risen!" His mother took this to be a uad omen and thre\\;
--ashes-into-his--mouth,_buLhid';lthcr recalled the words of Karma Pakshi and
restrained her from acting further.C~~seq~~~lt.~;- tile boy di(Elot:spcak'a-gain-until-
he was three years of age,
When he was three, while playing with wme other children, he suddenl)' asked
them to mah' him a throne out of cut squares of turf. He sat upon it, produced a
black hat, which he put on his head and then declared that he was the Karmapa.
He told his friends that thcy were indulging in Sam~ara, the cycle of births and
dl.:aths, but that he had already transcendt"d it. The children went off and told
their parents about the remarkaulc things that h(' had said.
His parents took him on a pilgrimage to the image of Lord Buddha at Tingri
and on percei\'ing it he experienced the sensation of a rainuow merging into him.
He learnt some Buddhist precepts from his father and knew the alphabet without
ha\'ing it taught to him. In his dreams he had man)' pure visions.
At the age of five he told his father that he would like to see the Siddha
Vrgyenpa, so the), tra\'e1led together to the place where he was staying. The day
before the), reached there Urgyenpa had a dream in which Karma Pakshi appeared
and told him that he would be coming to sec him on the following day. Early in
the morning Vrgyenpa told his disciples of the likelihood of the auspicious event,
a thronc was set up and a largc procession organised.
The child arrived, accompanied by his father, went straight up to the: high
throne and sat upon it. "Who arc you that you sit upon the thronc of my Teacher?"
__ asked the Siddha. ") am the famous Lama Karmapa!" rcplied th,e boy. Vrgyenpa
then asked hun-fo relatenow rhc5'-h;rd--met-bcf0F~-to-wbi.cLthe bo~E1ied,-_
- _~"O[lc-greatSiddha-once_came to me. He was you and told me about all the pil-
grimages andtiavcls made throughour-that mal"\'c1lous: land~ot)ndia";Hethen
climbed down from his throne, prostrated before the Siddha and said that in the
previous life he had been the teacher, but that in this life he would become:
Vrgyenpa's disciple:. The prediction details left by Karma Pakshi were consulted
and it was established beyond any doubt that the child was the Karmapa.
From Siddha Urgyenpa Karmapa T(-ccived the empowerments of Cbak-
rasammra, Ul'va;ra, Kalacbakra and I'ajrakila, 1 01 as wcll as the special teaching!
of I'ajrilpani. At the age of sevcn he received the primary ordination from Kunden
Sherab at the Tor Phuwa monastery, and studied the teaching~ of Priltimoksba

47
 KAKMAI'A, lUE III-ACt( HAl LAMA (H' llllEl

under his guidance. During a higher initiation from Siddha Vrgympa he saw his
teacher in the form of Cbakr.lsamv.lr.:l. Somttime later the Great Protectors
Mab.1/.:ala and E/.:aj.1la appeart'd before him and told him to go to Tsurphu as
~quickly as po~,il!le, . . . .. ....... ... ..
--... In the meantimd..ama Nyenrc:s.C;t'o:lUl1 B.um,I02 who-",:as atl'surl)hu had a .
vision of the compassionate AV.l/o/':irnbwara, who inforrllrdhimthat tllene",;
incarnation of Gyalwa Karmapa had appeared. Soon Karmapa Rangjung Dorje
~·arrl\~c:(rana~was gTt31IfnollOu·rco-tly·all-anhTgreatnronastery-founded-in his-·
first incarnation. Lama Nyenres imparted the Six Doctrines l 03 ofSiddha N:uopa
to him. along with the detailed instructions for realizing the Mabamudra 104 and
full initiation into the Mula lIevajra Tanlra. Karmapa had a vision of his teacher
surrounded by Lamas of the Kargyudpa Lineage. The Goddess Ekajala once more
appeared and prt'sented him with a dry sprig, which he planted and which later
became a large tree. He learnt the 'Old' and the 'New' Tanlr.:lS and also the rites of
Cbod.lo~
At the age of eighteen Karmapa received the final ordination l06 from Sakya
Zhonu Changchub, studied the precepts of the \';11,1)',1 and the worship of the
Goddess Tar.l. lit tra\'clkd to the great Karma Gon monastery, founded in his
fir~t incarnation, and established the small temple and hermitage of Lha Ten about
half a days journey from there. On one occasion this temple suddenly caught fire
but the young Lama extinguished the blaze by throwing a handful of grain into
the flames and uttering Mantras.
He made a journey to Rong hen Kawa Karpo, the place sacred to the Tutelary
Deity Cbakrasamvara which he had made acces~iblc to pilgrims in hi~ previous
incarnation. Then he visited the monasteries of Nesnang, where: he found that
owing to regional fighting the situation there was unsettled. Karmapa acted as
mediator and put an end to all the hostilities. When peace was fully restored he
returned once: more to Central Tibet where: he wrote a commentary on the Mula
-----Fll'vilira-t~a(;.lling.-He-.studied-th("_d.QC1Tint:.L of the Great Perfection, I 0 , the
Kalacbakr.l Tanlra and other higher teachings of the Karg)'udpas and also per-
'::~~~--~fcctt:dfiiskllOY;'lcage ofgerieralphitosflb)'.~ EtQll1~ldll1~ Ba~ge. he Iear.nt- the basic-
texts of medical science, I 0 a from Tsultrim Rinchen the teachings of the Gubyasa:
maja and from Rigdzin Kumararaja the Heart Drop doctrine I 09 of Vimalamitra
and the secret teachings of Niguma. 1 10
Karmapa returned to Tsurphu and stayed in the Pema Chung Tsong hermitage
theT<', engaging himself in meditation. In a vision the Siddha Vrgyenpa appeared
before him, explained all the sprcial tcaching~ of Karma Pakshi III and initiated
him into the: inner esoteric doctrines of Siddha Tilopa. He also had a vision of
Guru Padmas3mbhal'a and received his blessings. Continuing his meditation he
saw the planets and stars of the inner and outer spheres resolve themselves, had a

48
 TilE LIN!' 01' KAkMAI'AS, I'kOM ll1F TIIIlTAN

great inspiration and compo~ed a treatise on astrology, which later became

established as a new system.' ' )
On a mountain range behind Tsurphu Karmapa Rangjung Dorje founded a
. large new monastery with man)' caves for meditation and called it Ikchcn Yangri.
-There he compmed another· treatise.· onastr6li>gy,-calkd 'The Hidden Inner
. Meaning'; , U He travelltdtoSouthern Tibet-and founded an he.r.mitagt:, at Nak-
phu. In the prOl'inces of Kong, Lung and Hal he preached to the p(-ople, and
--_cslaQlislle(LlIJaJ:g~I1l.()I1i1s~-"y at Trak Ru, near Bhutan. In the tiger year (1326)
- -ht visited Lhasa, preached thercCxtcnsi\;ay·anal)tsto~;i:(rinitiationS":md-b1cssings~·-
The Mongolian Emperor Tokh Temur,"· who was ruling all China, invited
Karmapa to visit him and this he accepted, travdling via Tsurphu. Continuing
tht journey he reached Dam Shung in the Kham~ province. There it suddenly
startt·d to thunder and snow in a most unseasonal way. Karmapa meditated on
the portents of this strange occurrence and found that it indicated the imminent
death of the Emperor, so he turnt-d back to hurphu and passed the winter there.
During this period he sent all the Chinese representatives, who had been with him
to organise his journey, on pilgrimage to various parts of Tibet.
On the first day of the second month of the water monkey year (1332), at
the beginning of spring, Karmapa again set out for China. When he reached
Khams he decided to speed up the journey, in the hope of meeting Emperor
Tokh Temur before his death. But on arriving at Chin Chow On, in China, sudden
flashes in the sky informed him that he wa~ too late, so he set up camp and per-
fromed the death-rites. The journey was continued and the party arrived at the
Tai-ya Tu 115 palace on the eighteenth day of the tenth month of the monkey
year (1332), where it was confirmed that the Emperor had indeed died on the day
of the sudden lightning flashes. Rinchen Pal, who was in charge of the palace,
officially welcomed Karmapa. as did all the members of the Royal family. the
Ministers and the monks and laymen. An honoured him highly and received his
blessings. He made a prophecy about an accident which would befall Rinchen
--PatH 6 - ~--~- - - - - - - - - - _ _ _~_____ ~_ _ _ _

Mt~rolle_ rTIonthKarrnapa Rangjung Dorje performed great ceremonies and

-- rites in memory oCthe deceased Emperor. His5i'o·ihcr, T6glronTemur; I I ' was to
succeed, but the astrologers had advised a six-month wait, and E-le Temur was
temporarily acting as Regent. Then, on the fifteenth day of the first month of the:
female water bird year (1333) the new Emperor was ceremonially enthroned by
Karmapa, who bestowed blessings and initiations on him and his family. In return
the Emperor gave him the honorific title "All-knower of Religion, the Buddha
Karmapa". Hundreds of thousands of p('opk were witness to the highly auspicious
evnlts.
On the fifteenth day of the fifth month of the male wood dog year (1334)

49
 KARMAPA, TIn: IILACK BAT LAMA OF TIIIET

Karmapa returned to Tibet, establishing many new monasteries on the journey.

Ill' visited Riwo he Nga, the great mountain pilgrimage place of the Bodbisattva
Mal1jusri, I I . in We~tern China, where he performed many rites and had an
:au~picious \'i~ion of the . Ii 0 dbisatflJa himsc:lf. He reached Tsurphu in- the ninth
__monthofthefemakwoodpigyear 0335f _ ----
Karmapa visited Mi Nya, travelling to all the Kargyudpa mona~terie~thercin
in order to re\'italise the Dharma. Whilt giving the empowerment of Avalobtcs);-
~-=-war;fto-tnt:-peoplea~i'aijjooW-appearrainth-t'skY-o\·l.'rhead-and-f1owcr~-fell-down­
from it. Many of the Bonposl19 and non-Buddhists in the region wcre thus
quickly converted. In the same period a local war broke out bt·tween the provinces
of Wang)o and Mi Nya. A largt· group of merchants, alTompJnying herds of some
three thousand Yaks, who were in the region of Mi N)'a, were suddtnly seizc~d and
threatened with death. Karmapa intervened and saved them. Then he helped
to make a peaceful sertlemcnt between the waring parties, expbining to them the
value of compassionate anion in el'tryday life. He then returned to Karma Gon.
All the Protectors of North Eastern Tibet, especially in the region of Mi Nya,
asked Karmapa to remain and continue spreading the Dharma there. On the
twenty-fifth day of the eighth month of the female ',"ood pig year (1335) hc
prcacht'd in the Dam province of Kha:ols. In the ninth month of the same ycar he
returned to Tsurphu and thert received a new invitation to visit China. Instead he
travelltd to Lhasa, reaching there on the tenth day of the eleventh month of the
same year, where he was met by another messenger from the Chine~c Emperor,
again inviting him to I'isit China. While in the vicinity of Lhasa Karmapa Rang-
jung Dorje visited the great Samye l20 monastery and the famous Chim PhU l21
temple, whtre he stayed in deep meditation for fil'e months. During this period
he had an auspicious vision of Guru Padmasambhava and the Mystic Circle of
])al';l1is. He arrangrd for the preparation of ntw copies of the Buddhist scriptures,
the Kal1jur and Tanjur. l22
~~IR-t11c-eighth_mnnl~QLthLmaluirc.r.a.Lyear (1136) Karmalla set out for
China once Illorc, visiting T~urphu on the way. He perform('d many rites and
~~~cc[cmoliics_6n_ tnc long joufn(y and eyc:.mu_a:U}'-aJri\'c:dat~thc.Tai-ya l'u-l'alaee~
The Chinese Emperor was waiting for him at the gates and welcomed him warmly.
There were great celebrations.
Karmapa spent cleven days in each of the palaces of Tai-ya Tu, Tai-ya Tsi and
Tai-ya Sri imparting teachings and bestowing initiations. In the great Tai-ya Tu
p:t1ace he founded a ncw monastery espccially for the Karmapa sect, in which the
Mandala of rcd four-armed A;Ja/okif{'sbwara' 2) was constructed and painted; in
:Iddition sel'eral btautiful statues of the great Kargyudpa teachers were installed
in the new monastery. The palace Mandala of Cbakrasamvara wa~ pre~enttd to
Karmapa by the Emperor.

50
 TilE LINE (H KAJ{MAI'AS, I·ROM Tilt: TIIlETAN

Some influential Ministers became anxious at the presence of Karmapa, feeling

that the influence of his new Buddhism might interfere with their political am-
bitions. They arranged for some temples to be destroyed in China and Mongolia
and demanded that there should be an immediate inquiry_ This was duly arranged
;i-nd both the Emperor and Karri13pa werc called to speak. In-answer to charges
that hc was furthering his o\\'n political interests Karmapareplied that he had
come to China at the request of the Suprcme Emperor and that if there was any
cm barrassmcnt-a DOu t-his-prcscm:c-thcn-he-wou IdJca vc._ Jkwa s.m uchsaddened
by thistufri of cvents, particularly since his sole motivcforcoming to China was
that he hoped the Buddhist Dharma would be of help to the people; he had no
political ambitions. The Chinese Emperor was very upset and begged Karmapa to
remain.
After performing ceremonies to put to an end a severe drought, which had for
some time been affecting certain parts of China, Karmapa I(-t it be known that the
time was approaching when he would leave his body. The Emperor fervently
requestcd that he remain alive longer and continue his work in China, but
Karmapa told him that the moment had come for his departure, that he would be
reborn in the region of Kongpo and that he would return to China and sec him
again in his next incarnation.
To his personal secretary, Kunchok Rinchen, he gave precise details of where
and how to find his next incarnation, adding that he would declare himself at the
appropriate time. Then, on the fourteenth dar of the sixth month of the female
earth rabbit year (1339), while in front of the great Cbakrasamrura Mandala,
having just completed the full rites and distributed the sacramental pills' 2. to all
the participants, he passed away_
There was great lamentation. However, very early in the morning of the next
day, the sentries of the palace looked up in the sky and there in the full moon
they could clearly sce Karmapa. Immediately the bells were rung to awaken the
EmJ>cror and Em~!~s~ who looked out of the palace window and saw their
Precious Teacher clearly visible in the-ManaalaoTtliC moon. Tne'very ne"fday a - -
fine-craftsmanwas·summoned and-instructed to carve can-fuJly a likeness oUhe
Gyalwa Karmapa as he had appeared in die moon. This image when completed was
most beautiful and remained one of the most precious possessions of the
Emperor. 12 $
At the time of his passing Rangjung Dorje, the third Karmapa, was in his
fifty-six year. His foremost disciples were:
(i) YAGDE PANCHEN: A fine Lama. He was also a disciple of Yungton Dorje
(1284-1376), the Sakya leader who was also greatly influenced by Karmapa
Rangjung Dorjc.
(ii) KUNCHEN DOLPOPA SHERAB GYALTSEN: From Dolpo, I'onh-Wcstern

51
 ROLPE DORJE: THE FOURTH KARMAPA (Tib: Rol-pa'; r[)o'rje)
(1340-1383)

Rolpe Dorje was born on the eighth day of the third month of the male: iron tiger
year (1340), at sunrise, in A·I. Rong of the Kongpo province. His father was
called Sonam Dondrup, and his mother, Zobsa Tsondru, was a natural wisdom-
. Dak;TI;. 1 H While still in her womb he could be heard reciting the '1I1.1T1i' ..Ha11tra
and his body frequentl), assumed strange. postures, which fausedJm to»hak~~s_.=
~~it(m=as~he. "'a-sborn n~sa t~cross' Fgg'ta~ an dsaw;-' 'Onl' nlani'Padme Hum,Hr i !lam'- --
the Karmapa!" Then he recited the letters of the alphabet. His father was very
sceptical but his mother told him not to doubt as she had had many highly
auspicious dreams.
At the age of three the child was taken to Nyangpo and there he said to his
mother 'I am tht' reincarnation of Karma Pakshi. I shall have many disciples in this
world, just you wait and st'e!" He assumed tht' mt'ditation posture of Amitabba,
the Buddha of Boundless Light, and then told his mother not to mention his con-
versations to anyone else. He then added that he would eventually go to Tsurphu
and Karma Gon and that he already had many fine disciples in the Imperial palace
of China.
A search party, looking for the Karmapa incarnation in the Kongpo province,
heard of the remarkable child. Lcd by the personal secretary of the previous
Karmapa they were quickly convinced that the new incarnation had been found
and he was taken to the Dvagslha monastery of Je Gampopa. Upon his arrival
there he immediately pointed to the statues of past Karmapas, saying'That is
me!" to each of them.
Once the ascetic Gon Gyal asked him about the Tushita heaven, explaining
that one of the disciples of the previous Karmapa had had a vision of him living
there. Karmapa Rolpe Dorjc replied, "Yes, I went there in the form of a
unicorn'27 and sometimes was a \'ulturc. On the whole, Tushita is not far off!"
On being pressed further he said "In Tushita all the waters arc Elixir,' H the stones
are jewels. The things of men have no value there." . .. ..... .. __ .. . __ ' . ~~
-~··--Anl'fe age 'ofSixK6IpeDciijerccci'veOtlicp'rl'mary oraTnari'oii1w from~fordcn
___ "¥~.G~}<;l;I:wao=a=cl·iseiI')kccof=-llis=pre\tiutts=inca:rmrt:i·an~Fnilfe=h'FJyc:ga n ·a-d eep·sruay·,·, =-='
of the CiJakrasamrura TaTltra, the ..Habayogil1itaTltraraja,130 the 'Five Treatises'
of Maitreya l 31 and the 'Heart Drop' teachings of Vimalamitra. The full empower·
___ment of the KaTljur was given to him, together with the transmission of the 'Six
Doctrines' of Naropa. Then he travelled to Tsari, where he had many visions of
Teachers of the Kargyudpa Lineage and receivcd the secret rites of Kurokul/a. 132
Many songs were sung by him at this time.
Karmapa travelled to the great Tsurphu monastery and then to Phagmo' 33

S4
 TIlE LINE OJ-' KARMAPAS, fROM HIE TlBtTAN

monastery, where he explained his understanding of non-dualiry and had a vision

of the Goddes~ l'ajravarabi. At the age of thirteen he visited Lhasa, where he was
greatly honoured by the Huler, Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen.')4 He made
offering~ at all the main shrine~ in the city and had wondrrful visions of the
Tutelary Deities. Then he returned to Tsurphu for the continuation of his
studies.
From Kenchen Dodrup Pal he receil'ed the next ordination" S at Tsurphu,
. and was. gi~en th.Lnan~_!2barmakirti.The l~a_c.hi!l~_.QLtll.t'..J!iua.)'as,_the_I'rati.. -
1fwksbd andthc.' KarikJswerC passc:d to him and nCO rcc:i\'c:dihe initiation of red'
M,mjllgbosa. He had visions of the BodbisatlVJ l'ajrapa11l' and other Deities.
At the: age: of eighteen he rcn'ived the final ordination'l6 from Kenchen
Dodrup Pal. For a while he studied philosophy and rtligious debate with the most
karnrd Lamas of Tsurphu and then invited Gyalwa Yung Tonpa to eorne from
Hi Wo Chell' and impart the e~ote:ric teachings of Tilopa to him. Once Yung
Tonpa, a disciple of his pr<Tious incarnation, a~ked for evidenrc of his former
lifetime. The young 1.:lma told him stories of how he: had cOll\'Crted tht, Mongols
and the: journeys that he: had made,
Karmapa Holpe Dorje observed all the VillJya pren'pts. He: forbade anyone to
bring even the smallest piece of meat into his presence, Always keeping many
books around him it was said that he was able to read them in his dreams. He also
knew more than sixty different kinds of scripts and always amaze:d his teachers
with hi~ vast knowledge. Once, at Dechen, he ga\'e full dc~cription of the Imperial
palace of Tai-ya 'I'u, in China, stating the number of inhabitang and the names of
some of the officials there, He said "Keep it in mind, and later when we reach
there you will find it to be true!" Shortly afterwards an invitation was rrn'ived
to visit China.
On the twentieth day of the fifth month of the male earth dog year (1358),
at the age of nineteen, the journey was started. Lightning suddenly struck at
places on the way, without doing any harm at all, so Karmapa took this to be a
favourable omen. Throughout the journey he preached and bestowed blessings on
,_tbcp-eoRIc~.ALoI1Lplac.~,~m:aLChina,~hcmet~(i}'e~lndian~.Uol}~-Mm!}B·who~--~~
presented him with three precious statues; one ~l!:!~ord Buddha in medi-
-tatfon, ana-tWo othersmaae Dy Nagarjuni-depicl'ing-miraclesoTBudoha's life, 139
Karmapa reached the Tai-)'a Tu palace on the eighteenth da), of the eleventh
month of the male iron rat year (1360) and was warmly welcomed by Emperor
Toghon Temur, who was especially de:ighted since he had becn a devoted disciplc
of the previous Karmapa. He bestowed thc initiations of I'ajrayngini" o and
Cbakrasamvara and preached extensively to the peoplc. To the Emperor he gave
the special teachinp of Mabamudra and composed a numbcr of treati~es for his
benefit. Karmapa ~pent scvcral years in China and established many monasterics.

55
-A~s~"wCc~of~bofd~lluddha~sho~win~mica"ul<)u~~Cc\·C'"t~.~"f~hi.~lif~l~his~is""ne~ef~t-wo~whi(Oh~wcfe~~~
presented to Karmapa Rolpe Dorje b)' fi\'e Indian 11(1), Men, whom he met on the way to China.
of •
--Tl1i5 statue was madi Ii}' Siildlia Nagarjuna,- out -w.s
mrtaFlikc -lT1aterial whicfi recovered
from the magical lake of the s~rpent Kinp (Nagas). It is pre ... rved at the nc,,· Rumtek
monaster)', Sikkim.
 TIlE LINE OF KAHMAPAS, "HOM THE TlBrTAN

Visiting Amdo nong Kha, in the North-East, he composed a treatise,' 41 which

was a great help to the community.
Once he I'isited Kam Chu Ling,I4 2 and near the throne in the monastery there
appeared a flower unseen previously in that region. It had one hundred stalks
springing up from one root, each stalk hal'ing one hundred flowers and each
flower having one thousand golden petals, with a red centre and a yellow stamen.
El'eryone was amazed. At this time there was a plague in the region, but he
effeet ivcly su bdued it. . .. .. .. _ . .... _ . _ _
-~ ·.·7\t-anoillei-':'p!;lee.in £lli~ht'-dcIiVercd::asermon::lx10re-a-grcat-nJul!ituae~o-('::
pt'Oplr, many of whom spoke different languages. On tht· right side of his throne
stood Mongol and Uighur translators, and to the left wtre Mi Nya and Chinese
translators. Thus his disciples were c1earl), able to understand his words. He set
numerous district officiab and important personalities of China, Mongolia,
Uighuria, and Mi Nya on the path of highest Enlightenment. He pacified rel'olts,
stopped famines and eased droughts.
Karmapa foresaw a great change of ('\,ents in China, and said "fbrm will come
to the Imperial throne. And soon I must myself leave for Tibet." Those Ministers
who heard him say this were very upset and refused to allow him to leave. Then
he said "Marvellous indeed is the play which comes to its end before a large
3udit'nce. The dut), of a monk is to go whert'l'er a peaceful place is to be found
and to help spread the doctrines through compassion to all beings." These words
were written down by the officiab and were preserved as a sacred relic. He was
granted permission to \cave.
He proceeded Northwards and then on to Mi Nya, where he met Prince Ratna
and Princess Punyadhari and preached to them. At Zor Con Moche he estahlished
a large monastery and made a rule that those who had received his blessings on
one day should not come again on the next. He used to dispense blessings without
int("ITuption from morning until sunset and onc(" continued to do so for nine-
teen days without a break.
A great epidemic spread in the province of Kam Chu, and Karmapa was asked
to help drive it away. "Well don't wake me up''', he said, and then seemed to be
~ aSlecp~~SOrr)efimepasse(rana~then--afollabllmp~was·hcarlonthe roof of the--
-_.met/Yot!fter-y.:-cam:l=he-=awukt=sayingr:':'j:ffSFri<n=l=assu med"'fne-snape·· o{:"·a- nugc-·
Garuda l43 bird and devoured all the demons who had sent the epidemic. I came
down on the roof of the house, which was why thc loud bump was to be heard."
The epidemic disappeared completely.
One day a family brought a young boy to him for the primary ordination.
Instead of giving the expected one he he stowed the fuller ordination and at the
same time (136 J) made a prediction that the child would cH'ntually become a
great spiritual leader. This was Lobzang Trakpa, who later became the great

57
 KAI<MAI'A, TIlE IlLACK IIAT LAMA OF TIIiET

teacher Je Tsongkhapa,·" founder of the Gtlugpa sect. Karmapa was asked to

remain in the region longer, Lut he decided he had to leave.
Once Princess Punyadhari told Karmapa that she had had a drt'am in which
~he was told that if anyone made a Buddha in);!gc the size of the Yang Pen rork
then it would oe of great benefit to all. Karmapa told her "Make it! I shall abo
as~ist you." When the image-maken did not know how to do it he himstlf laid out
the outlinn of the image \\'ith white pdlbles on the slopes of the mountain. Then
the huge appliqut, banner was prcpared by sCI'cn hundred arrists, who wOl'ked
~t'£lf1:ttl!J;lou!>lrftlr~thirlecn:::nrdI111r<:K~arTIr:fyt~sl't'ffi~ a~ consi(kialJlt'~fOrlu nt~-ol;tl;c~
preparation of it and himself supen'i~('d all the dt'tails. Whcn it was finished it was
ekvt'n full arm-spam oetw('cn tht' right and left ears of the central Buddha figure,
To the left and right WCrt' irnagn of M,mjllsri and M.litrrya and odow the lotus·
throne wert' emoroidered many beautiful birds and animals. It was ('()mt't'ratcd by
Karmapa and hung over tht' huge rork on auspicious days,
Aftt'r the completion of the oannn Princt'ss Punyadhari prnentcd it to the
Karma-Kargyudpa sect and it was presen·td at Nyangpo. She in\'ited Karmapa to
Liu-pin Shan and when hc reached there strong ru mours spread that troops were
likely to invade. Karmapa said "If it is true that I ha\'e never harmrd lil'ing beings,
then kt the soldiers not come!", and they did not. Then he returned to Tibet, to
the Karma Gon monastery.
In the male earrh monkey year (l368) the Yuan dynasty of the Mongol
Emperors fell and the 'first Chinese Emperor of the Ming dynasty, named Tai
Tsung, sent messages to all the most highly rewred Lamas of Tibet at that time,
requesting them to visit him. Karmapa was among those who were: invited, but
heing unable to go personally he sent an em'oy of learned monks and Lamas to
f('present him.
On the way to Karma Gon while crossing the Shamnam Dzung river, he met
the incarnation of Shamar Trakpa Scnge, recognised him and named him Kha
Chod Wangpo.· H After a period of extensi\,e preaching he reached Karma Gon,
wht're he indirectly predicted that he would soon be leaving his body, He said ")
shall not die right now. Don't be afraid! But afterwards, if I should fall ill in a
-purr-pla~ccwlrcrc:numcro(fnnfgnrnoamingaD6Tif;~flifjrplCaScOon't scaitei~mY--~
:::h<!O:k,,".L"_liefRf~=-ggjllil=tj>-th~.N_~£Ut~!':l:l=r·J~giaFC_eJ=-Gha~A-g=-ht'=-i'l'ld+e-a-te-d=-t-ha~t=t-here=
would be a need for scented wood for the funeral pyre and said "I suspect there
is a scarcity of firewood in the North, therdore cut a large quantity of Juniper
wood and take it along,"
Karmapa Rolpe Dorje journeyed towards a solitary mountain in the far North,
prr3ching extensively on the wa)'. He set up camp on the barren mountainside
and said "Should the remains of a good monk be cremated on the summit of this
_ll1oulllain, then Chinesc tr(lops willn(lt invadc Tibet!" That', at the age of forry-

S8
 TIlE 1I1>:t: 01' KAHMAI'AS. !'HOM TilE TIBETAN

four, ht'ginning 011 the fourth day of the ~t'vt'nth month of the female water pig
year (1383) hc ~howtd signs of king indisposed. On the night of the fifteenth
of that month hl' performcd a cercmony, packed up all his personal books and
ritual items, explaining that the}' should bc carefully prescrved for his future
incarnation who would be reborn in l\:yang Dam, circumambulated the Holy
Objects fifty-fivc times and p:mt"d away.
His Tt'mains Wtrc crlCm:lIed on the mountain, amidst numerous auspicious
___ signs .such as rainbows,. glowingJighH.,=tLcnJQ[s_alld_sllO_wt'[LoU]owcrs.--Disrifllcs-:-:_c
--~3whim-in rh-e-sk5',siftirig inside a rairir)ow ciicrC;-rldiIlgon-a-JI(lnand-sitting on
the sun, the moon and the stars. Many remarkable relics were recovered from the
pyrt·. His foremost disciples were:
(i) SIIAMAR KII/\ CHOD WANGPO: The second Shamar Tulku. (J 350-1405)
(ii) DHIGVNG CIIOSKYI GYALPO:
(iii) DHIGVl\:G LOTSAWA:
(i\') JE TSOl\:C;KIIAI'A:I4~ Who established the Gelugpa S('Ct. (1357-1419)

I,C. A JniJ'I.l D.:zki"i A Wilrodom-holding GoddcM•. Generally rhC'rc 1rC' bcli~\'("d to he- J08 It any on(' time.
12 "'ih: Cang-sbt'J-Kyi'rla
128 Ski' .... ",,.j, •.
129 Til,! C;"")'t'n.
130 1'jt,: ",l\ba'·'I"0 rc.;yOl mU.o,
D I Til>: I~"a"n ,bos.
132 A [laki,,; who hold, a bow and arrow made' of nowcn.
__ I 3l lkn ...~IhiJ~(QI!D.d.,,-d_b.):.J.. ml~l~hlg",o_C<u.~.
1 30 (I 302-1364 ).
=ITS-TiL'" G ",ul-
136 Til>, Ny'nzng_
137 In Khl""'.
138 Sadbur.
139 All the'~ ~tatuC'!o. arC' prr"-(T\'r-d AI the nt'¥.' NunuC'k mon&"1rry.
140 rib. [J(Jrj( Noljormo.

141 ThC' '7au1u Nyrntlrl'.

J 42 Kan.chClu, in f\.an~u rro~'i",'("

59
 143 A hugt hawk-liL.t bird, thr dt"vourC'r of ~nllkn and poi~{)Ju" In thr Hindu panthC'un GaYlJda h. thr vC"hidc
of l'iw"lI.
144 Je '-.ongkhapa 0"7-1419) WAl. about 3~~ yean old al (hi", tirnr and rt"{'C,'ivt"d (hr na.mr Kung-Ii N)'ingpo
from Karm.pli. An rmanalion of thr /luJJ.uattwJ M.:mjl41n ht' WII\ grratl)' inf'lurflt't"d hy Ihr Kargyudra'. thr
Kadamp ..... and the Sa~)'lIip", bcforC" tiC" ("Slilbli",hcd the' 'rc(ormed' CdugpJil .rct. The Dalai Lam. i~ the
prc!Iot"nl Uead o( [hr GdUgpL\, -
J4~ Sham.r Kha Claud \\'111101'0 wa~ "C'Ven )'Cil.r" old at thl)' time. lie WiL" taught the' 'Six \'ogu' of Nalopa
and rhr complete :\1Jbtlrtlud,.a
146 Jc T ..ong~fll'ra had t~o main dIM·jpln, ~'ho founded the hugr GC"lugpit nwna!.lrrin of [)rC'pullg (in 14J6)
and Storl! (in 14JY).

60
 DEBZHI/\ SHEGPA: THE FIFTH KARMAPA (Tiv: De-bZbin gShegs-pa)
(1384-14J 5)

Devzhin Shegpa was vorn on tht' eighteenth day of the sixth month of the male
wood rat year (1384), at sunrise, in the region of Nyang Dam in Southern Tibet.
His father, Guru Rinchen, wa~ a Tantric, and hi~ mother was a Yogini called
Lhamo Kyi_ Even before his birth he could be heard reciting the 'Mani' A10mtra
andthe alphal>tl inside his mothers womb_Anhe time of his birtb_hiLmo_tbt-randc
-numerous other-pC'oplc-dr(""all1{'dof the coming of Karmapa,-orrailings madt"from-
rainbows, showers of flowers and sweet fragrancC's. As soon as he was born
auspicious rainbows appeared evC'r),wherC'. Tht child wiped his face and said "I
take rcfugr in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Order of monks. I am the
Karmapa! Om Mani Padme Hum, Uri'"
The Lamas at Tsurphu htard of the virth of the remarkable child. He was
brought to the monastery, whtre he was immediately recognised by Shamar Kha
Chod Wangpo, 14' who had bttll hi~ dbcipk in tht previous incarnation. At the
age of seven he received the primary ordination from Khenpo Nyaphu Sonam
Zangpo and studied the Vina,yas, the Pratimoksba and the Karikas. He was given
the name Chospal Zangpo. For some years he engaged himself in intense studies.
Visiting the Kongpo region, he stopped the fighting which had broken out there
and then travelled to Karma Gon and Ri Wo Che, where he spread the Dharma
widely.
At thl" age of twenty, in the horse year (1402), he took the final ordination
from Khcnpo Sonam Zangpo and Yon Lowa, at the Namdruk Riwo monastery in
Kongpo, along with eighty other monks. Under the guidance of the most learned
scholars he studied the Prajn.1p.1ramita and other related teachings and the great
Pandita Kazhipa Rinchen Pal taught him the essence of Buddhist philosophy. He
spread the teachings continuously and many influential people from all over Tibet
came to take refuge with him. By this time he was considered to be one of the
greatest spiritual teachers.
In the fem~le wOQd__biHL}~lY" .(140~!,,~attheJgLpLtwen(y_;:.tw.Q,~Karmapa~
~~bebzhTn Stlegpa-;'ec~i\~d an invitation to visit China. The lc:tter from the Emperor
=1'ai-Ming-·€nen 1:!I:'-wan..1'inen-in-gcI!U-lctten-aniJ n requesred toatlle maKe toe
journey as it could be of great benefit to the Chinese people. Karmapa accepted
the invitation and set out on the journey, travelling via the Karma Gon and Lha
Ten Gon monasteries, accompanied by Situ Choskyi Gyaltsen and many monks
and Lamas.
On the twenty-first day of the first month of the fire pig year (1407) the party
reached the outskirts of Nanking. where the)' were warmly welcomed and Karmapa
·was placed on an elephant. At the gates of the city the Emperor himself1 49 rece ivcd

61
 t-;ARMAPA, lHI IlLACt-; HAT LAMA OF TllltT

Karmapa, who pre~ented him with a golden 'Wheel of Dharma' and rectoived an
auspicious white conch-shdl in rerum. Many thousand~ of monb gathcrtod 10 pay
their homage, and all reerived his blessings.
Karmapa bestowed the empowermtonts and initiatiom of the rtd /iv,l!o!;;tc_Ib-
tu.1r.l and IIcvajra. The sixteenth Arhat, the Protector of the Dharma in China,
appeared before him whiht the Emperor was present. For the nex thundr<:d days
Karmapa performed wonderful miracles, on(' for each day and the Emperor was
-.:\0_ imprmed thaI he referred to KarlTlaJl.~,-aqhd·athag:ll_a..~c_~_~_·_·_.=,~-~
_.- - On =llu:=-Tirst-da y-there=a ppeare-d-an ·ifioc~cCfiT "(I ou (j- 6nil'c-,olou-rs ofnlosi-
beautiful hue, expanding and contracting in various ways and as brilliant as the
Wish-b'Tanting Gem. Then a ray of light, like the full moon, shone out above and
around a Stupa containing Holy rdics and two bands of golden rays rose up above
the place where Karmapa wa.~ staying. On the sixth day then' wue s("('n a large
number of iridescent clouds shaped like hegging bowls, which filled the whole: sky
and in the South-\\'estcm ~ky there appcared many figures of Arhats, each fol-
lowcd by a large retinue. On another occasion flowers fell from the sky, some
fully open and others in bud; their stems and upper parts were like crystal and
they floattd r\'erywhcre, hoth high and low. After that a fil"e-coloured rain-
bow appeared above the temple where Karmapa had pr('pared the A1al1dala of
initiation. Thrn more Heavenly Btings appeared, carrying btgging-bowb and pil-
{,'Tim staffs; some were wearing hats and others held Yak-tail whisks. and mOl"ed
about among the clouds. On thr eighteenth night there appeared two heavenly
lamps of a very intense red colour, as well as othtr lights (.f difftrtnt kind~ and
they lit up the whole sky. In the distance Gods could be seen adorned with
precious jcwrls, riding on blur lions and white r1ephants. 15o The Emperor
instructed his finest artists to paint these events on a silk scroll, which was then
sent to the Tsurphu monastery.151
The Emperor prcsentrd Karmapa with seven hundred measures of silver
objects, and bestowed upon him the honorific title 'Precious Religious King.
Great Loving One of the West, Mighty Buddha of Peace', He told Karmapa that
there were t<>'ClJTlan~ different seClsof Buddhism and that it KQ\lliLb~c..m.u~ch,b.c.uer~
·-if there\\;asonly one, the Karma-Kargyudpa, offering to bring this about by force.
=l?al"mapa-ex-plamea-to-nim-thanni~-waY!l"Ot -fiis <iesire,--nor ('oula irl>e l>enc:ficial
to humanity, since mankind reguires varying methods of teaching and that in
reality all sects arc but one great family of Buddhism. Despite pressures from his
Ministers the Emperor Ming Chen understood the ad\·ice Karmapa had given him
and withdrew his forces from the horders of Tibet, el"en though thty were in a
great position of strength and could easily have overrun the country. The Emperor
took teachings and initiations from Karmapa, c\Tntually becoming a great
----/iodbi.lattva himself.

62
H. H. Gralw. Karmapa displars the Black Dorjc Hat Wajra M"k"l) during a sp('cial cer('mon),.
II w"' pre,entcd to the fifth Karmapa b)' the Chine,e Emperor 'fai Ming Chen. Th(' origin of the
"ajra Hat gOl"' back t" ver)' ancient time>, when the Il"dhisattva A\'alokiteshwara was pr('scntcd
with it b), the other Enlightened Ones. The G),alwa Karmapa is an emanation of Avalokitesh·
wara, and i> the custodian of this Black Crown, the mere sight of which is belie\'ed to ensure
Liberation within one lifetime.

63
 KAHMAI'A, lliL Bl.ACK IIAl LAMA OF 111lL'I

One day, during a ce:rrmony, the Empnor ~aw a mystic l'ajl.1-hat,' ~ 1 made
- from Ihe hairs of one hundred thous:lIld j).1/':inis, hOl'ning O\tr his Ttachtr's head,
/{cilising that it was \'isible only on account of his own advanced spirit ual allain'
ml'lllS, Il(" decided to make a hat that would be visible to all. When it was finished
- htc presl'llltd il to Karmapa and this same- Black J!:It has been worn b): sUl'Ctcssivt
Karmapa incarnations sinn' that timt. It is said Ihat this Hat has the !)()Wl'r of
~l:ollferring dtli\'l"rance:on'sight 1O;lllli"ing kings \\'ho htilOld il.-- - --------
" Karmara tran'lltd far and wide, through China, Mongolia, Yunnan and Mi 1\)'a,
'-hl'S-lOwing-t ea.- h ings -and--i ni t ia t io n s-a nd-co 11\' t'ft ing-rna ny-t h uu sa nd ,- of-pcop Ie-t 0-
Kargyudpa Buddhism. After some years spent in China he fl'ached the Karma Gon
nlOnastl'f), in the frmalc: earth ox year (J 4(9), ha\'ing givrn tea.-hings and
brslOwl·d bltssinp throughout the long rnurn journey. From Karma Gon hl' went
on to Tsurphu, and was warmly wdconll:d along the way by many kadl'rs of the:
difftrenl sects; Sakya Dripon, Drigung J{inpochl' and thtc Rinpoche of the Jknsa
Thil monastery. Alone villagl' a Illessmgn arrivtcd from Je Tsongkhapa, thtc
Gtclugpa kader, hearing .1 statue of Lord Buddha and a klllT saying that though
he could not come in prrson he hoprd that they might have furthn contan with
l'ath othrr in the future. The plaer where Karmapa n:n'ivrd the auspicious statue
is called 1\akchu Kha, in 1\orth Eastern Tibet, where the river flows towards Burma.
From hurphu he tran:lled to Lhasa and offered a precious yrllow robe,' 54
co\cred with pearls, to tht, statue of Lord Buddha in the great Jo Khang temple.
The local Huler, Wang Trakpa GyaJtsrn, invited Karmara to the Nyi'u Tsong
p;liacc, situ;l!ed on thl' banks of a rivcr, and there he was highly honoured. The
ruling famil), and all the Ministers rcCeil'ed initiations and blTame patrons of the
Karmapa. Hr then n'turned to Tsurphu, rebuilt many shrines and Stupas, and
wmpktcly rrnovated all thr living accommodation there.
At the inl'itation of Li-u Pa, the Huler of Central Tibet, Karmapa revisited
Lhasa in tht· male water dragon }'l'ar (J 4) 2), staying for sel'eral yrars in thr great
Potala palalT. Ill' preached and gav(' many initiations. Meeting the young incar-
nal ion of Shamar Tulku, Chospal Yeshe, he superl'ised his ordination and
brstowed manx initiations on him.
Karmapa became afflicted by a serious disease and it sermed that he was ready
-ro-lean'-the-worra=lTis-cfiscijYlcs-IR'I:,l-a-propitiation cerl'!lrolly-for-thc-prolongati-on-
of life, hut Karmapa said, "Following an omen J han' projected mysc:lf to a place
in the vicinity of Karma Gon. You should address your prayers in that direction
-and-J ~hall protect you . "-To the head scrvant he said -"Do not-scattrr the books-
and images. for an owner will soon be coming." Then he handed over all his ritual
implements. precious relics and personal books, predicted that he would be rehorn
at Shc Kyong and told his discipb that hr would meel them again in future
-jillamalions.

64
 1I1E L11,a. 01· KAHMAPAS. ~HOM TIlE lIBI.TAN

On the first day of the eighth month of the female wood ~heep rear (141 S),
in the Potala palace, he passed away, at the agt' of thirty-two. At the time of his
crcmation many rainbows, haloe~ and shOWl'n of flowen were observed. Jmage~
of At'alllkilnl''W,na, Cb>lkr>ls,lIn;m'>I and IIrl'>ljT>I wert' n'cO\'eTt'd from the ashes.
His foremost dis(iples were: .
. Ji),SII:\MAH CHOSPALYESIIE:The third Shamar TuJ~u. (c,H06'1452)
(ii) SITU CHOSKYJ GYALTSEN: The firM Situ Tulku (c.1377-I44H)
(iii) THUNe; MASE TOKDEN:'H Thcfirst Trungp=a=:,l,-"·u=lkC'·u",,.===~=====
-(Ivt-'JStI J{PIlU-JA'MIlY1\NG-OIEKPO,-Ttakp'a-GyaltYlc n-;--;rn-lrR'a'nration-ohhe-
Jio.ibi.li1ttl'>l M>llljUSri. (13 74-c.14 31)
(v) HINCIIEN ZAt\GPO:
(Ii) NGOMPA ellA GY/ILWA:
(I'ii) KIIAClIOI'A:' S 6

H)()TNOTES

147 The- IIoC'uIlid ~hamal Tul~u who C'nthronC'd him alld trlln\!l\ittt'd llie hight! lC'achinlr' whim.
14 It Tht' Lmpcrof \'un~! 10 (1403·14 2S), ,1 .. 0 kntlWn ." elI'cng T~u.
149 A('('ording to T"uklak Trt'IIl.'Yt", the' hi~loriMn: "The Chinnc'lIltHlh!'l and {)(fKial~ burned incC'Il!oc, blew on
l-Ol)(..'h .IH.'-Ih.. and "'rrillkleJ nowc-r> un thc road ~om(' Ihrc(' ,hou",.nd or the highc!Ol offl(:i~I~, wearln~
C'Aquh.ite garrnrno. .,.d "tanding ill rC'!I;pcn(ul Jil(,Jll'c, lined the road fwm the gatr to the three pallee donn,
111(' bnrC'ror .lUnd II the Cl"lltr(' door and aC'l'ol1lpanit"d Karmapa through il. The Ernprror and Karma".
'"-Tupied two thH)m"", at the ('entrc ()( the hall, , ."
I ~o Tlli", dC"lIo4.:ripliofl j, IakC"JI from the ttam,lation o( the .noll at Tt.urphu, St-c Ii, Richard"on '-, br J(o,..mapa
.,.<t' (j.R.A.S. 1959).
1 ~I It F Richauhon I.aw , ill T"urrhu monL'lefY ill JY49, "a t.i1k-Lal'kcd Kroll mca"uring .soh hy 2Y.1fl,
ht'ilulifully ilIu",nlud and rc,'()ulJtin~ lfl fivC' 111lf\Jagcfo ~ ChinC'M', TihC'tan, Arabic. Mongol and Uighur -
mirac.:ln pt"rformed b)' the Kumara Lama on twenty'two da.y. during h~ "ay in the Cheng T"u' Emreror',
,oourt",
IS' I'ajr. M.ku, (Til>, 7.bv'·".r.~'~I!!h<!;....!'Il~I:!.~c~~II~.~,'.L)''--_ _ _ _ _ _"_ _~_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~_
153 Thi" hal j,. with the rrf''''!:JI' Gy.lwa Karmapa Ind i. u!ot'd on cC"T'emonial ocl°a.,i()n~, by 'peri.l rrqutt.t.
=J:S_4_ h wa' ulleQ 'r.:bof,o fi.·amgyal'.

155 Trung M.'e W&.' horn L' the 50n of • Ruler of Mi Nya, f .."tcrn Titxt. HC' met Karmara It the T~urrhu
m(lnaqrry and rCTc-ived tllC' precept.' from him. Latef, ..... hen Kumar_ vi'ltcd hi, counn)' hC' malk lar~("
oHcrinp lO him and rccciv("d additiona.! tC'lchin~, In Ulau he rrccivC'd th(' Oral tcachillr from Karmapa,
arc'
- j'ldudirl-~ ",omc Y;-'hich- werc. -o("\'cr ~veil- to othc-r~ (the,",' kno"';'n - a" the Or,,1 Pr('c('rt~ -of Surmangpa) ,,'of-
ten year", hr remained in r('treat and ultimaldy atuinC'd thr pc-r(el-tion of • Slddh., tic founded the pnt
Surrnang morul.'tcf)' and originatc:d tile Saned Dance of Ihe Karp'udpa,_ lit wa!<t. .1'0 }..nown ...' Kung.
Gpilt'oC'Il,
I ~(, Wh_o wa' abo knlJWIl .a .. Nal1l~ha, He ~'a'_ an adert at d~cr mcdjtatjo~_ .n~ 1.1(", bnamc kn(lw~ A-' mKha
'-!<rYO(I-p2 -(lk;l.\~n-·~{;nc)-, -., hr left no hc,dd)' rcli~ Lchind~ only hi~ niil, an-a t-ii( hair. -- ---- - -- ---- - - ---- ----

65
 OJ ()!\GWA »()!\DE!'\; °1 liE SIXTII KAHMAPA (TiL; mT"ollg-/>,/ nOIl/d,lI/)
(14 16- 14 5 3)

In accord,lnce with the prediction 'J on!,'w:! D(lnden \l'a, horn on the eighth d'IY of
-- the second month of the male fire llIon\"t'y)'ear (1416), ,It !'\g,lll1tod She Kyong,
ncar Karma Gon, "'hil,t in hi, mothn\ wOlllb both hi, pJrt'nt, had highly
~--:llI\pieiou, drt':lIm, -A"-"OOllil\ hcw:I\borrdw"lt-upright;Ioohcd at hi,mothtr-
"jocand laughed, When lhl' umbilical wrd' \\'a, l'ut-the smell of kautiful 'illlTml'
=1-ll'f\;fdtj:hltr~ldwl:r~lJ'gt(UJ.~,_~_~-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On thl' tWl'Ifth day of the third month hi, p:IlTng tou\.. him on ,I begging
round and on thi, occasion he 1lI1'1 !'\gompa eha Cyal",a, a di\cipk of the prn iom
K,trmapa, Till' sm:lll 1"ll>y beClIll(' ITry l",litnl at the sight of him alld began to
fl"itl' thl' alph:lbn' '7 l'\goml'a then took him to a ,olitary pl;.('(' ,Illd ;J,Led him
who he 1\';1" The sm:"1 baby l-TJ:"ped hi, fingl'l and ':Iid, "I :1m unb(lrn, free frolll
all !l:lIlln, "!Jce'''',, and the glory of all li'ing bl in!!,1 I ,h:lll kat! nun)' to lii,na-
tion l " Latn hl' told the Lama that hl' \l'a' tht, ne\\' K:lrmapa, but a'\..nl him not to
di,r1ose this yct.
At the agc of snTn month, he made a throne, swod on it and recitrd the
n,lmcs of Lord Buddha and the ',Hl1Ii'M,lI/lr.I, JIt- al", J,c'IO\I'nl bks,ing' on the
l'l'opk around him, At the age of one Yl'ar he \\'a, ta\..en !01\';lr,1- Lha Chim and on
being Jsked \l'hy he had COllll' thert' hl' pointl'd 10 the mona\!l'rY and said 'Tor
thi,I" Upon reaching the main building he pointni out the Stupa of K:lllnapa
J)mum Kh)'l'nl'a and thl'n gra'ped hold of J blac\.. hat. ~a)'ing "It, milK!" I'or
threr: d3y~ thert' W3' 3 great showCl of flown, from thl' sky and aftl'lw;lrd, he wa,
proclaimed to he the new Karm:lpa. Tht, third Shamar Tulku, a di~ciple of his
rrl'\'iou~ incarnation, came and f('('()gnised him officially and pnform('d his
ellthrOlWnll'nt et'll'mony,latCl taking him to hi, 0\1'11 nlOna\tery, lie rt'Cogni,ed all
thl' pr('l'ious possn,iom of the past Karmapa inl'arnatiom and made a numbn of
_ proph('(-i('~,
Karmapa Tongwa Dondl'n recril'td tht initiatiom of I 'ujruyogilli, J/(,l'01jm Jnd
the M,lballludm from the great Pandita Sowon Kazhip,l and also studied tht,
-1"in7iJ'JJYtlYpirmail1i";,~s.8-rliC'L/rakrasa7llv'lra 1'anlra an{j-orlTCrSlTtms an1:l-7~an1ras,
=E~"+ll-Sha-ma.f~='l-Q;"P-:~' t;MW-~l' H~"C; i-I't;Q-a-I-1 t-~G G!iQH~Fi-(,--GQft-r-i-H(o S-0-j:..£~,Ek!-lvJ­
Tilopa, as wtll a~ the romplrte Kargyudpa Lineage teachings, Once. while per-
forming the comel'ration ccremon), of a painting. ~l'\'cn of the barlcy gr,lim
_t!llOwn hy him remained su~p('ndcd.in tht':l.ir anctolJanothlT.()(;(,;]siQl1_du[ing_L
drought he played with water and it suddenly began to rain,
In the malr wood dragon year (1424). at tht agl' of nint. Karmapa took tht
primary ordination from l'\akphu S(lnam Zangpo at the Olka Tashi Tang
_monaqery_ in- Central-Tikt, Hc- took thc-\'ow~-of-a-li(ldbi,\,lllm-and-rt'CeiH'd---
 1111c Ill'>t OJ j..AI{MAI'AS H{OM 1111 'IIHI'I A"

initiation into the }\J!,U-!.,.II.:'-J. During thi~ timt· he rompo~t"d a tre3ti~e on the
Danet· of M.lbab/.l' 5 ~ and had :1 ~igllificallt li~ion of tht· Goddn~ S.1r<l.I" "U'J II. , (.0
btn he tral'rlkd to Kongpo where he aho had I'i~iom of Siddlta Tilopa and
\,illlaialllitra.
For :1 number of ),t'ar, Karmapa practi\t'd decp nleditati(;n alld rt'tl'il'cd
numnou, '·I .. lom of :lv.Ii{l"·ilc~h~l/"ol. 7',]ru. lioJbi.luIH\I.1 and the .. ixtt"t'n
-~17J.·JISI (.. T1lt~nht: -~Jlt"llt;(;lllrtillle rd'llijdlngtlle nlon;,si~ri(.~ (.(Nilkphu al;d-
~<;;II~h lI....:Ill.cL(>.I~.tl)(i!_c (lillI' It'li ()n_ jQ1HJlt"}· e_d J..<'....L.h:1... a_ \\".b er~-'l"<'_ g;i \,~-,~a l~bill g'._<lI1Q. _
initiatiom-'to Kurrdrm--RorrglOll and tm tltou ..:)ml-nronb. Then he rttllrtred to
Saphll 1lI00lastny \\hne he rt" .. tornl th(' ruined .. t;l!lIt· ... rhangl",lth('ir rnl"lllonial
rob('" and rnealtd all tht' p[('("iou .. nlic ho)o.o. Ile tralTlled to Kham~ and Kongpo.
be .. towing hi~ blo .. ing' fretly and prc,ching tlH: BlIddhiq Dharma to llIan)"
th(lu .. and~ of people.
In the malt- watn llIonkey )"ear (1452). whik staying at he Lha Gang, it
apIH'an:d that hi .. p;l~,illg wa, imminellt, so LallIa Sang)"e Sl"Ilgc began to offer
pla)"er~ for tht· prolong.ltion of hi, life. Karmapa said "Thi .. }'t"ar nothing will
happen to me. For nine mOTe month .. 1 shall tah ropomibility for m)' life." Then
ht' tral'dled to Saphll mOllastL"TY and went into rern·at. At tht· age of thirty-sel'en
ht impartl'd all tht I'ajr.l.ibum' (., ttarhing' to Gralt~ap Gmhi Paljor and entrusttd
to his cart· a sellnl kiter gil'ing all the dt"tails of his next inrarnarion. IIbny
unusual sigllS wcrc ob,tTl'cd, surh as earth tremor ... sudden darknns and shower ..
of flowers and all kllew tkll ,oon he would he !t;1\'ing the world. One day hl" said
"I abo In·long to tht· Lincagl' of the Kargyudpas!"
Karmapa Ton~'a Dondtn collcctt'd togcther his books, images, garmcnts
and Black lIat and gave them into thl' care of his chid attendant. Ik madt· some
seCTet prophecies·' 3 and thl'n, in thl' kmale watl'r bird year (1453) hl' pas"l'd
away. The body was cremated and mallY extremtly au .. piciolls relics were
H't"ol"("rt'd from the region of the heart, the tongul' and the (·rn. These were li\.;(·
small mnch·shells, dazzling like crystal. They \\Tre carefully presern'd by his
followers. His foremost disciples were:
(i) GYALTSAP GOSH I PALlOR DONDlWP: The first Gyaltsar- Tulku.
(c.1427-1489)
=fir-r-Sl'Fl3=-l-';'fcSOITt=K;\=f\nj-Y-A'I:;:=Ffirser on (FS-I tu--'liflI u-;-(T.f51Ff.VSf']:)
(iii) PENKAR JAMPAL ZANGPO:
(il') KLINCIlEN RONGTON KHENPO: From Rong prOl·iner. A great scholar.
(v)-TA K LVNG-SHABDRVNG :-_.

FOOTNOTES

157 'Air 1\0/"; the' \'(lwch and l'(lfl'Onant!>. The C!oo.(lIC'ri( !\.j~niflrafH:c j, the relallom,hir ~!th the Idt and ri(!ht
-5Uti"TIr n('rv6-C\·.~J.~)'-11 hi', bC"cJii.iid thif "thc-~'Iwli u-nin"r,,('- i~ oill"V.1/, l\a!J"~----- -------------- - -- --------- -

67
 KAI{MAtA, 1111. IILACt-; IIAT LAMA 01· 111111

Istl l ,,,: '/)llhJ.;.J'ilr,,',

15\1 Til" (;(I"PO "'ukpv Cbrn
I t,O lib "ol"): Cbr"""a
I_t~ 1__ "1lO ~prr .. d tilt" HuJdhi!<t tcaching'

It,' TII[, AJ. JiUJJhol, the rool tr~Hh(,f of tht" J\.krgyudpa W-Cl.
~~oTt)('__'J 1m/: 1.}/.nd'I\(J_:·rf.~)·.J:. ___ ~_~ ___ ~ ________ _

68
 ellos lRI\G GYAMTSO; TilE SEVEI\:TH KARMAPA
Oib; ebos"grags rGyu"mTlo) (1454"]506)

Chos Trag Gyamtso was born on the fifth day of the fint month of the malt wood-
dog year (1454), at Kyi Lha, Northern Tibet. As he was born he wiped his face
... and said,"Km;f'l,:jl ,,- ("Mother! "r Atlht" age of fi\'(: inollthshl: said, "Ah Jrllng!~
Thne is nothing in the world but voidne". I'wplt may think thert· is somt·thing,
tn
~1)u~ErlIT'y-aTc~rt'allfljuitc v:'rc.)riFror-nlt::'-in~r~is=r;t"illlt;i.::tinh-n (Jf at'a !'i- ---
At tht· age of nine months he mtt tht fim Gyaltsap Tulhu, who immediately
recognist'd him and arranged for his enthronement. All the details of the prt"dinion
kttn wne found to correspond exanly with the facts of his birth. ,\1;1ny p("(lple
clme to pay their r("'prcts and the young child astounded them all by reciting the
alpha!>t·t corrt·ctly.
On the first day of the third month of the nlait- t"arth tiger year (1458), at the
age of fil't" ht· re('('il'('d the tmpowcrm("J1t of tht, Buddha of Boundless Life,
;1711iluyll~, I t ' and later, the init iations of Cbahasammra and M,lbam,lya, I t 5
When nt·ws reached him that the pro"inccs of Lo and MOIJ'·· had hegun hostilities,
he wtnt thert and made a lasting peace. Acquiring many nt'w disciples in this way
he asked them to undertake ten million rtpetitiom of the '!t1a7l;' MaTllra, saying
that it was ulJdoui>trdly the cure for all ills. Later both Jetsun Milart'pa and
/It'l),ljra appeared to him in a vision and in accordance with dl,t:lils revc:ded to him
Karmapa ehos Trag Gyanmo told his disciples to construct an iron bridge over
the Tsog Chu ril'er.
The young Lama visited the monastery of Tscn Den and then went on to
Karma Gon. On the eighth day of the ninth month of the male water horse year
(1462). whtn ht was nine years old, he received the primary ordination from Gyalt"
sap Goshi I'aljor. Tht· young Lama made the vow to fulfil his obligations with the
greatest compassion for humanity, Flowers rained down from the sky as he took
the vows of a /lodbi.laltva.
At the age of twelve he received the next ordination from Penkar Jampal
-Zangpo, wfio naoueen a (lJi;CiprcorfilSrast incarnatiO'il.""From Gyaltsap )urru~
=f.e:ff:i*lO.~a:l:l=t-I:1,e::::H;a,eh-i·l1gS:=6:f::,t-htc=~i:na-;)'a=:5:u:tl'a·s:=a-I1-d=a1=t:hc=agc=of=t+r~teen=h=
received the esoteric transmission. One of his closest advisors at this time was the
second Situ Tulku, Tashi Namgyal, who also imparted the Oral teachings
__ Karmapa was invited tovisitthe borderlands oLChang Mo,Tri-o, DarTse Do
and Mi Nya, On the fourtt"Cnth day of the eleventh month of the female wood
bird year (1465) he tral'Clltd from Karma Gon to thest areas, gi"ing ttachinp and
initiations to many thousands of people. Prior to his arril'al there had been fighting
-in thl' area and -3 number -of pwplt had btTIl illlprisoncd.- Karlllapa-arrangcdfor~­
their re!rase, with the result that tension was Insened and pe3tT was restored, In

69
 the Mi Ny3 monasrtTy of 1{1';1 \\'3 Gang he cngagc:d the filT most senior Lamas'.'
in rc:ligious dc:uatt and II'as 3bl, to rorrect any mistakn which had nqH into their
doctrines,
Karrnapa tLlI'Cllt:d to Li Thang, where again he was ;Ibl<: to rnull'e local dis-
- PUIl'S, Ik I'isitc:d the hermitage of Karma Pabhi, arril'ing there in the third month
of the female iron rabbit year (1471) and abo I'bill'dthe KhakaHiphug temple __~
~\\'hiIChe was thert:he performed a special ct'rl"lllOny and the grains of collSel'rated
- TilT thrO\\TI by him were stuck pt'rmanently onto the ro('ks,_lk_al.,oJeft_hi .. foQt"-----.
-pr:irJl~I)l·r:iilari(:ntly-,mr)edJed--in a /rard stone. '1 hen ht, !ran'lInl to Hon'hen Kal\'J
Karpo. tIll' pilgrimage-place: of C/.>,lh,1.\,1111,m<l, wl)(Te he founded a smallmonaqi('
meditation ctntn'.' t" For selTral year .. ht pranised meditation thnt.
Karmapa rt·turned to Karma Con. bntowing initiations and prt'aching to the
pt'Oplt- along the 11'3)'. Upon his arril'al he built .. t'I'nal large statues of Lord
Buddha for the monaster), and afttr a short time left for Southern Tibet where he
f('built many of tht Karg)'udpa monaqnits. Heaching Tsurphu he found that tht'
gigantie statUt' of Lord Buddha. built uy Karma P;lbhi. hJd bet'll damaged by an
earthquake. so he restored it. lit- foundcd a large tht'Ological wllt-ge. \\ hieh became
well-known throughout Tibet. Ill' tlH-n went to Nyi·o Dong Tser. whne he Illet
tht, fourth Shamar Tulku, Choskyi Trakpa. to whom /)(' taught the 'Six Do('trines'
of Naropa and impartt'd the Lineage teachings. On this occasion the Black l!at
tTrelllony was perforllled for tht· )'oung Shamar Tulku.
Karmapa tral'cIlt-d to Cho~kh()r Lunpo. a "try large monastic college where he
hI' appointed Karma Tin/a)' loY as Abbot and foundt'd a nl'W school of philosophy.' 70
thu~ grcatly increasing the number of his disciples. He tral'tIlt-d to Lhasa. whert
he had a \'ision of the Futurr Buddha M<litTl'Y<l, who adl'ised him that a monaster),
should ue uuilt around the large statue of Lord Buddha' 71 there, The local
Hultr.' 72 Nuipa, did not agree with the project. howel'er a small monastcry was
built just outside of Lhasa. As ~O(JIl as the work was colllplt-ted five hundred
soldiers dtstro)'Cd the wholt building. I 73
The Supreme Ruler of Tibet at that timr was the fourth Shalllar Tulku.
Choskyi Trakpa. who had been e1ectt'd by the Ministers in his foft}'·sixth ~a.r__
Fr9HJ Aearlllg of the great insult to the Gyalwa Karmapa and the Kargyudpa sect
=dc:ewed=t-o=pu:rriesh=rffiFl o('al=r~1Fler-:-Ka rmapa wouf(j-n-ot-h-e-ar-of eh i s a no tol a
him that the matter was alread), well into the past. He left Lhasa and went to the
Ting region of Kongpo, where he founded an hermitage,
---- Karlllapa ChosTrag Gyamtsoscnt-amessenger to BodhGaya'''-inlndiawith--~
an offering of gold to I>c paintt'd on the statue of Lord Buddha there, togniler
with man)' prayers written out in Sanskrit. to be distributed frecl),. The King of
/{;ljgir in India and the great PanditJ Yigkyi Shingta. srnt the messenger back to~ __ _
Jihet bearing leal'es fromthr Bodhi-trrc andl':mhfror11-nl-any-fiilgrinlagc platTS.

70
 'I liE l.J~1 01 "AHMAI'A~. IHOM 'I In '11/11 'I AN

Shamar Tulku founded the mon;Jqny of Gadt'n Mamo.' H which KarmJpa

romenated bdorc journeying to Lha\;I whnt' ht held a grl'at religiom mteting,
At Hinpullg. in thl' pWI'inrt' of 'hang. Ill' taught P;lndita Sak)'a CllO\k)'i Langpo
and a thou\and Jllonb all about the Fil'r J)onrilll'\' 76 of M.litrc),.1 and abo gaIT
thelll ;1 full l'xplanati(ln of an ('xtemil,(, !reati\e that hl' had written,' 77 Thu\ hl'
_.,.\prr;,dJht Dharma wiLlel),,_
Karmap:1 lelUrnrd to I.ha\:I, whrle Ill' built a t('mple and \pread the Karg)'udpa
trarhinp. lit- Illet the 'lTond(;plt\aJ2~[uJ].;JJ.,~LlsJli~J'.I:lJllgpLand~J1!:tSl'lltt"d~l:~~1~
-:--\\irh-;'n--OfTi1gTrEif"inm()gnitivn()f-lli~-fligTlatt:llnn](~;l~~-AlIO\'t'r thl' '1":lng
region he attracted man)' Ill'W di\cipln through the power of hi, preJching. Liter
in T\(' Lha (;:ll1g. he gav(, hi, Ia,t trachinp. ;llh'i,ing hi\ r/O\('S\ di\cipln of his
illlmin('nt pa,\ing, All the prrdinion dnaib of his n(,,\t incarnation \\,('ft' kft in
the- raft' of the third Situ 'I ulku. Ta,hi Paljor.
On the fiftn'nth d:ly of the fir\t month of the mak fire tiger year (1506),
h:l\ing sent a kttn to Bodh Cap, he passnl a\\,:I)', Ik wa\ in hi\ fifty-third year,
Thnl' IITll' many aU\pil'ious \igm at this timt', lIis fOft'mmt disciplc\ were:
(i) SIIAMAH CIIOSKYI 'I HAKPA: Thl' fourth Shamar Tulku, (1453-1524)
(ii) SITV '1ASII! PALjO/{: The third Situ Tulku, (1498-1541)
(iii) GYALTSAP TASIII 1'AMGYAI.: Tht stl'Ond Gyalt\;lp Tulku,(c.1490-15IH)
(il') SANGYE I\YE1'I'A J»){VPTOI': The fiN S:lllg)'e Nycnpa Tulku. lie wa\ ;1
Siddha,
(\') KAHMA TINI.AYPA: The fir\! Karma Tinla), Tulku, Who rtet'i\'(:d all the
trachinp from Situ Tulku,
(vi) PANDI,), SAKYA CIIOSKYI LANGPO: From Tsang, (1439-1505)
(vii) J»){JCl'NG KVNGA HINCIIEN:
(l'iiinORMO TASIII OSEL:
(ix) TANAG CIIOS JEPA: A Pandita of thl' Sak)'a ~l"'t.
(x) YUGLA PANCIIEN:

I (XllNOn,s

----H·-~-T,h:-.,!Ot·pi1mrd -- -
It,!i Til>: .-\f.JI.'um.Jya
1M> 1.0 and MOll atc '(,,~~Hln' of ~(lUI"("rIl 1 iil("t.
It·' ThrC"( of ",,'lI(1) W("fC DJ:I.!indtl, t\~7hipa. and "1;",('''''.....
11>" TII,-' '/frllr- pr '. -- - --- --- -------

71
 KAI(MAI'A, HI!. bLACK IIAl LAMA 01 111lJ-:l

I t.9 K",rma Tilillil)'p¥ w .... (anum" for hill commenh.ry on the /)01.'.1 I\onllffl, till: Mp.til SOlll..... (If ~IJdhOi S;.!rah •.
~ J"]O The ·SJ·l'.\ iJ,,',
Ii) TIl(" h'''''' RlIlpodlt" ,,(.(Ut.

172 At lhi!> timt Tibet\', &!- mUI.·h di\-'ided.

1'73 An.'orJing 10 W. D. 'Sha"'.bpa ill "7Ibt'1 11 Foiltital J!i3!(Jry" (p. 87): "[>on;-:-\t l>nrjr, Ihr ..on of killpUlif.
NlHlang. "'IJHcd to build. OlOllaQCr} ill Lhll ..a Oil be-half of Iht t\arlll'-lra IIo("rr, hllt tb(' Lha .. Ot .dflljlli!>tr~tor,
\',lw.!Iouppt1nrd the- _Grlugpa W"l'I,_ rcfu~t'J him rC'rJ1I1"ion __ Tilt nlOlllt\!rry _wa~ thcII- huill ()lll!'>H..ir _oL Lha'il ~ __ ~.
Ml'lll, from tht rlri.:hlJ(lurifl}:: GduJ..·pa mOllaq("rit'!> dt"lo('C'}ldtd 011 il Ollt' night and t;il1C"d II. A Karmtlr" Lama.
'C),\lqtll.~ G)'lI.ll1hO, flll.rfo'iloly r-.capeJ bri'lj.! ~..illt'd IIC' tuol.. refuge in Ula"a," -

~J}~.~rll~l=.:eJ!elAr:<e}tlITi~Htll~i:E#hfh-lr::lJm('nt >_

I 7!> CnmplC"lnl in 1490.

J 7t. The 'm[)o s,!JI'>r(;yr,,·. the- 'Cbu~ .'\'y,J·r.'\',wl 'P)t'J', tht> 'r(,)'ud J>J.a mol' rtc
J 7., The 'JuJ mol HIX g/butlf, rl;.YiJ n,'}"o',

72
 MII\YO DOHJE: THE EIGHTIII\AHMAPA crib: Mi-b,\J\yod rDo-rje)
(J 507-1554)

Mikyo Dorjt WJ~ born clrl}' in the morning of tht fourth day of tht e1e\'enth
- rllOnth of the ftmalcfire rabbit year (1507), in the pWI'ince of DJm Chu, Llstnn
Tihet. There \\Tr{' many aU~l'iciou~ ~igm and a ~lrong smell of illCTmt pCrTJlkd
~-~lh(:-rtgion, A-r;linhow pilbr fornic~d-ovtr the housc' of his bir-ihand m;1~)y fI()wcr~
fe:1I down from the ~ky, The newly horn bahy wip~Q-'~Ill~tl1..a_nclAc,tlail'.d,-'-'L
::':;n~F:~a i-~rll:lpa '~f-a m~~;:;';;~ :11;a:F'~- ----- -- --
Sitll Tulku' n IKard of the birth of a ITry unusual child, in tht pro\'ince indi-
catc'd in tht prcdiction kiln, lie sClit a messengn to detnmillC if it could be the
new I\armapa, Soon he wa~ called to thl' pbcc himself, wherc' he a~kt-d the follow-
illg qUl'~tiom:
"What are the J);)mo of the mothn alld father? Are then' any palm-trtn Ill'ar
the house? Which dirt'Ction d(J('~ the dO(lfw;l), LilT? b there a ~trc'am ncarby, and
if ~o in which direction don it flow?" lie was told that An Jam wa~ the father'~
namc' and AmJ Drum tht mother's, Yc~, thnt' wcrt' I'alm-tren, the: doorwa)' faced
Eaq and a nearby stream aho flo\\'c'd t()lI'ard~ thl' East.
All tht am\\'c'rs accorde:d \\'ith the: dc,taih gi\'en in thc' ktter of prediction, ~o
it \\'as c'stablished that the child must indc'ed be the new Karmapa. When he was
only one and a half months old he dc-dared, "Eh'Ma-))o!'H Don't doubt me, for
I ;HIl the Karmapa!" At tIll' agc' of thn'c months Situ Tulku took him to the
Karma Gon monasttry, whnc he was regally receivc'd.
At the age of four months Karmapa Mikyo Dorje met the Gon)('hen'Ho Ser
Phuwa, who had "tTn his disciple during his la~t incarn:ltion and \\'ho pre~cnted
him with a ritual bC'II'" and a double-drum. IH2 Immediately the ~mall boy be-
came \'er)' happy and played thc'm both with great ddight. When a~ked by the
Gomc'hen which teachings he had transmitted to him in his past life the boy
replied, "I gave ),ou the Al.1bal11udra and tht, Six Yogas of Naropa."
When hr was five he was invitc'd 10 tht· house of Lhorongpa, a nobleman from
){i Wo Chc, in Eastern Khams. One day, while stJ~ there he was asked bl' Lama
Sonam ){Illchen to say who he really was. Immediately the small boy laughed and
=a:i~~m<"t,j:n\{'->-I-:rrfFP-a:tl~l:rllal'a, -SC-IIlH'times !hr-aha-ana-at-ot-hertlme~ F
am the Karmapa!"
At about the samc' time the mother of a child born in the Amdo region dec-
_Jared that -hcrson appc'ared-to bc--the new Karmapa, The-news of this boy spread
rapidly. Gyaltsap Tulku Ta~hi Namg)'al and Lama Yang Hipa m\'l·llrd to Hi \\'0
Che in ordn to Stlllc- thc' mattn, and vowed not to show ;IIlY diqinction llt'twc'C'n
thc' two littk l)(lP until it wa~ determined beyond doubt II hich (If them was the
-truc-incarnat ion.-·llo\I'('\u-whcn-they- lITre proented bcforc-Mikyo-I)(lrje -I he),--

73
 t;AHMAPA, TilL I<LACt; IIAT LAMA Of Tlill T

found th('rmdl'e~ automatically doing fuJI prostrations to him and thus rcali~("d
that he must undouotcdly he the rtalKarmapa. Immediately, on the fourtcenth
- -d:,), of the ~en>nd month of tht femalt- water oird ycar (1513), at Ri \\'0 ehe, the
full clllhronellltnt CrrCm(ln), wa~ performed hy (;yalt~ap Tulku,'··1 who had hten
;1 d(l~e di~ripk of the prt"l'iou~ Karmapa.
At the age of eight Karmapa Mikyo Dorje wcnt to the Surmang mon:lstery,
whcH'-lwhad a ~l"fics of \'isiomwhiclnn't'alc:dthl'detaikof hi~pa~tinc:irn:iiion~­
to him Sangre f\:)'cnpa Druptop'" in\'itcd him to \'isit Dcnkhok and upon hi~
~:ti:\;iI~tlLt"rt"=lle~W;lell(fi'1f[rr:fu~Ii)=111011~lnd~'::-OCnl()nlr';::"~"niT(>~shl}'illg'::-al~Tl(=
Ch:,ngchub Ling monastery ht had a I'ision of Lord Buddha, and on the followlIIg
day Dharmakirti'"' and Dhinaga'" appeared hc:forl' him and imparted the
tcarhinp of thl' M,I.fI.'Y.lllliLl sdl(lOl of philo~ophy, At the agl' of dt'\Tn ht I'isited
Kongpo Kam Ha and GYJltc.:n, where he txpLiincd thl' nature (If Karmir C:iUse~ and
dfn'ts, and how tIll" cyell' of rt'hirths can he translTmkd, Many pl'Opk took his
\\"01 ds to IH'art and i>rcanK hi, disciplc~.

In Leh, I.adakh, a hug python cnteH'd the palace :Issl'mbly,hall and rl'fuseo to
be dril'l'n out. SeH'r:" mt"l,tings wrre held 10 find thl' way to get rid of it, but no
~olutioJl could be found, Finally one of the L~ma~ suggested that Karlllapa ~hould
k ellllt;lctni for adl·ilT, A dckgatioJl was S{,lIt to Kongpo laden with gift~ of dried
plu,m. apricots and grain. Karmapa ~ent a ktter back, with a mc~sage, ~aying,
"Oh python, it i~ my personal order that )'ou return to your own place in the lake,
without any more bother", and the instructiom that thl' kiter ~hould be n'ad out
Ipudl)' from the \\'ind(lw of the hall. This ad\'ice \l'a~ followed and upon hl'aring
the contents of the letter the great snake starled ~h:,king so \'iokntl), that even the
palace \\'all~ secmed to tremble, Slo\\'ly it unwound itsdf and k:I\'ing the assembly
h.11I \\'ent straight to a nearby lake and dis;lppearcd into the wa tn,' ~ 7
The King of )yang. in the Yunnan region, heard of the t{';,chings of the young
Karmapa Lama and sent an in\'itation for him to visit hi~ country, dcsp;ltching
four (;ennals and ten thousand solditTS to accompany Karmapa on thl' long
journey, On the third day of the fourth month of the male fire rat year (1516)
Karmapa reached the borders of Tibet. There he was met oy the King of Jyang,
-rrdirrg~r~a-Ir;rlo;rn-qrrtn,--\\1fnlrtsDrmher ana uncICITOtfi on elephants and e~rorled
-l»:...m.a.!,!y-G()j.()ll.J't.'e-I1.0r~~(O-s-ift::l=ro,,:g'B:ifi'f-_ICI1:!=J'l:l:(1t':e~~"iftn-;::3'he=J.<.tl'l-g=rr:o:'It+a:(:(,-rl=ln;:fgr.·c:-
the young Lama and as he did so the elephants broke a\\'a), from their tnhen and
abo bo\\'cd down three timcs brforl' him, raising their trunb to the sky. At the
5lmc"'''ment grea_t c1ap~of thunder _\\'ere to be heard o\'crhead. ____ _
Karmapa was led to the palaer amid~t great rejoicing, A huge drum dragged
along by sixtl'l'n people was ~ounded ill his honour, Ik entered the paiarc, ~rat'
trring grains of consecrated rice which Wl'n' much sought aftn by thl' pl'Opk.
Srated oll-a-highthrone-next--to -the-King 3ndthc I{oral ramil),; he-\\'as-most

74
 MIKYO DOH]E: TilE ElGIITII KAHMA!'A
A delail from Ihe I.ineage ·lTec'. a banner in Ihe Humlck mon"lcry. SiHim. Mikyo [)prje
(Kcupic!'l the prominent central ro~ition, heing rcnown(-J for hi~ prcarhint:s and wrilinj.!~ on the
M.'/'.lIT1udru. Abol'c hi, head i, Ihe fip"" of Karma "-ab"i. Ihc_,<:('o"d Karrllap_"._u,uaUy_,h"-,,,n
\\'Ih a k.nd ---- --
 KAkMAPA, Tllf IlLACK IIA1 LAMA 01· '11Bn

highly honoured according to the customs of the ('Ountry. The King, who had for·
_merly been oppo~ed to Buddhism, now took the Buddhist refuge and received
-jcacninpana-illitiations:-Ht'prorili~t'd-to-~end-fiv(;~hund~edJ)o)'sctoTibJ'J_~J1illlilly_-=-::
{(loE-trained -a:~-Boddhist -monb- at--his-exptnst.andabo made _a_vow_Jo_keep __
the peace with tht nt'ighbou-ring territories for the next thint'en years. Arrange·
ments were made for the construction of a hundred monasteries and templn
=1:1:Jr-mJ~hou.1-t h_e.Jao.d.
-.--!-c;lrrnal)a-l\1;k)'H-:-;:I.);-(-:-)r-;:-~(,=-=sl=)(=·n:-;L=s(=·,_=-e=n=_d";"a=-}....·.'L=·I:-'JL-'th-c-'-lL-a'la-c-e--oFthe-Killg.('onvtrriTIg:=
many to the ways of Buddhism, and bdorc leaving he made a promist to rt·turn
within sel'en years. Pas~ing through Li Thang. where many miracles had bren per·
formed in tht past, he met a crowd of pt'ople and pointed out all thost' who had
-c~;',;ncr-il()ns- Y:'ithninl in prl:\'iou~-li\;l·!cWhile-inthe-region -of- Nyeuhe heard of_
_ the passing of the srcond Gyaltsap Tulku and sent a message that the rclin should
be mlkctl'{j and preservcd in a Stupa.
Karmapa tral'elltd to Tsalin Dari, where he performed a special ritc for Je
Tsongkhapa 'Father·and·two·som ',"~ and then went to Rinchcn Ling in Tog Go.
Wishing to receive further initiations himself, Karmapa wrote to the third
Situ Tulku, asking that Sangyc Nycnpa Druptop be sent in order to impart
them.
In the e1evcnth month of that year Karmapa Mikyo Dorje received the pre·
liminary ordination from Sang)," N)'tnpa Druptop.' ~ 9 Thc '/'uspal1lal/a', the
/{wrikas, the Vina)'a Sutras and the Bodhisattva vows werc all fully explained to
him, together with the compltt(' transmission of the Tilopa and Naropa higher
doctrines. He also studird all aspccts of the Kalac/Jakra 71mtra in great duail. He
then mad(' visits to Biyu Phug, Phugnes, Kokh Mote, Cham Sar and Gaden Ling.
Though he received an invitation to visit Sokpo in Mongolia he did not have
mough time to make the long journey. He returned to the Changchub Ling
m 0n a st e ry, vi SIt III gall th e pi 1r,'T ilIT.rgrp-laees--ef\-t-lte-v.'il-;~t-n~re-,--a!tcl·-which__b1:..(lliL
('l'{'ded to Karma Gon.
- fhcEnlperor \\'uTsung' 9 06fChinascndive hundred ~cniorarm)'officcrs-to­
;;;,:Ka±ll1a~~~rjn!kHresents.ofgol(I;:stIver:;-::fl:e-ad~-;:-s:[ctc9j1Tlagc,s-al'le-1!10Ra-st-i-e-JOObes,-­
--,,;itn a request that he visit China. At tnistlme Karmapa Iffil :rvisi~ori~of::r~';:stliW'
in the sky, one of which he saw suddenly fall to the earth. He took this as a sign
that the Emperor had just died and sent the envoy of officers back to China,
wher<' they found that Karmapa had indeed been correct in his divination.
For the next three years Karmapa received all the remaining teachings from
Sangye Nyenpa Druptop, who passed away in the Karma Gon mOnaql'ry when
his work instructing the young Karmapa was completed. In the fiN month of the
femalt earth rabhit year (1519) a memorial ceremony was performed for him,
during which he miraculously reappeared and gal'e teachings specific for the

76
 1I1E LINE OF KARMAPAS, FROM TilE TlIIETAN

occasion. Some years latn Shamar Tulku pas~cd away also (c.1524), at the age of
srI'tnty-two.
Atthe age of twenty-two Karmapa Mikyo Dorje receivcd the final ordination
-fronl--Kc:ncllen-CnostrullStngcand-took-further,tcachings,from_the_Abb.QJ.:.~~!"rn~=
-tlnh);; -i-ricluding- tho~t:-of- the Five Dowines-ofMJi trryJ ,-sevenvo lu mesof.:.
Dharmakirti's philosophy' 9' 'and the AbloiJbJnna in two volumes. Altognhcr he,
studied twenty-five different teachings and thoroughly assimilated thcm all. Then
:l1~=-\\~£l{=~0-tl~£-I.):I'a,&-"po_SJ1,e_dmp Ling collt:ge whne he instructed the foremost
pupils-tllad~'am-cd-doctrinal maHt"r-s.
While tra\'clling to tht, pilgrimage-place of Tsari, where thne is a natural image
of Cb.1krJsanllllrl.1, Karmapa was met hy a group of pilgrims who rushed to pro-
_str~te_brfor<:_ ~im:_ Among them was a small boy whom he recognist"d to br the
nt'w incarnation of -SI,alnar"lu lKti~ -so'I£-t6ok himalong-to-sec·the-wonderf uL
image of CbJ/:"'.1S.111lmm. Together they returned to Central Tihet and when, in
1529, thr hoy was five yt'ars old Karmapa enthroned him as the fifth Shamar
Tulku, Kunchok Venlak.
Once, when staying at Tsurphu monastery, Karmapa had a vision of the S<lk)'a
Pandita,'9' wbo appeared to him surrounded by many nodbis.1ttvas, from whom
he receivt'd important teachings. At this time hc made a small marble statue of
himsdf' 9] and with a picce of left-over marble he madt, an impres~ion of his
palm by ~queezing it. When the ~tatue was consecratcd, in the presence of many
Lamas, Karmapa addressed it, a~king if it was a good lihnc:ss of himself. The
statue replied, "Yc:s, of course!" much to thl" ama7.ement of all those present.
Karmapa recognised the new incarnation of the fourth Situ Tulku, Choskyi
Gocha, enthroned him and took him as a disciple. Later he also recognised the
fourth Gyaltsap Tulku, Trakpa Dodrup. He composed a commentary on the
I'inaya Sutra,'94 another on the Praj7lapammita, '95 one on the Abbidbarma,' 96
one on the Madbyamika, ,97 as well as many works on the Mal'amudra' 98 and re-
lated doctrines. .
. Karnlapa "!ikyo Dorje passed on all the higher teachings to Shamar Tulku,
~~pointed him as his acting 'successor-and 'entrusted- him-with-all- his-personaL
=~oo::ak&I'l'lic-s=and:..ritu alci.t1'Jill, as-well:astnc::"h::nc:rq.mtaining-t-he-rFl'dic-t-ion oJ his
next birth. Thenhc prcpart·d to lca\,cthe worlo. '--.",
At midday on the twenty-third of the eighth month of the male wood tiger
year (1554), while staying at the DI'agspo Shcdrup Ling monastic collrge of
Shamar Tulku, he pas~ed away in his forty-eighth year. At thc time of his passing
thne were many auspicious signs in the sky and precious relics'99 were found
among the asho of the fum'ral pyre. lIis foremost disciples were:
(i) SIIAMAR KUNCIIOK YENLAK: The fifth Shamar Tulku. (1525-1583)
(ii) SITU CHOSKYI GOCHA: The fourth Situ Tulku. (1542-1585)

77
 KAKMAPA' "Ill!- bLACK HAT 1.AMA 01' TlII!'T

(iii) GYALTSAP TRAKPA DODIWP: The fourth Gyaltsap Tulku. (1550·1617)

(i\-) PAWO TSUKLAK TRENGWA: The second Pawo Tulku. A scholar, historian
and \'i~ionary, whose work~ included a book on the Karma·Kargyudpa sect
-=--andit~ histo!,)'-:'-(-15 04-1566)c

FOOTNOTES

17P1 Silu ,."hi I-.I;or.

1'9 TIle' Ir.('cJ-t.{lund, of I\unlu Z/mgpo, the UoJI.>I\aftWJ S:muHltOJbbadra,
11\0 lirrmit Lama.
III Tib: n-ilbll.
I tl2 Till: [),JP1ft1ru.

183 The Ito('('ond. "."hi Nl.m ..~·.1.

I fl. A Siddha-diM:iplt of thC' prc\'ioua. Karmapl,
I tiS The gtC"11 Acba'Ya and tram.lator,
186 The' lo~cian from South India. (Tib. />iK"tlga)
I 1'7 Thi~ "lory i!i "till told in Ladakh.
1(11;8 TIli" ritt' w ... \ ('.!It'd 'J, )'"lo Sr Sum', ThC' two 't-om.' we're hi~ diloCiplc", GYllltUp Dharma Rinchrn Ind
I(hcdrup Jr.
~9 Who had been I dh.ciplc of hi~ previ(Ju!i incarnation.
,90 Al-ncallrd('Jl<ng 1'.0 ~("'·lS22)
-i-91-1-h;~~-:;J--~~-~/~t'~b-i)JI~;:~r i;h~;~;ki-~i~-- --
_1.91. f,',l(!J"l_d_t"f or-dr(':~ S.k-r.-"cc~,- "'~I)e -Gr.lt~n-'~';';'~<~"'i!·:~~·~-l1l';I~)~;#~~~~~~~~~
-193 1ni... ,tlfUr i.. n{J~'-p~~~('d at the h('W Runlld: mon~~IC'~);.- Sikkim (KC-mU-Miatlon),
J 94 The ·N,.i<m.J';-s./'I:yi/·~K()r· of 15001(,lvo (in Rumt('k).
19S The ',jr /tTsun ,'\'gwJ.b.\o· of J suo lcavn..
1f,1f> Th(' '(;P'1Ib-jf)r'j gChrs·;;zJo· of 3000 I('IV(',.,
I "" The '/>:'olp-pr(;.YIIJ C,:..I, p.!', SJ.ing-r1Q· of 1000 IC'IIn:~ (in Humtdd.
I \1M 111(' ·N .... a1.(brn sl\or la' of 2(}{)() k:n'C' (in f{umtl·k)
111(" 'I"'Y.Jf, ~ "rrl (;n.1 TbJln{ (C(.nn<.C' ,A.1 ,,"',J 11lldr.; ~ .n foiO{i Icavn.
199 'R,1j.\J,rf. rrlir!o., uo;uall)' II", crptal.
78
 WANGCHUK DORjE: THE NINTH KARMAPA cri~: dBang-pbyug rVo-r]e)
(] 556-1603)

===_,,---'-W;!ngdlltkJ)orjC:cwas _RQrn_ oTuht_sc,,-enthAa)'coJ _the seventh month of the male

.- - ._. fire dragon year (1 S5 6), in the: region of Treshodin EasierniTLet."lfa~reh;sbirth
his mother dreamtd that she was blowing on a white conch-shell and-that n;any
pwplc were rushing towards her. While still inside his mother's womb the oaoy
could oe heard reciting Mantras. When he was born he sat cross-Ieggtd, wiped his
~face=ana- sa ia-;:-:'"-I-a m -rhe-K-rnTI"~fI:flf!-'':lk-:r"C'nra'im--d:-sit tin-g:-in-:that:-p:osit-ion:-fo.r-::tbtce.::
days and his father "...as so ovcrawedt:llat"fie starteoprostratingocforcll"i"m.AT
this the: child stood up, said "Om-Ah-Ilum! H, and started to laugh. His mother
untied her apron strings and tried to wrap up thc child in it, but ht thrl'w it off
saying- "Oh No NO!"Thcn-hewaswrapped up. in a shecpskin, which bt acctpted._
Pcopk in the neighbourhood told his father that the child must surely oe the
Karmapa, out he doubted tht·m. However, on returning to the: houst' ht· found the
oaby sitting in tht· lotus-posture of a Buddha, gazing up at the sky, with a bright
light mo ... ing around his head. By the time he was eighteen days old be could
walk very easily and was totally independent. The fame of the child spread far,
reaching the ears of Shamar Tulku, Kunchok Yenlak, who sent Lama Gyaltsen to
investigate.
It was found that the letttr of prediction correctly indicated the place of his
birth, for it rcad, "My next incarnation will oe born in a plan' called Trt~hod
Horkok, close by a rock bearing a naturally-formed statue of AV&1/okitrshwara,
ncar to a river coming out from the Himalaya mountain. As soon as Lama H

Gyaltsen reached tht· place the baby boy looked .... ery plea~ed and started to call
out "Shamarpa! Shamarpa!",200 and told those ncar him that soon Shamar Tulku
would meet him.
At the age of six months he was taken towards Tsurphu monastery, and on the
~y there he started sa~ "Situpa! Situpa' "20 I Everyone was very surprised
when a messenger from Situ Tulku arrived the very next morning. Some da)'~ later
.. the fourth-Situ Tulku -himself appeared. recognised_ thc_childaUh_c inca rna ti()n
-oLKar:mapa~an(Lbesto..wecLQTLhimJk.empowermcnt of Amita).'lii, the Buddha
;::0F'-B0-\i:n=-cllii:\'S~J5ff~EjCu~iR~g"'icA~reic-m~Qny:cthc~}'6ifng-",*aTcltlap'a:o=&a,w::l1is~tScacE-MEiFl'"
this form.
A few days before reaching Tsurphu monastery Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje
joked with his attendanu, saying that it was time Shamar Tulku had comc to see
him in per~on. Upon reaching Lung Tse the party met up with the fifth Shamar
Tulku, who immediately took a grcat liking for the little ooy. Tognher they pro-
cCl·ded to l\urphu, reaching there on the twdfth day of the second month of the:
female iron bird year (l56l), which was considered most auspicious. Many cerc-

79
 "AHMAI'A, 1111-: llLAC" HAl LAMA 01' 11 .. 1-:1'

monie~ were performed and prestnt~ wcre received from the King of )yang, who
had been a dcvotcd di~ripk of tht prt"iou~ Karmapa.
:--::c-(-)n-::thc--'si'I't'nth'-aay--of~thc-fourthcmonrh'-oLrhec::~amc)'eaLheJl'cej,,'C!L_lh_cC'­
-pri Illary -or dina t ion -and-the-ha ir·cutt ing-ct"Temony,-in-front-(lCt hcJargcst atu_cof_
- Lord Buddha at the l\urphu mOnaQlT),. Then Shamar Tulku formally enthroned
him a~ thc ninth Gyalwa Karmapa. In the company of Shamal Tulhu he tra\'dkd
to Yang Chen and from thert· to Central Kharm, preaching and teaching where\'er
3-lll~)'--~toppetl'--l\Jt og.t·:t h{,L~-"-mL['-liLl.}C1housand monk~ -- werl'-oraai'i'ii'O=on=rYit~~
jOllT!lI:)' bttwecn TSlITphu and the Chinne bordn. Monaqcrie~ wnt rebuilt and
thl' Buddhist Dharma was rl'l'i\'cd c'Tr)'wherc. The), took three )'car~ to reach Tri·o
Dar Tse Do, on the ex treme North Eaq border~ of Tibet.
----Oii --tlil'- third--dayofilir ck\'tnth- month-of tht--malr-wood rar-yt"ar-( 15(4)-
_.,I(armapJ and Shamar Tulku turned back towards Ct'ntral Tibet, e\,rIlruall)'
arriving at Karrna Gon mOna,ltT),. On this journey the), passed through tht· region
of Karmapa's birth, gi"ing tt·aching-. to many and tr;IITlling \'ia the gn'at Chang·
chuh Ling monasttT)' of Sangye N)'enpa Druptop. The), continul'd tht· journey to
Chamdo, where thomands Wt'TC initiated into the religious doctrines.
One day a man brought along a scroll painting'°2 pirturing both Karmapa
and Shamar Tulku and a~ked for it to be blc~sed. When Karmapa threw the ton·
~enated grains onto the picture the), miraculously stuck, like jcwtls, onto the hats
and remained permanent I)' fix('d thnc. Karmapa and Shamar Tulku visited
Chang, wherl"tllt')' were \'Cr)' well rnTil'l:d, ordained many thousands of monks
and imparted teachings and initiations to the people. Then tlwy finally returned to
the great Tsurphu monaster),.
At the age of twenty·four Karmapa Wangchuk Dorjr rt'ceil'cd the final ordina-
tion from Shamar Tulku and under his guidanrc studied the 'l'illl1)'11 Sulra Tika'
and all the rommrntarics. Shamar Tulku returned to tht· Dema Thil monastery,lO]
-wliltfha rma pa \' is irctl-'h-.nIg~7J).O-+ashi-th-tl-n-p()~-flgF-a-~ki-ng.--Ch-Ol'dc...J·aL
Mar, and Sanpen Dop Chen. At Tashi Lhunpo he perform('d a special rite in front
ofll1c'Jc:Ts()ilgKh-iipa~-Faihcr~an(I'tW6-;-s(jns'2"o thcrcllc-went-tothe largc-Sakya--
",monastel:)' of::Tl1Ut)(jcn:-l'\amgya1-bng:::rn-d:::rlrt'[c~fInforJllc:d-a-!>~e('ial-::r-ile--i~-fFeR\­
()fthe large statue of Sakya Pancm:n; tnC:' lcaacrof tne Sa\;;yapas.llr g;n-c l'eJchinp'
and initiations to Lamas, monks and laymen. Then he returned to Tsurphu where
he arranged to have a large applique silk banner of Lord Buddha made. On the
day of its completion it was hung ol'er a huge rock and a very bright light was secn
wming out of thr Buddha's forehead, producing great illumination cn:rywhcre.
1\o-O!1e l'Ould look dirt'etl), at it, bcrause of the inteme brightnn~. Shortly after
this l'I-cnt Shamar TlIlku I'i~ited the monaster), and transmitted the remainder of
tlK Oral traching-. 707 to Karmapa.
The Huler of Chang, Drpa Hinpungpa, illl'itrd Karmapa to \'isit him, and siner

flO
 lilt LINt (n I\AkMAI'AS, !-ROM lllE T11l!'lAN

this was onl)" one of man)" repeated n:qu('st~ he decided to accept. lie imparted
teachings all O\'er the land, restored many monasteries and gathlTed new disciples,
11~r~I'(ill'!.l~totht' t\akphu prm'inn' of Kongpo, where hl' rebuilt many monas-
J~rit:,\,-a nti ~)l1tofS;lii~Trl-S()U111= EaSt-t~ril-'I'il ll°r;-i'hcri.'-nf ga\·toc:r;ri Is-a
h ht'('Orrl:rt~
. approach to a new pifgl;r;l~lg(;:i)Ei-t:t;-orC"wk-,cw,\,iml';lr.1~ Tliis-pl:fce-camc to-be-
\..nown as 'I\ari Nam~,'yal. Karmapa foundcd a monaql'f), thl'fc and calln! it Tsari-
'1\0 Kar,
:==t)n-:tlrcr:c:tnr'rjun:ute~}=.liaIma·I~.I:=\_"a·Bgl~:l:\,l:,k:::IJ,,'~:jt!-\'isiH·_d_l~sa[i...cJJJLS.llil,..L!liL
Tong anilmany othl'f places, 1)l'stTI\\'ing-!t';n:lrings-alld-=init;ati(-)n~-all=I-I:j~wfJ:ilt', --
When pas,\ing through the vallc}' of Dung Tw Kha 1-1 he performed the mirack of
flying. El'l'ryonl' who saw this prostrated and m:lIly non-Buddhists Wl'fC quickly
-('ollVert(,d .. ________ .
King Ga Thong-;;-f -I~l~~~~n:-};i-~l~~~lf~kili~d;;~-n;agr(:a,;(f~o;:l:cr);-;-Ilil\;ingllcill;d-
of Karmap3\ minlClIlous pOWCTS, stnt an inl'itation to him at Tso Nak, rrqut'Sting
him to visit his country, Karmapa aceql!cd the inl'it;ltion and had soon con-
ITrted many more to the Buddhist teaching, Ill' was presl'nted with one thomand
gold coins and aftn a short stay in Bhutan he travclled back to Kongpo and Tsari
ho Kar, where he f('q,'d.
While staying at nari, Karmapa engaged himself in de('p meditation for nine
months. lit- had \'isions of ehakrwsaml'wra and J\alacb.1krw and Deities and Pro-
tectors of the great Kargyudpa Lineage appearl'<l hl'fore him, At the end of this
time he travelkd to the Phagmo monastery of Den,\J Thil, where he met the: nt'w
incarnation of Shamar Tulku, Garwang Choskyi Wangehuk, Karmapa formally
Tl'cognist'd him and performed his enthronement een'mony at the Dl'agspo
Shedrup Ling monastic' colkge.
Karmapa wroll' brief commentaries on thl' \'i71i1ya Sutm, the !11>l>idbanna
J\osba, the M.ldb)l.1mika, the I'rajrJ.1/,aramita and three major works on the
M.1b.1mudra,lO~ Jk thm received an invitation from the King of Sikkim, request-
ing him to visit that country. but sin('e he himself was unable to make the: journey
-he srnt a highl)'qualifie_dJ,allla_il1_hisJlla.ce~This_!-ama founded threr monasteric~
_in_Sikkim;_the Halung, the Potong and the Rumt(,[j09Karnlal)aWa;a~kcd-fo-­
S'~eiFsii:'i'arlzt~c~n(iv.'""n1O:fj*sH:Eit·~f)~'hi{'-h",h'~U·Elied' til at·· hUl.'o.!ilij=ao-:so::~
Tibet, as he was unable to makc the journey therchimself. He sent instructions"
indicating the- auspicious timt', day and month of thc c('[emony, sJying that cI'ery-
thing should proceed accordingly, At the time of consecration of the Ralung
monastery thrl'(' large eagks came from the din'c:tion of Tibet, flew thnT times
around thc new monastery and droppl'd consccratl'd grains of ydl(lw ricc right on
top of the new roof. 7 I ()
Karmapa recogniscd the new incarnation of thc fifth Situ Tul\..u, Chosk),1
Gyaltscn, lit made a visit to the Karl,")'udpa collcgr-monastcry of Sungrab Ling,

81
 KAKMAPA, TilL IlLACK HAl LAMA 01' TIBET

where he taught and expounded many doctrines. At this time he began to refer to
his imminent pas~ing and his health began to dt'c1ine.
==~i_e~t'IlIall thtprophetk details of his futurcbirth to Shamar Tulku. Then, on
::-_tb~t\\'cJ1SY--eTghih-diyofthc-fir:~i -monifionfie-fen1-'ale-Wat1:naobiq;e:rr"{1(03):'-"::'--c=
__.hepamd away.He v,'a~-inh;s-foit>';sC\;entn year. ni~foremo~raisciplcs- \\'ere:- - - - --
(i) SHAMAR CIIOSKY1 WANGCHUK: The sixth ShamarTulku. (15841630r-
=~_(ii) SITU OiOSKYI GYALTSEN: The fifth Situ Tulku. 0586·1657)
;::::(:ii'r):::frY*I="ES-A-I'::3:R~A-KP-A-GHG£-¥Al'i.C;;-H~At'-f-i.f.t.h-Gplr~ap Tulk u. (c. Inl 7·
c.1-658} - -..-:-- - - - c - - - - - - - -
(iv) PAWO TSUKLAK GYAMlSO: The third Pawo Tulku. (J 567.1(33)

_~ ~~_Ib~J~_aJ}!t: _!!l~!l_~,-!!~_r_l~_I_~~_~~5~ )i~_ C?~!:).

The' name' of Siru Tulku.
- __ 201

~!~~~H~tli:a:rlgJr:a~-:-~--:--~~-:-.-~--·:-·----- - ~
20) Den .. Thil "'"' (;~nd;d by-~';'. pi,~~,~ GN'-
204 In Southern Tihet.
205 Ncar ShigatM". Founded in )445, it h the Olona.\tic t.("at of the Pane-hen Lamu,
106 ThC' 'Jl' },,,b Sr Sum', the' Gr1ugp. 'trinity' of Jc TJoooEkhapa I,ud hi .. t ..... o main dis.C'iplcs,
'207 T~H: '/).;1ffJ N}!.agl',
20fl lhc '/"')'.:Jg cbrn &,".;1.3 br1,." 1'l,'YCJKmhod', the 'Cho~'!I':1J m7~uh·f,"/w~' and the' 'Mo'rr~ Mun'ul'.
109 "fhe old KUflltd, mona.... cf)' h II "itr ju .. t belt," the nr"' nlllna~lcry,
1ICI ThC'rt, arC' p('oplc in ~lkkinJ who trcaCi.urc moe )'('110" p-:a.im., krpl ... inn thi .. time,

82
 CHOS YING DOHJE: THE TENTH KARMAPA (Tib: Cbos-dbYings rDo-rJe)
(1604-1674 )

c-="Chos Si ng Dorjewa,-born_onctht _twtnty:eightkdil),Q[!bc thi[clAl()ll_th_o!lhc male _

-wood-dragon ycar-() 604 ),:1\ GoloLKhansiTang,jruhe_extreme~()!th-E~s-t-of-
-- - Tihet. During hcr pregnancy his mother dreamed that Guru Padmasambhava' i.-_
came towards her and entered into her. Thert' were many auspicious omrns. When
tilt bab}' was horn he took one step in each of tht four dirtctions, sat cross-legged
in-the ('entre and said~"8m--Mani"=P:acrme=n~nrtl=I=ptry=rhcs(lH-crirrp=oJ=
humanity, for I am Karmapa!"
Ncw, of tht' birth of the extraordinary child sprtad far and wide and reached
Chang Mowa, the local Huler, who in\'ited the baby to be brought to Ma Chu in
-----Eastern- Tibet~-Thc-child was honoured-and-taken -to the-Tsong_Mo Che_ palace._._
Magyal Pomra,' " one of the two Protector-Deities of Tibet, came to receive
'-hll'Ssings from the young boy: Be stayed in the palace for six years and by the
time hl' was seven he had full}' learnt the art of paintillg, surpassing even the
greatt'st of his teachers.
The sixth Shamar Tulku, who was staying at the Tsari Tso Kar monastery,
S('nt his personal secretary, accompanied by several Lamas, to collect the new
Karmapa incarnation. They were very surprised when the small boy asked if
Shamarpa was well, even before thty announced who had sent them. It wa~ found
that all the details of his birth complied with the letter of prediction. Be was
invited to nwet Shamar Tulku at the Zadam Nyinche Ling college.
On the fourteenth day of the twelfth month of the male iron dog ycar (1610)
the young Karmapa reached the college: and was immediately rcwgniscd by
Shamar Tulku. On the twenty-third day of the first month of the female: iron
boar year (16) I) his enthronement ceremony took place and the young Karmapa
performed the Black Hat rite. He ente:rtd into debate with about five hundred
--b~'E}tmg--barHas,and-was-a!;k.C'dahQ1u Lord Buddha's life-story, the teachings
of the Bodbi.laltvas and doctrinal matters of the Madhyamika school. Karmapa
----excelled in- thedc ba t eo- despi t eh is-you th .-and-w asa ble lOci ari fy _se~'eral im porta nL
===PQi~llt~t:cr.th:9se-gath~~.£~=-th:e-Feo--G eed-()nlt'll~-and_lu_c k.>~signup.p.e a red in the sky
.... arouno anC! o\'er tlkm'onastcr};--a;:;a -C\·cr)~tiflC\i;is~v{C:Fy""imp~e.~j;tid"b~Bn-c~gi£t=td~
young Karmapa.
Several days later, while accompanied by hi~ attendant~, Karmapa Chos Ying
Dorje went for a walk along the banks of the Dza Chu river. He pointed out a
large white houlder in the middle of the stream and told tho~e with him to take it
out of the water and break it open. Evcryone prote>tl'd that the ta~k wa~ too
difficult, howClTr Karmapa in~isted that it be done 'for thl' Dharma and for all
s('lltient beinp'. With great difficulty th(' huge \>ouJdn wa~ lif\(·d out of the water

83
 I\AkMAI'A, 'litE Ill.ACI\ ItAl LAMA 01' 111l[1'

and broken in two, Imide it were found a duster of imect-likt· (n'ature~, which
Karmapa ble~sed with A1.1ntr,lS, Soon he had reka~('d them all from their sufferings
=-an(Lthe)':.wer('tt' h OIl}jnl1igher.!'(';l,ltlls, _ --
. -- At t heagcoL l'ightK~rnla!1a. tt:a''t:II~:(rtol;;;urphu-:Vl;l-tllcPllow~i--'di~tric{ofc=
-Southern Tibet and upon his arril';J! a rainG(;~'c;;;(;p)'~mirJ(:uIOu~)'-fornll'(rrignC-
OITr the monastery, lie took the primary ordination from Pawo l\uklak---
. Cyamtso 11 3 in the Lila Chen tempk whert' there was thl' huge statue of Lord
~Bu dlfha, ana at-·tht~~anw··t i mt-ht,-ft~l"t'i\"t'd=tlfc=eJJYp:,)w('·r-lttt~I'l-I1 I~ ef-t.I.ll,-A:,wiu!'_'
and Tunjur scriptures, 115 Ht'mai-iling at lsurpllUlffifiltllr age ohwehdre'~ngagc'J'-:­
himself in the perft,rtion of the teachings.
An il1l'itation was brought from thl' TS;lng King, Phuntsok Namg)'al,l'b
-r("quest ing· Karnupa -to-I'isit- l,hasa,_A.K ing .frOIJLth_L Eacst_l1aI11t:d__<::~L.I~w
approached the city, kading a hllge army, and hq!:ln to prepare for an attark. 1'11(;-
. King askl'd Karmapa to help, and wa .. told that thert' would ht- no rall.Se for worry,
,~\irarulollsl)' till" army ~imply turned back upon rl'aching Lhasa .llld r('turned in
thl' direction from which the), had ('()me. 11 ? The King was highly impressed and
became an ardCllt di~ciplr of the Karmapa,
Leal'ing Lhasa the young Karmapa Cho~ Ying Dorjc went to nal and Li-u
Dong Tsen, wht'rc he gave teachings and blessings to the people, Accompanied by
Shamar Tulku, Situ Tulku and Pawo Tulku he journeyed to Lhobrag Nga Tsang,
where news reached him of tht, death of the nang King. At the request of the
Queen he travelled to thl' Samdrub Tse palace to supen'ist· the death-ritl's, It W;IS
whilr hr was in this palace that he receivcd the final ordination from Shamar
Tulku. in thc presence of Pawo Tulku and tcn monks, Together they I'isited the
m'lin shrines of Lhasa, where Karmapa performed ceremonials and made offerings
in front of the three statues of Lord Buddha in the main temple. Then, together
with Pawo Tulku, Shamar Tulku and Situ Tulku the 'Tse Cbu' ceremony of the
-{"-igh-t--ma-ni!cst.ations..nf Guru Padmasambhal'a was pnformed and dances were held
to dcpict this theme .
.. Karma-pa travelled·to tht'Tsurphumonastery ,whc.rcht:.rc:.ceivcdinitia~j()n.s...oL_
=l\~uf<!fhakr-u.Ma·I)u-/..Catil-and.th('-T-cd-1!.llulakil.C.s..b..:w.ura, lie made five beautiful statUt'S
':"(\l.-t·~iFtffi~~C'~{T~' .~·orn-:'Xfc~erif:vF~tcllc£Ka~ID-£tJ:tlr:Gbill"agc=oJ=\!airadl.)al'a; .~
Tilopa, Nampa, Marpa and Milan'pa At this time he received tht· spccial Lineage'·
tt':lchinp of Siddha Tilopa and mgaged himself in deep meditation,
Accompanicd by Shamar Tulku and Gyaltsap Tulku 219 he pron:cded to the
~"I"t"at Sam)'e monastery wherc he received the liodbiSul/l'u tearhings from Shamar
Tulku and took thl' appmpriatl' \'ows. Togethl'l tht·), went Oil pilgrimage to all the
lIoly places in the region, There was much rejoicing and clTemony, man)' monks
wnt' ordainl'd and the Buddhi~t tt:;lchinp sprl'ad widely,
The next I'i~it wa~ to tht ]\;yinche Ling college of Shamar Tulku, which was the

R4
 TilL lI"E UI· "AHMAI'AS' FflOM lHE 11l\rlAN

largest religious centrt· in TiLet at that time. Karmapa ..... as admitted to the wllt-ge
,lIld rnTil'cd the compkt(' F.tlo1Yo1 Sutra and Mo1.1l>.ya7ll;l.:a teachings, as ..... ell a~
tho~t: of the higher Af,mtr.lYo1t1il. Tra\'elling in a group they \'i~ittd T~3ng ...... here
:::-'t hl')' had '-Iii·t'n'-i rll' it td-t a-sfa y-=i nt he nl' ..... -Wok-Mi ng- Li ng-pal act'_oLthecnnL King_c_
---- of-l\ang.- Kar ma-'ren k yong Wangpo?2 0 They-conserra 1td~e\'eralnC'\\'.~hrinC'~ and ___-
----"HC -mo~r ..... :irmly wt!romed hy the King and tht--prople.AIl prisoners ..... ere ..
rdta~ed for tht ol'ca~ion and there ..... JS much rejoicing. Thr)' ..... ent to the Sak)'a
-mollastl'l,), in Ih(' region and met Dakl'hen HinpochC>21 and Dampa Kunga
---KinpmJlc. 22 2--')'{'gctheLm:lIl}'_H'LenlOnin wcrt· performcd-and-aIFthose-prnc.'llt---
had wonderful \'i~iom of the eighty·four Siddha~. ----
Karmapa and Shamar Tulku travelled to Tingri Lang Kor, wht'll' tilt·), saw the
Sakya Siddha 223 flying in the ~ky o\'erhead, playing a btll and a drum. Karmapa
--!i;id a\,i<;icIIl'of Milarl7'pa-laughillg in.space-and it made him very' happy.· lie foundl'd-·
a monastery at Cho~ Chung l.ing and both he .md Shamar Tulku laboured in the
"collStrunion of it, hdpillg to carry ('drth and stonl's. After complt-tion they p('r'
fornKd the (,(lIlStTration ctrel1lony together and then ~et out for Tsurphu once
more. On tht journt·y Shamar Tulku bec3ml' ill and pa\sed away (1630). Karmapa
continutd on to the mona.ster)" when' he built a stupa to preseT\'t the rdin of his
teachn and abo pnformed the death-rites.
Karmapa fornaw that a time of political opprosion wa~ approaching. He went
to Lhasa, visiting the l1lona~teries of Tsari Kyang Kha, Shol Kha and Kong Me on
the way there. lie gave many ll'achings and performed an important rite at the
great Jo Khang tempk in Lhasa, Lefort continuing on to tht Yang Dop monastery,
whtre he engaged himsdf in contemplation of tht future.
The King of Tibet at thi~ time, Dcsi Karma Tenkyong Wangpo, who was one
of Karmapa's di\cipks, became strongly anti-Gtlugpa and practised religious
discriminations during his rt·ign. The fifth Dalai Lama. Ngawang Lob7.ang Gyamtso,
sent three representatives to Mongolia, asking for military help from the chieftains
---rhm::-'t'lR--cJri-c-f~mh-ot-Mt->-~-s;---Gu~I-r-f-i--K-Mn.a!iwJlw.4-thc.-r.cs.p.unsillllit-¥-­
and promised to \'isit TiLet in support of the Gdugpas. H •
---Karmapa -~'as very disruriledby-allth(,-unrcligious activity-and sent-a-ktterto----
:=::tJir-:.T>aIat::ta ma_ ex Elai ningrlrax-:-hrwanlO~t::in::fa,,'o\;lr-of-::milit-a:f}'-a(;.t-ion-:in-:-the-­
name of refig,onana diat neitfier henor tne Kargyu<lpa 't'C{m--a-ny~;ay sam:iionco:
the activit irs of the King of Tsang. The Dalai Lama replied that he understood
this to be the case and to rest assured that nothing untoward would happen. 225
Karmapa realised, howcver, that events would take a different course.
The King of Tsang began collecting together a large army, gathering pcople
togcther from Konbj'o and preparing them for fighting. Karmapa \\Tnt to sec him
and told him to cease making war prcparatiom immediately, a' it wa~ contrary to
the Buddhiq Dharma. He pointed out that many thou~;lI1d~ would die if fighting

85
 ).;AI{~IAI'A, lilt ELAe" IlAl LAMA 0/· Tllltl

wa.~ to Im:ak out and that thtre would be much ~ufftring. He al~o indicattd that
if thl' Tsang King were to attack tht:n he would surtly get killed.
_____ In tht: meantime Gmhri Khan of the Mongoh nmched into Kham~ and tngaged
=t In'flO fFllu dd IlisrB I'l'rh:h ief ta in" b-'in-figh t ing (-J (, 39):'Aft t'r-a:y c:i f-h c-l, rou gil t.call=
~~f-Kh-a-lil~';-(fn-dc( I1b- Contrilland-mol'('-d hi~armiestowards·l\ang.-Tht Dalai Lama,-
whe) had-not ])n:n kt-pt -fully infomu:d of the del~r1opmcnts; wa~ "try-upset and-'
dl'l1landed that the Mongol chieftain should be persuaded to rtturn to hi., own
':bn.ds.-=L()_hiLmaiJLa_ul'ndant ht said, "If, on account of the commitrllent, you
-h:I\·C~fll:lde.) ':()u~HAd~it=(Ji:jli-iU:lt~to-g(-,-t()-t;u~ll~i-KII :Ul,-t!l tn~Lsb aILS'I'cbin.DTI.y's:dt::
and try lO usc my religious inOutnct with him. If \IT can suc(,(Td in pnsuading
him to Ieavc it will bendit u~ politically and "indirate our honour." The atten'
dant rdmed to allow the: Dalai LIma to ,Ipproarh Gu~hri Khan, saying that it wa~
---:-IT;z.:i'd)·! (;o-]Ji-(·--{c) ~opil;e; int~·it;il)lt·. 22? - ' - - - ----~------------,.-----------,--
Karmapa Chos Ying Dorjr bcgan to di\lril,u!t' all his acculllulated wealth
alllong the poor. Knowing that ht must t'\·tntually get iill'olvtd in the dangcrom'
"ituatinn hr appointed Gyalt~ap Tulku a, hi~ ttlllporary repre~cntati\'(' at 'J ~urph\l
1ll00Ia\lery. lit then moved to Yam Dur, wht'rc hl' ~l't up a ramp.
Some dap pa'''ed and then the Mongol ('hit"ftain Gu~hri Khan att:lcked thc
T,ang capital of ShigatK Thl' city was surrounded. On thc eighth day of the first
month of the watn hor .. r year (1642), after a fince battle, thl' city fell and the
King of Tsang was captured.'" 1>13ny Wt'rl' killed and thou~and .. wounded.
Karmapa was tllramped at Yam ])ur when ht rl'rein'd a leltn from thl' Dalai
Lama, asking whether he was preparing to wage war again~t the Gtlugpa .. and
demanding that he smd hi, word of honour that he would refrain from t:lkingan)'
ho>tile action, Karmapa rcplied, "lIow dare wc C'I't! harm thc Gtl\lgpa~ in tht
futurc, e\'('n a.. we ha,T ncvt'r harmed thcm in the past", and added that he would
comply with any It'quest from the Dalai Lama to pron' hi .. ~inctTit)' on thi .. point.
Somchow, on rccci\'ing the rcpl)" a quibble of words and ml'aning .. erupted
aiJiltlie Gel ugpa Min iSl ers poi n I ('d--uurtirat----KanlTapa-h~d-fwt.ffi__Bi_af-t-H'f-f1-Hi,_
promised nevcr to harm the followers of the Dalai Lama.':· Con,equcntly forcts
\\uc~.;cnt-toaitack-K-aimap.1'" -canlp-:-l hlyKi lied' riiany-of-Ilisfoll owers;-d est ro)'i ng-
;:Jht·iJ;~tcD1£.::.ariJj~rongj'ng~::X:li'imTI'a~lf~cd-rhn;-]-a-u-gIQJ;r'l,:,:\l::J!I):9-\\'hcn--it::-:
wasOlu he scnttllc sur\,ivorsawa)' to olspcrsctfirougJiout t1k countr),. 1'/1cn;'
with his servant Kuntu Zangpo, he flew in space to the Kurtod district of Nor-
thern Bhutan. Tho ..e who witnrssrd him leavc saw him in varying form~; ,omc
.. aw him take the shape of a vulture, others that of a den. while somt' simply saw
him flying in hi~ human form.
Karmapa and Kuntu Zangpo,31 landed far away from the troubles. For twehe'
d;I)," tlll'y had no food. but Guru Padma\3mbhal'a appeart'd and sustained them
on ~;!('ram('ntal pills in,te'ld. Guided by the Naga" the Serpent King', they

86
 THl LINt 01 hAkMAI'A;, filUM lifE lJ~L1AN

rravclled towards Jyang in tht Yunnan region. Hear~, woll'es and other animals
prol'idrd food for them from the jungles. Monkty~ came to rccci\'e his bbsings
and led him and his servant through tht forests until they rt'achrd the safety of
_lh~c:cl;tJgYLG;JDg011Qna s'-m'=i~h~1!1g",aiteL~jou~I1£}~~L thrce years_and. four.
:mollths ---------.-
htT)'one ga thered to h'llTL Karmapa and t hert. wa' grtatrt'juieing his":-cll~~ at
being, HeCl'il'ing word of his arri\'al King Karma ChinK Lhawang stnt his chid
Miniqn to ') argyl' Gang, with many offaillp and an im'it:ltion for Karm,lpa to
:V:i\il=ilit':p;rI~PTI=tI'it'=fi'R1=Cla:y:of::r11t-fir.q:-rfn.fr)'rlnib·lf;n:FLrl':(T::-l:(t4~5.-)-I({::;trr:i:!':.(·d­
;It tht' palacc and was Liden with gifts 3nd-honoureowilh Cl'It'lllOnin and gll'at--
pJO''l"ssiom. Danl'O and dramas war pnformrd and he btgan to preach through·
out the rountr),.
--..... On-l ,ne.ocr;!sion--K:1rmapa- called .. toget hn_l.eggars_ [wnLt hef aULd irt'l'Ji.<2ll~_.
and srat ing himself in their midst and (hanting the' '.11<111;' M.111tra he distributed
-amollg t hern all the proents rrcril't'd sinn' his arrival. At this time the Mongolian
fortTs \1'tTl' in the' border region of Yamdo, quite close to Jyang and wert" thnc
l"Il{.:a{.:('(1 in raiding and pilla{.:ing. '1'11(" King of Jyang sent hi~ army to assns tht"
situation and in a suddcn conflict they sucCl'C'ded in destroying the Mongol army.
I'kascd with this sucn:s~ tIlt" King con\'cned a meeting with the Minister~ and
(;{'ntral~ and a (kcision \\'a~ madt" to send forc(,s to attack the Mongol armics in
Tihet it~df. A \'ow \\'as m;ldc that if they were succt'~sful in their mi~sion thr:y
would ntahlish Karmapa a~ thl' Suprrm{' Huler, Tln('e hundrnl thau~and soldiers
WlTt' pflcparl'!l, hut suddmly Karmapa himsrlf appeared befort tht King and
forbadc any such anion, saying that th,,), should ccrtainly not undertakt· warlike
acti\'itin as it was rontrary to tht Buddhist Dharma.
,I
While preaching in the King's palace Karnwpa had vision of tht \\,hert';lbouts
of the new Shamar Tulku. Once again 11l' distributed all of hb rtJccumubtt'd
possnsi()m among bt'ggars, passe'd all his personal books, relics ;lI1d ritual ill'ms
illlo tht" care of his servant Kuntu Zang-po and rode off towards the extrnnc
I'orth in search of Shamar Tulku. Carrying oIlly little food ht passed through HoI..
-Yul,--where- he-mrt- t.wclvc- bt'ggars. To. tht'nLhc ga,'ctheJcmaio.dcL QLhis p()s:_
-st~~i().I.~s-and_fo.nd_aJld_coJl.t.inul'.d_t hLjQlt(m:}:..di:,~ a~-"o,"n.."e,-,a~f",th,",c:",m=:._--:_ __
;;;;~::,-.·J.<::lfnlapa·-paS;;~·il:;"lli:f0Bgl¥a~<f;Fki'i~li:t'r:r~~i[';ig6":;jil-'a~\\'liiJ:r~hc~~1ng"'t:hc:l':t~"f~'i!.§
rewgnis("d, helprd and honoured. A shl'pherd hoy also recognised him intuitively
and spn'ad the word among tht' lo("al pl'Opk, who pthcred togt,ther (lIlt' hundred
horsn Iadell with pro\'ision~ and prt'sented thcm to him. Karmapa called tht' stone·
ma'ons of the art'3 and told them to canT a Iargt' numhn of M,l1Ii-stonrs. Z32
Wht'n the \lork was finishni he paid tht'ir wages with all thC" possessions that hl'
had just rc("(·il·cd.
lit wlltinucd on to Gol()k and in the Li Yul distriet came across a boy whom

87
 KARMAPA, lliE IlLACK HAT LAMA 0/· 111lLT

he rl'cogni~ed to be the incarnation of Shamarpa. J33 Tht' child had hilmcJf

dt-cbrcd the prt'I'iou~ day that Karmapa wa~ coming to Sloe: him and rel'Ogniscd
::=hi~cctcachtr~,dtspitc=-thLhq;gaJc's~dQllte:!._that l~, wa~ _\\'taring. Together_ thl),_. __
-\tarll·d thercturnje)l,rney. andin_H_(~\;_ )'uLI0r.lllal~a"':'!.C:Jll~(f}hatllis ser\'a~=~
-~KlIntuZangpo wav becoming \'try.an>.i(lu~ ab(lULhiswt:lH,tingan(I~tnta p3rtY.=-:=
of people with mults to fetch him,
At SuI Chu Karpo K3.rmapa Itft a f(lotprint pnmalll'ntly cmbedded on a large
nl(, k and at t h IS-~'l' Ii i sse rl' a n t-KUrITU=7.~J-fri~ee-d-:to=nree:l=bim-:::H('-I:J~'I:':>:\\~.,(j~
thl' ordinations on the: young Shall1Jr Tulku, Yl'sht l'\yin~1)() ;lno~fortw(IYl"an-h-e:-­
fully c>.plaint'd the Karb')'udpa tcachings to him. H('cei\'ing another im'itation to
visit the Kingdom of ]yang he tra\'dle:d there and was royally wekomed at tht
~-LlIr Dok- palacc:-Ik--foundni- a~tl·mple--for---IhcLivcJi(}dl,j~.1JI,l!a~.~~_!lan..1i~lg_i~t_~
I'otala, and n-c:n tht· King of )yang bbourtd in tht· ronstruction of it. The youngest
--son of tht, King. Mipham Tl'npa l\'yima,r('('ei''t'd ordination as a monk and was
personally instruClt,d by Karmapa.
Karmapa Chos Ying Dorjl' recognised a boy as the inclrnation of CyJIt~ap
Tulku 2H and hi~ tIlthronemcnt cerl'lllony was ptrformed when hl' wa~ three:
)'t'ar~ old. On his return from Golo\.. nn\'.' Clme that incarnations of Situ
Tulku 2JO and Pawo Tulku 2 )? had bee:n found, Karmapa travelled to Kham'>,
collected the young Tulku~ and urought them back to )yang for instruction. lit-
gave thc t"mpowermrnt of thc Kanjur 2l8 to all of them and transmittt-d the rom-
pl('te Oral teachings. On the eleventh day of the third month of the female iron
ox year (166) he finished imparting the doctrines and they set out for Lhasa
I'isiting all the places of pilgrimage on the way.
On the third day of the third month of the fnnak water ox year (1673) the
party arrived at the Tibetan capital. Karmapa went straight to the Pot ala and met
the Dalai Lama, who asked him all ahout his navels and experiences, e>. pressing a
-6~H}~kf}9-\\'--ffi(.)J:C..-aLouull.C Alabamudr.1 tl'achings. Feeling great compassion
towards Karmapa he gavc instructions that he should be frec to rt·turn to Tsurphu
-~monastcry;------- -----
===t5'.<rrl')J~a~\\,cnt-N:>--~h,e--J9~K.}:lang~t.cmpJt'-amLt.lm:Lperformed many important
I$' 'ecrcmon ies; , 8IDing'--y,'i}Ti cF/i'0111.~fv-;~l'l)",".!i"~'~aii~{'fC~!>tE~l±y;::;:all=thQse~

present, At last he returned to T,surphu, where he was recei\'ed with joy and many -
celehrations, At this time he indicated that he l'Xpected to leave the world ~oon
and gave the prt'dictions of his futurc n:uirth to Shamar Tulku and GyaJtsap Tulku,
On the ninth day of the c1e\'(:nth month of the male wood tiger year (1674)
he becamc ill. On the morning of the ek\'mlh day of the same month a white
rainbow appeared right OVCf the mon;ISlrry, I It: passed away on the fifteenth day
of that month, the rainbow remaining in thl' sky ol"l:rllt"ad for ~c\'l'fal days. JIt- was
in hi~ se\'enty-fir~t year. His foremost di~cipln were:

88
 lllE UN~. OJ' KARMAI'AS, FROM lll~: TillE] AN

(i) SI1AMAI{ YESHE I\YlI\GPO: Tht' m'tnth Shamar Tulku, (1631-1694)

(ii) SITU MIPHAM CHOGYAL RABTEN: Tht' _ixth Situ Tulku. (1658-1682)
. (iii) GYALTSAP NOHBU ZANGPO: The sixth Gyaltsap Tulku, (1659-1698)
-''=' -i l\~)-=-PA-\\'O- TS l:J K-J::A K-="THII\EA¥=G...·AMTSO :='[h c=fi ft h=l';m~o --I!llh\J,~~=.:=-.:._ _ _
-- -- (1649,1699) - - -

.---H)(i'I'Rc\'l·I'.S------

__ '11 .-"HiIlHI JunJ.,"'l~, 1i1(' N)'inpnap" u·.\:lu·~ tI( tht c'i!hth ct"fllnT)'.
'21, Ah,o &"no",11 ." 'rM.1 rl,)'al ,.o-el-OJ 1'0 .,l l om Ua' (Lit: ')I'01;,l<a, Grnl Ki;\~-I)catod.. '), hC' live"> ill tht'
.IWW mountain of A-mt')-rM" ('hnl ('Ilail An~iC'nt On(" Great IJnnKk '), on the t-h Chu ri\'rr. AOIdo, Lin~
KC')oar'lo ,""",lTd h. bdiC"Vt"d to hr hidden in chi, moulllaill. hIT more dCluil .. ()f Ihi", H.d.tion i("C j/{ril).:wu)
O!>lO'.f.JJ'ia$.'tI '/'tIlt"', hy N. Ekvall, p. 243. Thrrc j" another GrC"llI ProH'nOl Ddl)' or Tihct, who j" kllo'A'll ••
'TMI[: I.biJ /)(11,,/' nOf"WQ'.

, 13 TIlt. third Pawo Tullu, • di!>L'iplc- of tilt" pre-\'iou~ Karmapa,

2 U 1'ill: LunS
, I 5 111(' nnoniL'll1 lite-rat un , of SUlra), T.Hltras and tlie-iT ,:ommC'ntarit'fro.
, I b According to W. D. Shakahra in ''fJJ.t'1 II 1'"IIII(al lIiHot)" (I'. Y9): "In 1(,11 Karma Tt'n~ung Wan.-::po
died and wa~ liurc«ded h)' hi", NUl, Kuma PhUflhok Nal1lgyal. Aft('r a lOUT of the t.uulhnll lJordC't, Karma
I'hunu.ok Namp'al vi",iu'd Lhua and ,C'Il( hi, pri . .·81c 5C"Cfellr), to the: Dalai uma .",kiflg for I religiou,"
audience', .. hr r("·ci .... ('d a polile nol(' ..a)'illi: thllt the 4th Ualai l.am. w&.." in mt"diulion and ,,'oulJ nOI br
di"'lurhrd. 111(' Tung chid Wa!. d("('pl)' offended." PhunbO}.. N.. mgyal dlC'd in 1621 and WL\ .u('cc('dcd by
Karma Trnk)'ong "'angpo.
21'7 An:ording to Shak.l>pa, T:Al'tl (I". 1(1): "Thc MC1IIgoi ,.oldiC'r.. rcturn('d to TibC'1 in 1619 in th(" gui"'C' of
pilgrim". Thc)' camp('d 5nm(" di!l.u.m'c ouu.ide UlIU".
,111. Tht'''''' arC' in Rumtd. (W'c illu"lration!\).
119 Thcfihh,
"0 Rul<f from 1623·1642,
.121 Th~ Itcrcdit.ry S;ky~ ~~--;:------ ---

22~ In lll3R Gu,hri Khan (Tih: T('n1in CII(~)'Ill) wrot on ril~imag(' to TihC't aflo mCI thr Dalai Lama. who
irllrrn.'cd him .,catl)'. At I ('('rrOlon), in lhe Jo Khang lemple he Wa' gi"'cn hi!\ Tlbrlllll titk .rld ,,"cal Ik
promi,rd to ~urpon lhr GrlUgT'L\.
ll~ Th" 1>"I.i Lama WIl' not .warc that hi!\ Mini"I('f~ werr dctt"rminrd (In a militar), t.oh.ltion.
22f1 I>on)'o I>orje, th(' Ronr(l chieftain or Bhcri. clltC'frd into an .1Iu.lI(,( ...... ith thr Kill~ of T",an~. with thc
intrlltiotl of ('lirnin;atill!: the Gdul-1)a'. He Will,. opturC'o IIflLi rut 10 doth 11)' C;u\hri Khan.
22'7 The Dalai Lama "'a\ OlO't up ..et al the ufltclii!il1ll'" turn of ('vent' lie "'·a .... ho\.\oC'\·cr, thr "irtim or Ihr
political intri.-:uc\ of hi\ MiniMen.

89
 hAkMAI'A, 'I HI: IILACh ItAT LAMA 01· llllET

22M 'Iht KUI~ of T"'311& w"'' ' C'vt'lltuillly t"~("(,·ulc.-d. in It.42.

22t,/ Tilt fLfth l>.dui Lama, ~'giLw;lnf Loilliing G)'~mho. W1Io!t. born ill )()17 imo II N)'ingmapa fumil),. Ii<'
=----.!"~til hli,lu:l! hirn .. c.-IL Ii'- Suprc-nll:_ Huk~ ~)L ~II_}-ih~l._ thr~)u~h_ I_ht hdp of Cw-hr i Khan, It'lidt'J of llit" MUH(:lll
- -arl~}I~-~ftiTLt-f,t=at-Pl)TaEq)alal'-Cil\ th-II-"'~-~ljC:=-dil"lj-j1l=-16H2:--= --- -- ---- ---- - - -
~2 3u-A~-'l ~~~fi-'~i1(-;--~Jl(.liii()Vt· -l\,.- 1< IL'llitfa..o·ri-;- in- ';4 -c uit JJt.J/-Jln I IIry "Of-"] tI.n!-(p;-] YH}:~rht·- lrlll tLHlal h lIut
--'I~ilr~rdl WIl"'- (,olLlgbt "up ill-politil'al r\'cl)l", lOudl)' 1l.t-Varill.llCl' wi ill hi", yuill:" propt''- f(-li.-:iuu!I._ ""it)'_ nUde. tl~
Wa' a H'I1l:lrJ..abk (h.trlll'tC"f, tyrinal of tht I,nt of 'I ibc-lHIL 1.11IlI<I. ... ," and "Tht mud, 11111 11It'rurrh t""~'aprd tht'
fii!l'lill~ lind li\'rd fll' 11I~n)' Yl'Iln., Mllllrtinin di!>~~lIi!'ord a .. a !oifllJlk IIHlIlh and 1l1~ilp IHTCl'tillb h:lrd"hip' of
-o.:.Q.y k Iud, ..
~-~-3~~":t-'---}".Jm.l;JJi1H~i1,l~'I_·_·_·__
2~~ A """II (If prll)'t'r-MlIllt-~, 1.:111\,(,.1 with At.wt,,.)", !>uch a ... '(hn- M,llli I; .. dll)(' ilulIl,"

233 Thr ~("\'t·llth, \'nll( t-.:),IIIt:ll(),

2 :401 Tht' '(".1'.1/4'iJ k, tlj.;.I'.
-,.\ ~l·,~-;:rx-ll;·,-N7),T~IZill~-{'(l~ -------
,~" The' Ioi>.!ll, Miphwnl <:110"1:)'111 Kahtl"Il,
--'B'7 Tilt fltdl, ' .... ukl;1.: Tillby (;;:~dl-'I!O~l;,-­
): 311 The- ~crir1\HC"",

):39 The fuurth il1ntlll~li(ln, T .. u~I~I\ l-\unl:HI~ ()(,33 )(,4~') dlC'd \'cry yount-:

90
 VESHE DOHjE: TilE ELEVENTH KARMAPA (Tib: Yc-sbcs rf)o-r}c)
(J676-1702)

=::::-::Yl-"Jr(:--J-)(-)-ijt-:.c-";ii~=h()r-n=:-iil~'thc'rllaJt'=:-firl'-drag<ln c-year--=_06i'6)cin..:Meshuk,-Eastnn--=
-----Kh;fIlrs~-A~-soon-as -he-was -born -he-wiprd-hi,s-f:lce,sat-cross-ltgged-andsa id,-"I- a r11-:
----the Karni;l[ia!" -ACthis timc a rainlfClw formed OI"lT tht'-house and many 1l0\\TrS
fdl down from tht" sky, Whcn he was still vt"ry young hl' saw Cb.1/.:r.1.I.111/V.nu and
-other ProllTtors and Deities in tht" SkY'lbOl'l" him, Ill' poilllt'd them OUt to thost,
--wl*)c-\n'I't"----~ic;.;..-G-fl t-Aiul~11t~)'-t'(iuJibt,Lno.t hing_aittL~L:!.ili'tI to laugh a t-Iri m-:-ln-rt'l~
to tht'ir morkery ht, Ill-\\' up in the air, hOl't,rt'd for J while and then rl'llHlled to
thc ground, Thl' news of this miraculous t'l'l'nt ,sl're;ld far and reJched Shamar
'l'ulku'·o and Gyaltsap Tulku, who hoth Sl'llt off their rcprol'lltatil'es to investi-
---g:;tl,Turiller~------------------------------------------- ------- ---

It was foulld that all thl' dctails of thc hirth W('fl' in exact arcordanCl: with
tIll' kttn of prnlinion kft by the prel'ious Kilrmapa, -Ik was thus bwught to the
grt'at Yang Chen mon;lstery Wht:rl' hl' mct thl' scvl'nth Shamar Tulku, who rccog-
nised him immediately, Thc young Karmapa was takt'n to 'burphu monastery
\\'hne hl' was enthroned, Ik performed the HI'lek lIat ('('remony shortly after-
wards, From Shamar Tulku he recein'd the prcliminary ordin3tions and studlcd
thc scriptures under the guidance of the sixth Gyaltsap Tulku and Karma Tinlay
Tulku"I, From Shamar Tulku he also rcCt'ivcd thl' full esoteric tcaching~,
including the transmission of the 'Six Vogas' of Naropa, Shamarpa passcd
away,
Karmara Yeshe Dorje reccil'cd the tt:achings, explanations Jnd initiations of
Tcr Cbos'" from Yonge Mig)'ur Dorjr'O and Taksham Nudrn Dorjc,'" He
pnformed the death-rites of Shamar Tulku and built a stupa 10 housl' the relics,
The Tsurphu monaqcry was rebuilt and n13n), other tl'mpks and monasteries
Wl'fC rl'pairl'd, hal'ing bl't'n badly damagt'd by thc Mongol wldien, One ycar after
[hl' passing,yf-SJ mnm--ro+ktJ K aT \llapa---lta-d--<l--\'iM~t-l~c...incarJ.talin~
made arrangements for thl' boy to be brought to Tsurphu from hb birth-p];lcc in
-Ncp-al:----------·· - ---- ..
;:--K ar;nl a gao. P5·rfOffliC(j::-rhccn.r~(Urrc::rm:m-.:.c;,rem:ony-of--:-thc.:~£;:h:~~--sn~'!l~"::J~t.Ilk-u--::
and· named him PalCliCilClimKyi· Doarup, T1kn ·nr prcffi<:tt"'fiITat~S'i,u~Hflj{-\;l~
would reincarnatl' at Al Or in the malt- iron dragon Yl'ar (1700) and imparted this
information 10 the new Shamar incarnation, ,. S along with the remaining tt'Jchings
Ill' spent much time mgagl'd in deep meditation,
Karmapa Ycshl' Dorjt' sent the kiln of prediction conct'fning his next incar-
nation to tht' young Shamar Tulku, Ill' then pa"cd away in the malt- water horse
year (1702), at thl' age of (lnly twcnty-sClm, Thcrl' Wt'fl' rcmarbblt- (Kcurn'ncl'S
at that time, !lis foremost disciples were:

91
 KARMAI'A, 1 til: IlLACK HAT l.AMA OF TlIII-:1'

(i) SHAMAH PALCHEN CIIOSKYI DODRUP: The eighth Shamar Tulku.

(J 695-17 32)
~(iir--KENcIIE~-K'NlfMkDO!\YOFY:~~=---=-==-=-=-:-::
l@:-:TENZIN. C:Hc!C;)'.~_I"~~I~ht-fifth-Trungpa-Tulku.

240 The ,"("\fcnth.

241 111(" third.

,.2 The 'di\coycrcd' tClI;c-hing-.. hiddclI hy Padma\amhhava.

243 The prC-M'fH irKarnation j .. in GanglOk.

244 Who (Irc.... C'd in I tlF'C'T'''' "lin. A yrCilt Nyinl!Tllapa Lama. "";0 prc ..cllt irlrarnatitHl knpwn.

24$ \\110 rn'0i!'ni .. rd the ci!=hth Situ lull...u in a\.nut 170M. The ,,('venth SilU Tulku, Na\,I,'C "'lima. dIed \lcr)'
)'oun~.

92
 CHANGCHUB DOHJE: THE TWELFTH KARMAPA (Tib: HY,11Ig'rbuh rDa·r)£,)
(l703·J 732)

=::-:=~C1~;~gcll-uD-DorjC:-\\'JS:ll()ffi-in'-=thCCt~knlaltC"'af('rcslle('pcc}'rar-+J-70J1=aFloit~a--r()kcin
==.tllcI)lTgc.;- pr()\;inceofTa~ tt'rn 'I' ihec-Two-months-a ft er-his-birth he-suddtnl),.
dcclared him~tf( tl; be tlie - Karn13pa~-Shamar Tulku hcardoftht, birth of the
:rtlllarkahlr chilJ in the plal'e Illl'ntiolwd in the ktlcr of prt'diction and ~l'nt a
::-____2~J:I'S"I~~J)il,r-t-y-lt~d-l).)_=_h.i!>-pJ:uJlI1.1L~..('crl'tary. On the way there the)' met the Terton
;~-~. -Mi-g),url-)orjc:-;Ut·-wl-;:(;--g.liat:d-tlw.m-st-r-Jigl.i:t-=-u>:::ibt,-pla ce.
Upon thtir arri"al at the \'illage they were most surpri\ed to Stl' a white rain·
bow which endnj right on thr roof of the house where the child had been born.
~t:...I)~t_hi!lg__"'.'a2 found to be exactly in accordance with the detaib given in the
Itt ter of prrdiciiO'n:-l'ilc~~inaU--cllild-corrc-t'ilycho~\{'--all-the- itmw whicldlad-
bl'longed to the pn'vious incarnation of Karmapa and threw away all the others
in di\gust. A message was St'J)t to Situ Tulku, who came to meet' the new in'"
carnation, Itading a party consisting of Traltg Rinpoche,H1 Surmang Garwang
Rinpoche2 u and Sangyt· Nycnpa Tulku,l49 Together they proceeded to the
Karma Gon monastel)', re3l'hing there by the time Karmapa Changehuh Dorje
was ~even years of age,
Onr night Karmapa had a dream of Lord Buddha preaching to man)' monks
seatcd around him. Among them hr saw himself, with hands folded in supplication,
asking for the methods best suited for learning the Mabayana. He received a con-
cise mystic phrase in answer and on waking from his sleep Karmapa instructed his
servant to write the words down. Later, in a second dream he saw Palden Atisha
and asked him several questions about the Dharma. From him he rel'eivcd mystic
verses in answer; four sentences for the Mabaya7la and four for the Vajrayana.
Karmapa returned to Dergc, the province of his birth and from there set out
for Tsurphu, visiting many places on the way, At Tsurphu he was cnthroned by
Shamar Tulku, III the presence of Sinr4-'uiku-:-J-tc-reecivc:d--the-rf-i-maf}'---Uld-£inaL
__ ~..s>!dirlati(J!ls and was initiatt·J into the complete Karg)'udpa teachings, including
the 'Six Yogas'-ofNar-opa::tJicLincagcTeacningnnd-the-Oraltransmission,He--
__•.:n't'Qj}ni.scd"the,,-se¥.cnth£ >'lllua.!2 -Tun(u;::Kunchok::(,l,cT-=-a-n:d-e:mhronc~-h:~rn' ___ .
. Karmapa Changchub Dorje mcl thcNyingmapa' SiClal1a='Xlfatog -IHgaii;:r=:
Chcnmo and along with Situ Tulku and Gyaltsap Tulku they discussed \'arious
aspects of the teachings. Karmapa decided that it was time a special pilgrimage
was made to Nepal. Accompanied by Shamar Tulku, Situ Tulku and G),altsap
Tulku the long journey across the Himalayas was completed and on arriving in
the Kathmandu valkythe parry went straight to the great Bodhanath Stupa where
they made many offerings. There the four incarn;!lt' Lamas were received by King
Jagajayamalla,2so who was seated in a golden howdah mounted on top of a huge

93
 KA I<M!\I'A, 'IIII- IIIA( K II A'I LAMA 01' '111111

t'kphant. TIJ('re wert' many atltll(bnts with gold and siher spears, hOlloriflc
umbrdlas and huge drums, who t'scorted thl'm to tht: King\ palace,
=~arrllal,~I~d~!ll,-,way into tht palan' assemLly·hall, whcrejlllub'c.T~'.ed the
. Ql,,'l (lIlla r)' IlCr:itld..()f~;Il'nc~'-lnfron t oTthZ.-,)ortr aitorPr:lt-F;llllaP""I'lil~~'a '.'
_ spkndid feN was prl'p:H(Xandro(;m~'''~l~r(' mJdt'-:i\'aiJ:,lJIC:\Karmap:l qa)~:d' in-
thl' palace for sn'l'n days, botowing blessings and preaching thl: Dharllla.An-
epidl'lllic had brokt'n out in the Ltlky jUq bl'fOH' his arril"t1 and at thl' rl'qUl'st of
:::rh ('-K'tfig=-lrCFt'rfltm [(-d=-a=-pToIIi1il:ti:tw=<,~·tC:!llt)Jl)'~J:f1:.ti-:.l:l:ts"'I)~ t'-H1.i(;-i'H·l'H.wd.i'I~:t'I.),=
-suf;siaZ.a~<;ince the country was suffffiTI-g-frolJ] dnITrglft-K-:rrllTap:nhrew-('(ln~
sena«'d grain into the air and it rained heal'il)" lie preached the Dharma through·
out the Kathmandu I'alley, fully ('),plaining the I:IWS of Karma to tht' pl'llplt, The
-Ho)'aLEamily. [l·crivnLnlan)'..tXlT IlttH.1.eaching~ i!.I1Q..!lI~L1'..a!.l..dil!1~.t:~1.!!1.l'!.£> dis·
cuss points of doctrine. -.---
Karmapa took thl' part)' on pilgrimagc to Namo lIuddha),a,. thl' place whnc,
as a Uodbisil/tl>.l, in tllt' distant past Lord lIuddh:1 had offl-red tht: flesh of his own
body to a hungry tigrt"~~,25I' At this pIatT an invitation was TCl'l'ivt'd from King
H;lnajitamalla,2S1 asking them to vi~it his dry, Fkphants wert: provided for
Karmapa and Shamarpa and finc hor~n for Situ Tulku and Gyaltsap Tulku, In a
magnificent procession they cirl'umamblilatni rhe city, bestowing their blr~sings
upon all.
Karma"a and the other incarnate Lamas left Nt:pal and u:ll'dkd on pil·
grimage to Kushinagara1 S 3 in India, the plal'(' of tht: final passing of Lord Buddha.
Then' thl"y all prostrated, madt: offering~ and said prayers for the good of man-
kind. At this time an invitation was reCt:ivru for Karma"a to visit China, Hctracing
the route through Nepal the pilgrims returned to Tibet, rt:aching the Tsurphu
monastery safely,
Karmara and Sham.1r Tulkll left Tsurphu on the thirt('Cnth day of the third
month of the frmale wood snake 'ear (1725) and travelled through Khams and
North Eastcrn Tibet, \'isiting many temples and monasteries on t e way to ::nina:-
-l'ming_throughnumcrouS_W-Q\'Ln<;,es.1s "-1be)' .rt:at:'he(L~ing.<:hi-e~',--~here lhey..
_:..I:i~iJ.ed...thc...tcmp-les of Avalokitr.lbwara and the Goddess Tara, The), performed
"",mca+T5SFi:fGS~i"ii:tg~spcCGial~ifiScfJ':t1e:tiflI'lSit:0i,:!:heir~Gillifllt"5F-sa,)'ing.;:.that~t1lq':..sbou.I.d=;
try their utmost to propagate the Dharma in the difficult times, This was a pl'riod'
of gn'at religious discrimination, Karmapa and Shamar Tulku considned it more
favourable for tht:m to lean' their bodies and reincarnate,
Karmapa sell! a lellt:r of pr('dietion to Situ Tu]ku 1' 5 and on the thirtieth day
of the tenth month of the watn rat )'t:ar (1732), early in the morning of the new
moon, he passrd away, Shamar Tulku followed him two days later, amidst man)'
omens, IIis foremost discipks wcre:
(i) SlTU CI-IOSKYI JUNGNES: The eighth Situ Tulku, (1700-1774)

94
 (ii) GYALTSAP KUNCIIOK OSEH: Thc ~n't"nth Gyalt'JP Tulku" (1699-1765)
(iii) 1'/\\\'0 TSUKLAK (;AWl\: The ,c\'tnth I'awo Tulku,2S<' (Died: 17B1)
(i\") DHUKCIlLN KAHGYUD TINLAY SIlINGTA: The sixth Druhhrn iZin"
-:-=~~c: PC)C hc"-:=- =-=:=-~- ~==:c-=c, _-=-_~=c=-=_~_ cc-' ~=-_=--==c_
-(\ )--YONGJ)i'~1 NKA IZMATI JUI\"IEN-NGt\WAl'\G :--
-(vi) - JETSUNJYUN(;ON TULKU: -------

I ()( n N0T!':S

24t. A 1n-, bril, ',c-vcllicr of 1JC'II ... ur~"·.

24' All illrlrnntion of the SI~iJhll Sho~ .. m, Olle of Je GOIlllllOlllI'" dlM,>ir1c!o. The rr~cut Tralr~ H.inpOl-hc i!<o a
"luJent al S:unath, India.
24K From Surman~ 111()IIII!oI(,f),. The PIC'!o-CIlI inl'amaliHIl horn in Sil..J..im II" thci>on of Kazi Son~m (;)'a "ioU , A~
7 yt"I~.

249 The fourth inl'arlllltion.

250 Ruler of Yarnhu (Kathmandu) (rom 1722-]736, which pc-riod \\'L' rcmarkahlC' for the phC'nomt'nal
Jrou!!h&.
-2-5 J-()f -P-;~t-aP~;n-;tII;~;-for-;;-;c;-Ki~g--~fYanlhu:--~fu)-c-~m~-t-o tt~~lt~r()i'C-rn 1639anddir-(fin }7;RV,- Br wi,-i-
~~~Tl""'(fr-=--B!~!.!.":::!lJ:tt.tr.f'-all-~~-{"-arlrj-r)r..wlr~dC'~·()~-,.d-r.-r.l-i-l·ula-r-rn-C'T-.-:r-ttt-hrini!ing--'(1~t-hl"-f~J!iI.-"~it-"~fr.om-~la-r~-)'-­
~1:~f«-J-(;~Jl-t-O-~ftU-r1-t-:fI~~~I='~I:JUi-I.l~nJin;)~~:t~Ti:..~-=::-~~~!~~_l-~Uf~&:r.:/m'~tta~I~C:<E~Utnl;:Hic.l!if-t-)~t-i-):L,,*j~i~n~
and c.unanand, LditcJ b)' I>.anicl Wflght. Kathmandu 1 Y7J reprint), -- --- -- --- - ,,- - - - - - - -
251a SitUlllni W Ih,' La\! (If HhiJt~w.on, uraf to the \,illai!'c ()f PillIll\'ati
2!>' or nhat~ ... ()n, in thc Kalhmalldu \'allc)" Be rcignt'd from 1722·1769.
2 ~:l In hllli .. , the pluc (If the I'.mw;r;.'.wol of Lord Buddha,
1~4 ~ll1in~. Len-ju, l\u·t-.ui, Clnwj.!-"IHli, Ni!iin:u Nin~ lell, 110 Chant: lhCI1, llr-C'1l Charl~ yi, ("hini! ni, Cl.i-C'~,
blll {oJ.. ~hC'n, Chinf,<:hi-rw rIC
2!>~ Thr ('if,hth, Yr. 'HI al Ihill lime Yr. a" at 1'00'rullg rnunaqrr)'.
2 !Iff The :'o>;),lh irH'lIrnlitioll, ChO"k),i Podrur, dicd young.

95
 DU OUL DOHJE: TIlE TIlIHTEENTH KAHMAI'A (Tib: dl>ud-'dul ,Du-rJc)
(1733- J 797)

=Jju-=-Dul-lk,rje-=-Y;'.1s-bor-ri-ih-=-the=-sC('(ln d- wee k-of- theeee igh t heman tlFO fcct h ec f t'ma le=-=
-WJttT 0\ - yt"ar-(J 73 3);-irlCh:lV.a-Drollg of N)'enGhowa-pro\'ince, A~-a ~Illallchild~
--hi:-starteo-recounting ~torie~ of his-past vi~it~ to India; l'-:epal and China: One Jay-
a ~ixttTn year old bo), drt'ssed in white, holding a baskt't of flown~, apprarnl
befon' him. 2'? Sea ttning tilt' flowers at his ftTt tilt [JOy oamTd around him and said.
C~._. 1-:i:rrI=XGl;z,EiliiT" 1-(' (.H11 t--f~om-tbe-l.igJ1LoLK lHtwl:t'd gl;,_~m_llc.'ri-nTtyi n-n~'ra t II f ul~
for III , As Teacher and I'rotector thnt· is no difference betwecn you or md" The
figure then ~Clllereo tht· laq handful of flowers and laughing, dissappeared. As
mall)' people wcre witness to this curious ClTnt tht fame of the yllung boy spread
--Tarallo Widi:. A ~i:arcllT)iil)' leo liy-t1jt~l'\,t'illh-G)':iltsap Tulk u-calllnomt·ttthe--
._hoy and found that t'\'erything wa~ in exact agretml"lll with tht ktter of predinion
left by the previ()u~ Karmapa, Thm tht -young' incarnation wa~ rtcognisrd and -
taken to the Tsurphu monastery, when' he wa~ elTemonially enthroned and when'
hl performtd the Black Hat ceremony for the first time, A represCIltative was sent
from the Dalai I.ama,""
On the fiftt'enth day of the fourth month of the female wood ox year (1745),
at the age of twelve, the young boy took the preliminary ordinations from the
eighth Situ Tulku. He completed his basic studies by the time he was ninett'cn,
when he then took thc final ordination and was taught the 'Six Yogas' of Naropa,
the Kargyudpa Lineage' and received the full Oral transmission, Ill' had 3 clear
vision of Padmasambhal'3 and )etsun Milarepa.
One day water started pouring out from underneath the great statue of Lord
Buddha in the Jo Khang temple of Lhasa, There was a danger that the image
might become submngrd. possibly to be t,lk"n off to the land of the Nagas. 15Y
A I)[('diction was found in a book writtrn by Guru l'admasambha\'a 160 in whirh
it was dec 1arca--n1ITllTc-I\~JY.rbnra--v.-vtrhi-be--t-ht---()-fH)'--p-e-r-£elHl-!Jlt'--tG-d~~p{"]~
the danger. The Dalai Lama H1 asked Karmapa Du Dul Dorje to come to Lhasa,
-~oihathe-migllfnclp save-tm--flrc-Ciousstafut-:- O\ving-wcircunmances-beyond-his-
~rKarm;tRa-coula-not~[!monallp13k--e:rn-e\,j-sir;-I~u:h/Jsl(:.rd-scnt-:-.a:-Ic:t-tcr­
with instructions that it should be plaeca on tfiev.:atn, Tnis letter wasaOarnsc1f
to the King of the Nagas and when it was presented the water immediately started
subsiding, Latn Karrnapa him~df travelled to Lhasa, riding on a hornless Yak 21,2
and going directly to the )0 Khang temple he prayed before the great statue of
Lord Buddha. He offered a white silk scarf to the image and the arms moved into
the 'receil'ing' po~ition, remaining permanently ougtretchcd from that timr on.
lit- had an audirnce with the eighth Dalai Lama,"'] who thanked him for coming
and presented many gifts to him in gratitude,

96
 Karmapa Du Dul Dorjt made a pilgrimage to Nepal ((.1750), meeting King
Jaya Praka~amalla2f,' and arrangtd for reslOration to be undertaken on the: grtat
Swa)'ambhunath Stupa."s He was wtll rerei\"(~d by the King, the Mini~ters and
~the_ pcoplc:lnd:wa s~ahk tc.u:nJ;YIJ"JllaU bLwoI hwa~ sal isfa~()_ri1 LCJlr~it:d ~~ll!. _~'-_
~ ___ ~At_th-e agcoLthirty,nincKarmapawcllt to_Jhc:J)alpul1g_rnonaster>-,l·_·_~-!l(-~e_~
-he discus~ed the results of his meditations with the righth Situ Tulku and nTcivrd
the n-maining tearhinp and the Oral transmission from him. Ik recognised the
tl'flth inC3rnation of Shamar Tulku H7 and then tra\'(:lIed 10 Tsurphu monaqcry
~~Fin=tlu::=rol~f-=an=Di'(jrnTry=-I,a ma~~~isi t ing-3 l'l=rh-c=\ilb-gl'S=(ff=~h-:rnrs-;=
Listern Tibet, he gave teachings to tht' ptoplc in an cxtrtmery;-inlpTiTitcnorm.
At the tnd of the journey he retired to the hermitage built by Karma Pakshi on
the mountain behind Tsurphu and thert· spent man)' yean in deep nll'ditation.
--Ik -r('velk-d- many- pnTioust reasun-s- a ndwas- especially-reno\\'ned fOL hiLabilit)' __
to communicatl' with animah and birds.
The Huler of Southern Tihet invited Karm;lpa to consecratt a ~mall mona~tcry
in tht pabcl' of Pho\\'o, which was fiftern days journey from T~urphu. Heing
unahle to go in person Karmapa fixed a date and tinK for the rcremony and sent
a messengtr to ttllthr La!l1a~ there to make all the necessary preparatiom. At the
exact momeni of the conserrat ion Holy grain started to rain down from the sky
and c\'('ryonl' was vcr)' happy with the auspicious event. Later ht· had a vision of
the Ill'W incarnation of Situ Tulku and a part)' wa~ sent to collt-ct him. Ik wa!.
enthroned hy Karmapa and n.:ceivcd all the teachings from him.
Karmapa »u Dul Dorje gave tht letter of prt'diction to his disciple Situ Tulku
and passtd away on the fourth day of the eighth month of the female fire snake
year (1797), at the age of sixty-five. There were many auspicious signs at the time
of his passing and precious relics were recovered from the funeral pyre. His fore-
most di~ciples were:
(i) SITU PADMA NYINGCHE WANGI'D: The ninth Situ Tulku. (l774-1853)
-{iL>-'---'llAMAJLCIJDSllB ITP MIPIIAM GYAMTSD: The tenth Shamar Tulku.
(1742-1792)
- (iii)-I'AWOTSVKLAK-CHOSK-YI-G\'ALI'D:-Thc.eighthJ>awo_Tulku. ______ _
J:bl-=--.!>B:-l!:li£:I~~~:-:-~\.J-~~!C;~U()S~Y.I-NAN.G.WA:_1:hC_K.ven t h Dru k chen R in-
~p(}dy(rc~.~zi:I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==~~~~~~
(v) LADAKH I-IE"lI GYALSA Y: A Prince, from I-Irmis monastcry, Ladakh.
(vi) KIlAMTHUL JIGME SENGE: The Line ofKhamtruFf'~Tulkudrom Khams.

H)(lTNOTl:S

97
 KAHMAI'A, lilt Ill-ACK IIA'I LAMA 01, 11HI-.'I

:l~R Tlit" I>t"vrntil Dalill 1.:111);1, KiiIJltll~' Gyaf1lt~() (17UX 1757),

2 ~f.,j: SC'Tpellt Kin}o."!<.,

__~_~_,O_~~I~_I~~\~l'h_('_~t t~~~)\"__~~~ t~~~~!J,!!.JmJX 'O.f kYI/J., tI.'.l C/.'I"I' (u I'\'yiflpllar~ 'I,'Wl.l).
=-2-1~1-1"~-t'j!:h~ 101mpIlTC:}'ilillt~O.--
1t.-2--:-4.;~A1~;;:·~----- --------------
21,] 175~- J~~~S-~------- ------.---------
;,(,4 Hri.~1I1;l1 from 17 3h 17ML
--=l..",-~' ~ _~~d~~!-ir 1-J(-IIl-i-l-~-:\ 1-(-) 1l~c,,:.'.!_r-l:)~'l:~(::'I-n{')_T~I~~~~;:!:)~ '_!.~"I'.l!J r~ ":,,:(c...L7~s..U.~~I!;I~! fit i . . ill - I JI r' <::.1 nIl) r Id g(' l'lll \' t' r ... i t Y ,-"'-
-l.ibr-ar-y.. - -- ---- .. -- ----------- .. - -----'-'-'-

2t.(. Of Situ 'Illiku.

1t,7 Tht, h:Hlh. 'J lit· 11111tll Sh.lIl1.r 'I illl..u, t\.1I1H 11\11.. Junglln,dinl )'(JIJI1~, !l.1\'llllo! btTIl ~~I('all)' IllIr,I',\rJ by Iht"
edlln'lt M!!lI"lo!'>
_i~t'_'L-'loll(O_O prc.'-.(OIlI-ilH" jlT IIJ I iOIl,J>, )Ilju d--N)" iIlW.i"-ot hc.°_t" IfIll II._IILI (HIIl(lnLIL(:tll ft3 ,GoHH:.-..iLLJ ;t~!.!JJ.~.II~,-l.!l~_"_'- -

98
 HILG clloe DOR]E: TIll: FOUHTEE~TII KARMAPA
(Tib: 1bcg-mCf,uJ!, 111LnJr) (l7Y8-18M!)

Ihl'gccClI ()gcc nOLjt~wJ~=-Il!lm_QIl~11U;~J!"lltl!(jaL_Qf-c!ht'_ct_\'><jf~ mont h of _t he firl' __

~n:t hc-ytar-( 1798) ,_ ill_I ht~ Ih n;l ngvi JJagcofJ~hll_()_c;ang in tht'))~;=Kli:IIl~~rz.-gi-Oil
of Ea,ltTn Tibt-I.- Many rainh(lw~ wnt' to be ~t'tnovtrtht \illagt and at tht ti-rll-C::
of hi, hirth tht haby wipd hi., own face and .,aid, "Om Mani P;ldnll' lJum, IIril
Ah ,\hh I Ii Uu UU., , .. ",~ The faml' of till' rhiJd sprl'Jd far, reaching tht
K:I rgy u d J,a-I~a nl a-J-)ru ~l~Iu:n=KUiil"lg:GITIKk)'t"Narrgw;f;-~:":"=wlf( n·l'nt:a:~orxlyp::tf:t:}'=
to the rl'gion. Situ Tulku and Gyalt~;lp Tulku 1n-i1ho ,mt st'arrJl:partil'Sailliall-or-
thrm nlt'l in thl' I'illagt of Danang. Togl,thn thty took thl' boy to the Karma Gon
monastery, whne ht was wdwnlt'd hy the ninth Situ Tlliku. hnding all tht
dl't aii'>--in-the- kttcr--of-prnliction-to- bt-tx;JrtIY-l"Orrt'rt, Sitll_Tlllkli _offi~iall),-­
rCt'ogni.'l'd him as tht nn\' incarnat ion of Karmapa and be,towl'd the primary
ordin;ltion, .
Staying in the Karim Con nlOnaqery for .,n·nal yean, Karmapa Theg Chog
Dorjl' rl't'tivl'd both the Nt'w'" and the Old" ~ tl'arhing' and .,tlldil'd sn'l'ral
\usions of tilt: lift, of Guru P;ldmasamhhal'<I. lIe tral'dkd to 'J\urphll, wht'll', by
the agl' of ninl'lt'l'n, h(' had Tt'Cl'i\Td mmt of thl' ttachings and thl' esotnir trans-
mission. lie took thl' final ordination, rl'built tht monaster), and repaired all the
stUP;IS and small temp1t-s in the area, I k aho foundrd a mrditatioll centre, calling
it Drupdt Sam!t'n Ling,
Acting in accordance with a prniiction made by Guru Padmasambhava,
Karmapa inl'ited the Terton Chogyur Lingpa 1 " to come from Khams to the
Tsurphu monastery, There were grl'at ct!ebrations, culminating in Lama-dances of
the 'Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava '2 7S and those of l'ajrakila. 276
Karmapa made a pilgrimage to Kang Hinpocht, Mount Kailash in Western
Tibn, and during his stay there some p(,(Jpk were surt' they could s('e him sitting
.m~wtil+g-in-a-u:nt.in-1b1'_middlc of lake ManJsarovar,177 Be circumambulated
the Holy mountain, visited all the shrines, and had a wonderful vision of Cbak-
rasamv"r,,;-0n-his-rcturn-journe),-he passed by a-craggy hill,_famous_aub~ abod~__ .
:~l-jl_-:~£:~I1~b-ar-g~b0u-l!lHs-suddcnly-~tar:t-c<Lto_mLLdmmio\\'ards the Rart}~_
'pflWims," terrifYIng b:Cryo;;:C~ .Raf-mapaglaii~~a~~f)-=!l~t~ih-a1~n~;on:iCnli:th~lMg~:,;
rocks remained where they were and the smaller rubble and dust completely
disappeartd,
Karmapa travelled to Tsari, where ht had visions of the Goddtss Tara and of
C/.>.,kr"sammra and where he kft a permanent footprint on a stonc. Then ht
returned to Tsurphu monastery, tra\'(:lling through the pro\'incc of Kongpo, where
he preached and bestowed many hkssinp on the ptoplc. Ik impartt:d the com-
plete teachings to Drukchen Kunzig Gyamtso and Jamgon Khongtrul Rinpoche,27'

99
 KAI(MAI'A, TIlE IlLACK HAl LAMA O~- 1'1111'1'

ka\-ing the leiter of prediction with his two brothers, Dodrup Tulku and
Chmwang Tulku_
~~- .-==:On--'-the-=-twl'll tr-fiFsFda y.:::of'-'t he-=fi ~st-=-moll t hccoLt hcccmal ('"cau h=-dragon.::...)'c_arc=-=-c:._
-(-IBM!) - he - pa~~t-d-away.- in- h is -St·~'t"llt)'-frrst-rcar.- RalnIJ()ws-\\'t·rr-=:lO- Lt _set;naIL:_::"':::::_~­
·--aroundhimat thattirnt_-Iiis foremost disciples were: --- ------------- ----------
(i) DIWKCIIEN KUNZIG GYAMTSO: The eighth Drukchen Rinpoche.
(ii) JAMGON KHONGTIWL HIt-.:POCIlE: The first Jamgoll Tulku_ All incar-
__----IlJtlnlu'tLil.wjlisri. - --- - -----
(iii) DABZANG DEDON TENPA ){ABGYE: The first.
(iv) GYl1){,\\E TFNPIIEL: The t'ighth Trungpa Tulku.

--I'(l(JTNOTES -- -- -- -----

"2~;O <l".c~d;r::o-(-th~~ i;;~kr~-K~rl!-;'ud A -di!ociplc or-the· rr('\~illU" irH.arn.ti~n.

27' The righlh, Cho'ral 7_angpo (J 7(06-1 820).
2"2 The ''\at'-ma'; the 'new' tcachinp.
27] The ''''),inl:-ml1': the 'old' Icachinp.
274 A 'di .. rovcrcr' or lext!> and trca\Ur('~ (7rrmJ). lie wa" from the T~ita lllona.... IC'ry. (JR29-1rno).
2'B The 7H' cbll

27f. Pli"PoJ P'>'u/, Cben, ill wrathrullantriC" form.

277 The )llll)' l..ukc Ilcar to lht mountain.
27" A grcat teather. who innucn(,:cd many.

IDa
 KHA CHAB DOI{JE: THE FIFTEENTH KARMAPA
('lib: 71/1\/I.1-k/ly.11> rDo-rJl') (1871-1922)

. Kba_ .Ch;L15norjr_\\'~I~QOrl1l1l1. t!t("tl-nth d~)'ofthl' eigfitrln;-ontnof·tnc-ftrilalC:--~-=--­

-iron ~htTp -year (1871),. in. Shtlkarvillagr oCE()Iliprovii1rt~~Vc.~tc:rn·Til)eT-As-
~oon as he was horn he looked up into the ~ky and dcdared hirmt:lf to be thl: new --.
Karmapa. He had a white mole in the middle of his forehead. By the time he was
-a~yt·ar-ola=l'ie-already-h-.ru-,m-:rsnrrrr~hirrgl:},=p_UJ.ftl:tl:ri"(l-lI-A(:II':J2l::J:fl.G+-':lg~f,"'FI'l.a:J:1i'-. .su.h-. -.
jeCls and was able to pass ni~l::no\\'ll:Ogc on to others. Hc-cunrrnu-t:-d-adris-own--
tt',lcher unt il the age of six_
Drukchl'll }{inpocht:, Tenon Chogyur lkchen Lingpa and Jamgon Khongtrul
-·R inpoche... fd t-convinced_ t ha t .ht. musL bc_thciIJPI!Ja tio!}_. 01-'(il.r_n.l..ap-,1_a.ncl.~p..on_
consulting the ktter of prediction it was found that all the dt·tails w'('re exactly --
correct. As a final H-st tht boy was asked to sdect ittms of d()thing placed bdorl'_
him and he immcdiately chose those which had htlongcd to the )Hc\'iom Karmapa.
Thus he was takcn to the Tsurphu monastery.
In the female fire ox year (J 877) he wa~ ceremonially enthroned and on this
occasion composed a prayer to Mahaka/a. lie studied all the doctrines and became
skilled in the science of medicine. At the age of eleven he travclled to Lhasa, where
he met the thirteenth Dalai Lama, Thupten Gpmtso,219 who honoured him
greatly. In Lhasa there was a very large statue of Dorjl' lJr.1[!.dc1/ the Protector,
which offen'd his spt'ar to Karmapa. Staying in Lhasa for a while, he taught widrly
and then rnurned to Tsurphu.
Karmapa Kha Chah Dorje received the empowerment HO of the Kanjur from
Kenchen Tashi Oscr and that of the 'Six Books of Padmasambhava'H I from Pawo
Tsuklak N),ingchc. H2 At the age of fourteen he reccil'ed an invitation to consC'-
crate 3 newly restored monastery in Li Thang. Drawing a map of the place hC'
...Jimpped Holy grain onto it and at that same momC'nt showers of grain fell on the
roof of thc monastery.
---In- the- male firc. dog_ycaL( 1886L!tc.Wc'TlL tQJ~halTls,-visLt.ingth~.I':llflung
-morJa-ster:y-as.....w.clLas.mao}'-Q1her.s. From llillgon Khongtrul Rinpoche hC' recci,-;Cl-
~~tcaf:~i~ngs~acfl-aziifit'icat:ig:ll-S~gf~~~gr'c:l't~K'a~1}5:cudpca"'I~in('a:g~t-hc=;:.HodJ.,is.1ttva-­
vows, the I\alac/.Jakra and the Oral trammission. He travelled to the Dlong Sai-
monaSln), of the first Kh)Tnt~c Rinpoche,H) where he rewunted all the events
of his past lives. Then he visited Bonpo Gon in Li Thang, where he performed a
miracle by pushing his fingn right into a hard rock. When he withdrcw it, streams
of milky water flowed out of the hole. He visited all the region around Li Thang.
imparting ttachings and bntowing initiations. At the rC'quest of Dzigar Hinpoche
of Shang Ling monastery he gave the rebirth prediction concnning the next
Drukchen Hinpoche.

10)
 KARMAI'A, Till: IlLACK ItAl LAMA OF TIIIEl

In the male earth rat year (1 H88) Karmapa rtrei\'ed many tearhings and
initiations H4 from Jamgon Khongtrul Hinporhe 8s and studied the lIigher
=])Il!Gls._rn~lli£ifl~=andcY-,~iI"oIEg)'._!,rom . J ambyangKhyent~t" . Rinpochc 2 ••.. hc..
.=}I.,.t'ci\,{"d.maJ1Y .cll1f\.owermcnls .. and i~lt;atIC)n~~~a!:.~~lraSthcKarg)~apa-Lineagc·
.. tearhings, tht Aj,1i.>amlldr.1 and the Oral transmis~i~;n,"'.l~ilrouglllhc..·Cert:~~(iar
Buddha l'ajr.1db.1r.1 he reali~td perfection in meditation,
. Karmapa made a prediction of the whereabouts of thc elrvtnth Situ Tulku,
=I':ITI ma-Wa ngrnog-GY::I IIm;=fl'n'grri-~rd-lrim=a'rrd=sxrptITiXl'~eHli~nl-t-hf011~:1£A-t-C;":Ft'­
Illony. IfetTICrl tra\,ellrauiDlasa. to·SJngl\:gagCtillT[ing. 2 •.7and-nnln·-gn:at-
Samye monastery, lit- tnthrolll'd the new Drukchen Rinpocht and taught him
fully. Going to Tsari he practi~ed his meditation then' and man)' visions ren:aled
-themselves- tohim .. including. those_.of Guru Padmasam hhava._I~.1jr,]l"lr.<1 bi..1l!.V.1j!.~...
1\.11.1cb.1kra and Cb.1J.:rUS.17mwa. The Protector of Tsari also appeartd and pre-
sl'nttd Karmapa with a precious statue of Guru I'admasaml>hava 2HO and a sky-.
fallen sceptrt. H9
Karmapa returned to Tsurphu in the male wood horse year (1 H94), founding
the Tsur Kung monastery nearby, and rtpairing the main buildings. 11<.- huilt a
temple of the Protector-Deit), of Lhasa 2 90 and then travtlled to Palpung monastery
where he preached and bestov.Td many initiatiom. At this time Jarngon Khongtrul
Hinpoche came and transmitted the remaining secrct tt3chings to him. He
Tl·turned to Tsurphu when' he witnt's~ed the dance of Mub.1kala and conduett'd
man)' important ecr('monies.
Karmapa rt'ceil'ed many requests from the King of Bhutan, a~king him to visit
his muntry. He started off on the long journty and reaehcd Trongsar !hong, the
old capital, on tht fiN day of tht fir.q month of the male earth dog year (I H98),
at the timt of the New Year celel>ratiom. He: preached and bestowed the
M.lbll771udra initiations in their complete form, with full explanations, for which
the King of Bhutan wa~ txtremelLgrateful.
Ka rma pa retu rned toT ihet, w hc'=:'re"-',:':'g.:c'1.l~i:-;d;-e'd:-;b-)-.-p-ar--:t-;-ic-u'la-r-\~'i~si~o-n-s,~h'--e-----rf(-:'u-:cn=-a:r7thLe:C-
-Ill-w.incarnations oC) amgon KhongrruLRinpQcbcl'}1 .and tll(; t<:nlh 'pa\-\'(~T.tJ!~\I}9~
_mp.en-:isinll--hntL.co.thwoJ:m.enr ceremonies at TsuTI~hu monastery, To Situ
~i[ul~(rH.3~;frfe"J;ffifguii~R'irrfrg'Ii-Icl~lfc~pa,s.~ccr"'6f'jz;jHa·Ilt';,Jt":-J£hiiJg~T-tlw:::A1.1.ll.1nllldtac
the Kargyudpa Lineage, the 'Six Yogas' of Naropa and the complete Oral trans-
mission. On the first day of the first monrh of the male water rat year (1912) he
insisted that the Ntw Year trumpets bt blown towards the East a • instead of
towards the South, 3S was customary,
For many years Karmapa Kha ehah Dorjt ('IJgaged himself in deep meditation.
Ill' bestowed his bkssings on the plOplc. Then he wrotc a letter indicating details
of hi~ next rebirth and left it in the care of Jampal 'I\ultcn, his fa\'(Hlrite atten-
dant. On the tw('nty'sixth day of the third month of the male water dog p:ar

102
 Tift UNt or KARMAPAS, '·ROM lin. TIUE1AN

(I 922) h~ pam-d away, at the age of fifty-two. Thae were many auspicious signs
I'isihk in the ~ky and precious relics were rCUlI'ered from amongst his a~hcs,
His foremost disciples were:
~(iF:---S1HJcPADMAWANGCJlOG-G'r'AU}O:::ThLdn~~nJll.S.iLllTulhuJlJlH6,1952)--
-(ii)-J AMGON- KHYENTSE - OSER:~~Thc-st'conaJ amgojl.___ KhYJlgtLuI_~ljJJk~~-~
(I90-t-]953) -
(iii) PAWO TSUKLAK TJ{AWE WANGCHUK: The tenth P3WO Tulku, (b. 1912)
(il') SIIAMAR JAMBYANG: The dl'l'l'nth ShanlJr Tulku, «('.11;1;0-1947)
_(_I')_C;'l't\LTSAP' -J'J{AKPA-G-Y-A"HSH:-'Jlie=erl-\TIifli="GpJ~lnltu-:=(:c:tc;;>tl2=
]959)
(I'i) KIIYENTSE R1NPOCIIE:
(I'ii) CIIOSKYJ NY1NJE: The t~nth Trungpa Tulku, who reccin'd th~ R.lbjU711
---'---oWlirj;1 t idn--fronnhe-fift een th -K-amla 1'37-------------------------- ------.--- --.

FOOTNOTES

, , . (lH7/d9H),
'kO'r.ng',
2f11 l'h~ ',.(.'yo-el,o/ I'od·dyug'.
,It' Tht' n;,Hh I'~W(l TuH,u, who di("d 4:.191].
ltD Who had mun), incarnation,. the third of whidl wa.. KIIr):)'udl'l. The- ()Ihcn wCr(' N)'inJ.!mapa Ind
S.kyapa.
'H14 The 'Hin (bol gTrr-m/);.od', .. in 7S volume,.,

2~5 The fir.t.

'"6 Who gltvc hi~' lh~- c~~r-~~:;-;;~t"-;~;-~~J-i;;,_;t:7-_;,,~~-n--·I-)~-~--;--(fil-V(~IU-Inn orAi-ant-ra~-f----

_?~_'7_ WI-fr;.r-f he, u._"_(l~j~-('-d~tlt~.;~ru:~"~~~:r~lr~U-k~C~h~cr~l-~R~i~~r~"~d~l<;;;,-:;;;--~~~~~~'§~~~~!i;i

281\ Whid~ i~-in- the prc!ocflt RUTllt~-J.. mona ..ic-r-)< Si~~ir~l~< ~r~:~r~(-dwit-tiin· I 'GiJlI. (H("iiiluary-):
21\9 ''''iJm Cb.,J.:'. lit, '!rol..y·falkn', It i .. in Huml('k,
:290 TJ.r";'lX cbr·nxa
2ql The lo("c(lIld.

202 Tilt' tellth, HOW Ij\'in~ in Bhut;tn. A peat {carhn.

293 1'h(' c\r\'cllth

294 Lain Ihi~ Y':'I" inll'rprclnJ .... indlnlrinf thc dLH'clion in V.iJilh hi~ fUlun' illl'llTnalion would Itt borll The
1oo1)"1(,(,lIlh t\arJllap~ wa ... born in the: La'('

103
 -....
...,.~Q4
....
....."
"""."--"-

..• ,

.,
IUL Rangjung Rigpe Dorj<". the ~ixlcrnlh Gplwa Karmapa"
 RANGJUNG RIGPE DORJE: THE SIXTEENTH KARMAPA
(Tiu: R,11Ig'''Y"1Jg Nig·pa'irDo-rJc) (Born: 1924)

::=-ltangjungcl{ igpc-porje.-,-t he:cpre .. mt=-Gyalwa=~jlf111;!pa,_ \\'a~orn _()Il tht'_ fiftecntlL_

--day of thtsixthmonth(l£' thc~makwoodratyta[ (l924LatDt~khok})r;the IJ:lnkS=
--of tht· Dri Chu rivcr; neaHothe'A thup'- palace in Dcrgc, Eastern Til;cI.-Ifa()re-_
his hinh the Siddha Gral Je and Dwgchen Thupten Choskyi Dorjc both pro-
_phesied that a ga'at noJbiso1ttw would ~oon come to Athup and adl'ist'd the family
~:-tJU_t·t· 0 p..;o:a m ~roll t ~i dec the~pal~fi a t-t h e-b irrlr::wuotd~mft=t:rkr=pbe_e=ifl~;Jdil:)'::::
enrironment. lIis fathcr\ namC'- was T~ewang Paljor ana-llis mother was calJ-e-d--
Kall.ang Chosdun.
Whilr still in his mothcr\ womb the b:lby could be heard reciting the 'Mo1ni'
--M,mlra:-- O/lt'-day;' shon Iy-btfore-tht--birt h, hismotheL not in·d.that.hcr stonlach__
had become wl1lplrtdy flattened, as if she was not pregnant at all. She pro·
('(·('(led to the camp, set lip on a hill behind tht· palace, and at slInrise the next
n1t>rning she fdt a ga'at hcarinns and her stomach began to swell vcry rapidly.
Soon afterwards the baby was born.
There was a ~Iight fall of rain and many rainuows appeared all around, some
ending ;It the camp and others at the palace. When tht' child was born he took
seren steps, saying, "Mothrr, Mothl'f! I am going away!" She wrapped him in a
blanket and it was noticed that all tht· water in the offering·basim had turned
into milk. Realising the importanct· of the birth the family let it be known that a
girl h:ld been born, in order to protect the child from ill·wisht'rs.
In the meantime Situ Tulku and Jamgon Khongtrul Tulku had ope:ned the
ktter of prediction left by the fifteenth Karmapa and found the: following de:·
tailed instructions: "East of Tsurphu, close by a river, in a place: that long ago
had helonged to I'awo Denma Yulgyal Tokgod 29S and to the Minister of Ling
Kesar, on the Pal hill, dewratrd with tht· letters 'A' and 'thup', is a house made
~J-f-t-l-l,-~}~~(mging...tO-aJ~{lrl1 and religious family. The birth will take place there
on the fifteenth day of the sixth month of the rat year."
Both Situ Tulk u -and] amgon- KhongtruLTu Iku_had_c1c.:auisio_ns.2Lthc_A t.bup'
=rm~cs-::a:n4-s.e!1t-:-0ff-a=-~<l-~t-y-tQ-cl~t.c;.z:mine:-iLtb.t:..new incarnation was to be found
""'inerc .tl po ntllc-ir·· ;rrr i~';d"'tfl~-pa-rt i'-;;h(;lf ~-iifi:[;ti~lJij;.~O:~tljcil'eflfal'J.a~) ~C;=:t'hilclGJD~
conditions cxactly as had been predicted in the letter. The scarch was over. Thus
the sixteenth Karmapa was recognised. For ~ome years he rcmained in the palacc,
in the good care of his parents.
Ill' was a child of extraordinary natural insight; if horses or cattle were missing
from the area he could always give an exact description of the place where they
could be found. lIis room in the palace was on the third floor. One day visitors
brought him tt'a in an earthenware pot. Karmapa threw it down into the court·

107
 . • J~

E,EiIIf~'
 TIll' ~IX'llLNTI! GYAIWA KARMA!'A, A IIIOCRAI'HY

yard bdow and tllt'n ~'nt a servant to pick it up, Miraeulou~ly it wa~ not broken,
Ilor had one drop of the: tea been ~pille:d, Laughing, Karmapa squeezed together
the: neek of the: pot and ~ealcd it complt-ttly, For a long time: it wa~ pre~eryed in
c t Ilc:~A t hu poP;! lace~=:=c===__ ::c=cc:c~_--,~-,_=--=_:c: __-=-:,-,=-=-=-_--,--= __ -=-==--=--_~:...:=:.... __ --=--=---.-__ ce-

--~When~K3rn~-:l pa- \\'a~ -~e:\'tn-};ear~ old-Situ-'J'ulku and- Jamgon Khongt ru ITlilk li

-\'i,itnj thl' pabee- and performed his primary ordination, A ceremonial empower-
ment of the Goddt~~ l'ajravurabiHt'wa~ complt-ted and Oil the twenty-seventh day
of the first month of the female iron sheep year (1 Y31) tht young incarnation was
ordaincd a~ a novice mOllk,Thl'n Kh)'c:rltsc RinE()che-,-Zlmflotd-.tgshta=-~raltscn­
:lnd DOll)Tr Cyaltsen Zangkyollg together offered the sixtn:nth Gyalwa Karmapa
his ceremonial rohes and Hat.
On the first d:ly of thl' ~l'rond month of the same year he was taken to the
-PJlpllng'mona~Il'ry ,It,tht, invitation-of Situ Tulku';-Onthe way-there the-party-was
met by the local Huk'r, Tsew3ng Palchod, who led them to tht Lhendrup Teng
-palace, whne many fiIll' l'erl'lllonie~ were performed in honour of the nl'W inrar-
nation, Thousands of pl'Oplt: gathnt'd to receivt hi~ blessings,
On the eighth day of the second month the party reached Palpung monastery.
The enthrontmmt cermlOny took plan' four days later in the large as~cmbly hall
and thousands of pilgrim~ gathered to pay homage to the Gyalwa Karmapa on
Ihis all~pi('ious ocra\ion. On the twcnty-sl'cond day of the fourth month Situ
Tulku accompanied him to Tsurphu, visiting many monasteries and places of
pilgrimage on Ihe way. lIalfway bt,twten Khams and Tsurphu, at Gyina Gon
monastery, the senior StCrl'tary and a hundred Lamas honoured the new incar-
nation. The following day, the thirteenth of the sixth month, the Black Hat
lTrt'mony was first performtd in this lifetime. The sky was filled with rainbows
and many flowers fell down from the heavens. Thousands were witness to this
astonishing and auspicious event.
The journey was continued, The way passed through a valley ncar the palace
--et:-t-Rt>--gF<.-'iI-t-<.~t-P-fet-«'t-gl'+-ef~~)~llm-G-M-3-!+g-l.ha,-which-wa.,'-Situa.t.ed.on..the­
crest of a mountain, Karmapa sent sacred grain and a white Yak as offerings to
-this- Protector- and- theYak-was- seen-to run-straight-up to-the-top-withoutany
~gt!!Q:~J1~.f:;::-.§}'a-Jt!\ap=TuJ:k-u-;-:-Pa'wo--Iu~k-u:;-J-a!'ng~n~!!.h~l) g!!~ul-l:u-lku--a-Ad-maAy-elh ~r-:­
Camas·3rrivea to· e~cort dic parry t6-nurplro monastery, rile' trJai1i{fn~af?sCit~of-"
the Karma-pas,
The Gyalwa Karmapa tra\'dled to Lhasa to meet His Holiness the thirteenth
Dalai Lama,297 who pcrforlllcd his 'hair-cutting' ceremony. At their first meeting
Karmapa wa~ wl'aring hi\ 'Ne SbU'2H hal, but the Dalai Lama saw another halon
top of it and pointed this out to his chief Ministcr, When Karmapa performed the
traditional prostratiom he was s('en to take off his small hat, but af(('rwards
the Ihlai Lama a\kl'd why he had not taken off thl' other hat also, as it wa~ cus-

109
 K"RMAPA, 1 HE BLACK II"T LAMA 01' lllHT

tomary to be bart-htaded on ~uch an oc('a~ion. All those pre~ent prol(·sted that

he had indn:d bern bare-headed. Thm it was realised that the Dalai Lama must
,-have seen the __subtle liodbi~.lttlJa-hat.199 visible ~nl}'_to tbosc of tht highest
_~p:ifiTuaTatt-ainri)ent;and-naatllougnlthat -elC(:ryonc cl~~coulaSt;t;-italso~-~---'c,­
__ -K arma pareturnrdtol'su fill) u-monastcry,-"·IJcrta~rcon-d -erit h-i(lne ri1en t cefe~ .
mony wa~ performtd. supervised by Drukchtll Mipharn Choskyi Wangro and the
clevcnth Situ Tulku. He studied with Kangkar Hinpoche for four years and often
~.t:t,ld=hj~=!~t"a~her-:aJ:>Q\1i-h:~=PJ'('I'i~l:I:~i·nf-;l:r-na·t-i0~-=.(,.).A=t-H(!--tl-\-ir-!:.4:t-)'=of=.t:..h£--t-wel.(th_
mon t n6ftlfrfcmalrwo(.d-ptg-ye-ar(-1-9'-S-)-;-at-t Irragc-of-twe Il'e;-dlt::'), ou ng-
Karmapa travelled to Khams. On the way. at a place called Lorong. he told
Drchang Yeshe Palwar to opm the window of his palanquin. saying that he could
_.Sl·Cm3ny weIJ:dr~J-sed pl·oplcriding!Qward..:\-'ljll\5)nn~o~t bl:a~!i!u.1 ho~ses. It was
n:alisl·d that the people must be the Protectors of th;}t place. coming tohon-(~ur·­
. Karmapa. since no-one ebe could see them.
The party reached Tardzi Chutstn, tht hot sprinp. and stopptd to rest and
bathe in the curativt waters. It was tht middle of winter ytt man)' snakes sud-
denl), starttd crawling out from between tht rocks. Karmapa ru~hed into their
midst and was soon covered in thelll. lit- started to dance. saying, "I am the King
of the snakes!" Everyone was tnrified and btgged him to stop, but he only
laughed and did not ~rem to be at all worried. Presently the snakes unwound
themsdvts and went back into the hot springs.
On the tenth day of th(· twelfth month. at Chitc. Karmapa discovcrt'd a new
stream, naming it 'Five Nectars', On the twtnty-ninth day of tht same month.
whilt- passing once more through the neighbourhood of the Protector Nyenchen
Tang Lha. a white Yak came straight up to Karmapa bowed befort him and dis-
appeared. Everyone was astonished, hut Karmapa just said. "Its only natura!!"
The party reached Shakshu Kar, where Drukchcn l'aljor Hinpoche came to
receivc the Karma a, They started to joke together about their respective miracu-
lous powers and suddenly Karmapa took a sword from IS atttn ant 's scal>1.JarO
:md_ticd_a knotintbd>.liIdc: with_h~~a!e_hands.~ 00 PaljQr Rinpoche was totally
amazed and did not offer to comEete. The combined ~ty reached Tsokpui~
,"-·hc;~cdCthcr:e~y;'a:~a:;:ffm:cn;'rci:\ier~f£)c;:lie;CH0£s{'d;=,.1~IH~I"l'::-Kar-mal!a=-lc(t=a=,(uol[lnllct'-l:ln_=
the ice, and when the river melted later in the year it was found that this foot: .
print was still visible in the water and again on the ice the following year.
Paljor Rinpoche led the party to the Riwa Banna monastery, where a ctre-
mon)' to Guru Padmasambhal'a was performed. At the end of the ritt the offering
cakes 301 were thrown in the different directions in order to dispel e\·il forces.
When the), wtrr thrown to the East flames could be seen coming out of thelll. It
was at this time that there was a sudden and unaccountable pause in Chinese
aggression on the Eastnn borders.

110
 lilt ~IXTlH,T!1 GYAl WA KARMAI'A, A BIOGRAPHY

Karmapa Irft for Tungnak Lhachen Gon monastery and was asked to perform
a con~,cration ceremony. After the Holy grains had been thrown it was found
that they had all turned into danling whitt 1I0ly rdics. Ont of the most famous
)j u rilt'r~-~i nee t he-'rl'gion"l'amt"~t oc. Karoma pa ,-' PHlst r.a t edc.and __c_oll f (~\s!'!:Ltha_Lht~_ h a5L:
kilkd- many -innocent -animab-unnt·ccssarily.-lk- tht'n~prt'st'l1tcd hi~hu nt ing dog~
to him. -At the-s:lmt time ,1Ilothn \"i~itor brought three b;i1J)' dt'tr and prt-stllted_
them to Karmapa. Soon the hunting dog and the thrt't dt"a became very good
good frimds, being comrlttely at case in e;lch others company. Other people
Ilroughl__C;frs,_gujJLC_a~pjgs, min: and rats and-soon~arFi"lit~~imals-wc:rt~slt"l"pingc
~idt' hy side" While Karmapa was preaching at the Tanam monaster), onc of the
tkn Il"ft a clrar hoof-mark on a rock.
Karmapa rcached Dil Yak monastery, whert: thl" party all stayed in tcnt~,
~\1;\'1'-ral-6fwhich- werejoinrd -lOgcther;-Owonc- on:asion· hewas-scen -h igh up-off.
the ground, riding a dl"er along the ropes from one tent to another. The parry
n"adll'd Rad/.a Dwng in the mountains, where thne was a great shortage of
drinking water. The Lama Samten Gyamtso l"xplaincd to Karmapa that thl' nearest
spring was tim", miles away and ask,d for a blessing to htlp the situation. Karmapa
ordned that a wooden tub should be brought and plared ncar the monastery.
Then he said he wanted to takc a bath, so ptOplt- rJrried water to fill it up. After
the bath he told the attendants to empty the water onto the ground. Immediatdy
it started to rain and a new spring broke forth from the spot where the tub had
bl"cn standing. The water shortage of the monastery was permanently resolved.
Passing by Chos Gon, in Khams, where thl' loral Protertor had a palace on the
top of a very high mountain, Karmapa offered this Protcrtor a beautiful red horse
which ran straight up the: mountain to thc summit. The party reached Karma Gon
and as Karmapa enter,"d the great assembly hall all the tops of the rclic-srupas
were setn to raise themselvcs, as if in a salute" Several days later he visited the
Dam Gon Phug cave, whcre a Naga-King was seen to come out and honour him"
Sit u Tui-k-u--C:mJ-e-te-Karrna-Ge-IJ-a-M-W-Q-k-K-:u-m.apa_to tb c Pa Iru ng mon as tery,
whnc ht n"ceivcd the full Kargyudpa 'Treasury' teachings' 0 2 and the Oral trans-
mission. 303 - Ik travelled to-l:;atog;-whl're-hc gave-many-teachings- to thc Ruler
::!JrfOfC:_ Frromtr'g::ro:::r;rlp[J]Tg::and::c:<>I:ltintl-ing-~~~0-b-i..:J2hang.-ac{'ompanie.d_h-)'_S.itlL.
Tul~Thc)"\'isitea 15zong Sar monasrcry, whCTrt~N51)oi'::~k)':Cn:r::fe=(Hlc0'skc)'i=
Lodru requeqed that the Black Hat ccremony be performed. During this auspicious
event Khyentse Rinpoche ~aw Karmapa in tht" form of Dusum Khyenpa, the first
incarnation, and the Black Hat was to he seen floating about eightt"en inrhesabove
his head.
At Pangphug Gon monaqery thnc was a statue of Dusum Kh)'l"npa that had
been known to speak on scveral occasions. In the main hall, on a pillar support
stone, Situ Tulku made a permancllt footprillt on the Irft side and Karmapa made

III
H. H. The Sixteenth Gra1w. Karmapa as • )'oung man.
 lin ~Ixn unit C,\'ALWA I(AHMAI'A' A 11IOGHAPity

one on the right. On the flag-stont" in front of the mOn3SItT), his dog left a print
,1Ild hi~ hor~c left a hoof-print on a ~tone in the stablt-, Clmc hy tht mona\ltry
thtn: i~ a lak!:" at the hrad of tht I'allty, whnr Karl1l3pa It-ft about twenty foot-
=-priilts=i)jH-op~of~a~largr-lo(k-;..-=-=-.:::.==:_=::_-- -:-~_~:c..-=-=::==--=:" ___ '--'cc.:c=:=:..=_=-..::=:..____ .:::.c::
---Karmapiln,j\Tlled toTubhi-m()nasttT~,.-quite: close- l»~ ,-,111d -t ht'rc':s-tagtdt h(;~:
-DallCt'-of .II1,II."iI':'I/.1, Two neighbouring pWI'inrnwtTt fighting and manypeopk--
had hem killtd, so Karmapa \'i~itnl the art'a and mJdr PCICt" betwn'n tht \'arious
_parties, The 1{1I1n of China, Gt'ntTal Chang Kai-She:k, ill\'itcd Karmapa to \'isit,
=llllt-!I(,-d i1I-I](iLac('ql.LtbLilLlit.:it.i.6_n_,_ht~_('a dh e rt't II me: d -t 0 I'a 1).'lI!Ig 1Il0 n a q tT Yo-
whclt, he took tht, tlllpowtTmcnts andinitiations of 'J>ru/,IO/, 1\1111111' and studit'd
tht l'ill.l)'.1 SUlr.1, the I'T.1jlJ.l/,.1riHl1it.!, the ,.1I>bidb,Ir/llil /\(Jsb.1, tht C)',I!.:r',I.\.III/V,lr.1
7il/ifI,l, tht l\a/.l,-l>.d,r.1 '/,lIItr.1 and other t(,;H'hing~, under the guidantT of Situ
-Til I huaTld -Klly61t~t;-H iilf1f>l'llt":-1 k-n'tl'il'c-d -a II- thtx in' t hrirTom plete-form,--- --_ .. -
On tht fiftt'l'nth day of tht' ninth month of tht, Illale iron dragon year (1940)
Ill' tLln'lInl to TstHphu, \'i~iting tht, Pt'ndlen monaqny 011 the WJ)'. In that pbn:
tht'lt, was a statul' of the I'rot('ctor Zhing Krong, riding on a horse A~ ~()on a~
Kar1llapa approached the horse started to lJl'igh, much to the surprise of n'tryolll',
Ill' pron'nkd to Dam Chung, whl'rt, the main Ikity offned hilll a large unpicrced
ninl'-('),cd Zi-stonc, a type of prl'Cious handed-agate, The party rl'aellt'd Tsurphu
on the (')(,\,t'Tlth d:l)' of the "ighth month of thl' female iron ~nakt' year (1941),
For tht, next few yt'ars Karmapa engaged himsdf in his study and meditatiom,
while the monJ,qrr), wa~ ex tensivl'l), n-built,
In the malc wood monkey year (1944) he made pilgrimage to Trag and Samye
mona~terics and then visited the Drowolung mOllastl'r), in South Tih"t, a seat of
Marpa the Translator, whert' he had m<lrvrllom dsions of Marpa, Jt'tsun Milart'pa
and .Jl' Gampopa, lie rt'Cein'd an invitation from His Royal Highness Jigme
WangdlUk, King of Bhutan, asking him to visit his country, In the st'cond month
of the mal<- wood monkt,), year (1944) Karmapa tral'c1kd there and visited the
-ltumttr.nl}" •.tistTin-uf-the-Nor-tlt;-w-ht-r-c-ht'-WftS-fl'Ht5t-waHHI;'-\-H'-lw-FfH'-Ei--B]L..t-h-l'--
King, At his requcst the Illack Hat ceremony was performcd and on this occasion
the King -saW- Karnlapa in rna-ny-different miraculoudorms:--
=-:::-=K a I'm;! p-Lvi sit t'o=TnceIJal!!Va-::-arrd:-:K-ujctt:n1Plc:s-::in-:-:!h:tmt:!I~flg:;:-l±{!ri~}~.I:!.l:::::
Bhutan, where he offcreCla ccreTll()nial SIT\{ scarf to the image of C:;-uruPmlma,a'm- -
bhava in the Kujc shrine, where there is an imprc~sion of l'admasambhav;I's body
in the rock, The silk scarf flew high up into the air and stuck itself onto the
foreh('ad of the brgc statue, All who witnessed this were very amatcd and it
was taken to bc a most auspicious and ~igllificant l'vcnt. From Bhutan Karmapa
returned to T~urphu monastery,
Situ Tulku tra\Tlkd from Kharm to l\urphu, meeting l\arm;lp.1 thlTt, on the
dn'('nth dar of tht, ninth month of the f('male wood bird year (945), At the age

113
 KAHMAPA, TilE IILACK IIAT LAMA 01, TIIllT

twcnty-thrcc Karmapa rectil't:d tht detailed final ordin:nion, togtthn with the
initiatiom and explanations of the highn Kargyudpa tearhinp,lo4 On the twent}'
second day of the fourth month of the female fire: pig year (1947), he: left for
- -Twd in Western Tibet and Situ Tulku rtturned to hi, monastery in Khams,
Karmapa visited 't'ITral Kargyudpa mon:lstnies at Mmdong and Bu Kar and
from Tt'Od he tral'dled on pilgrimage to Nepal. Tht:re he: was higldy honournl by
~K-ir'lg-l~r.i\Jllu~:al) Bir Bikram Shah Dt'l' and the Hoyal family and ptTformtd the
::::L\:ht:k:U;Lt:::I'ul'mHH),--for--t hcm~all, I IeI' is it cd--a Il-t l1C=iTI:Iin=-ptlgd fiT;fgt~pb:ccti 11-
l\'epal and be:stowcd his hlessings upon thousanils:-I'or this jounRrtlTc-~ing=(iF
Bhutan graciously dt:ltgated four high gOl'tTllmcnt officiab to an as guidts and
interpreters, Tht Maharaja of Sikkim, Sir Tashi Namgyal, sent Kali Sherah
Gyaltsm to art as his personal escort, All this hl'lp was greatly apprt'('iattd as it
tnabkd tht pilgrimage to take pla('e in tht most satisfactory manntr.
From Nepal Karmapa tral'cBcd to India via Lumbini tht birth-place of Lord
-- Buddha and 011 to Sarnath and Bodh GaY;I, whtre h(' pnformed prostratiom and
prayers; there wtTe many fine ccremonies, The pil{.,rrimage was t'Ontinue:d to
Ajanta, EBora and Kushinagara, the place of Lord Buddha'~ final pa~sing, lie
rt'(eived an illl'itation from Sir Tashi l\:amgyal of SiH::n, asking him to bless his
country with a visit. Accordingly Karmapa tral'clled to Gangtok, the capital, and
stayed in the monastery attached to the Hopi palace, The B\;ICk lIat ce:rt-mony
was perforlllcd and ht preached to the pt'Ople,
On the thirtieth day of the first month of the male: carth rat year (1948)
Karmapa returned to India and travelled to Hewabar, lO 5 in the North West,
wht'rt' he spent ~el'eral day~ and performed a special rite of Guru Padma~ambhava,
Thousands came to receive his blessing' and the 10t'al pcoplr remarktd that many
white snakes appeared from a stone wall and that thert' were most unusual mOl'e-
ments on the surface of the lake,
The party travelled on due North, via Kunu and Purang, to the 1I01y moun-
tain of Kailash,lo6 Karmapa made three complete circumambulations of this
---Il~~ntain, taking three days for each ont', and abo Wt'nt all around the lIoly lake
._.oFt\\ana~arO\'aL:'~:-~:He~ I:is iJ:c~d=aU:'1ht~gl~G~",~_~=l"'ilgE-im agt~!L1P.K_Lt'gi.Q!1,_lben---.b.c..
travdled right across Tibet, \'ia the Mendong Ka-rg)-:tidpa-:-monasTI'ry;-an-d-rta:cilecr-=
T~urphu on the sCI'e:lltt'enth day of the eleventh month of the male earth rat year
( 1948),
Karmapa im'itedJamgon Khongtrul Tulku' O. to come and gil'e further teachings
to him at Tsurphu, From him he rcccil'('d many teachings,;1('9 including the 'Six
Yoga .. ' of Nampa and tltt' remaining Oral transmission, In tht, year of the male
iron tiger (1950) an cpidl'mic of smallpox 5truck nurphu, so Karmapa performed
tht: l'aF'l KiIJ' I 0 ritl's Soon it had subsided and all those who Wl'Tl' affected
rl'co\'l'ft'd \'ery quirkly,

114
 TilE SIXTFtNTII GYALII'A I\AI\MAI'A, A BIOGRAPHY

On the twenty-ninth day of the fourth month of the male water dragon year
(1952) he vi~ited Chang in Northern Tibet and there performed the Black Hat
('('remony. He went to the Kar Chung monaster), and before entering it was seen
to spit on thl' ground outside. An t·lderl), lady dt'I'otcdl), gathrred up the spittle
and carefully pH'served it. Latn it was found to havc turned into preciou~ shining
relics, which kept on multiplying. Many of these were given to sick people, helping
them to become curt'd, and man)' arc still preserved by his followers. Karmapa
-u:tl:Jm~-4-w"':Fs~H'phu-()n-t-ht'-se~:t.n.tt·t'll1h_da.)~{,t( the tenth month of the ~ame ),ear
-FJ=9=5=n,=
On the eightemth day of the fourth month of the mall' water snake year
(1953) Karmap:! journeycd to Lhasa, wherc he had audience with His Holiness the
fourtt'l'nth Dalai Lama, TCIl/in Gyamtso,311 and rc(eil'ed the empowermcnt of
l\alacbakra from him. On the twenty-fifth day of tht, eighth month of the same
year he Tt·turlll'd to l\urphu, wht're he imparted the full empowerment, expbna-
tion and initiation of 'Cbodil1g 'fer') I 2 to Chong Hinpoche 3 I 3 of the Mindroling
Nyingmapa monastery. lie also performed 'Mel1-dn'p', the colkction of medicinal
plants, and di~tributcd them widely. .
On the st'ventemth day of the sixth month of the mall- wood horse year
(J 954) the Gyalwa Karmapa visited China, togcther with His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, Chong Hinpoche and other High Lamas. During this visit Karmapa made
a prediction of the whereahouts of the n('w Situ incarnation, the twdfth, and a
letter wntaining details of this was sem to Tibet. After a stay in Pl'king and other
parts of China, Karmapa retuTlwd to Tibet, tra,'Clling via many monasteries in
Khams and Do, where hl' bestowed teachings and blessings. On this occasion he
was asked to rl'prnent His Holincss the Dalai Lama who was himself unable to
mah' the journey, (1955).
Karmapa went to the Palpung monaster)', where he recognised and cnthronrd
the nt'w incarnation of Situ, Tonyod Nyingchc Wangpo. lie visited Lhasa brieOy,
where he had some important conversations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
after which hl' rt'turned to Tsurphu, reaching the monastery on the seventeenth
___ daLof the fif~n~onth of the female wood sheep year (J 955).
:::-:--:-·-=TIi:c-=oaraTE1Tn a-a ccePtcd=l1iS':'inV'if3rion.:ro:.\'i~iETsurpITIl~du:rirrg~~'hi("h~I'isi.!::.th (;=
Black Hat ceremony was performed for him, and in return he gave thc empower-
mt'nt of the compassionate Al\llokitcshwara. At this tillle- fighting brokl' out in
Eastern Tibet, bctwc-cn the Khampas and the Chinese. The Chinesc sent a requcst
for Karmapa to visit the area of Chamdo and he travelled there and adl'istd both
sido to rdrain from any funhn hostilitics. lit made tht'm prumise to kccp a
fjve-year trun', hut the Chinese were now trying to COlllut c\'cryone to com-
munism and people were ft'ding ITr)' uneas),. While in Chamdo Karmapa had
numerous visitors and bestowtd many cmpowermcnts and blessings to create

115
lIis Holinrss Thr Sixt("rnth Grah.... K.rmapa, in P("king.
 Till·: ~IXTlUnli (;\,AI\\A KAI!MAI'A, A IlIOGRAI'IIY

stability in the area. Then he travelled to Lha\a, whert he: explained the ~ituation
to the Dalai Lama before: returning to hi, m()na~tay at 'burphu,
On tht twenty-ninth day of the ninth month of tht, m,de fin' monkey ye:ar
(1956) Karmapa tral'elltd OntT more on pilgrimage to India. lit rested at the
-Ikchen C1lO,kor Ling monastery and again at the Karg)'ud monastery at Yatrong,
near Sikkim. lit \'i,itcd Gangtok, the Sikkimesc capital, whert' he wa, most
warmly wt'lcoml'd by tht Maharaja, Sir T;I~hi Namgyal, who deputed Kazi Sonam
Gyamtso as Karmapa\ ptr~onal guide and intt'rprett'r, From Sikkim the party
[I)O\'ed to I rrd ia, \' isi ting-Bodli=-<c;ay-a,----S:H·nal-h-,-Ku ~h inag-:[Gc:rmj=l~ul1l:hi:oi;:::_\\JKtt----:
Karmapa met up with 1I1~ H(lrint'S~ the D:Il:ti Lam:r;=wJro-w:rs-aho-ttn-f'ci-lgcf'lfitil'gI'--
thnt',
Tht' journey mntinued to Nt'pal, whtrt, Karmapa \'isited the three lIoly places,
Bodhanath, Swayambhllnath and ]\;amo BlIddhaya and gavc hks~ings and teach-
ings to many thousands. Ill' returned once more: to India, whe:rc he \'isitt'(j many
Holy places of tht' South, including Ajanta, Lllora, and the {,'ITat Stupa at Sanchi,
)k font inued on up to Kalimpong, near Ihrjediflg, whne hl' wa, ml't by Her
({oyal Highne~~ Azi W:lIlgmo of Bhutan. Ill' tr;t\'Clled to Sikkim, visiting the
Po lOng monastay in the North. There tht elderly Lamas of tht, nearly ruined
Humtt'k monOlstny a~kt'lj him to visit that place also, Karmapa told them that the
time was not yet right, hut that he would come later. Ill' returned to Tsurphu, by
which timc further hostilitil's had started in thc Domed region of Khams,
The Ninth Sangye Nyenpa Hinpoeht, and the Eighth Trakg Rinpoche both
fame to stay in Tsurphu, having left Khams on account of the troubk~ there,
Karmapa recognised the twelfth incarnation of Gyaltsap Tulku, Trakpa Tcnpai
Yaphel, and performed his enthronement at Tsurphu monastery, From Sechen
Khongtrul Rinpoche'14 Karmapa received the initiation of '1.ongcbcn t0d Dun',
the teachings of Longchenpa the Siddha, along with the full explanations, Situ
Tulku came to visit Tsurphu,
Fighting broke out all over Tibet and Karmapa was begged by his disciples to
nee the eountr)' while he had tht' ehanel', Ht, told them not to worry, saying "It
is not necessary for me to \cave yet. But if the time comes you can be assured that
=tlr~IT=wi~:tbc~.!l()o,di£~~!J~for=mc~,~S~omrtirncJ.aJ~r Karm~Ra sent Situ Tulku and
c-thc ninth Sangye Nycnpa l\iTkllto ITfiutiii;:llr-gavc-imo-uc'tlblis-for the-rcstoration-:
of the Nyide Gon monastery in Lhobrag, in the South, telling the monks to go
about life in their normal way, At this time a new monastery was being built for
Karmapa at Kur Tod, in Northnn Bhutan, under tht, patronage of Her Royal
Highness Azi Wangmo, who had met him in Kalimpong. Thl' monastery was
finished and prepar,'d for usc,
The Chinese hostilities becaml' intokrahk and future possibilities for a peact'-
ful l'Xisttnec were vcr)' unlikely. Healising that the cause of the Dharma would

117
 KAKMAI'A, 1111, BLACK ItAl LAMA OK TlIlET

be~t be served hy e~caping from tht' CI'er-tightening grips of tht' Chintse, His
Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa decided that he had no choice but to move to more
peaceful areas. Accordingly, on the fourth day of the second month of thl' earth
---t)():n year (J 959), accomp:ll1ied by an entourage of one hundred and_ sixty Lamas,
monh and laymen, Karmapa left 'I\urphu monastt'ry, the ancient scat -of the
Karlllapas since the twdfth ctntury, and procttded towards Bhutan. Acromp:ll1y-
~ing him were Shamar Tulku, Gyaltsap Tulku and the fourth Ponlop Hinpoche, as
:::::::w~ll~a-s-ma n)'_otner in raJ I13t t' La mas. jllllg (;>Il~Jz:}!~ngtr-u l='t(flku=wa:La-IH'ad"),="in~
-~ Kalinlpong, India, and Situ Tulku was in Bhutan. __ -
Undn the dire('{ions of the Gyalwa Karmapa thl' part)' wen' abkto bring
with thelll tht' mmt prl'cious of the sacred St:HUt'S, ritual items, rclin, icons,
p:lintings, books and COMumes, which had bl'cn prl'~eT\'t'd at the Tsurphu monas-
tny over the n:nturies. The hazardous and difficult journey, taking twe:nry-one
d:lyS in all, passed through Lhobrag in Southern Tibet, the birthplace: of Marpa
___theTrambtor. Ritn were performed at various ~;lcn-d places on the way, for the
wdfan- of all sentient beings and for tlie pre:sl"TI':ltion -of the Buddhist Dharma-------
in the difficult timc.\ ahead,
Thl' parry arri\'ed ~afclr at Shahje Thang, in the Bumthang distrirt of North
Bhutan, on the twenty-fifth day of the ~l'('()nd month of the (-arth pig year (1959),
The), wert' most warmly Wl'leol1lt'd by lilT Royal lIighness Tsultrim Palmo, the
Aunt of His Royal Highness the King, and many Ministers and high ranking
officials of thl' govcrnmcnt. At Bumthang Karmapa visitcd titt' Kuje, Champa H 5
and Ta~hi Cho~ Ling temples, where ~pl"cial rites were performed for the pro-
tl'ction and progrcs~ of the: Buddhist Dharma.
lIis Majcsty King J igme Dorjl' Wangchuk, accompanied by his senior Ministers,
gave a warm wt'lcome and rec('ption to llis lIolil1l'ss the Gyalwa Karmapa at
Kha."1 Drab Chu, l1l~ar the Bhutanese capital of Thimpu. At this time discussions
WlTl' startt·d with the GO\Trnment of India, considering future plam for the rnl·ttle-
ment of the Gyalwa Karmapa and his many followers. It was decided that all
should transit through Bhutan and settle temporarily in Dharams;tia, North
~\\Cesrern=lndla~~:::.-=~==-,=,,-_--:::-:-_ =~~-=-- - __ =~ ____ ~~__ .
-- ···Meanwhilc, in Sikkim; the RoyiCfamily:-ficaaeil oySir TaslfiNanrg)'aHiaO=:=::~c::=
been discussing what could best bc done to help Karmapa in this time of diffi-
culty and uncertainty. The Mahar:lja had not fogott,'n the long-standing links of
thc Royal family and people of Sikkim with the Line of Karmapa incarnates. It
was dl'cidl'd to offer him a pnmanent place in Sikkim.
'Ihnl' was onl' thought uppermost in Karlll:lpa \ mind, and it was that, though
in c~ill', he should not rest but must tak(' full respomihilit)' for re:kindling and
rniLdising the torch of the Dharma, with the material and spirituall'o-operation
of the many Buddhists throughout the world. He fdt that the Dharma had Ill'come

118
 lik(' a lamp which ntedl'd an immediatl' and sw,tainl'd supply of vit:t\ oil, in order
to he able to hurn a clear ~trong light.
In hi~ contl'mpbtions the GY:llwa Karm:lpa felt that Sikkim would un-
doubtedly he the bl'~t place to ~l't about (,floating the conditions for thl' fulfilm('nt
-- --of hi~ mission, Sikkim he considercd ('spl'cially suitabk on;lcwunt of the natural
Buddhist inciin:ltions of the pl'Ople and particularly as thl' l'lluntry Iud heen
s;llll,tifini by a "i"it of Guru PadmJsambha,'a ill thc di'>lant past. Then'fort he
readily accepted thl' kind illl'itation to sct up his ba~c in that country, Arcom-
-- - p:\nidLh~'.TleLH())'al Ilighlll:ss---hultrim--Paln](-)-of-=mlUITi1=Kar-Il1apaJcd::tlre~l'-an_),=
to G:lngtok arri"ing on the twenty-filth aay (lfthe fourth monrh (mlll~l'aT,lrFig­
)'l'ar (1959), I Ie W;lS rn'l'il'l'd :It thc pabl'(O by the Maharaja, Illcmbers of the
Hoyal family, gOl'l'r tlmmt offiriab and thl' Sikkimnl- pwplc. I-k was highly
honour('d and all rnl'il'l'd his blessings,
Sir Ta~hi r-.:amgyal, tht, Maharaja, uffnl'd Karrnapa the rhoil'e of st'veral silt's
in his Kingdom, for the IOCition of tilt- Ill-\I' nwn;l\ltTy, Karmapa ~l'krtl'd thl' sitt,
____ at I{umtl'k, \\hnl' a Karrna-Kargyudpa monastery had ht'l'n built during thc timc
of hb ninth incarnation, Wangrhuk J)oijc, Thisplan' possl's~t'd all the auspicious --
altt ihutcs IllTlit'd for tht' sitc of a scat of thl' Karmap:l: se'Tn stre;!ms flowing
towards it, Sl'I't'n hilb facing it, a mountain behind, snow ranges in front Jnd a
rin'r brlow, spiraling downhillliJ.;c thl' form of a conch·shell.
Karmapa and his part)' immcdiately arranged to pro{Tcd dircctly to Rutntck
and arri"l-d thert' on tht' fifth day of tht' fifth month of the earth pig year (1959),
At that timc Humtl'k wnsi,\Il'd of ;1 monastery mostly in ruim and about half a
dozcn huts surrounded by junglc There was neither alit-quatl' aCl'Ommodation
nor fat'ilities for preparing food. Conditiom wnl' extremely diffil-ult,
Thc immcdiate problem was to commC!1ct' making the plan' habitabk. During
this period land was clcart'd, a'nts Wl'r. St't up and c\"tryom' began to work hard in
order to fulfil the dn'Jm of t'stablishing a new Centre for tht' Gyalwa Karmapa,

THE IWMTEK CEr-.:T1U~

:::_..N'J.tr:ngl'!~=t-r'an41C:~H)=~ l,",=l-ll4hi'j=wll.GI"C=b_t'-!lleLJ'a lldiL.=J awahar 1<11 Nt'h ru t ht'

.. =~C. Iridian Pri me Mini~tn:1 It- v;':I;r,'('ci,'cd\\1tllgrc;i!warriifli-:;JncrcOf-ai;Iliry-and:tht'rc==:::
W('ft' many discussions. I'andit r-.:chru fully understood the difficultics faced by
Karmapa's followl'fs and promised that the Indian GOI'CrJJmcnt would pro"ide
financial assistance for the construction of thc ncll' tllonaqic centre. He madc
assurances that thtTt' would be a frcc supply of food and clothing for the people
thlTC
On the fiftl'enth day of the sccond month of the fcm;!ll' iron (l"\ )Tar (19(,1)
the {'()mlllunity of monb at ){utl1teJ.; bepn prcparation, for I'un"'u, thl' Buddh,l\

J 19
 "ARMAI'A. 1 III· liLAC" HAT LAMA 01· TIBI·T

rainy-summer retreat, as laid down in the ancient Buddhist ~criplUre~_ The

Maharaja of Sikkim graciou~ly gifted ~r\'(:nty-four ant's of land at Runllck to Thc
Gyalwa Karmapa, in perpetuity, The Sikkim Go\,crnment gtIltTously donated
- funds towards tht preliminary romtrul'tion costs and prol'ilkd frt'e timber, A
motorable road wa~ made, electric cablc~ brought in and water prol'itkd,-
Tht GOl'crnmmt of India made a large grant for tht immrJi:llC construction
of an assnnbly-hall and for rcsidl-ntial quarters for thc monk~, A further ~um was
=a:11~=f()r-a-o is pensaqr;=h-(j(rsilrg=(tlcd):cm('di.l~a·l-(-)ff.i ('t~r-antj-(:oI1H_i.l)lLti(1.I1"-"':CLC~
reet' il'co from rhe gmTra-Fpu[jiic,r,Tn=t=Ii'tltl gIFJRFa=PI-n-a=l=-was=nt:iJ1'::=!.) l'~I-:;:iu~t:I:)~
gt:ntro~it)' of so many people these funds Wt'TC insuffil'i(-nt for the purl'0Sl-, so
Karmapa addt'd a huge alllount from his own rnourl'C~,
Work on clearing thc ~ilt· began on thl' au~picious twellly-~t:Cllnd (by of tht'
clt-I'mth month of tht' wattT tiglT year (1962), Monks and laymt'n plt-dg,'d them-
sdl'es to complctt' thl' clt:aring and preparatory work in tht' ~hortcst possilllt- tillie,
working in both heat and cold, It lOok one hundrt:d and tight Illtn, working tt:n
-hours-a day, ~(lme fin: hundlcd and forty day~ to ckar-and len:l tht ~itt', Thrrc.
wert many casual labourers not included in thi~ figure, Tht, fou nd,ll ion SlOne of
tht new monastic emtrt' wa~ laid by the ntw Hukr of Sikkim, P;llden Thondup
N;llllg)'al, on the: sixtl'enth of June, nim'teell sixty-four, a most auspicious day
according to thc Tibetan cakndar.
It lOok four years to compictt' the construction of the IH'W ccntre, designed in
till' mo~t beautiful traditional Tibttan style, One hundred and thirty disciples.
induding volunteers of variou~ nationalitit·s, worked togrther to compkte the
new Centre for Dharma, It was nallJ{'d 'Pal-Kamwpa-/)rn.la-S/;rd-/)rul'-C!Jos-K!Jor-
Jing'. meaning 'The Scat of His Holines~ The: Gyalwa Karmapa: A Centre for the
Teaching and Practice of the Dharma.'
The rare treasured religious rclin, icons and books brought from Tibet wne
installed in the new monastery, On the first day of the: first' month of the fire
horse year (J 966) Tht, Gyalwa Karmapa ceremonially entered the new Centre, It
was a magnifircnt and highly auspicious orcasion,
==-===-=-.-
RECENTACTIVlTlES'
In 1967 Karmapa, arcompanied by a party of ninety-five followers, visited
Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, at the request of His Majesty the late King,
Hearhing there on the tenth day of the eighth month he was warmly rtceil'cd and
taken to the Tashi Chos Dwng palace in a cCTemonial procession, During tht
course of his stay in Bhutan he visited Tak Tsang, the 'Tiger's nest' cal'l'-monastery.
famous for the visit of Guru Padmasamhhava, He also travelled to tht Kyichu
tcmpk in Paro, thert' performing spcrial rites for peact' and tranquility in the

120
 TIlL ~I"'II,I ""III CYAI\\A KAkMAl'A, A BIOGkAl'lIY

world and for thl' prnt:ryation and propagation of thl' Dh:lrma t'ITrywht:rr. SinC('
1967 Karmapa ha~ betn making regular ,'i~it~ to Bhutan, at tht' il1l'itatioll of Hi~
Majt'<,Ty the King and thl' Hoyal family,
lIi~ Royal lIighm'~' tht, btt, King and lin Hoyal Ilighnn~ tht: QutTn Mother
mo~t gefH'lou,l), prot'lltl'd the Ta~hi Cho, Ling palact at Ilulllthang, togt,th'T
with it~ entire IalHkd propt'rt)', to Karmapa, who propmn to ,Llrt a large Dharma
Centre thnt'. Work on tht wnslruction of the main ~hrilK and rnidl'llti,i1 quartrrs
for about tllllT hundred :Inti fifty monk" nl';n to tilt, IlI.lin pablT, \\,:l~ ~t;lfted in
'-·~1-9()-9. --------
Karlnap:1 h:l~ t,lkt'n mt';I'Url', to t"lal)li~h mona\lerle'ln [:J(j,l!::h anJ "'kpal.
runhn IlIona\lnie, ha\'t' hl-m gin'n in Bhutan and in Cakult,l a new Centrl' i,
being con\tructt,d, In 1971 Karmapa contiUrll'd rl'ading~ of the Buddhist snip-
turt" and ga\'(' initiatiom to a Iargl' gJthering of Buddhi\l~ froIll many different
counlrie~ al Iht' nn\' HUllllt'k Ct'ntre, In Ih" 'aJllt' )'".Ir onl' thou~and It'n-inch high
gilded ,Ialut'~ of Lord Buddha W('[t' madt', filkd with herbs and ,'harm, and ble"t'd,
In addilion ,'ighty-four statut'S of till' Indian Siddhas, ~i,x of Tibt'tan Siddhas and
many others of Iht' It'achns of all sens of Buddhism'wn't' similarly prq,;m:d, All
werl' Ihl'll placed in boxl's and prl'st'nted on the altars of the main aS~('Jllhly-hall.
In 1972 Karm:lpa undertook anothn t'xtemi\c pilgrimagt' throughoul India,
'Irrompanied 1>)' the thirtt'cnth Shamar Tulku, Ihe fifth i'tlnlop Tulku and other
Lamas and monks from the nl'W I{umtrk monaS/try, The party \'i~itl'd Bodh
Gap, Sarnalh, Sanchi, Ajanta, Ellora and Nagarjuna Sagar and then rt'turncd to
Sihhim, Prop Ie journeYt'd conlinually to St:t' the Gyalwa Karmap'l and many
n'n'i"t'd his bkssings,
In 1974 Karmapa kd a party of Karg)'udpa Lamas to th,' Wesl, \'i,iling Furope,
America and Canada, and performing the Illaek Hat rill' on a numuer of occasions,
In thb W'I), he has bem abk to establish direct l'Ontarl with his O\,l'r,,'as Centrt's
and to sprt'ad his teachings more widely, To all thost' s('t'hing the Way of the
Dharma hl' acts, as in his previous incarnations, as a guide, tt'arhl'r, friend and true
example,

~_:;.Mi!¥=aILspi[iUJ~~k'1~j.'.u_ ~jg}~l<mg_U\,,<:s.JlI!~Ll'rosl'.ni!y, May the religious

::-:-cc=~:-:-Ordcr:-m-uTtiT)lyan(rmaFalnulfil-tlrcirdnties:-c'Ma)~fiC-=[)It'ssings:-oFjnc=T!Il:li'ma---=
Iil>cratr all departed souls, In this world may sickness. poverty, wars and evil
innuencn be cut at the rool, and pnmanmtly deqro),ed, "by all things he
Auspicious, Mayall a'piralions be wdl fulfilled, ,,\:1)' the d.lfkness of this K.lli
)'Ugo1, The Black Age, ht- dispeN'd!"

121
 KA"MAI'A, 11lL BLACK HAT tAMA (n llBI-1

FOOTNOTES
'9~ A famou!> archer.
21,1f. li": /Jorjr PjJ.JJ!.trlO

291 Tl,uptt'll G), .. lllhtl (Ui76 lY34),

-- 21,11'\ Itl~ ~rn ... IIIJ~I,-~('(: phtllO~rl",ph ta~(,11 in-I't"hi!l~ (p~] 1(,).--
21,l \I Till' oril-rlll)l.l BIlIcl-. Itllt.

300 Thi . . "",ord i... !<-till witb P;dJot Hinrodlt".

)() I l"ib. 7omlJ!.

~~o2 '~'J\.,:!},'-Zlt -----

30.\ /Jimll\'g~p ZlI-

J(J4 Tilt" 'rGyoJ' "('T' bha ml>;(,J', the 'gCbt): l/'n nun gfUl' alld tht" (ull triln'mi,~ion.
:w~ ho Prma.

;t()f, KiHlI; }\;"I'0c1>,. .

0
.1 7"1.w MoJphml

30f( The M'l'und.

___~~9 J'!It' 'Ii.i,! c}~l'n_'I!,,: ___ o~~, t~lC' 'P/')'jJf"c!.ortll\,}:."".-,/1H1 r(;,'a ",hO' r((:.
310Th('TlintrirKllift'-Ddt)',1~),PurpQI\~/~- -- -------- -- -

311 Uorn in1935.

J 12 A 'Jrrma', di"l'(lVC'TCd lC"arhing.
3JJ IIC1td of lhe- N),inJ!lII».pta Iot'C"t al tllat timt',
314 Snht'n Khonf.!1rul Rinpod)e (190]-1960) wa!> 'lIother emanation of the fir..t J.mi!'0tl t\l!ongtru! Tullo-u.
Ur wa . . a N)'in~mapa. No rcbi"h now.
31 S Thrre i!>. largt' ,tatur of the FUlurc Buddha Mailrt'ya the-reo

Th" Spiritu.1 IIr",h of the four major Iluddhist sret, in Tibet. photoj:raphed to~ether in India
,"only .fter th.-ir escape from T,brt. Th,")' arc (Idt to ri~ht); !ludjl'1Il Hinl'oehr (If tll(' Nyin~'
nl;'I''' "'l't. The (;p!W;t Kan1l;'p" of tlK K.rg),lIdl'a'. Th,' Sak)'a Hill!,o"he of the Sak),,, ,ct'(, and
1 hr !l,d,,; Lam" (If the Cr\lIgpa"

122
 ·PAHTFOUR

TilE lWMTFK CEr-.:THE

Ma,hcd dan("in~ pf th" Kar~rudra"
 ACIIVlTIES A'I TIlE O:l\:'mE

Thl' ril"h hnitagc of traditional Tiktan culture has beUl much l'ncourdged by the
ntal,lishing of a printing'pres", an arts department and a metal-cJqing ,ection
-lIbny w(.odblocks-for-printing_!>oob_h;l\'C: hc:cncar\'{'d and tilt prt'ss h:ts pro-
duced quitt a large numher of scriptural tnts in Tihl-tan, Skilled artisi~ arc - -
engag,'d in painting traditional icons rn,.11Igl"I,I) and expert rraft'111t"1lmallufacture
J!ig!!_~lu;ility ritual ohjccts, hromcs and tcmple-fittings, from gold, silvn, ('opper,
=liliWiI·Jl])]l::irmL----c~~--~---_-_--_----_--~-...:..~-- __ ~ _____ ~...:..- _ _
-- You ng incarnate Lamas_ and mon "s, amollg-Tlrt''Ill t-rtt=-V-c:tl:;=scI-,~-I-I-I'J1=I:\r:lkll~t'b:C -
Ven, Situ 'lulku, the Vm, Gyalhap 'Julku and the Ven,- Khongtrul Tulku, take
part in tht' I',rried actil'itin at the Centn:, Many rome to HUllltck in ordl'r to study
traditional litnaturc, philosophy, ;Irts, scienn', and ('orrtct r,'ligious pral-tiro,
Spt'cial training i" gil'en so that thl' young LImas bC('(Imc well-I'crsed in the dr;l\\,-
ing of panthrom, IHlIIdd,I,1 ;lIld thl' making of sacrificial okl's (TUrllI,Il), Tlory
_____ all' taught..t.he pr0l'n intonation of I'oval sounds (/),I7I1:W,wg), till' l>1<.wing of
trumpets, ron "h-'i.hl'lls and othtF traditionally Tibetan instfllm{'nts, }{cligious _
dann'-dram3s are pl'rforJlll'd rq~lIbrly,ln the training of young Lamas strns is laid
Oil tht, rcading and writing of Tihetan litn;ltllf(' of rtligious importance and the
mClllorization of ten major religious rite~, EX:lminatiom art condllt,ttd regularly,
('O\,l'fing tht, man)' diffefc:nt su),jrcts,

K1I.IGI(lUS CI InMO,,",IES i\I\:D OI\SI:KVAI\:CI-,S

Hdigious c('fcn1CJnies and rites, as laid down in lht Buddhist scriptures, arc
regularly obsefl'ed at tht Rumtek monastic (cntre, Thl' following arc part of the
gl'neral prob'T3mmC of el'cnts:
(I) 'Tsedrup Tbap Sbe Kba CbOf': The Ritt for long-life. From the ninth to thc
fiftctnth day of e\'er), 1st month.
(2) 'Do/ma Mandai Zbi Cbog': Thc four Mandalas of Goddcss Tara and
'7!,cn'ngma': Worship of the Guardian Deity, From the third to the ninth of
=-==--===c.:y.(:fy~nrQl)th-;-- .
~c~. c_. - . - (3) 'l>rup Cbell' (/,urp.i-danet' )andc-~T.\ecTI,iU·-:-\GUro~-Pa-dmasam[)hava-Y:=l-nn"~--=-:
training and full rehearsals an' conducted throughout evefY third month, for
t hl' danccs due each ),ear.
(4) 'Cbas /jug Tl'I'lil1 Kyi I'lIrl'a /)rup Cbel/' (The Rites of \'ajt.lkila, as intro-
dun'd by Terton Cho!,,)'ur Lingpa): Togrther with the traditional Lama-
dances thrsr art htld cI'try altnnatt' year, from the firq to the elnl'nth day
of the fourth mOllth,
(5) 'Kl'or/o /Jcmcf.og': Preparation of the Mandalas of the Tutelar), Deity

125
 KAKMAI'A, TilE BLACK HAT LAMA or T1BLT

Cb,lkraSa1l1mrJ, in coloured sand, and their accompanying Ritts. From the

first to the eighth day of tvt:r~' fifth month, continuou~ly for seven days.
(6) 'CI'od Kyi Tsug Kbor': The e/.>ud· Rite of I'hadampa Sangyr, from thr fifth
--- --- --- -lOthc nillth day of l'I'tr)' ~ixth month, for fiH: days continuously.
(7) 'l'arsbJ': The Buddha's rainY'~ummtr r(·trcal. From thefiftet'Ilthd.iy(full-
moon) of (,1'tTy ~ixth month, untiltht thirtieth day of ('\,('ry stl't'nth month.
Religiom instruction, meIl1oril.ation of ~rriptur('s and tht reading and writing
:.:.~gious-ooo~lI-a-pa n=:-clf=rh-cn·:qll:irxd=t)hsl·fym'lt'ccs-:-a.t-t-hi.\-l.ime.._
-_ (,rib; J)bYJr·cZ,osu summer rerrr-;rr) _._ - - --
(Hl '(;Ylllwa (.j-,11l1tSO'; The l-bndala of Bodhi\atlv,l Al'al"kitc:s!m'ara, in the red-
form. Preparation of the coloured Mandala from the twenty·first to the
twenty-srl'l'nth day of nery sl'ITnth month, with all tht· Jrl'tllnpanying
Rites.
(9) ·K.1T1I1J U1Igpa Z1.>i 1'ro': Rites of the peaceful and wrathful Terton, Karma
LiIlgpa,from the first to the fifth days of ntTy ninth month.
(10) 'J\ulI-Rig- Cbo -Ga', Worship and i{ites of-Yairochana; the Dhyani Buddha,-_
from the third to ninth dap of el'ery tenth month.
(11) 'I)rolod )'c::or'; Worship and Hite~ of the wrathful J)orjt Drolod, from the
twt'nly-second to the thirtieth days of el'ny elrl'ellth month.
(12) '(,'oupu I)mjc /kr Nagl'o eben '; Worship and Hites of the Great Protector
Black Mahakala and Lama·dancl'S, from th(' lw('nty-s('wnd to the thirtinh
days of ('v('ry t\\Tlfth month.
On Aml'irious ]M}IS: The following monthly practi('c:~ are ob~erl'ed in addition:

(l) 'Do/kar Ngodrup Kuntsol': A ceremony to the Godd('s~ White Tara, in the
morning, and
',/!ieringma'; Ceremonies of the Guardian Deity, in the afternoo.l, on the
third day of every month.
(2) 'Gya/wa Gyamtso '; Rites of the Bodhisattva Avalokitnhwara, in the
morning, and
=7l"l'su-~~~JiiE.~I!!!.=b-batSlp~:=Pc(a~i~c-oLkt ~l.m_Mi Ia r~~,J.Il...!.l1..<:_:Iit('rnoon, on
~ the eighth day o(~vc'i-y-montF ~~'~',__c' ..cc~~c,,;=:=: , ........• ~;-;;
(3) 'Tbug Drup /lar Cbcd Lam SrI': The Dharma-heart practices, in the
morning, and
'Zbing J\yong': Protector·Hitt·s, in the afternoon, on the tenth day of evtTy
month.
(4) '/lod J\y(mg Ten Mol Cbu l\'yi Sol U'od': Offerings to the T\\clvc Guardian
Deiti('s, on the thirtccnth day of l'I'try month.
(5) '])cmcbog': Rites of the Tutclary Cb,lh,I.I.l7I1;',lr,l, in the morning, and
''['/.>ang Lba !"yen ])0': Deity offering; in the form of coloured threads, in

126
 '1111 J{UM1Et( CENTRE

tht· afternoon of the fifteenth day (full moon) of evtry month.

(6) '/)01111<1': The Rite~ of Goddt~~ Tara in tht morning, and
Rite~ of the Great DaJ..ini VajrJvarahi, III the after·
'j'J..1gmo 1'.1I11};yi': Tht·
noon, on the twenty·third day of t"luy month.
-(7)-"/bug /)1'/1/,': Thelkan·Yoga praC\ict"~, in the morning, and
'j'l.',lglll0 1.l.>a Np,>l': Hito of the Five 1l.t\;iiliS, in theaftcrifotl!l;on-thc-
I\~("nty·fifth day of l'very month.
(H) 'hUll Rig t\a1ll l',/T N.l11g 1)':.1": Rite of the Yoga·Tantra, the 'alhn:ing'
_-~-~- pral't;I.Tc--(-)n-t-hc-tlJ:il'(j=G¥>f=rrcr.FnnmJb=

Iii .,1 d,/it io 1/.-

(i) ')',1/ ,"'};O': Yoga-Tantra ob~t-rvantT~ on the day of the ri~ing moon,
and
(ii) 'M,iI Ngo': Yoga·Tantra ob~ervanrn on tht' day of the waning moon,
The Protector Mahakala i~ w()r~hippnl rontinuoll'ly in tht' Ea~tl'rn'wrnn tempk,
___ with four 1l1onb in attelld:lIllT, a~ was alhiscd hy lIi~ Iioline~~ the Dalai Lama In
-,Ile -\\'l-~-t·('ornC:'-r roill]] t htH' i~ a-small- temple; where one monk heps con~tant
\igil.

HlOTNOTI':

Ii Not(' Oil lilt' HhflU" CnklJdof

Tht" Til'l'tan ullt-nJar i:. Ji\'idt't! il\to m~jor q·clrt. uf "ixty )'t'I.n dUflltion 11lC'''c ~ix')"ycar (.')'c:k" arc tlu:m-
"('\\'C''' divided inw five minor twC'I\'C"'"ycar I.")'(:IC',,", C'adl ycur of Yt'hidl i~ idnltifini h)' the name" of an animal,
bird OJ reptile, The t"'th'C' )'Ciln. arc ,1'0 paircd "(ln~C'l'uli\'cl)' with • di!>lingui,,"hifl~ rlemenl. Thefe arc fIVe
M..llh FlemclI("" ""ill! .1Iellliltin~ m!ilc and fe-fHIlI, attfibulC~, Thi.l .. carh ).ixty-ycar cycle- runloo:
(1) Female Fire H.ahilit (9) i-'cmalc Wood hg
=<.2_>- Mol. Ea"-,,-!)~-,,,,---_ (10) Male Fir. Mou..

~T~-!~-~~~:~:3~1~a;:~~~akC' - - --~--~~-~~'~=~~~---fr~~~~~l~;~:~;~~~~r __~._ _-=,=

(5) Fcmw.1t- Iron She-cop (l3) Female Earth Rahhit
(6) Malt- \\1I1C'T MonJ" . 'v (14) Mille IrPIi I)raJ.!0n
(7) h:lllrik W"I('1 Hlrd' (J 5) FC'mak Iron Snlll"c
un "ble W"o\1 l>o~ and MJ on,
A year i.. bll'oCd on th(' 1.unar ,'.lend..,r, .....·nllill dayloo of whil..-h arc l!<:ncrally Ctln,ide'red tlJ he' pnlicululy
3U'p1cit1u .. , a' arr Ihpl,( f.d1ini: (111 thr Nih, 10th, 151h, arId 25th of the nl{lnth, When 3 day i.. dccTllcd (""red all)'
urdil\,ourJblc, (lwin~ I(l a !Iol'tdfll' comhination of til(> pha"l (,f Ihe- moon and the plliol al which it on'un.
WIt1l1l1 til{' !-i>.ty-yc;,iI (,)'t'k, loou(ll Ii day ilIa), bt" (lIliIlU.d fronl thr uk:ld.u a1to~nhrr and a mOTe hrndlClal
day of th(' nl{llith Jpuhkd in il'" pl:.llT.
('1lhclOIII timc-!ooy'ton" ('all Itt furthC"T undrr!ooflHhl thr(lu~h the pcal AG!./( hal.,o Tel/ITa),

127
 PIU:UOUS TREASLIHES OF TilE KARMA-KARGYUDPA SECT
i'rnt"rved at tIll" HUlllll'k Mona~tery

-(J) Imide a goleitn rrii"c\.o:\, a ~t.ltuc()f MikyoDorje, the t'ighth Karn"lpa, made
frolll nwbk by hirmelf, Thr fare i~ painted and the rl';t of tht' irll:igl:is
cortred with gold and precious \\'r'lppings, It i, ,aid that "\\'ho('\'n ~l'l'S this
illlagt' Illust quickly beC<lnlt' Librratnl", Whl'n the statue was 11l:lde .1 ~Illall
_._._pinT of n raT IfI e-wa~-ldt()\'N-a n iI=thi ,-waL~q m':l':rnl-llJ-J-<-aT-rll"I'p'a~~h-a'H d,
--lca\'ing a de:n irnprc'"ion oflli\ 1':1101, ThqrilTccrn-bt, seen I'H'\t'FH'd al-)(-l.\:t-:
titc' main statue, along with a ~!ll:tli pn~onal illl:lgc' of I ',ljr,J;"It.il'i, thee
i'rott'('Ior-Goddns of tht, Karmapas,
(2) Inside a golden rdie-box, :1 ~tatue of J'I'.1~11111 r'b,u'/oIl,IIII.I, u OIltT tht, plT~onal
in)J) of the SiddhJ I'\aropa, who prnelllni it to Marpa, It i~ of n>pper
and i, llt'arily orn:lllltntni. Ont of tht Illost preciou~ trl'a~urn of the Kannapa
inClrnatl's,
(3) A statue ()(J'flli.i'jllll}!.//rs (.'/';11/,1/1/'.11 }i.n/ll,I, a form- of- Guru-I'adma,am'-- _
bha\'a, which W:I, Illiraculou\ly disco\'l'red /rom within a mine by Kha Chah
Dorjt', the fiftl'ellth Karm;lpa,
(4) A statue of /1.'01 J.I'.1 .1.1111/.;',,1.1, rnadt, frolll J>:i Chili metal, it \\'a~ pre\t'nlt'd
to Ranltiung Dorje, the third l\;ulllapa, by the Protc'Clor of the l\ari lake in
Southern TikI.
(5) A sLitue of Cb.1h,l.I,11IIl'1nil and I "ljr'/VIII'lbi made from mi\t'd whitt" red and
yl'llow /):i Cbilll lJletals, disw\'C'Il'd from wilhin the H'lic,box of the Hull'r
of Ikrge, in Khams,
(6) A ~tatuc' of M,Ii.,d':.11,I, named GC!1Il'o (;y.1 1\'.1/.:11111, l'on~ecrated by Karma
I'Jk~hi, the ~l'('ond Karmapa,
t7) A fin"pronged Sreptrc (l'ajl'.1), madl' frolll J>:.i Chilli nKtal, whidllrl'longed
10 the 'InIOn Dorje Lingpa, who di~cO\'l'red it.
(H) A statue of Tong /)rul Ci>r711l1o, a form of Guru Padllla~Jlllbha\'a, in a rdie-
box of silver. It wa~ di~cO\'cred by thl' Tenon Chogyur Linb1)a" from the
. .' J~llj)1!l1!.1~hul..~F~k=ifl~J;saroi=1;sQ=Kat,o= ._ " . _=~~==,====
'=Y§tA statue of (;uru j)r.ru(:I;cnl;o('b/'nill'AtnJ1lg,-a_form,oteuru~Pad01asam--:-::;~,~-:--:.-:
bh:1\'a, A Illoq important relic from the hurphu monaqery of the Karmapa~, -
II is pre\lT\'t'd within a golden relic'-box, decorated with the dancing figures
of /).I/':il1i,I,
(J 0) A slatue of Til71l.lg Kb,III01l /)/111' !\'.1l11gY,II, a form of Guru Padma\amlrha\,a,
made hy Tami Gon\OIl fmm F/.:,ld/.·.11U melal and disc(1\-crt'd by the Tc:rehen
H;l!Tla Lingpa,C It is pre\el'\n1 within a golden rclic-bO:\, with the auspicious
symbol, around,
, -- (11) A ~tatlle of 'lwF,..l'oli S.l7lgdrul', a form of Guru Padm:lsamb:,a\'a, dis(,(1ITrcd

12H
 "1111 RL'Ml1t; US'IRI

by tht Tt:rcht'n Ra tna Lin~1)a and prt'sented to the fifteenth Karmapa, It i~

preserved within ;1 siker relic·bo:>. inscribed with the auspicious s)'mboh,
(12) A statue of [)Ollll.l !\'godl'lll' I'c/ n.lrIlIll. a form of the Goddns Tara, mJdt,
from I,; }{.:.iIl7, a kind of bdl·TlllHI. Tilt, image is ht;l\ily gil(lt-d. with many
'prnious rt'd l'llrab decorating the UPPt'T part. It isprOlTI'tdwithin ;1 bt;luti·
ful rdil'·hox, Thi, statue hrlps sucn's,i\'l' Karrnapas to Tmke their imi~~,rtal1i
prnlict iom,
(J 3) A st:ltlll' of )'CS!'f .\'(17'/>11. a form of (;UTll l'adm:lsambh:lI'a. disCOI'l'rt'd by thl'
~-----~'I~l+t(lll----I~a Ksha rn - !'\ II dell I)or je:-Im·i dc-tlJr=IIt'ilO=Of=rlwiTu;rgci'qlTe ~lT'H,tl-a-
prl'cillm jtwl'!, - --- __ __ _ ________ . __. _
(14) A statue of Lord Buddha, lIlalk ill L1StlTIl Indi;lfrom Li J\;dll1 mt:tal. It
was prnrrltl'd to tht' pn'smt K:1rrnal';J by SiIU Tulku, after his ordinatioll
l'l'Il'Tnony,
(15) .II statue of 1'.ljr,mlr.d ,;, made frolll rnl [)~i Chili nwtal. She is thl' Guardiall
Dl'ity of thl' Line of Karrnapas,
.- __ ( ](.).A.MatUl' of Lord Buddha. in l'arth'witlll'SS ,'1/1,11.1, made in Eastl'ln India
from I,i }'.l.ilI1 ~l~'-tal.liwas (;net' 'thi'l'ropLTt)' of OSlT Gocha, thl" King of
I\epal who was thl' f;l\her of thl' first Buddhist QUl'rn of Tibel.,1 This
prn:il1us imagl' was prneTltt'd to the tl'llth Shamar Tulku by King Mantr;I'
simha of I\epal. It is l'Onsidl'Tl'li to be ,IS important as the Lord Buddha st;Hue
called jowo )'obl' ."orhu, whidl i, in the great Jo Kh~ng tcml'lr of Lhasa,
(17) A )'a/>· )'U1l1 Mallie of Guru I';rdma\;rmhhava, dis((lITrcd by Tnrhen Urgyl'n
Choh,)'ur IkrJ\l'n Lingpa whibt he wa, prcparing prt:riou~ medicin('~ in thl'
can: known as J\b.mJ1'O limn ])~o7lg Gi /)I'CI>I'II l'bug in lower Khams, This
small statuc was rcc()I'l'rrd from within a lump of the medicinal mixtures, It
is pfl'scrVl'd within a fine golden relir·hox,
(I R) Helin of Lord Buddha, discol'ered by Terton Taksham Nuden Dorjc, They
arc pTe~er\'rd within a golden relic·box,
(J 9) A statue of jctsull ])ol1lla, the Goddl'ss Tara, known as li ji Ilarwa, the
Guardian Deity of the Buddhist King Indrabhuti of India, It is completrly
col'ered with inset precious jewels,
c~i(2:0:FWtrifC=Juncraqc-=n;lkE(oRill',\f!.do)=iE~i~~a=slalu.('o~oLllusum K hyenpa, the first
-~-~Karmapi It is'made ofU K<7dur mct3f~from-l~slCr-n:lriaiaana w-a's-consc·=::-
crated by himsclf. This most pr('ciolls image has thril'e preached the 'Six
Yogas' of Siddha I\aropa, It is heavily gilded and painted,
(21) A stallle of Dusum Khyl'npa. the first Karmapa, made from mixed red,
Yl'lIow and whitl' /):; C"i1l1 metal, It prl'Sl'rvl's thl' funerary relics of ])11 Sll 111
Khyenpa and is helil'lTd to be a good likl'nl'ss of him, Though paint has many
times hl'ell applied to the top of the hrad, it alw:l)'~ peel, off or disappl'ars
wmpktrly, Many tests of this halT been made

129
A statue of the Goddess Tara, it wa' the Cuardian Deity
(If KIn~ Indr.lbhuti of India, It i, CO\'Cfl'd with l'rcl'i(lu,
jeweb,
 ll1E KI'M1LK ClN1KF

(22) A statue of 1'.ljr.1db.1ra, the Adi-Buddha and root-Guru of the Kargyudpa

sect. It was madt hy Chos Ying Dorjc, tht tenth Karmapa, from a rhinoceros
horn. It is partly gilded and paintl'd.
(23) A statue of the Siddha Tilopa, rarl't'd by Chos Ying Dorjl', tht tl'nth
- -- --Karmapa, from a rhinocnos horn:-Ilispartly gildl'd and painted.--
(24) A statue of the Siddha l\'aropa, carl'cd by Chos Ying Dorjl', thl' tenth
Karmapa, from a rhinoceros horn. It is p;'rtly gilded and p:linttd.
~:2:5-:p"i=-sT;rtu:c:1!f=t'ht-h'ael1l'-r-~'IiJ±Ea ,lca.r-\,t,d_b.~:....Cl.LllS Yin g 1)0 rjt·, the ten t h
--:c-_____ I\: aTIl r:rpa, frt)m-a-r-I+H~(-)8."J'C~km:n:;:::l:t=is=p.:tr:t:l:)'::gi:ld£d-an dopa-in tto.___- - -
(26) A statuto of Jetsun Milarepa,carl'cd hy Chos Ying Dorjt·, tht· tl'llth }.;armapa,c
from a rhinotnm horn. It is p;ntly gildrd and painll·d.
(27) A qatut of 1',lj"ll',wi, calkd Cb.1g /)OT, holding a kite·hird, madr by Chos
Ying Dorjc, the tt'nth Karmapa, in gildnl copper.
(2H) A )'.I/>· )'1/11/ statut' of J'lIrp,1I.:i/a, n:lI11td })oTje S/.101111 J>II/e !'·,111I.1!,)'.]/, prt-
stnted to the fifttl'l1th Karmapa by Shnab Jungnes, a great D(H'tor. It was
-- his Prott'ClOr Deity.- - ___ _
(29) A roun{j golden relic-box (G,llI), usually tarried by H. I \. The Gyalwa
Karrnapa, containing reJin found in tht hl'ad of Dharm:ldhoti, the son of
thl' teacher Marpa. When ht was l'rematt·d a small statul' of I ',Ijr,ll',nal,; was
found within a cluster of relics.
(30) A golden rclic-bo.x (,ontaining the original green silk u~nl \0 wrap up the
N.lIllgya/l'lIrp.1r (ritual knife) worn by Yt'she hog)'al, the disciplt of Guru
Padm;lsambhal'a. It was found within thc' Thang La rock, ont of the eight
gre,lt pilgrimagt centres of Tilx.'t.
(31) A relic of Karma Pakshi. the second Karmapa. being a check-bone in the
form of the Ti!Jctan Ieltcr 'Dhi', along with sevcral other rdics, all presl'rl'ed
within a fine goldl'n relic-box.
(32) A stone statue of Ava/ok;trsbw.1ra. diswl'ert·d from within a large round
stone by'Dzigar Dorjc Trakpa.
(33) Inside a fine relic-box, relics preserved in the form of the Tibetan Inter 'Ah',
.. which armearcd among the remaim of a rib-bone of Mikyo Dorjc. the eighth
~c~~Kai'lnapa~=--====--=--==~-:- ......_ . . . . . . .
(34) Within a golden relic-box, a bone of Lhacham Pema scr.-il1c con\ortof ~.
Guru Padmasamhhal'3, showing the self-formed (U'lIIgjU1/g) st,It ut· of Jrts II II
no/ma, The Goddess Tara.
(35) Within a large golden relic-box is a smaller golden box containing a statuc
which used to bl' worn in the hair of King Srong nen (;ampo, the Siddha
King of Tibet. It is c'alIt-d [)r C/}/J1/g ILlIIg (;i (,'ya/po. meaning 'Fulfiller of
Dcsires'. It is a golden form of J.1111/1,",I/,I, the wTalth Deity and was reuil'lTd
from the precious lake of T~ari Tso Kar by Hangjung Dorjc, the third Karmapa.

131
A p,,,,-iom statue of the (;"dde" Sara,wati. prcsen'Cd in the Rumtck monastery-
 'Itli I<l'M'ILK UN·IIU·

(3(,) A A"II1/(b,"~ ~k)'·fallrn Pur!'.1 (ritu;,l knife). di~cO\·trt'd by Tnl·hell Chol:,,)'ur

l.ingpa. It i~;1 grl':lt trea<,ut'l' and i.. kept within ;1 relic·box.
(37) A .",lIl1d,ul.: ~k)'·falll'n 1'111,/,.1, of mi.\cd /):i Cloim mttal of a red and "hitt
mh'ur, di,cO\'l'[l'J by Tnt'hen Chogyur Lingpa.
(3H) A whill' ,tawe ,ho\\ ing till' ten mir;,des of Lord Buddha. It WJ'_ made by the
Siddha Nagarjuna, who dilCOI'l'rn! thl' matl'l'ial Lu 7.illl fronl thl' gll';lt l\aga·
1.IKt· in India. It \I'a\ prl'll'ntl'l! to I{olpr Dorjl', the fourth Karmap;I, whilt on
-'' - 't.ht, \\:a~' to Chin3=.==:==:;:----;_~_"'7"'___.-~
(=19.:b~=gr..±,'LgH·l'll-lt-:ltue_,h( '11 in~J1H'-H:!Lill:iLn.·lc ..~of-h)r(j=IfiU!(IIrr;:::n~n;nh'=
hy the SidJha l\;lgarjlln:1 out of/1l 7.ill1,;l mt'taFTII::t, matnial rnol'l'rrJ frvm:::::
thl' Naga·lakc It wa .. prl'lt'ntn! to Holpl' Dorje, the fourth K;ltl1lapa, while
on the way 10 China.
(40) A ,lalUe of Lord Buddha. m;l(it- of Li-Illelal from Lallnn India. Thil wa, the
pnlollal Guardian of l'aldl'll Ati,ha, frolll whom it pa"'l'd on thr(lugh to Jl'
T,ong\"'hapa, foundl'r of thl' Celul,'pa lerl. Whell Ikozhin Shl'gpa, tht fifth
_K:IfI1l:lpa,WalITturnillglo\ il,tt aftn \'i,iting China thi, .. talUl' II a, "ellt 10
him hy Jl' Twngkhapa, hi .. formtr-di-.. ciplc,-
(41) A ,tatue of Lord Buddha, made of Lj'llll'tal from Ealll'rn India, prol'lltl'd 10
Shall1ar Tulku hy Ihl' prl'll'nt II. II. Thl' Dalai Lam3, :tftl'! ord;lining him a~ <I
Illonk. Thi .. statul' i.. called ;\f.II·"'1' SI'IIf!.I',
(42) A statuc of l'ajral'.wi, made from ChillClt' htll-llll'la\.
(43) A painling (Tbang/;.I) of I'alden Atilha, drawn alld p;lintl'd by himself, with
an imcriptioll on the rel'tHe, in hi .. own hand,
(44) A Sl'ril'S of forty-six .. croll·p;lintinp C/'bullj;l.:as) of tht' Karb')'udpa Lim'age of
Teachers. Vn)' pret'ious to the Karl,,)'udpa sect.
(45) A statue of Lord Buddha in the standing posturl', known as Tbul' 1',1 Troup,
Clocr ;\fa, which was thl' peflonal Guardian of King Ashoka of India. It wa ..
pre"l'ntcd to thc tcacher Marp3 by Siddha Maitripa,
(46) A ~tatuc of Lord Buddha, known as TJ.>u!, 1'.1 Cbam Sbug M.I, the personal
Guardian Deity of the Indian Siddha Jo\\'o Scr Lingpa, the Il'acher of Atisha.
(47) A statut' of Lord Buddha, made of )'Cllol\' 1.i-metal. The Guardian Deity of
~~_c:-::-~:n~:ya::.K:mfg;c\Si-ringp..-o--::-=--·----- ._. __._ - , _====
(4H) A-~tatuc of tlic -V;'hiic'J'a;:a~ madi-ohcd-!>zi CI:;I/i-;:-mclaFh)'C11iis~YYn~CJ)1Irj-c-;::-~
the tl'nth Karmapa_
(49) A statue of I1V.1/okitc,"'-';",n.l, known as Sa }'j A)'ill}!,!,o. 1ll.llk of f):i Chilli
mnal by the t('tJth Karmapa.
(50) A sl;lIl1l' of 1'.ljl'};'.l1,I/,j, mati,' of f)~i (.'bi111 lllela\. It 11';1" thl' main (;lIardian
Deit)' of Lima l\:gol,1';J, one of the important disciples of Marpa It is a st;rtm'
that ha .. spoken on occa .. iom ('SIII1}!, Cbo/l'),
(51) A ,t;IIU(, of JI'I.11I1I nO/m,l, the Goddc'S Tara, known ;ll'\'j!,u.!rll!' I'u/Ii.lrln.l,

133
 "AI{MAI'A' 1111. BLACK IIAl LAMA 01· 11111.1

of yellow U-metal. Tht Guardian of tht great Kenrhen Shiwa,

(52) A statue of Karma Pah~hi, the ~tl'ond Karmapa, mJdt, hy himsdf and namtd
j',I}.:s"" l\'gJ 1'1<1 Ma ('My likl'nt~s'), It is l'Olllposrd of mi:-.ed whitt, LJlark and
_ nlult il'OlourrdD:i CI>im /!lttal. It ~'JS comel'rate~ by.himst~f.

- BOOKS

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(2) The Talljur: in 206 volumes,
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(4) The 'f),1111 i\'gilg Zod': in 10 volumes
(5) The ',\'g,lgS Zod': in 3 volull1ts,
- -(6) 'I he '.\I>c (.'[>.1 Zod', in 3 volunll's, --.
(7) The 'l'"dllla 1\arpo S'ung Hum': in 14 volumes
(8) The '/)mplul' 1\U1/tU': in 10 \'olumes,
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() 0) The 'l{bollglrul 1\a Bum': in 10 volumes,
(1) The 'Mila Gur iium': in I volume,
(12) The 'SC71g Trcng Namtbar': in 2 volumes.
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(15) The 'j )VJgspo 1\a /ium': in 2 volumes,
() 6) The 'Cbag Cbc7I': in 3 volumes,
Plus numerous smaller works,

FOOTNOTES

• "'.,,'P Id.>.wdroma (Ski' .\a"'abuddba T)akin;).

II (I )\2'.)') ti70), • p"C'a\ di,,('(w("fcr of Uca .. urt"~ (1 rp-'(lrI).

(" (14()3 147R) .• grt'at Ji<w,:ovc:rcr of trca'urc!<> (1 ,,'-lOn). lie WII!> • deyotee of \'QJr",bla. the 1 antrir 1 utdllr),.
tic' bwu!!'tJl 1OF!C'lhcl thr important,'Old' 'Ian'ta~, coml'lljn~ them a .. Ih(' ,,'\'Y"'K·ma rGpJd·/futtl, the' ')OO,O{KJ
Old ·I •.H/tra~'.
d I'rinl'(''''' Hhri).,uti, the' dauE:htrr of Kin!: Am"1.warman ll( Nepal (Till O"n G(lch;d, who rnarrlnt K;'l~ Srorll!
T"C'1l (;;ltllPO o( Tibet
(" (If thrn fIIJE:er~ Willth ill !>i7C.

134
 Clearing the ~itc for the new monastery.

: .. .
~'
:.."- ....J ~!.. -:""'" ~'.~.,
.. ......
' , ...... ':" ...--,. ..... : '
---' ~ - ...
Preparation, of materials for building,
 APPENDIX: (A)
----~-- --
=HU,'::S:lt~'\MH=l:+ts:l~£=

l7Jcurl/i/rion

1st TRAKPA SENGE (l2!l3-1349)

2nd KIIA CHOD WANGPO (1350-1405)
3rd C110SI'AL YESIIE (140(,-1452)
4th -C1~OSKYI TRAKPA -(1453-1524)
5th KUNCHOK YENLAK (J 525-1583)
6th CHOSKYI WANGCIIUK (1584-1630)
7th YESHE NYINGPO (1631-1694 )
Bth PALCHEN CHOSKYI DODIWP (1695-1732)
9th KUNCIIOK JllNGNES (1733-1741)
10th MIPHAM CIIOSDRVP GY AMTSO (1742-1792)
(No formal recognition, for politiral rea~ons, until:)
11 th JA\1BYANG HINI'OCHE (c.1B80-1947)
12th T1NLA Y KVNCHVP (1948-1950)
13th CHOSKYI LODRV (1952-prc~cnt)

142
 THE SHAMAR INCARNATIONS
(The 'Red lIat' Karma-K:ngyudpa Lama)

(J)

Tht fir~t Shalllar Tulku, THAKPA SENGE, ..... a~ born in the Tilletan female water
~http p:ar (l2R3) at Pompor Gang, on tht, Lank of tht Sht! rivtr in Khams,
£:I'il.l:_rn Tibet. Early ont morning ill hi~ fourth year he had \'i~iolls of the Sid-
:a~I:;:a=~I'~t:OrnEhtg-'Ulang~aa nd the 6oddt'ss--'J'aTa.~re,ctiV:iog=impmcranf
illiti:ttion~ from them.
lIy the time he wa~ six he had quitt· a reputation as a ~l'l:r-of-dl'molls and often
described to people the amal.ing f(}rm~ of Tutdary lkitits and Protcctors. His
parents became worried :Ibout this and took him to see Lama Lodru Trakpa, in
tht, hope Ihal h(' would find a way to exorc'ise the disturbing influences. The
Lama askcd Iht, small hoy to tell him what il was Ihal he l'Uuld sct' and wa~ given
_a fully delaikd drsrriptiollof tht, Tanlric Drity Jluyugrim and his accompanying
Mul1dula. R('cognizing Iht unique powers of p('fception inherenl in the boy the -
Lama ad\'i~ed' his parents to mah him a monk, saying that it ..... as likely that he
would Lemme a grtal Lama, tllUs benefiting the tause of tht Buddhi.q Dharma.
'1'1)(' boy was ordained as a monk and studit'd with Lan13 Trakpa and Lopon
Gyal Je, At the age of st'l't'J1\('en ht· mct Rangjung Dorjt, the third Karmapa,
accompanit'd him to til(: Tsurphu mon:lst('f), and rt'n:i\'Cd precepts from him.
Tht'n he went to the great Sang Phu NeulOk college, whtre he completed his
studies. He soon lx:camc famou~ as a ~rholar and masler of debate.
At the age of twenty-four, at Ikchcn Teng. he again met Karmapa and received
from him the complete tt~achings, including the 'Six Yogas' of Siddha NaTOpa. For
a period of two years he wtnt into rttrt'at in a rave. While there practising the
Dream Yoga he had a vision of Rangjung Dorje, who adl'ised him to start a
mt'ditation centre. Tht' Protector M,lbakala provided all tht' dt'tails of the local ion
and it was founded at Newang. The buildings were quickl), completed and within
a short time Shamar Trakpa Scngr had about twenty-fil'e disciples, who prae-
=t1.~Yd=Yoga=m('atr:itt([o=l'hTf~~h:('-n=he=rcwl'n('-d=~.0=hi~~=<;an'=4D~pent-J.b_ctcs t of _
-hi~ life in mtditation. - .....
On the tw('lfth day of tht: second month of tht' female ox year hl' passed away
amidq man)' auspicious sigm, in hi~ ~ixt)'-sc\'l'nth )'t'ar. lIis fort'moq disciples wert
Yagdc Pancht'n and Tokdl'n Gon Gyalwa. (12R3-1349)

(2)

The sl'rond Shamar Tulku, KIIA CIIOI) WANGI'O, was born in the Tibetan male

143
 KAJ{MAI'A "IIll IlLACK ItAl LAMA 01' 111ll'T

iron tiger year (1350) at Chtma Lung in Chang Namshung, Northern Tillt'!, At
tht age of srI'en month~ Karmapa Rolpt Dorjr appeared before him in a \'i~ion
and said:
-- -·"The flower is rcady, but not yeulpened,_
Wait for thl' right time, for you ;Ire still human,
Highly qualifit'd as you are, plea<,l' wait a liltk hmgrr,
And I .. hJllte3ch you to hl'l'Omr fully pLTfectd ' "
'l'lll'll Karma[la--snal)fll'd-his-fingH-~-ln-trll'::::iI!=amI=CI'{j:m:::rha:t=fITnHRlJCt:l(CY'lltnlg=
_dlild muld relllt'lllkr an tht dnails (lillis past lifr-:rlld bl'gall llJll'll-pU1FIFt=ila-F
hl' was the incarnation of Tra].;pa S e n g e , - -- . -- - -- -
By tht age of fourteen lllonth~ ht \\'as pr1'3ching th" Dharrna and at the agc of
thH,(, )'l'ars \\'as gi\'ing specific teachings, His falllt spread quickly, rt'aching ser·
\'ants and disciples of the pr('\'iou~ Sh3mar Tulku, Thry (,;Illll' to \'i~it him and
imlllrdiatl'ly rt'l'ognisnl him as thl' Ill'W incarnation, Then hl' wa, taken to K:lmpo
Nnnang monaqLTY, \\'hne he \\'a, enthroned,
--- --Ai'the ag{'of s{'l'tn years, \\'hik l'rossingaril'l'f;-henll't Karmapa Holpe Dorje,-
who taught him the wmplrtt ,~"lb.l/IllIdra, the Six Yogas and thl' Karg)'udpa
Lineage, From Khenpo Dondrup Pal he recei\'ed thl' primary and sl'cond,lr),
ordinations, Hadng completed hb .. tudil" he tr:I\,e1kd to the pilgrimage'plact of
T,:ni, \\'hne hl' had an auspirious \'ision of tht Siddha j)omhhi lIeruka. Later hc
r('('ril'ed a I{t'd lIat (Tib: Zb,I'11I,n) frolll the Gralw;! K<lrnlapa in rt'wgnition of
hi~ ~ITat al'hi{'\'l'ml'nt~ and a~ a symbol of his function as a teacher.
Shamar Kha Chod Wangpo r(,l'ogni<'('d the Ill'xt incarll3tion of Karmapa,
lkh/hin Shq:pa, and ('nthroned him at the Tsurphu monastery whert he tram·
mittl'd tht ttachinp to him,At the agl' of thirty-~c\'l'n hl' foundtd a large monastic
1lll'llit:llion ecntrt ;11 Gaden Mamo and ~O(ln therl' wert thnT hundr('d Yogis
pr:l"ti~ing Ihnt', Ill' engagtd him~df in Ihl' perfection of thl' ,('cret teal'hing~ and
had many \'i.,ion.~ of Pro\{'Clor~ and Tutelary Dtitil's, from whom he fl'ctin'd
many important initiatiom,
On thc twtnty·ninth day of the se\'CIlth month of the fcmalt- wood bird ycar
'(=H~)05¥:,"..b~p~~\ed=a"wa'r=Hi-~=(QU'~JJ1(Jst-di~ciJ11cs wcre...lhl' fifth Karma[l.1" Lama
K37IiipaRinch'cn-arld SO'won-1{ igp't-IGlare,·TJ 3'5'0·) '4 OS) " " "

(3)

Thl' third Shamar Tull;u, CIIOSPAL YESIlE, was horn on thl' fourtl'l'nth day of
the srcone! month of thl' male firr dog )Tar (1406) in Trang Do of K(lllgpo pro'
\-inn' in Southern Tibet. While still insidl' hi~ mother's womh he rould be hrard
rrciting thl' ',-I1.l7Ii' M,mtr.l and at thl' timc of hi~ hirth thnl' wert' \lTlTJI rainbows
in the shapl' of an umbrella, which forJl1l'd right 0\'('[ the roof of thl' house, On tht

144
 AI'I'Et-;IlICES

~()ks of hi~ ftTt there Wit\ formed the Mongolian ktter 'Gyel' (meaning Victory),
Ill' wa' immediatl'ly rt'rogni,t'd a, thl' incarnalion of Shamarpa and was identified
J\ ~uch hy ~t'\'nal of his former di,cipks, All the predinion dl,taib agrn'd pre-
ci"ly with tht cir('um\talll,(,\ of his birth, w he W;l\ t:lI,en to Taktsl', passing
-through Gaden ~bmo nwditationn'll!ll' on the way there,--
At thl' age of six ),CJrs he was ol,ser\l'll r1imbing all over thl' grl'at Wunpo rock,
known to be tilt: fl'sidl'lllT of :In important I'rotl'l'Iur lkity, On the third day of
_t.!.It'_l.u.l.IILIlLnLUJL(tLthl' (l'mak lI;lttT.snake )'t'Jr (1413), :It the agt' of right, he
=1l11'J=bCam:~I:IN:::I')l~I-)/,hiI1-~lll'~I~a-=;J:i:=I'im~'=1 wr:....a neI-tog" [bl'r-rill:.y pr()('l'{'dl'd-t 0-
-TaktK
On thl' tl'llth day of the ekl'l:nth month of thl' S'lml' year hl' took the pre-
liminary ordination from Karmapa and rl'cl'ivl'll thl' prl'lTPb and tt'achings, Later
hl' fl'l'ognisl'd and l'nthrolll'd the nl'W Karmapa, Tongw;1 J)ondt'n and took him to
his lllPna<,!ery, From Kenchen Son:llll Z:ll1gpo hl' fl'lTil'l'l1 the final ordinJtion,
Cohe I{igd/in g:I\'(' him somt' important teachings as did the pupil of his former
- . incarnation,. Sowon Higpe -'{aldre, lIal'ing cOlllple!l'd :Ill his studies hl' ol'gan to
impart tcachings, A fint' Lama, ht, had many disciplt,\, Aft-l'-r man)' ),cars \\)t'n-t
~I're.lding tht' Dharllla h(' pa~s('(l all'ay on tilt: fourth da), of the ~i.\th lllonth of the
lllak watn monkl'y year (1452), at tht, agt' of forty-st'vl'n, Tht'rt' w('rt' numerous
rainbow\ ol'('rhead at this tillle and f1own\ ft'll down from the \ky, llis forl'most
disl'ip!t-~ IITrl' Jampal Zangpo, (;clong Zhonu Pal the hiqorian and r\gampa
Chatrc!. (I 40(>-l 452)

(4 )

Thl' fourth Shamar Tulku, CIIOSl\\'1 TRAKPA, wa~ horn on tht' third day of the
third month of the femall- water hird ycar (1453) at K:lllgmar in Domed, Eastern
Tibn, On thc night of his birth pl'Oplc in the region saw two moon\ in the sky,
When he \\'a~ born he told rclati\'e~ that hl' klll'w the Gyalwa l\armapa,
At the age of seven year~ h!.' was taken to the l\angmar monastn), and there he
went straight up to his throne and ~at upon it. Ilis pr('\'iou~ discip\t-s mixed up all
=rfk=lrcl()t\=an~d~pta~I:d:=_tlr~m=I-)l4(-)Ft=hoim'FI)I:H=ht,=s('-ll,£t,(,-Jj=aU=tll.r=~;rJtillg\_oLthc
'l\:ll;;llapa~'; andther] pUI all-tht-page,~in the right (irllcr;~~c~=~~,c_,C-:-:~.-=:----:::·
Shamarpa was illl'itcd to Chang Mo Sar and to the great Surmang mona\ll'fY,
whert' he m!.'t Chm Trag Gpmtso, thl' Sl'\'('nth Karmapa, The Black Hat Cl'fl'lllOny
wa\ ptTforlll{'d for his bl'lll'fit and he f('l'ein'd many teachings and initiations at
thi~ timt', At the ag!.' of tweln' hl' pnforml'd tht' Hed Hat ctT!.'mony and was
formally l'nthrolll'cl. lit- had a \'ision (If the C;oddo~ Sara,wati, who offered him
an ,lrll1,l (Myrob;ilan) fruit. As a r('suIt of this hl' wa,' able to karn \'('ry quirkl)"
lit- WCll! to Gaden M:lmo \\'hnl' he ml'ditated for ~i, months, In the male iron

145
 KAHMAI'A, 1I1l BLACK HAT LAMA 01' TIHI T

lign year (1470) OIl the age of ~el'e:ntttn Shamar Tulku made a Lrid \'i~it to
Mongolia and upon hi~ rt'turn to Tikt hc recei\'cd all tht· final Icachings from
Karmapa, Go LOlsawa Zhonu Pal, a disciple of his prn'ious inearn:l lion, l:Iught
him Sanskrit and the r1assical tn'atises,
At tht· age of fort)'-~ix hl' kClllle Suprcmt HuItT of Tihtl. Ik founded tht
Lorge Caden Mamo monastery. with an a~stl1ll>ly-hall of ninety-four pillars, The
work wa~ started on the second day of the: third Illonth of the Illale carth monkey
~ytoa r~(=t4:!' R)=:nrd=-w.!'CCJIl1lpln-cd-'-l n-t-I-l (~t-(~l1-t-l-l-da-)'-()LIJ.1LS i,'.II.UJJil nth 0 f t h(' III a Ie
-ir'ln=i.h'g--y-t-'arFF+Yl)1"'-:At-tljt~Tgt.q-rf:::j:it:t-}~ont=b-z.:::f:o.'I:IJ.tL~~tr-a-I'II,~mii'I-i:Ntl~>,-ar~
Yang Chen, a short distalllT l'\orth of 'I\lIrphu,\\'ith sel'tnty-two pilLtrs in-thl'-
main assl'lllbly-hall. This work \\'as started on the ninl'teenth day of the fourth
mOllth of the fem,tle watn pig yc.lr (1503) and was conlpkttd in tht second
month of thl' rat year (1504).
In the monkty year (1524), on the twenty-fifth lby of the: tWl'lfth month,
Slwnar Tulku passe·d away, 'IIllidst many highly 'Illspil'ious omtns. Ill' was
-----Sl'\'l'nty-two. lIis foremost disciples \\'t'fe-TaklungNaIllgyaLTrakpa, ZhaLu Lot,.. awa_
and Drigung Hatna. (1453-1524)

(5)

Tht, fifth Shamar Tulku, KUNCIlOK YENI.AK, was born on the tt'nth day of the
eighth month of tht [('male wood bird year (J 525) at Caden KangSar in Kongpo
diqrict. At the time of hi~ birth m;II1Y f1own~ bloomed t'\Tn though it \\,;IS the
middle of winter. As soon a~ he wa~ born he was heard to chant the 'Mal/i' M,wlra.
Ik was quickly rerognised as the new incarnation and ('nthrone:d by Karmapa
Mik)'o Dorje, who began to impart the teachings.
By the time he wa~ twel\'c Shamar Tulku had compkted his studies, Attaining
perft-ction in his mt'ditation he attracted many fine disciples. Ill' rccognised the
ninth Karnupa, Wangehuk Dorjc, and performed hi~ enthronement and o\'er the
next years transmitted all the esoteric teachings to him.
On the s('concUlay of the scventh month of tht· female water sheep year (1583),
=inellis- fiTty-niritli year, Ikllas~ed =away,-,;l'here:::v.'ne _many .unu,~uaIIF;rusrl:tciJllfS=
signs ,11 that time, I/is foremost di~cipb were: the ninth Karm'lpa, Ka-rn-l'l Tillla);pa,--
Drif,lIng Chogyal Piluntsok ;lI1d Taklung Kunga Tashi. (1525-1583)

(6)

The sixth Sh:llmr Tulku, UIOSKYI \\'AN(;CIIUK. \\'as born on the third day of
the ninth month of thl' mak wood nwnkey year (1584) in Sholung_ Thnc wert'
many auspicious sigm at the time of his birth Jnd at an early age he was a remarkable

146
 AI'I'Ir.;l>ltTS

child. Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje recognistd him when he was five years old and
tnthroned him at tht DI'agspo Shtdrup Ling monastic college. From Karmapa he
receivtd tht higher teachinp and Ly his twelfth Far was romidtrt:d an expert in
meditation. Under the txctlltnt Lama Karma Tinlaypa he studied S:lIlskrit and
quickly IltTamt proficient in it.
On thl' dClTnth day of thl' stl'enth month of the serpent year (J 583) he
founded tht· Thupdul Nyingcht Ling meditation centre. By the age of sixteen he
had fully mastered Sanskrit and had a rtputation as a fint scholar. l-Ie \'isittd
nrlkgn of all the diffcrt'nt-slTts,tooK-pan--in m:lfly-s,·ript-ur-al-l.'-xaminatiom-and-=
_dehatt's :lIld bt'came rt'wgnisl'd as on(' oflhc greatest scholars of his time. tit:
fully ml'nlOrised thirry·two \'olumes of the Buddhist scriptures and on one vcry
important occasion ddtated the Bonpos in a great debate,
Shamar Choskyi \\'3ngehuk had H'l'cral auspicious visions of the Sak)'a P.lndita
and re['('i\'ed important ttachings from him. Ill' composed a bt'autiful prayer for
tht' Sak)';! Pandit:! and for tht noJI.,isilIlV,dl,l1ljllsri. The RuIn of Jyang inl'ited him
to visit there and he did so, ,'oTTerting thc mistakes in the l\illljur Sutrols in th('
nlOn:lstnies: Heirnparted -the- /o101/.>,lI/IUJra te:ichings and -attrac!l'drnany fine
disci pits.
lit- tral'elled to the great Surman!! monaqerr :md gave t(':\chings and initiations
to the monb and Ltmas there, Shortly afterward~ he rcwgni~cd and enthroned
the tenth Karmapa, Cho~ Ying Dorjc, Thl'n he travelled Oil pilgrimage to Nepal.
Arriving in the Kathmandu \'alky 11(' went straight to the great Bodhanath Stupa
Whl'Tl' he wa~ ml'! by King Labminara Simha Malia, who honourtd him and pre'
sented him with a garland of flowers, Impressing the Brahmins with his knowledge
of Sanskrit he debated doctrinal matters with them and spread the Dharma in
Nepal. King Simha Malia, Ruler of another of tht valle}' Kingdoms, sent a large
dephant for him to ride upon, /Ie vi"ited the great Swayambhu Stupa and built
four golden altar~ at the four directiom, instead of hi~ original plan for a golden
roof above it. A r('cord of this auspicious \'isit, in the male iron dragon year
(1640), was insrribt-d under thc arch of the South side of the tcmple,
Shamar Tulku n'turned to Tibet, tral't'lling via Yolmo in Northern Nepal.
~1!a5~!.lg=-~hFt)lIgh~"0.lIt,b('ro/1;];il)(,bh(~gan'=tht~l_J)J.1~!)!!1ljo1'-initiation~!-<L1h.ql('()g$=
ciiHl cxplainnl th(l'~~'s bTkarm'l.cAtcT:ishigang )1e mCttne Gyalwa-Karinapa:pfC:--
~cnt('d him with a mongoost' from l\:cpal and imparted thc' rrmainin!! teachings to
him.
On the fourth day of the second month of thl' mall' iron horse )'rar (1630)
Shamar Tulku becamc ill. IIis disriples requotnl him to postpon(' his passing until
the arril'al of Khcdrup Karma Chagmc, who qill had to r('['ril'c some important
tClrhinp. Sh:!!llar Tulku madc' ;lIld paintl'll a ~mall ['by ~tatuc of him,rlf and
hles,cd and consecrated it (this is pr('sel\'cd in HUT11trk monastlTY). Khcdrup

147
 -
1>"';- I'

r~r;:~ -~'
, .. :.~.
~.:J'
~. ..._.,".
:

1\ ~m"JI ria), ~talUC of ~hama, ell"'k)'i \\""~""J~, tlK ,i,tll Shatna,

Tul~u, made by 111m to the year lidO, ,hortl), bd",t, hi, p;,,'in~. It i,
i'H'~l'nTd in tilt' n(',,, l\umtt.'k n1pna . . tcry Sd,kim .Jnd i... ill the r(l . . 'c~~ion
"f thl' plt"t'nt thirteenth Shama, 1 ulku,
 API'LNl>ICES

Karm:l Chagl1ll' rt'ached him in tinlt" and wa~ abk to rtceivt the teachings requirt'd,
Then, on tht twcnty',ighth day of the ninth month of the male iron hor~e year
(}630), in thl' morning, ht PJs~ed away, There wnt' l1l;my ampiciou~ signs. lIis
foremost disciples were the tenth Karmap;l, Karm;l MiphJI1l 'l\rw;\ng l{;Ibten (the
Hub of ]yang) and Xh,drup-KarmaChagme.-( 15 1l4-] (30).-

(7)

::'H1J.~St~l·t'IJt-lJ--l->JUi:]lar---'l-ulI;LL, 'tl.Sl tr i'\'\' 11\( ;1'( ),-~~';rs-In)r;l-i n-thl'-ft1ll:tl~i-wn==

shrep yrar (1631) ;11 Golo\; on-thl' bank (If the MaChliril'l-r, in Llstnn TikI. Tht, __ _
tenth Karmap;' n'Cogni~ed and t'nthroned him and also gal't' him tCll·hings. Shamar
Tulku I'isited jy;lllg and Lhas;l, wherr h" learnt m:lll)' doctrines and ~tudied philo-
sophy, hOlll thr G)'31\\'a Karmapa ht- ren·ilTd tht' loml'lt-tc teaching!> and pn-
ftTtnl tllt'm,
lit- n'wgnised Ynhe Dorje, the dnTnth Karm:'pa and cnthroned him, trans-
mitting thc_l;ompkt" !t'achings,On the fifteenth d;,)' of the twelfth month of thl'
malt wood dog year (1694) he- -i~assl'd-- a"'a-y.-ni~forl'n)(lqdj"cil'kwas the--
t:ll'ITllth Karmapa, (1631-1694)

(Il)

Tht righth Sh;Jmar Tulku, pALelll·:1>.' CIIOSKYI J)ODHUP, was b(lrn on thl'tenth
day of the ninth month of the female wood pig year (1695) at Yolmo Kangra in
Northern Nepal. White rainbows appcaT('d over the houS(' at the time of his birth,
As a child he explained all the dnails of hb prel'ious incamations and listrd tl.e
monasteries of hi~ order. Tht fame of the remarkable child spread quirkl), and the
Gyalwa Karmapa stOnt a party to visit him, Ik was immediatel), Tlocogni~ed a~ the
new Shamarpao
The King of Nepal (probably King Bhaskara Malia of Kathmandu, 1700-1714)
h(lnouTl'd him greatly and a Yogini called Zitapuri predicted that he would
brwme a Siddha, At the age of sevcn he left Nepal and tra\'elled to the Tagna
~nl(-)na~tr,l'),-::in-Wt-.'n:rn=::J:n'fl~~blTc=h-!;=-wa~higbJr=htH10l1Tol'd=aRd=~~r-ted_to_
TSllrl~I;\;-. Karma-pa eilthr!lni-d-t1im -- ;ijJ'd· ga\'('
hinllll:ln)' tearhing~, Thl'l'ibl'tan==-
g0\'('rnment officially granttd prrmission for him tn remain in the country (he was
born in l\epal and presumably had been comidned a foreigner) and he took his
seat in tht, grt'at Yang Chen monaster)',
ShamJr Choskyi ()odrup rt'cognisl'd the eighth Situ Tulku. IIr rel'ein:d all the
teachings from the t'\t-ITllth Karmapa and bter rcco)!niscd the twclfth Karl11apa,
Changchub Dorjl'. Ik rt'l'isitnl 1>.'epal ,ll1d thell tran'IIl'l1 to China with thl'
Karmap:!. Ik passed away in China on the second day of the l'ln'l'nth lllonth of

149
 "AHMAI'A 1111 IliAC" IIAl lAMA OF 'IIKE'I

the water rat ytar (1732), two da)'~ after the pa."ing of the Gyalwa Karm;lpa, IIi,
furemost di,cipk W,I, the eighth Situ Tulku, (1695- J 7 32)

(9) _

TIlt' ninth Sham:!r Tulku, K UNCI 10K J UNGNI':S, wa, born in tht ft'lmk watn ox
ycar (J733) and \\'a, rtTogni,('d and enthroned by Situ 'J ulku, who had hct"ll a
:::d i,ci lili:Qtbi!:r rn' if> U ,~i n f;l r-ll;l1-ien=FI:U:=-~;~lu gpa g'-)\'toJ'l I n It'n t-h ;ld-l,a"ctL alLtfnh:r==::
::-G1rT'I(l(fing anyone toprnfit'! aboul, oren t hlOllt'any ~hal11ariTlcJrnari'flr.=btr'-
Situ Tulku rhalkngtd the ordn in the High Court, and \\'on the l~J\t:, - -. ------
bma Khatog Itigdzin Chenmo madt a prediction th;lt if the enthroncml'llt
ClTelllollY could take place at the Khatog Gon mona'lery in Kharm then theH'
would he a good chance that the child would live for a long time, Unfortunately
the Lima died and th' othn Lamas of the monastCfY rcfu,'ed to allow Situ Tulku
to pnforlll the t'I1thronellltnt (TTl'mony there, for ft'ar of lo\ing their mona\ltTy
III rt'pri,al, hy tht- Gdu!!pa,- The young Shan1.lr Tulku p"\"d 01\\,,1) at tht' ,Igl' of--
t'ight, in tht' ft'lllalt- iron hird )Tar (J 741), h;l\'ing rect'il't'd only tht' O't'I1lT of the
tt';Il'hing'. (1733-1741)

(10)

The tt'llth Shamar Tulku, MII'IIAM ClIOSDH UI' GY AMTSO, was born in the
water dog year (J 742) in Ta,hi Tse of Tsang province. lie was born a~ the:
hrothn of the Panchen Hinpoche, Lobzang "alden Yc~he (1738-17RO), and was
r('logni~ed by the thirteenth Karmapa and the eighth Situ Tulku.
From Situ lulku ill' rl'ceilTd the primary and sl'condary ordinations, and all
t(,;lehings WtTe transmitted to him, Sometime later he recognised the ninth
Situ lulku and taught him cVl'Tything. Shamar Tulku spent many ycar~ rcriving
the Dharma in Tibet and then went on pilgrimage to Nepal.
While he was in Nepal fighting brokt, out between that l'Ountry and Tibet. In
=I-:h-a-,a-an:-influential=<:>tlugpa:-=Minim'r-,Tagt'sag-=::rt'npai=G5npo:;::lJeca~m('~a:war.cQf:..a--=:-:­
political opportunity and claimed that Shamar Tulku wasinstig;ltingthl' figliiing--
with Nepal. /1l' seized the great Yang Chen monaqery of the Shamarpa and an
order \\'01, passed by the gOHTnmt'nt deelar ing that all the monasteries of Shamar ,
Tulku must become Gt'lugpa and that he should never reincarnal(' again. /lis
«'rclllonial Hed Hat was hurit'd undn tht' floor of the temple of Shamarpa in
Lhasa and the building wa, tUTnd into a court house, In fact Shamar Tulku was
trying to make pean' with thl' Nq,alc,e and had l'isill'd i"epal only for reasom of
pilgr image. Ik offered a great bt-II to the S\\'ayamhhu Stupa in K;lthmandu (it is

150
 AI'I'I Sl>ltI ~

~tilllOb(" ~l'l'IJ) :lnd Ihrn p.'~'l'd aw.l), In l'\("pal ;11 the :Il!l' of flft)" lit- h"d man}'
iml'onant di'lipb, (1742']7Y2)
~\n I Fllllll lh t nth ~h;Jlll.lf 'I uJ~u III 17{)2 utlld Ihl:' bit, 1l1tJ('ItTflth U'Il\LH~ 110 !-.Itamarpw
p"""':'lf (If Iht h

w,,' flnll);!II), rn'I~;lli,r,1

Til have dltll(, "'\1 WlILlhl have- 1II,'~III["d I IIt- \'.,.>th uf tht, pO!ilH,d fttC10flio of tilr Hlhtt.,:
C;dllt-:p~ ... \\ 1,0 had M'i/("~f ull tlH' 1I111I1'I ... lrri_t"_UII,'! pfl)pt:l~y oj '!_!l: ~hlllll<l.1 'J ull..u lilt lo!\Ullt"lll u! Ii II 'I he-
~1\'(·(·lllh(;Yli!W"Klillllilpa'\lltl1!"Pt·II"IIy.il"" -- ---- - ------ ---

'Ml'IJI y,,,, .. I,nollllnr ~IHalhr ulIII !<olllalirr. 'J1U;-f! "~, lIHu'h rIl1JtI, .. 1Itllnft-rnHt' HI ... d, \\.:.t, hecOInillt:
"hilt '111(' tt.d "a .. l'C'~llllljl\f UIlIe';11 AI 111011 '11lU II \'.a' flll\ pllh IH.,hk hI bun an) ~hallJ;:II'a In\lrlll\t'd
01 ("JllhftIIH-d t vcr~'lh;llr "a .. l..('"jl' !tin r('"1 '111('" :11l<trll:di{ll)" 1lppcH('d, hut W('"II Ihl! rn'n.lnl"

Th" l'lnl'lllh Shalll'lI Tulku, Jal1lliY;Jnl! l{inpot'\l('.lin'J 1110>11) in l\:orth'l ikt.1 k

thl' ~()n of tht· Karl1l'lju Kha C!l:lb Dorje I'Llt Tt'l1lainl'l1 linu,dly IInhno\\'n. lit-
1'.',1'
plani,nl hi~ IlIl'dit,ltion in n'l1loll' ;1I'('a~, Tt'l'l'i"ing tt"Il'hinl" and initiatioll\. but
Ilnl'i p:lrtilil':Itnl in tht' 1ll00u,ti(' lift'. Ik h'c:lnll' pnkrtnl ;1';1 Siddha, k'lI'ing
-illlPI "",iom of-hi, fret onrorb at _Sh:lwa Tfak,in l'\.onhnn Tihet, I It 11';1, :\ l't'r)'
~:Iintly LII II ,I ;Illd pa"'l'll ;I\I'd}' ill ]947, bul \\';I~ kl1o\\'n to ()nl}'-;~ ft:v.. .-- - - --. -.---
(LI!i95']947)

(12)

Th, t\\'l'lflh Shamaf Tulku, '11t\LAY KUl'\CIIAP, \\'J~ born on the fir~t day of Iht
fir~t 1110nth of Ihl' malt iron lign },taf (194 R). I Ie \\'a~ fecogni,l'd by th, ~ixtel'nth
K:HIll;q';J :Ind imtalled at tht, T~url'hu nWn;I'I,IY. lit pa'~l'd aW:lY al the <ll!t' of
(lIlt' year and two mont h~, (J 94R·195 0)

(13)

The thirtt'Cnth Shamar Tulkll, CIIOSKYI I ODHU, wa~ born on Ihe third d:ly of
the righlh mOlllh of Iht' m;lie water dragon year (1952) in till' Alhup palan' of
::!~£!,g(TI'~:I!>I(,-H1=Till.t~I=I,t.cfoJJ;.hiLhiJJ b I hl' elevcnth Silu Tulku bJd prophesit'd Ihat
'cine' 6f- tIle -1J;ght;;rK argyu dl)a~j'n (':1 rna Ii 011 ~\\ 'OITl(I'I)(·1)0rn.tlrn(·:::At~tlH':::t:inlt~()f:=flis"":
binh Ihe ~ky \1'3~ filled with rainho\\'~, olle forming like a tent ril!ht (J\'('r illt:--
palace, All Ihe watn ill Ihl' Ilt'ighbollfl)(lod IUflll'J milky, Ihu, informing thl'
pmpk of a !l1ir;)cul<)u~ birth in Ihe It'l!ion, 111 Ihl' old Yanl! Chell 1l1OILI'tt'f)' of the
SI];l!1lafpa~ thnt' \\':1' ;1 q:IlUt' of the Protector Dl'it)', fiding Oil a hol.'c, At tht'
lime when ShamJI Chmhyi i,odfU W;), born Iht' hOf,e '1':11 oul ~O!l1e ~h(Tr\
bonn which had btTn put in ii' moulh aftn Ihl' 1l10ll.lQlTY h:ld btTn confi'l'att'd,
At the age of ~i, Ihe young boy W:l' lahUl to 'bUfl'hu Illonaqt'f)" IIi.' nur,e

151
 "A I(~I AI'A 'J III IlLAt ... If A'I LAMA 01' '111<1 T

\\,,(, cirtulll:!lllbubtillf tht huilding when ,uddl'lll)' thl' hoy, who \\',1, being clrrini
on htT hilrk, poilltnj to 'Ollll' Lilllas and Illollb who had COlllt in from tht
\\'c'tcrn gatc and ~aid "'J ho,e afl' m)' LJm:t\, nl)' mOIlk\!" They had cOllle from
the Yang Chell lllOllaqrry,
Tht ,i'\1t'l'llth (;)':1I\\'a K"I'Ill:lpa confirmed that it was illdetd thl' ntw
Shalll.lrpa int'aJll:lI ion, but ,inn' tht o!dt! of tht ruling Cl'iugl':J' \\'a, \ldl in fOllT,
\'i1f\lling recognition oj Shamar inl'arnation" he did not H'l'cd thi, fact publicly,
_Ill-folt, lell'illg Til,(,t the ,null boy \1';1' ,clTctly Liken to the Yang Chen nlOnilq(T~',
whlTt he p(,intl'd out thc statliL', (.f his prt'l'iou, im'innatiofl' and--d(' .. nil'l'd the
n til" of each of their lin' .. ,
At thl' agl' 01 nine Shamar 'Iulku \\';J, brought to ~ikkilll hy th(' prnl'nt
CyaJ\\'a Karm:lp'l. Karlllilpa discussnJ hi, rt'l'ognition \\'ith II. II. the D,d:li Lama.
Thl' Illatter wa, put to tot hy Illediut ion and hy dream 'lilt! thel'l' \\'ilS 'I posit iI'('
rnult. H, II. the Dalai billa formidl), alloll'l'd for his feimtatl'l1lcnt and bid asidl'
,Ill thl' politil':!1 intc'rfl'rtlKc's of thc past.
Onc month hcfort, hi, plann(,d cnthronclll('l)t Shillllar TulJ..u, :11('olllp:ulIn! hy
his hlothn Jigme, lllade a \'i~it to Dhara!1l,:da ,lIld thnc' had audic'nCt' with II. II.
thl' prl'~c'nt fourtc't'I11h Dalai Lama, who l'()Jlfirmnl hi~ official rl'in~tatrnl('nt
'1 hl' matter \\'as ~ettkd without any di .. agrt't'mcnt, On tht' fiftl't'nth day (If the
fourth month of tilt' mak w(tod dragon Far (1964) Sham:!f Tulku Cho,kyi
I.otiru, thl' thirtl'('nth formal incarn:ltion, was rnthrolll'd by Karmapa in the old
I{urlllt-k monastlT), in Sikkim, lit' is prt"t'ntly Mudying with II, II. thl' Gyalwil
Karmal'a in the nt'\I Humtt'k monastery, His is in hi, twc'nty-fir.S! ycar,

- -- -- - An-informal- port ra il-of--I h,,-rh irt rrlll h_

Shall",r llllkli () 972),

) 52
 Al'pn,DlX: (Il)

TIlE SITU LINEAGE

hl(.lrII.lliOIl

1st C110SKYI GYALTSEN (I 377-144H)

2nd 'lASHI NAMGYAL (1450-1497)
3rd TASHII'AI.)OH (I49H-1541)
4th CIIOSKYI GOCIIA (l542-15H5)
5th CIIOSKYI GYALTSEN PALZANe; (l5H(,-]657)
6th MII'IIAM CIIOGYAL I{ABTEN (l651'-16R2)
7th NAWE NYIMA (l6R3-]69R)
Rth CIIOSKYI JUNGNES (I700-1774)
9th PADMA t\YINGCHE WANG PO (l774-IR53)
I (Jth PADMA KUNZANG CIIOGYAL (l1'54-18R5)
11th PADMA WANGCIIUK GYALpO (lI'R6-1952)
12th PADMA DONYO NYINGCIIE \yANGI'O U954-prt:~t'I1t)

154
 '1 HE SITU INCr\Hl'\r\'IIONS
(A Hnlllat K,lfllla-K:ug}'udpa)

Prior to the fiN Situ Tulku the Lint:age wa' formed by tlm'r great Yogi~:
(i) Drogon Hechen (lOHH-l15H)
(ii) t\aljor Ye~hc Wangpo (1220-1281)
(iii) Higowa Hatnabhadra 02HI-I343)
,Drogon ){echcn WJ~ born at Npmo Shung in Yarlung, Southern Tibn. A~ a
sillall rhild a rainll(lw W.ts fregutntl), to he ~et'n O\Tr hi., head. At the age of nine"
),t'ars ht: ran away from home and went \0 study with tht· ttacher Drogompa. Ik
rlTt·in·d the teaching~ of the Inner Ilet! and was initiatnl into the eyelt· of
Cb,!I'7.naml'.Jr.I. He had a \"i~ion of DUSUIll Kh)'t'npa, tht· first Karmapa, and from
him rt-rei\"t'll the tc;\rhings in an t'sotnir way. These h" imparted to G)'ab)' Hom
Trakpa. Afttr a life inlllln~t'd in meditation he passed ;1\\';1), at the age of s('\·tnt)'.
Thne WtlC man)' ;lllSpiciou~ ~ign~. I li~ line passed to Naljor Ynhe \\';llIgpo, who in
turn pas-ed it to Higow;l Hatnabhadra.

(1)
Tht· first Situ Tulku. CHOSKYI GYALTSEN, was born in the region of Karma
Gon. Ile Ot'callle a discipk of nt'll/hin Shegpa, the fifth Karmapa, and from him
reccived the initiatiom and teachings of tht· M.1bamuJra in tht· complrte form. He
ptTftctt'd tht' te3ehinp and travelkd to China with the Karmapa. The: Chinese
Emperor Tai Ming Chen (Yling Lo) confnred the honorific title 'Tai Situ' on him.
lit- spent I11mt of his lift' meditating in cavc~ and was a fint, Lama. (1377,1448).

(2)
The second Situ lulku. TASIII NAMGYAL, was born into a Royal family in
Tibet and was Tccogni~ed by Tongw'l Donden. the sixth Karmapa. who enthroned
him and gave him tht, complete teachings. Ik was an excellent Lama and became
-t,lll'-companion~\1ItoLoLCh.QL_.Trag Gyamtso. the scventh Karmapa. He visited
- 'majj)'partsofTihct; giving te;lchinp and bestowing initiatiom.ThtTcwcrc many
ampicious signs at his passing. (1450·1497).

(3)
The third Situ ·Iulku. 'IASIII PALjOI{. \\";1\ rt:(()t:ni~ed and inqalkd by thc
~c\"('lllh Karmapa and from him he rcc(i\"t'd all tht· teachings. lie pcrfcttrd thl'ln
and tht'n rtTot:lli,ni Mikyo Dorje. the eighth Karmapa. lit pa\.\ed on all the
-teachings t ()Kanna~Linbypac __ U~'1lhl·passed.'l."~dral){'lrllJ:l_ (;oIl.~,~~~8-154 I ).

155
 K ... HM ... r ... , TIlE IIL ... CK H ... T l. ... M ... OF lll1ET

(4 )

Thl' fourth Situ Tulku, CIlOSKYI COCIIA, was oorn in T~t Chu near Surmang.
lit- was recognised and installed by Mikyo Dorje, the t'ighth Karmapa, from whom
he received all the teachings. Later he recognised Wangchuk Dorje, the nimh
Karmapa, and passl'd away soml"liml' aftcrward~. There wert' m:lIl)' 3u\picious
~igns. (1542,1585).

(5 )

Thl' fifth Situ Tulku, CIIOSKYI GYALTSEN PALZANG, was born in the III aIt:
firt' dog year (1586). Ik was m:ognisl'd by Wangdlllk Dorje, the ninth Karmapa,
:lnd from him rtceivtd all the teachillg~. lit ouilt tht Yer .'-.\0 Cht monasttTy
(with one hundred and sixty pillars in thl' main asscmbly·hall) :lIld was pn.'sl'ntl'd
with d I{rd Hat by the Karmap:!. Ile: passe:d ;1\\'ay in the: fcnult firt· bird ye:ar
(1657) amid,t many highly 3uspit'iollS signs. (J 586,1(57)

(6)

Tht· sixth Situ Tulku, MIPIJAM CHOGYAL RABTEN, was oorn in Me~hod. He
was rl'wgnise:d and enthrontd oy Chos Ying Dorje, the It'nth Karmapa. He per-
formed the miradc of hanging his monks robe and rosary on a sunoeam and left
many of his footprints on stonn and rocks. He spent some time studying at
Tsurphu and Karma Con monastcrie~, where he: imprtssed e:vtr),one with hi.s great
Itarning and insight.
Situ Tulku was a great Sanskrit scholar, an astrologer, a doctor and a fine
painter. Many beautiful Tballgkas "'TTl' made by his hand and he abo wrote the
·Su71g·J!um',a compendium of all·knowltdge, From the tenth Karmapa he received
all the teaehing~. lit: forecast the dnails of his future incarnation and then went
-to-Rd~!o_Cba~ang in China, where he passed away. There were many highly
--au~picious sign~ at-that time. His di~ciplcs were numerous. ( Hi-5-RT(82)::-

(7)

Thl' ~l·l'l·nth Situ Tulku, t\AWF t\YIMA, was born as the ~{ln of the Royal
family of Ling. lie was imme:diatcly recognised as tht, inrarnation and was
admitted to a Sak)'a wlkge. Ik passed aW;iY \cry young ha\'ing rl'lTin'd only the
- C\scIltT-of the teachings._( 1(,-B~: 16982.

156
 (Il)

The eighth Situ Tulku, CIlOSKYI JU~C;t\ES, W:i~ born in thl' province of A-Lu
Sbekar. At the age of t"ight yean, hl' wa~ rl'cogni~t:d by the l'ighth Shamar Tulku,
bkhl'n Cho~kyi Dodrup, and wa~ taktn to 'I\urphu monastery for his enthrone-
nll"nl. From Shamar Tulku ht, recl'in·d :111 thc tl'achinp and initiations and studied
philmophy and rmdirinl'.
Situ Tulku tral'l:llt-d to Lhasa, at the time wlH:n Tibet was ruled by the
'Ministers Ng;lgpho, Lumpa and Gya Hawa. t\gagl'ho im'ited him to makl' sOllll'
predictions and Situ"a dtdared that tbe MillisttTS would be OITrthrown and that
Ngagpho would hr kilkd. In the year of the monkey (1716) it happened that
Pho Lhawa Sorum Tohgyal killed him. Situ Tulku bt'clI11t· vcry well known ill
Nl·pal.
In the ft'm:l!c fin' sherp yrar (1727) Ill' founded the great Palpung monasttry
in EastrTll Tibet, on the Sl'\Tllth day of the third mOllth. Ik visited Jpng, as
im'ited by the Rukr, alld imparted all thl' tr;lching.~ to Du Dul Dorjr, thc
thirtrenth Karlllapa, and to tilt' tl'llth Shalllar Tulku. Ik was rrcognised as a fillt
scholar and wa~ an eH'dknt artist.
I k \'isitl"d Nrpal on pilgrimagl' and was highly honoured there. Onre, aftt:r a
dl'batc with Pandita Jap Mangola of Kashmir, ht: was told by him that ht: mnill'd
S('\Tn umlndlas according to thl' Indian standards of honour. After discussing tht,
Vilhl)'a Sutm.~ and points of Dharma with Pandita Prahduma he wa~ told that he
must have been hll'S~cd by Lord Shiva Shankara, since that wa~ the- only way he
could have achined such imight and karning.
Situ Tulku returned to Tibet and preacl1t'd throughout the land. He trans-
lated many books from the Sanskrit, including prayers to the Goddess Tara. All
the pn'cious teachings he passed on to his many disciples. Then he visited China
at the illl'itation of the Emperor Chi'en Lung (1735-1796) and was highly
honoured,
While meditating in the lotus-posture of a Buddha he passed away and it was
observed that his hean-region retained heat for seven days afterwards and there
-was-a-stwng_smdJ of insence e\,er)-,\\'here. His foremost dbciples were the
thirteenth Karmapa, - the· tenth ShamarTulku, thc-nrukchtnTinTay-Sningnr;-
Drigung Choskyi Gyalwa, Pawo Tsuklak Gyalwa, Druptop Chos Je Gyal, Kham-
trul Choskyi Nyima and Lot~awa Tscwang Kunchap. (1700·) 774).

(9)

The ninth Situ Tulku, PADMA l'\YINGCIIE WANGPO, was born III Yilung in

157
 KAHMAI'A, Tin. BLACK HAT LAMA 01' "J IIlET

Kh:lm~, Eastern Tihet. At the age of fin: years ht wa~ formally enthroned and
receil'ed all the teaching' from tht thirtemth Cplwa Karmapa and tht ttnth
Shanlar Tulku. He spent most (If his life in deep meditation and wa~ a great
~cholar and teacher. At the agt of sixty'one years hc rect'il't'd his final initiations
and practised the tt'achinp for cighll't'n ytar~ afterwards. At the age of s('\'entY'
nint' he passed away, At that time the sky was filltd with rainbows and tlu:rt Wl"Te
many other highly auspicious signs, lit- Tt'rognisl'd the first Jamgon Khongtrul
'I ulku as a teacher of tht Karma' Kargyudpas. (177 4-) R53).

(10)

Tht· tenth Situ 'I ulku, PAI>MA KUNZANG CIJOGYAL, was born ;It Nam Tso in
Chang, ncar to a 1:1Kt-, in the malt wood tiger year (1854). lIis formal enthrone,
nll'llt was performed by the fourteenth Karm:lpa, Theg Chog Dorje, and the first
Jaillgon Khongtrul Tulku, l.odra Ta)'t'. lie: sptnt the: wholt of his life: ptrft-cting
the Kargyudpa te:achings and i>l:camc a Siddha. lit- kft many of his fO(ltprinb on
fOrb ;lnd was able to walk right up sheer mountain farc:s. At his passing thne
wt're numerous highly au~pi('ious signs. () 854-) 885).

(J] )

The: elcvcnth Situ Tulku, PADMA WANGClIUK GYALI'O, was born in the male
fire dog year (1886) in Li Thang. Thne: Wl"Te: many unusual and highly auspicious
signs at that time. The prediniollS of the Gralwa Karmapa concerning his re-
incarnation were found to be ab~olutel)' corn'c!. At the age of four years he was
recognised by Karmapa and taken to the great Palpung monastery,
From Kha Cha!> Dorj(', the fifteenth Karmapa, he TC'ceived the ordinations and
teachings, Jamgon Khongtrul Tulku also taught him and bestowed many empower
ments and initiations on him. Situ Tulku later discol'ered and recognised the
prncnt Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the ~ixteenth incarnation, and
-perJo~mcd_his_formaLc_oJhronement and ordination. He' transmitted the complete
. tt'achings to him and bestowed all the initiations, explanations and empowerments, .
At about the age of fifty he visited the great Surmang monastery, and there
prrformcd many mira('!t-~. lit' passed the rest of his life partly in meditation and
partly botClwing tcachinp to his m:lI1y disciplt-s, Then, at the agt' of sixty-scven,
ht· pas~ed away amid~t many auspicious signs. () RR6, J 952),

(12)

The twelfth Situ Tulku, PADMA D()~YO NYINGCllEWArsGr)O,wasJ)()rIlJ~the

]S8
 AI'PLt-;L>ICI:S

malt- wood hor\e ycar (1954) in Taiyul. Thl' detaib of hi~ birth wt'rc compkttly
in arcordam'l' with thl' prediction of the prcst'nt si>.tn'nth Cplwa Karmapa. He wa~
takm 10 the Palpung monasttry fOllndtd in hi~ eighth inl'arn~tion and cere-
moni;lIly enthroned thtrc hy the prc\('nt G),alwa Karlllapa, At that timt' it was
dearly noticed that he f('cognisnl all his old SlT\'ants ;l!1d di\cipk\ Aftt:[ rccei\'ing
.111 Iht' customary initiations and t'mpoWrfllll'nts hl' left Tihct for Bhutan, at alJOut
tht timt' of tht' grt'at t>.Odll\. Ill' is now \tudying in tht' m'w HUllllt'k monaster)',
Sikkilll, and i~ in his nint'Il't'nth )'l'ar.

159
 API'Lt\()IX: (C)

THE GYALTSAP UNEAGE

111(,Ir71Mion
ht GOSHI PALjOH DODHUI' (cJ427-14H9)
2nd TASIII NAMGYAL (1490-1518)
3rd TRAKPA PALjOH (1519-1549)
4th THAKPA DODI{ UP (15501617)
5th TRAKPA ellos YANG (J('Jfl-J658)
6th N()HI\U ZANGPO (1659-1698)
7th KUl\C1lOK OSFI{ (1699-1765)
8th CIIOSPAL ZANGPO (1766-1820)
9th lHAKPA YESHE (JR21-1R76)
10th lEI'PAI NYIMA (J R77-190l)
11th lHAKI'A GYAMTSO (1902-1959)
12th THAKPA n':NI'AI YAPHEL (1 %O-prncnt)

162
 TilE GYALTSAP INCAI{NA'I IONS
(An Ot anglo lIat Karma' Kargyudpa)

(1)

The firq (;yalt~ap 'I ulku, GOSHI I'ALjOI{ ))O))RVP, wa~ born in Yagdl' NYl'WO,
hom the ~ix th Karmapa, Tongwa ))ol1dl'n, h(' n:cri\'nl tht compltte Il'aehinp
and initiatiom, ptrfl,rting them in hi~ lifetime, Ht recognisl'd, enthroned and
taught the ~l'\'('nth Karmapa, Chos Trag Gy,ll11t~O and hestowed the ordinatiom on
him, lit- lin'd a \cry saintly lift- alld passed away ,It the age of sixty·thrn', in the
Illak tarth dog year. lit- prophe~ied that he would have many successors,
(r.1427·14IlY).

The snond Gplts:tp '1 ulku, TASIII NAMGYAI., was horn in Nyrwo and \las
r('cogni~ni hy Chos Trag Gyall1ts(), the scvcnth K:Jrlllapa, from whom he received
all the initiatiom and tClching~, lit- wa~ prnl'lltl'd \\'ith an Orangc l!at by Kar·
mapa, in rcmgnition of his high attainments, A fim' Lama, he t"llthroned Mikyo
Dorje, the l'ighth Karma!,n, ,Ind tr:ll1'miued the teaching~ to him. When hr passed
away then' w('rt man)' au~pici()m sigm. (1490·15 J Il),

(3)

The third Gyaltsap Tulku, TRAKPA "ALjOn, was rlTognised hy Mikyo Dorje,
the eighth Karmapa, who passed on all thl' teachings to him, I Ie pranistd his
meditations to pnfcction and had visions of many Protectors and Tutelary
Drities, He passed away at an ('arl), age, amidst auspicious 6nltm. (15 J 9· J 549).

(4 )

~Th(~four-th-G¥altsap~XuJku, THAKPA DODHVI', wa~ recogni~ed by Mikyo Dorjc,

the -eighth Karmapa, and from him received mJtlY-initi.1fion~ ana-ffaclTln-gs~
Another of hi~ tl'achers was the fifth Shamar TlIlku, KlInchok Yenlak. Ht: com-
posl-d a lit-tailed ('(lll1mrlltary on thl' lIodl,i.\,IIIl"l donrinl's and another on the
tl'arhings of l/cv,l/ro1. lit was a Siddha and had m;1l1), discipks. (J 550·] (, 17).

(5)

The fifth Gyaltsap Tulku, '1 HAKI'A ellos YANG, was horn in Tl'IIchl'n Gar in

163
 .,; A" MAI'A, Till, liLAC"; IIAT U\MA 01' lllll'l

tht Tsang pro"ince, in tht female firt snake ye;H (l617/1R).lIt wa~ ret'Ogni~td by
tht sixth Shamar Tulku, Chmkyi Wangchuk, enthroned by him and rt('('i\'ed all
til(' tt'Jchings. He spent most of hi~ lift· pr;ll'tising dt'ep nwditation. A l'Ontelll'
porary of the fifth Dalai Lama, under whu~(' rule tht· Karg)'udpa ~rn ~llfft'red
gre.ltly, Gyaltsap Tulku was able to kerp l'Olltrol over his Illunastnin :Ind was
known as a h'lTat diplomat in tht' times of difficulty. lit had man)' di~('iples.
(!61R·165R).

(6)

The sixth G)'alt~ap Tulku, l\'OHBU ZANGPO, wa .. horn in tht malt- iron rat ),ear
(1 (diO) in the Gtlthang district of ]yang. lit' was a n:markabk ('hilt! and ('ould
t'xplain all tht, dt'taib of his past lil'ts. Tht tt'nth Karmapa, Chos Ving Dorje,
prniictcd his wlll'rtai>outs, rt'wgnist'd him and t'Ilthrontd him at tht· agt' of thrt't'.
G),;dtsap Tulku rt'Cl'il't'd all tht' teachings and btcam(' a grt'at Siddha. With tht'
st'l'cnth Shamar Tulku ht' n'rognistd til(' c\rl't'nth Karmapa, Yt'sht' Dorjt, whom
ht abo taught. (l660·1(,9H).

(7)

Tht, st'vcnth Gyaltsap Tulku, KUNCIlOK OSEH, was born in N)Two Chu Gor. Ill'
was recognised and enthroned by tht' twdfth Karmapa, Changdllih Dorjt, and
rt'(ril'ed all the [l'aching" from him. Ik tra"dkd to Tsurphu monastery whtre he
rtctil't'd ordination from Situ Tulku in his fifteenth ytar. The eighth Shamar
Tulku, Palchcn Choskyi Dodrup, transmittt'd th(' remaining Oral tl'achings to
him. Then he tra\'dled to the auspicious pilgrimagr place of Tsari Tso Kar, where
he meditated for three years.
Gyaltsap Tulku travelled to Nepal with the twdfth Karmapa, the eighth
Shamar Tulku and the eighth Situ Tulku. Together they visited many places of
_pjlgrima~ and Wl'Te highly honoured by the people. After this the party travelled
to India alld thenrcturnea-tO'l·il>er.-Gyalrsap-l·ulku~passcd-away-in~his-sixt-y-"_
fourth year amidst man)' highly auspicious signs, having recognised the thirteenth
Karmapa, Du Dul Dorjt'. (1699-1765).

(8)

TIll' eighth Gyalt\3P Tulku, C110SI'AL ZANGI'O, WJS concerned in the recognition
of the fourteenth Karmapa, Theg Chog Dorje. He was an excellent Lama and had
------~ man)' di~ciplcs (1766·1 H20).

164
 AI'I'F~DIC~_S

(9)

The ninth G}'ZlIt~ap Tulku. T1{AKPA Y[SIIE. was an excelknt Lama. who
[{'('eil'ed all the teachings and initiations, At his pa,~ing there were many
au~piciou~ sigm, (1821-1876),

(10)
Thc tt'llth Gyaltsap Tulku. TEl'\PAI NYIMA. rert'ived ;111 the te;,chinp and per-
ftl'll'd thl'm in his Iifl,tim(', Ill' was a finc Lama and had many ortllent disciples,
(1877-1901),

(1J)
The dcwnth Gyaltsap Tulku. 'I RAKPA GYAMTSO. n-ccil'cd all the teachings
from tht' fiftcl'nth Karrnapa. Kha Cll3lJ Dorje, lit had many discipb, At the time
of his passing thl'rl' Wl"rl' many auspicious ~igns. (1902, I 959),

(12)
Thl' twelfth Gyaltsap Tulku. TRAKPA TENPAI YAPIIEL. was recognised by the
SiXll'l'nth Karmapa. Rangjung I{igpe Dorje. and was enthroned at tht· Tsurphu
monastery, Ilc wa~ brought from Tibet by the present Gyalw'l Karmapa and is now
studying in the nt'w Rumtek monastery. Sikkim. lie is in his eighteenth year.

The- Twelfth Gyalt",p Tul~u. (lWl7)

165
 APPEl\'D1X: (D)

TilE JA,'\G()~ KHONGTIWL Il\'CAHNATlOl\'S

(I)

Till' first Jalllgon Khongtrul Tulku, LODH.A 1A YE, WJ~ Lorn in the fl'mak
watn bird year (J 1'13) in Hong Chap of thl' Dng(' province, in Eastern Tihet.
Born into a Bonpo famil)' he quickly perfected their teachings, Then he rn:t'il'cd
ordirl.ltions from the Nyingmapas and Kargyudpas and had m;IIlY tl'adlcr,. The
ninth Situ Tulku, Padma Nyingchc Wangpo, r('cognised him as a Tulku of thl'
Karma-Kargyudpas. Ik became a disciple of the fourtce:nth Gyalwa Karmapa.
Jamgon Khongtrul Tulku was an exccllent artist and a fine physician. Ik had
r1H>rt: than sixty tl'adlt'rs and perferted thl' science of medicine:, Tnton Chogyur
Lingpa (I R29·1 R70) me:t him and rc'rogniscd him as an ('manalion of the n(ld-
bisoJ II w ,\ L71Ijusri.
In his lifttime h(' wrote more than ninety books, covering tht, whole range of
Tibetan (uhure, lit was of the dirl'rt Lineage: of Siddha Krishnacharin and an
('m:lllation of Siddha A\'adhutipa. lie spent the whole of his life be\lowing
initiations and explaining the teaching~ to his numerous disciples, amongst whom
was the fiftl'tnth Gralwa Karmapa, Kha Chab Dorje, whom he rt'cognisl'd.
Throughout his life he never once became ill. Ill- passnl away in his eighty-
('ighth ye:ar, amongst many important and auspicious omt:ns. Ilis other fort'most
disciples w('rt' thl' Il'nth Situ Tulku, the: tmth Trungpa Tulku and Jamgoll Mipham
Rinpoehc. (I 813-c,19(1),

(2)

The sl'cond Jamgon Khongtrul Tulku, KIlYENTSE USER, of I'alpung, was rccog-
nised by tht: fifteenth Karmap.l, Kha Chab Dorje, He recl'iH'd all thl' tcachings
from Karmapa and also from the tcnth Trungpa Tulku. He spent mOM of his life
I)raroslng mea itation anal mparrc·d-all·-tht:-t l'aehi ng~--to- til ~p~esent_si X\ t'.l'n.tb__
Gyalwa Karmapa. He had many fine disriplc:s and wa~ renowned a~ an ncellcnt
brna. Ik left prediction dt,taib of his future Tl'hirth. (1904-1953).

(3)

The third Jalllgon Khongtrul Tulku, LOD){A C110SKYI s!:l'\(;r TI-SPAI (;OOIA.
W:l~ I>orn in Central Tikt into tht, \\cdthy S:lJldu S:lJlg Lllndy. It \\:l~ found Ih:lt
__ Ihe prnlirtion dnaib Irft by thl' prniom Khollgtrul Tull-.u \\Trl'l'X:lctly in :Jcrord·

167
KAkMAI'A, THF Bl.ACK ItAT LAMA OF 111lET

anet' with thost of hi\ birth. He wa~ rrcognistd as the nt-w incarnation and recein'd
t:mpowtrmt·nts and initiations. Shortly aftn the: incrc3\e in Chintst' hoqilitics he
saft·l), t'scaped to India. lit- was enthroned at the old Rumtek monastery at the
agt· of six years and is presently studying with the sixteenth Karmapa in the new
Humtek monastery. lit- is in his ninett't'nth ytar.

The Third j3",~on Klwflgtrul Tulku. (J 965)

16H
 APPE~DIX: (E)

THE PAWO INCARNATIONS

The first Pawo Tulku, CHOSWANG L1WNDR UP, wa~ a Siddh;l who could fly in
the air and walk on waler. lit wa~ givcn the name 'Paulo', mtaning '1lero', by Ihe
loed peoplt-_
Many of the later Pawo Tulku~ wcrt- disciplt~ of the Karmapas and were famed
for thtir knowlt-dgt" of tht Six YOg;lS_ Tht" prtsl"lll incarnation, PAWO TSUKLAK
~AWA, in his ~ixties, lives in Bhutan and is a meditation tl"acher there_ (Jnt of thl"
grc;lt incarnations of the Kargyudpa Lineagt-, he has pnfertnl tht- Six Yogas of
Siddha ~aropa and the M.lba111udra. liis Lineage:
hl'''lrll.lliol1
lSI CIIOSWAN(; L1lUNJ)R UP (1440-1503)
2nd TSUKLAK TRLNGWA (1504-1566)
3rd TSUKLAK GYAMTSO (1567-1633)
4th TSUKLAK KUNZANG (J 63 3-1(49)
5th TSUKLAK TINLAY GYAMTSO (1649-1699)
6th TSUKLAK CIIOSKYI DODRUI' (1701- ? )
7th TSUKLAK GAWA ( -1781 )
Rlh TSUKLAK CIiOSKYI GYALPO ( ? - ? )
9th TSUKLAK NYINGCHE ( ? -1911)
10th TSUKLAK NAWA WANGCHUK (J 912-present)
/--..
--,~"

The Tenth Pa\\o Tulku. (1966)

liO
 API'Et\J)IX: (F)

OTIIER HIGH LAMAS OF TilE KAHGYUDPA SECT

TIWNGPA TULKU

Tht' Ekl'l'lnh CIIOC;YAM THUt\(;PA TULKU wa~ oorn in North-Eastern Tibt,t

in February 1939. lit' was the Suprrme Ahbot of the grt'at Surmang monastery,
found('d in his first incarnation as Trung Mase the Siddha. The present incar-
nation was recognised by the sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, from whom he received
many important initiations and tt3chings. After f('aching tht· West he founded the
Samye Ling Tihetan monastic ('cntre in Srotland. Now ht' i~ in America, whne he
has ('stahlished two important new emtres of Buddhism.
The U71I'age

I Kunga Gyaltsen 7 Jampal Chogyal

2 Kunga Zangpo R G),urmc Tenphel
3 Kunga Osd 9 Karma Tenphel
4 'Kunga Namgyal 10 Choskyi Nyinje
5 l'enzin Chog)'al II Chosk)'i Gyamtso
6 Lodro Tcnphel

Trungpa Tulku. (1968)

171
 KAI(MAI'A Tilt bLACK HAl l.AMA OJ-' liBEl

KALU Hl!'\POCHE
The second KALU }{I!'\POCHE ha~ a monastery in Sonada near Darjn'ling and
ha~ twin: \'i~ittd Europe, Canada and America, founding a number of new Centres
for Buddhist Dharma and meditation. lit is an excelknt teacher, ('speci:dly of the
'Six Yogas' of Siddha !'\aropa.

SANGYENYENPATULKU
The first San/:.'YC' Nycnpa 1 ulku, DEMA DH UPCIIEN, was a great Siddha. He was
the main teacher of Mikyo Dorje, the eighth Gyalwa Karmapa. All hi~ ~ul!st'quent
inclrnations were fine tl'achers and Yogis, famous for the extraordinary mirades
which thcy performed. Tht' present incarnation, the tenth, is agl'd nine years and
lives in the nC'w Rumtck monastery in Sikkim.

Tht· Tenth S"n~)'r N)'cn!,,, Tulku. (1 Y70)

172
 AI'I'Lt-<I>IC[S

P()1\LOP HI1\I'OCIIE
The first 1'01\LOI' TULKU was a Siddkl of the 1\yingmapa tradition. The fourth
incarnaTion, Jt \\'on Ponlop, wa~ born into a Nyingmapa family. Ill' travelled to
the Tsurphu monasTery and n'ct"ived Kargyudpa tt"<lchings from hi~ cider brother,
who wa~ a meditation teacher there. Ill' becan1l" part of The Karma-Kargyudpa and
was a fine Lama. lit- pa~scd away in the old Humtl'k monaSltTy in the mak water
tiger Far (1962).

1
J
(, -:.1

Thr "ounh 1'01l10p'l ulku .

•
The fifth PONLOI' TULK U, Sungrah Ngedon Tl'nlK Gyalt~cn, was born at the
ncw Humtck monaSlny aT sunrisl' on the twt'llty-si:\th dayof the fourth month of
tht femail' wood snake year (1965), ;I~ thl' son of the General Secret:lr)' of the
monastery, lIis birth was in 3lTordan('t with a prediction madt by II, H. Tht
Sixtccnth Gy:dwa Karmapa and his rc('ognition was ronfirmed by II. H, The
Fourteenth Dalai Lam;\. I It- was l'nthroncd at Humtck, wherl' he is now studying,
Ht i~ ~even years old,

Th,' hfth I',,"lop Tul}';u. (1972)

173
 KAKMAI'A, 1111' BLACK ItAT LAMA OF TlllEl

THE TWO KB)'ENTSE I{lNPOCHES

,
i\\

• 'J I .
l'; ,_ o·

TRONGSAR I\IIYENTSE WANGPO DELGO KIIYENTSE RINt'DellE

The third incarnation. aged (wl·nt),-six. The ,econd inrarnation. aged fift)'-
I'" live, in Madh)'a-Prade'h. India. Of ci~Il\. Ik li"t-, in the Kirhu mona'terr.
11ll' l\arma'Karg)'udpa Line. Ilhutan. Of Ihe N)'in~ma·Karg)'udpa
Line.

DIW PON IUNPOCIIE

Thr ~t'cond DRU paN TULKU. prc,ently studying in Rumtck. Sikkim. aged
~\'Cn years.

t';"d
\~
_.:~~.~,.,..~: Dru 1'011 Hinpoche. (1972)

~,:
<--I

174
 API'nWICI',S

DAIIZANG RINPOC.IIE
An emanation of Je Gam!,op", he live.
in Nepal, a~cd fort),-five.
KIIF.NI'O TRANGlJ
The ei)!hth incarnation. A~cd fort)" he
i. the Abbot of the nn' Rumtek
mon:J!-.lr-r)'.

SAIIClllJ RINPOCIIF TI\ALFG RIl'\POCIIE

Tile- third inrarn;niuTl, 31!ni fi(t)'·~("\'Cn. The ninth inclfll.ltiPtl, noV. a~nJ ('ifh
Ii\'n in "ath"l;1I1du, ~q)al. aTilt 1i\'l'~ in Sarnath. India.

175
KARMA!'A, 1111 IlLACK IIAT LAMA 01, '1IIJEl

DOH)E LOI'ON TEf"GA IUf"I'OCIIE

The ,,'wnd incarnalion, a~"d forty'
OJll', liv("\ in I{umtl"k.

TRLJNGRAM GYALDRUL
RII\POCIIE
Tfll'!llird iiica-,rialilin; a-~c-d-fivr>'ea f~­
li\T' in Rumtrk,
AKONG RINPOCIIE
Pre,enll), rum tht" Sam)'c Lin~ Tihetan
centn' in S('olland A di"'iplc of Ih,'
Karmap", he w;" the AhLol of the
/)0/'11.1 tt'l11pk. near Chamdo. lit- i~ tht'
~t'rond incarnat ion.

176
 APPE)'.;DIX: (G)

CI.AIUFICA'J IONS OF DIVISIO~'S WITlII)'.; TIlE KAHGYUDPA SECT

(I) TilE DRUKPA BRA)'.;CII

The I>rukpa-Kargyud is wmposed of thaT ~l'l-tiom, heing termcd tht, 'top', tht'
'hottom' Jnd thl' 'middle', TllUs:
Tbe 'top ': Founded by Gyalwa Ling Repa, who passed the teachings on to
Drogon Tsangpa Gyare (foundn of the Tsangpa sui>sel'l), lit- in turn pass,'d thcm
to Go l\angpa Gonpo Dorjc, whost· fon:most disciI'll- was Siddha Urgympa (thc
teacher of the third Karmapa). Siddha lJrgycnpa passl'd them on to hi~ discipll-
Gyalwa Yang Gonpa. This section becan1l' known as thr 'l\',l1l1kbye Karlll,I', or
'Star of Bean'n', It was very largr,
Tbe 'bottolll': Foundl'd hy Siddha Lorrpa, who Wtnt to Bhutan and there
met Tsangpa Gyaft', from whom hl' rccrived all the teachinp by thc time hl' was
snTn. At tht· age of thirteen he went to Khara and tht'f(' nlt'ditatcd for three
yt'ars. Be tral'c1lt-d to )'.;am ho, where thnt' is an island in the middle of a lake
and two cavn on the island, both of which he uSl'd for prolonged meditation. He
had only one load of baric)' flour and had to cat his animal-shin dothing, yet h('
was ahle to sptnd many years thae and ultimately attailll:d perfection. One
slimmer ht· pnfornlt'd a miracle of creating a path of itT from the island to the
shore. As he walked across it a shephtTd saw the ice melting bt-hind him and thus
his fame spread far. Jk had about a thousand disripks and foundrd two
monasteries, Karpo Chos Ling (in Tibet) and Tarpa Ling (in Bhutan), Ik passed
away at the age of sixty-four in the malt- iron dog year (1250), This st'ction
bl'c3n1(' known as the 'Sayi 15i Sbillg', or 'Tree Branches'.
11.1e 'middle ': Founded by Won res Dharma Senge, the nephew of Tsangpa
Grare. Rorn in th(' fire bird year (1177), he re('rived all the ordinations and
initiations from hi~ uncle. Hl' prophesied the coming of a flood but stopped it Ly
leaving his footprint on a rock in front of the great Halung monastery. Then he
repaired the monastery, constructed many new shrim's and built great statues. Be
_12a.\~t'.d_ a'"~Lat!h('_~gc~C.si~ty-ol1~}eaving eight successors in charge of the
monastery. They were: ------- ----
(i) Zhonu Senge, (ii) Nyima Senge, (iii) Senge Sht'fab, (iv) Sengt- Nyinche,
(\') Chosje ~l'ngl' Gyalpo, (\-i) Jamhyang Kung3 ~cngc, (vii) Lodru~engc and
(\'iii) Sherab Scngc.
The cldn brother of Sherah Sl'Ilgc, Yc~he Hinrh('l1, Spl'llt fifty )Tars as their
spirituallrader and was suc('(-cdcd by:
Tbe First j)/il.'J\Ul/-.X JUi\,/,OUlf: (;yalwan~ Kunga Paljor, who wa~ born in
the male earth l1lonk('), ~Tar (13(,1':), Ik was thr firq tClchrr of the '/)ml.:c/'c7I

177
 KA'<MAI'A, 'I ilL BLACK II A" LAMA (H 11lllT

CbY'lhgo/l' ~l-ct of lhe Karma-Kargyudpas and H:C!:il'ed lhe romplcte ,\l,lbamliliru

from the Siddha Namkhi Naljor and others, From the teacher lk Hingpa he
receil'td the leachings of Pra71lan,I and the Madbyu1l1ik.1_ From Changchuh Pal he
took initiation into Jlcmjra and MJbu11l.Jya, Ill' sptnt six yeJrs in the monaqny
of Jt (;ampopa and then went to Ralung, whert' he Mll-{'lTded a~ Abhot. At the
age of fifty-nint he made a prt'diction concerning his future incmlation, Ill' had a
nephcw called Nga\\'ang Choskyi G)'alpo, who had many teachers and became a
fim- ~ch()lar.
The first Drukchen Rinpoclw meditated ;It tht Halung mon;lstcry for nine
),l-;Irs, pnfl'C!l'd hil1Jstlf and became a Siddha, I Ie was an incarJ13tion of Marpa
and helped to sprl-ad lhe Dharma widtly, Al lhe age of sCI'l-nly-six he p:lssed away.
Ti.>r _\ccol/Ii I)}{VI\CIIF'" /UN/'OCIfI': j'lmbyang Choskyi Trakpa, was horn
in Ja)'ul, according 10 the prediction of his prtdecessor. lie hn:lI11e a disciple of
!'I:gawang Choskyi Gyalpo and receivcd man)' tt-achings and initiations from
SIi;II11ar Tulku and the Gralwa Karmap;1. Pc'rfl-Cling his ml-ditation hl- became: a
Siddha, leal'ing man)' footprints pe:rmancntl), on rocks and was able to sit in the
air in the lotus-posture of a Buddha_ In acrordann: with the instrurtions of the
!l.d'in; Sukha~jddhi he foundl'd lhe Tashi Thong Mon Ling monastery. H(" per- •
forllll'tl many miracles and pas\cd away at thl' age of forty-fivl'_
Tbe tbird /)/(VI\CII/:'''' R/NPOCll/:': Padma Karpo was born in th(" frmale
firt' pig ycar (J 527)_ Ik had many tcachers and quickly bl'camc' a Siddha, He
founded the Sang Nga Chos Ling monastlTY and wrotl' many hooks, His for("most
discipks Wtrl' (i) Thuchen Chosgon and (ii) Yongdzin Ngawang Zangpo, who
founded tht' grt'at J)l'chl'J) Choskhor Ling monastl'r},_
{be fOllrtb /)/WI\CIIJ:N Rl!'l'POCIIE. Mipham Wangpo,
The fifth DUVI\CH/;N R/NI'OCIIE: Paksam Wangpo_
71.>e sixt/; DRVI\C/iFN R/NI'OCIII:".' Tinlay Shingta_
1'be se~IC7Itb DRVI\CIlEN laN/'OCII/:'. Kunzig Chosnang,
Tbe f;~btb /)/WI\CIIEN lUNI'OCIIT:: Jigme Mig)'ur Wangyal.
71.,(, lIilltb DRl'I\ClfLV RINJ'OClIE- Mipham Choskyi Wangpo,
Tbc teuli> lJRVI\CII1:"I\' RIN/'OCIII:': Khedrup Yeshe Gyamt~o_
----·TliC--i'/cvcmJj-IJRTJKCfll:N-UIN/'()t'IfE:Jigmc-Migyur-Wangkyi-Dorje,-the-
prncnt incarnation, who was predicted and recognised by the sixteenth Gyal\\'a
Karmapa. His ('nthronemcnt cen'mony was pe:rformed at the J)o Tsuk monastery
in Ihrjn'ling. Ile is now aged nine }'Can and already exhibits powers of prophl'c}',
Ilis monastery is at the Mrm tra-estatc', below Sukhia Pokhri in the Darjeding
diq,icl.
(II) TilE KHAM BRANCII
'fl'" fmt 1\11.'1 \f"lR VI_ /UNN)CIIF, Karma 'lcllphd (15911-1638), a dis,-ipk of

1711
 API'I NJ)ICI',~

Yongdzin NgJwJng Zangpo (who had two other important di~riples: Taktsang
Repa of Ladakh and Dorwng KUllchok Gy:tlpo, of Far Eastern Tibet). A great
tt';Jchn, he produ('t'd an incarn;lte Line,
71.>£' s('colld I\JfA\I'/J< VL JUN/'()UI/:', Kllnga Tt'nphd (](,39-] (.79), who Iud
a finc disciple called Dl.igar Sonam G}'3mt~o, the fir~t DZIGAR CIIOKTH VL
HINPOCllE.

') lit· Lino

nlfltinucd
until

Jipno Go .. h.,
tl", ninth
inrarn:1 t ion.
who JI\'f:~ in
tl>,' new
Runllck
mOn;l!l.trr), in
Sikkil11, a~ed
~In'm )"',,r..

Th~ Ninth 1>7igu Choktrul Tulku, (1969)

Tbc tbird I\HAAl1RUL /{/l\'POClJI:': Kunga Tenzin (1680-1729), a disciple

of the first D'igar Choktrul I{inpochl', hl' founded the Khampa G,lr monaqny
in Eaqcrn Tibet.
Tb(' fourlh 1\1I.·1.'I1TUUI. /uNI'OCJlF· Choskyi I\yima (1730-171'0),
'1z,(' fiflb Idl:\M'IRUJ. RINI'OU//;, Dllpjud Nrima (171'1-lI{47).
·11.>c sixl/.' 1\/1.-\,\1'1 NUL IiIXI'()UIJ:. Tellpai 1\yimJ (1848-1907),
'1z,(' S(';'CIII/.' /\/JA\ f l1i UI. /u.\'I'OCJlI: Sanj.,')'l' hill in ( iY()Il-i9 2 '.I),

179
)';AIIMAI'A, 1111 BLAC)'; IIA1 LAMA o~ 111ll.1'

'fl,c cigbtb I\JllM,//WL JU"'['OCJlL Donjud l\'yima (lJOrn 1930), the

proent incarnation, who li\'t,~ in Ta,hijong (Ilim3chal Pradnh) whnc he has
('qabli,hcd a 'I ibt-tan Art and Craft centre,

Th. bt:hth Khamtrul Tulku.

(III) TilE BHUTAl\' BRANCH

In J('('ordance with a prophecy made by Drogon Tsangpa Gyare, his disciple

Satlf.,,)'c Won produced a disciple called Phajo Drogon, who went fa Bhutan, There
he foundl,d the Tan Go monastery and ~prcad the Dharma widely,

(IV-)-Hl E-DRI GUNG-BI{A/liClL

Founded by Jigten Sumgun, of Khams, a di,eipk of Lama Phagmo Gru Dorjc

GyaJtSl'll (a di,cipk of Jt Gampopa), Ill' founded tht Drigung monaqcry in 1179
and had many fine di"'iplrs, tht foremost of whom w;!, Lama l\'ycu, who was
born in Lhanang in tht male wood monkey Yl'ar (11M), He rl'('cil'l'd all the
tLlehinp from Jigten Conpo (who i, also known as Rinchm Pal) and then
tr;ll'l'ilrd to Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, where hl' meditated for thirty'four
Y(,;lr ... Ill' attained pnfcnion and kearne a great Siddha, as did many of hi ..

180
 AI'PI NDICt~

disciplt-s. Anothn grt·at t(";1('her of this ~l'hool was Kadampa Chosje, born in
Khams in th(" iron dog year (1190,). Ik W:lS initi:1tnl by J igtl"ll Gonpo and quirkly
:lttaincd pnft'ction. Ik founded tht' Lung Shok and Hincht'n Ling mOllasterit's.

"Iblf the Tibt-t:lIl pl'Oplc art" Drukpas,

lIalf thl' Drukpas art' hegging ao,'Ttics,
lIalf thl' b(,gging asreti", are Saints."
(popular Tihetan saying)

181
 THE GUHU-LAMA YOGA OF THE KARMAPAS
(The 'Lama 'j Na/jor')

Tiil: SITUA TJON

"In the ~k)' before mr i~ my Lama.
In the form of Mikyo Dorjc, the eighth Karmapa.
Wrapped in coulllle~s W;I\T~ of Enjoym('nt,
He wears the robes of a monk.
Upon his hC;ld is the Black Hat Crown,
And his complex ion is of a golden colour."

"lit' hold~ sceptrt' and bcll,

Symbolic of the Unity of Wisdom and Means:
Thus hc makt'~ the non-dual Voidnt'ss-Illiss
Discernible. "

"As I make this pr;lyer and meditate,

Thc Fire of dt'votion flames.
As I meditate upon it,
Tht· Blessing of the Lama blazes in reply.
When I meditate upon this Blessing,
Warm and sacred, like fire,
All the powers come to me,
And the Manj-jc'wels burst into flame."

"From the sky and from the earth,

Yet neither from above nor from below.
The Blessing falls likt, rain.
From my very heart. KYE!
Listen to me, and to my prayer!"

."Manifestationis.inthe.'!.oid,_
Tht, Void is in all things manifested:
Manifestation, inseperablc from the Void,
h the body of the Lama.
To this body I am praying,
Oh Precious Lama, give me the Bkssing."

"Sound is in the Void,

The Void is in all sound:

IR5
 KARMAI'A, lin: IILACK HAl LAMA OF TlBEl

Sound and Void, insrptrablc,

Is the ~p{'tch of the Lama.
To this speech I am praying.
Oh Precious Lama, give mt' tht Blessing."

"Bliss is in tht Void,

The Void is in all Bliss:
Bliss and Void, imepcrable,
Is the Mind of the Lama.
To this Mind I am praying,
Oh Precious Lama, give me tht, Blessing."

"KYE! Listen 10 me.

Whrn the Lama-jrwt'l appears,
The sky is filled with rainbow light.
Imagint· the eight Goddesses of offerings,
The Blessing flamt's like fire, HU R U R U....
Like a flash come tht' first Healizations, SHA RA RA .... "

"KYE! Listen to me.

Great Lama, that in your presence
I may attain the Realizations.
Come and Bless me.
From that supremely sacred plaee
Descend.
Bestow upon me the supreme attainment
Of the Four Initiations.
Bestow upon me the occult powers.
Remove all my wrong ideas
And mental obstacles.
~~c_("\'£I"Y beirJg r>(:~cf'ful."

7111:' \'/SUAU7.ATlON· THE Al'I'EARA NCI:' OF TilE IMKINIS

The first is the Karma Dakini, green of colour. She removes en\'y, and IS the
Ill-an:nl}' Mother of Action:
"In the sky bdore me is the Wisdom Dakini,
Gn'cn of colour. (GREEN)
All sickness, malefic influences and defilements,
Arc purified in Her light."

186
 1'111' GURU·LAMA YOGA 01· HIE KARMAI'AS

"For all sins, veils of ignorance,

And tht fault~ that bind us,
Brfore the revered Yogini, with folded hands
I am penitent."

TIl(" ~("cond i~ the RaIna Dakini, ytllow of colour. She removes pride, and is the
Heavenly Mother of Jewtls:
"In the sky before mt' is the Wisdom Dakini, (YELLOW)
Ytllow of colour.
All sickness, malefic influences and defilements,
Are purified in Ikr light."

"For all sin~, veil~ of ignorancc,

And tht· fault~ that hind us,
Before the revert'd Yogini, with folded hand~
I am penitent."

The third is the Padma Dakini, red of colour. She removcs passion, and is the
H~avenly Mother of the Lotus:
"In the sky beforc mC' is the Wisdom Dakini,
Red of colour. (RED)
All sickness, malefic influences and defilements,
Arc purified in Her light."

"For all sins, veils of ignorance,

And the fault~ that bind us,
Before the revert·d Yogini, with folded hands
I am penitent."

The fourth is the Buddba Dakini, white of colour. She removes ignorance, and is
the Heavenly Mother of the Buddhas:
--''In-thesky-bcfore-me-is-the-Wisciom-Dakini, -(-WHI'I'E)
White of colour.
All sickness, malefic influences and defilements,
Arc purified in Her light."

"For all sins, vcils of ignorance,

And the faults that hind us,
Before tht' revered Yogini. with folded hands
I am penitent."

187
 KARMAPA, TIlE BLACK BAT LAMA Of TlIlET

The fifth is the Heavenly Mother of the Sa maya , bound by oath, black of colour.
She purifies the vows of Yogis, and b not differl'nt from Sri Devi. the Maba Kali:
"In the sky before me is the Wisdom Dakini. (BLACK)
Blaek of colour.
All sickness, malefic influences and ddilc:mcnts,
Are purified in Her light."

"For all sim, veils of ignorance,

And tht' faults that bind us,
Brfore the revered Yogini, with folded hands
I am penitent."

The sixth is the Vajra Dakini, blue of colour. She removes all ill-will and hatred,
and is the Bea\'enly Mother of the adamantine l'ajra:
"In the sky before me is the Wisdom Dakini, (BLUE)
Blue of colour.
All sickness, malefic influences and dcfilc:ments.
Are puri fit'd in Her light."

"For all sins, veils of ignorance,

And the faults that bind us,
Before the re\'ered Yogini, with folded hands
I am penitent."

The seventh is the Heavenly Mother of many colours. She removes the faults and
failings born of the three 'poisons' of craving, hatred and ignorance:
"In the sky before me is the Wisdom Dakini, (SMOKY)
Smoky of colour.
All sickness, malefic influences and defilements,
Arc purified in Her light."

" For all sins, veils of ignorance,

And the faults that bind us,
Befon' the re\'cred Yogini, with folded hands
I am penitent."
(HER/:' 71fI!\'I\ THAT ALl. IS NOW PUI<IFII:'D)

II1I:DI7A nON
The sky is full of Mikyo Dorje. AH

ISB
 lilt Gl'lHI·LAMA YOGA Of' TIlE KARMAPAS

Ecstatic Joy of the I'ajra, shining in

rays of eight colours. HO

The Beavenly Messtngers flame at the

power of your spcech. HUNG

Fierce is your Ruddha'al'livity,

purifying all defilements. OM

DLI'OTION TO 11m KARMA/'AS

"Most venerated Holy One,
With power OVCT the Four Bodies,
Whatever you undertake is the Di\'ine play
Of the transcending Wisdom,
Encompassing all.
Oh Karmapa, in whom resides the power of the Buddha,
Ol'can of Buddha's Blessings,
Think of me. "

"You have gathered a heap of virtues,

And all that is good.
The essence of the Buddhas,
Is manifcsted in the Holy Lama,
Great in mercy.
Born of the Higher Senses, is your Body of Illusion.
Oh venerated I'aira-essence of speech,
Think of me."

"As long as this body lasts,

It is upon you that we rely.
Of the nature of the Four Bodies,
_h.j_Q~Oral]'~llsmissi()Tl of Gampopa:
Giver of Blessings,--------
To those who arc worthy,
You of the magnificent succession,
Think of mc."

"All negative mcntal fabrications,

Collapse of themselves.
In the Dbarmadbatu, immaculate,

189
 KAKMAPA, TIll, IIl.ACK BAT LAMA o~ lll1ET

Your Form of Light appears.

Oh Master of tht· Buddha-activity,
Who knows past, prc~ent and future,
Grt~at !leart of Love,
Think of me."

"In thi~ Agc of Darkness,

t.hny arc the way~ which you ~how
For controlling all oeinp.
Oh power of the Victorious Ones,
Caring for all, without discrimination,
You from whom all orrult powers emngc,
Most Holy One,
Think of me."

"Who arc all the Victorious Ones

In One,
Who can ripen those who arc worthy.
The Order of the Karmapas,
Showing the l'ajrayalla Path of Bliss,
Away from the two veils of ignorance,
Oh faultless One,
Think of me."

"By yourself, you have attained

The Four Activities of the Buddhas.
Through your Will and Blessing,
Bestow upon me the Wisdom Supreme.
The succession of Realized Ones,
Is concentrated within you.
Oh speech of the Vajra, Great Karmapa,
_Think_QLmc. "

"Possessing the Eight Virtues,

Of the Celestial Buddha Vajradbara,
Having the Seven Asprcts,
Of the Tutelary lIrruka:
Thou who arc all the Buddhas in One,
The power of the jinas,
The real Buddha, venerated Mikyo Dorje,
Think of me."

190
 1111. GUKl'-LAMA YOGA OJ- Til ... "AKMAJ'A~

"You who are all the Ji/l.)~ in One,

Karmapa, think of me.
You who art all tht l!uddbo1~ in One,
Karmapa, think of me.
You who arc all the To1tbo1go1to1S in One,
Karmapa, think of me.
You who arc Omniscient,
Karmapa, think of me."

n!l:' MANTRA: "KAHMAI'A ClIEN NO"

(He:pc:at it a~ often as you can)

l'lU1H'R
"You who are: all mercy,
Think of me.
You who arc all the Buddhas in One,
Think of me.
You who are at alltime:~ the Supreme Teacher,
Think of me."

"To Mikyo Dorje, I am praying.

To Chos Trag Gyamtso, I am praying.
To the Oral Transmission of Gampopa, I am praying.
To th(' Order of the Karmapas, I am praying."

"Moq venerated Onc, may I become like you.

Learned Abbot, rna)' I become like you.
Guru-Lama, may I becomt'like you.
Protector of the people, may I become like you."

"With your spiritual father, Omniscient,

Sangye Nyenpa, great in Healization,
Oh Victorious One, Mik)'o Dorje,
If 1 do not pray to you, to w'hom should I pray?
Of your mercy, if you do not look towards me,
Who will look?
Thncforc, to you I am praying.
That you givc me: your Blessing."

191
t(ARMAI'A, 1111: IILACt( IIAT LAMA OF liBEl'

"Of all the ~tlllicnt beings,

Especially those who rtly upon you alone
As their Guardian,
Cherish us, bt:yond Time ibrlf.
And bestow upon us
The I{e.dization of the M,il',J 7I1udra , "

--"-'L)'ousl~~21J;il'e the Hb~illg~\\'ho will Bltss me?

In your Lo\,{" if you do not hold mr,--who will h(-)I'd'n-1-e'?-
If you do not show me your grace, who will show it?
If you do not control me, the willing one,
Who will ('()ntrol me?
Oh most \,enn.lled One, if you don't gual d me from bad action,
-Who will guard me?
,~bstn of tht, spiritual powers, if rou do not prottet me,
Who will protect me?"

"It is you who will act'Ompany me through the lifc:times,

Cut the root of all my douhts,
And always he the Wish·fulfilling Gem,
I rdy upon you wntinuously, for you can protect me,
Oh Eternally Awakened One, dry up thl' lake
Of the world's sufferings,"

"Oce3n of \'irtues untellable,

Teacher of all beings,
Like the sky, their only mother.
Oh treasurl,·houst, of mncy, beyond imagination,
In this Age of Darkness,
If you do not lis!<'n to tht, people,
Then who will listen?"

"If you do not protect me now,

Then when will you protect me?
If you do not bestow the PO"TrS upon 1Ill' now,
When will you bestow them?
When I Sl't' my mind and yours as One,
I am Liberated from delusion,
And all the knots of my comeiousn("s, arc untied,
All pcoplt, like the \'ast cxpamc of tht, lIeavens,

192
 1111' Gl'I{lILAMA YOGA Or- liH. KARMAI'AS

Arc rclattd to carh other.

I pray that now and always,
You may bring them to Liberation,"

LAMA MOST SIICRliD

"Look toward~ all ~entit'llt lJt'ings,
And ~al't: th()~t who pray to you,
At thi~ time, like he who~e hou~e coll:lp~es,
-P;rlrnITfli it;fl <5df("ser hy-f l'ar~:-
Pray turn your mind toward~ him,"

L:1.~U 1111:' (;1<1:'111')1:11'1:'1.

"You who know the Ultimate Meaning,
-You who know how to tran~fn tht' Bks~ing, _
You who can show us tht Ultim3tl' Healization,
llal'ing the Dil'ine Fyt' and th(' occult POWCfS,
Showing a mas~ of miracles,
Inn-pressihk is the kindness that you bntow upon us:
For you put Enlightenment right in my hand,"

"Whc'n unfortunate manifestations rome,

You arc the: guide, showing the: Voidness
In its manifold aspects,
Tramce:ndent Lord of the: Universe,
From the depths of my heart, I bt'~t"ech you,
For you alone haH' the required powers,"

"To you of the merciful heart, I am ~peaking"

Oh Master of the powers, of the Oral Transmission,
Beyond debate,
All powerful One,
- Of action beyond compare,"

"Most 1101), One, Fully Enlightened,

All the gral'C of body, speech and mind is yours,
For thr sake of all beings,
lint" and now I am offering m),self to you,
Of your great Lol'c accept mc,
And hal'ing accepted me, you who h;1I t' the power,
Always protect me,

193
KAKMAPA, TilE IllACK liAT lAMA 0/· TlliEl

Oh venerated Ollt', from my htart ) bc~eech you,

Gil't' me the Bk~sing,
That) Illay bt'colllt, like you."

"To the most rCI"!:red :lIld 1I0ly Lama, ) am praying,

Gil'e m(' your IIkssing.
~\3y ) undn~t:lnd all that you do,
-Alld-nl:f5')rl'Illffljh{'r-all-th-at-yousay;'-'-

"Gil't' nll' your Bkssing,

That) may realize my mind and yours
As One,"

"From birth to birth,

Throughout all my life-times,
Gi\'( me )'our Blessings,
That all ) do may add to your Happiness.
May whatever be displtasing to you,
Never arise in me.
Pray give me your Blessing."

"In the innermost recess of my heart,

Remembering the hour of death,
May pure dcvotion be born in me,
May disgust with the world bt, attaim'd by renunciation.
May I alwap remain with the Bbsings
Of Mikyo Dorjc, the Joyful One."

"Throughout all my life-times,

May thc vcnerated Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje,
Be my Lama,
And from the transcending Path of thc l'ajrayana,
Of the Arising and Perfecting Path of Yoga,
May I attain the Realization of the lion-dual hody,"

"In all my life-timn, may m)' Teacher be the Gyalwa Karmapa,

Who wears the sacred Black Hat l'ajra-Crown.
May my Protector Yidam be that honourcd One,
Of th(' Great Bliss.
May I alwap be in the prt'Sence of Cbakrasalllvara,"

194
 TIlL GUIUJ.l.AMA YOGA OF TliI. I\AHMAI'AS

"The lIeart of the Path is dn'otion and tht M,i/.lJ7l1uJra.

The e,'tllCt of diss~tisfactioll with the world,
h tht hody of tilt· Prtcious Lama.
Alld lit- Hirmt:lf i, tht Full Artainmt'llt
Of tht Ctkqial Buddha, 1'.ljT~d"i1r~,
Irldil'i~ihlc ...

I:N7R hATI NG__T1 IF LI t-.'LO 1~T1 JEL1 A1.·LSUCCESS1DN,--

"To tht m~trhks, Lint of the Oral Transmission of (;ampopa.
J am praying.
To that Supreme: among men, Dusum Kh)'l"npa,
J am praying.
To the Healization·Linc of the Order of Karg)'udpa,
I am praying. -
To th,' Ont grtat in mercy, Hangjung Dorjc, the Olllniscitnt,
J am praying.
To tht One of great ability, Sang)'t Nyenpa,
J am praying.
To the Ont of grace abounding, the Gawi Yangchrn,"
I am praying.
To the \'ajra-voiced One,
J am praying.
To the good voice of the egoless state,
J am praying.
To the incomparably good Mikyo Dorje.
I am praying.
To the peerless One of great Love,
I am praying.
To the petrless One of the: merciful Heart,
J am praying.
To the peerless One greatly skilled,
I am praying."

'ISKING FOR THE ULFSSING

"Uncertain is the time of my death,
And from my innermost heart J pray
GiI'C me your BIc~sing.
Bltss me that from deep within me,

• The Great \'oirc of I~·!.ta .. )'.

195
KARMA"A, 1I1E BLACK HAT LAMA 01' TI/ltT

Dissatisfaction with the world may arise.

Bless me that all outer things may appear meaningless.
Bless me that I may understand the impcrmam:nce of el'erything."
"You, whosc loving kindness encompasses all,
Away from any attachment to your own,
To you I pray.
You, whose Buddha-actil'ity knows no bounds,
-i'()yol;Tpra~ -
To YOll, whose Blessinp arc bcyond now and then,
To you I pray.
To you, whose Holy Sight and Words arc full of meaning,
To you I pray."

7111-. I'RA }TR OF 7JJE 11U/)/)JlA OC/:·AN·II'JJ)E. CAl.L/if) Tim GYALIfA

(,' l'AMTSO: In the Circle of Fire, recite this:

"Sitting on the.- crown of my head.

In the moon-disc in the heart of the Lotus,
h the Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Dorje:.
Surrounding Him arc the host of Kargyudpa Lamas.
With dcepe.-st devotion I am praying;
Pour your Blessings upon me:,
That I may see the: Voidness of all things.
Both inner and outer."
"In my heart, on the Eternal Vajra-seat,
Is the Lord Buddha of the Great Mercy,
Surrounded by all the Buddhas. Ocean-wide.
With deepest devotion I am praying;
Pour your Blessings upon me:,
That I may sce the: Voidness of all things.
Both inner and oute:r."
"To my right, flaming in the enjoyment of the Great Bliss,
h the King of the Angry Ones, the pt'crlcss Jlayagriva,
Surrounded by the Ocean of Heroes.
With dn:prst devotion I am praying;
Puur your Blessings upon me,
That I may see the Voidness of all things,
Both inner and outer."

196
"To my left, in tht Palact of Pure Spact,
h the Secret Mother, the Wisdom Dakini,
Surrounded by an Ocean of Dakinis.
With deepest dcvotion I am praying;
Pour your Bles~ings upon me,
That I m.IY see the: Voidness of all things,
Both inner and outer."

"Above Ill{", in the Pure Palace of the Gods,

Is the V'}jra-GuT"lI, l'admas;ll11bhal'a, Lotus·horn,
Surrounded by an Ocean of Siddhas.
With dn'pest devotion I am praying;
Pour your Bltssings upon me,
That I may sec the Voidness of all things;
Both inner and outer."

"Below, in the Palace of the Great Vows,

Arc the Dharma-Protectors, with their (omorts,
Surrounded hy an O("ean of Vow·kt"Cpers.
With deepest devotion I am praying;
Pour your Blessings upon me,
That I may sec tht· Voidness of all things,
Both inner and outer."

"Having prayed with faith and del'otion,

To my Root-Lama, and to all the Line,
May I and all scntient beings
Of the Six Spheres,
Attain the most Perfect Realization."

"Oh Great One, Rangjung Dorjc,

Finding you is like finding the Wish-fulfilling Gem.
If I and all others make the offering to you,
Pray fulfill our heart's desires.
And may all be Auspicious!"

"By your Bodhisattva Actions,

Tht Rays of Mercy stream in the Ten Dirl'CtiollS,
Just Iikt· the moon becoming full on the fifteenth d:I)'."

197
 THANSLATOH'S NOTE

----'-'The reacit'Ly,jILQL~cO\·~tbt'-2penirlg_~all~a~()(_ Tbc \ '()U' c~,,~r_c~~_thc !~Iigi(~ll~

_and spiritual tradition of AI.lb,1IIll1dr,1. The first fin: ~tanza~ prnmt the funda-
mtntal principln and tht necessary 'wi~he~' of the Buddhist~. Tht author of n,{'
FoUl is Karmapa IlIr.-l (12"4-1339). a very great authority and an a(Tompli~hed
Yogi. who~e numt·rou~ writin~ include Tbc Profound Imll'r Alr,winK of Tun/ris11I.
considered by Tihetan scholars as the greatest work on the suhject. Tbr \'u'U! is
-. rtTited by the White Srhool as a daily prayer."

(From: 'Fso/eric TC.lcbings of Ibc Til>c/.l71 Talllra' hy G. C. C. Chang. puhli~hed

by Aurora I'res~, Lau~annt', Switznland ... & C. A. Must's.)

202
 THE VOW OF MAHAMVDRA
by
Rangjung Dorje

(I)
") pray to tht Guru, to the }'id.1m and to those Holy Bting~ in tht M,mdala,
) pray to the Buddhas and to their Bodhisattva Sons in the: Thre{' Times and tht
---Ttn--Dire("tions,-
Renll'mber me, havt compassion and pit)' on me, .
Blcss with accomplishrm:nt my wishts,"

(2)
"The pure action of my body and my mind,
My virtuous decds and those of all sentient beings,
Are like clear streams flowing from the Snow Mountain-de\'oid of the defilemtnts
of the Thrtt Circles.
May they flow frtely into the great ocean-the oc('an of the Buddha's Four
Bodies,"

(3)
"Vntil) attain the Four Bodies of Buddha,
May even the name of Samsaric miseries and sins
Bt unheard in all my future lives,
While) tnjoy tht happy Dharma-octans,"

(4)
"May faith, intelligenee, diligence and leisure,
Good Gurus and the essential teachings come 10 me,
May) practice rightly, without stumbling and hindrances,
The blessings of Dharma filling my future lives,"

(5)
"The Holy and Wisdom reckonings liberate me from ignorance,
The pith-instructions destroy my dark doubts forever,
Through the Light from meditation, vi\'idly and unmistakenly I behold Reality.
Increase, Oh Light of the Three Wisdoms."

(6)
"The Root-principle is the Two Truths-the ahsmce of tht, connctr and the null
views,

203
KARMAI'A, TilE IlLACt; HAT LAMA OF TIIIEl

Tht: Superb Path is the Provisions-without either the exaggerating or minimizing

\'ie\\'s,
Tht: Fruit i~ the Two Iltnefit~ of neithcr Nirmrl.1 nor S.1msara.
In future life, may I meet such right teachings."

(7)
"The Essence of Mind i~ the Two-in-One, the Void and the Radi;lllt Original
Source,
c1 1,1/'.1111U Jra,tht'-Diamond-Pra ft ire,i~-the-Pur-ifil'r-:-
Tht Purifit:d arc the flickering and insubstantial blinJne~~ and dtfikrnents,
May I attain the Immaculate lJbarmaJ,:aya, tht Purified Fruit."

(8)
"The Vit:w of Afab.1mudra lies in nt:ithtr addingnor deducting from thc Naturt of
Mind, - -----
Being mindful of this View, without distraction, is the i{oo(-;lCtion of Mabamudra,
Of all meditations, this is the highest practice.
Let me alway~ find this right teaching of the Vit-w, Action and Pranice."

(9)
"All Dharmas are the expression of Mind:
The Mind is of No·Mind, Void in essence,
Void, yet not extinct, it rilanifests all.
Let me observe this essence and retain this immutable View."

(10)
"In our confusion, we consider the self-manifestation apparent in outer objects,
In our blindness we hold the self-awareness to be the real ego:
Because of the Two Clingings, sentient beings wander in Samsara,
May I cut this root of confusion and blindness."

(11)
" 'Nothing really exists.' Buddha, himself. sees no existence,
'All is not empty!', since the causes of Nirvana and Samsara exist.
This is the Middk-Path of the Two-in-One, neither agreeing nor contradicting,
May I realize the discrimination·free Mind-essence."

(12)
"No one can describe tloat by saying, 'This is it l'
No one can deny tbat by saying, 'This is not it!'

204
 TilE VOW 01' MAI1AMl'[)J{A

Such i~ tht' Non-creatt-d Nature of Being, which transcends the realm of

Comciou ~ne~~.
May I allain, decisively, thi~ uttermost Truth."

(13 )
"Ignorant of thi~, we drift in tht' oct'an of S,17IJ.lal'a,
If (lnt rtalil.e~ this n~t'Ilce, thnt· is no other Buddha.
In tht' final Truth, there is neither Yes nor No,
J~tt)~rl:_0!Iil!~ill--')harm:t:llall!r~,~C:_flE.~1~Il!t:2f Alqyo1." •

(14 )
"Tht m:lnifntation i~ Mind, thl' V(Jidne~~ i~ abo Mind,
The Enlightenment i~ Mind, and tht' blindne~s is abo Mind,
The springing of things i~ Mind, and their c:xtinrtion is also Mind.
",l3y I undrrstand that :111 Increasing and Decreasing inher in Mind."

(15)
"llmullit'd by intl'l1tional practice or IIll-ditation-with-dfort,
Away from thl' Worldly Wind of distraction,
With no dfort :lIld corn'ction, I rest comfortably on the Natural state of Mind.
May I find thl' adroit and subtk teaching~ of Mind Practice."

(16)
"The wavc:~ of Thought flow strong and wl'ak, dear and dim,-subsidt',
Without disturbance tht· Rivc:r of Consciousncs~ flows Naturally,
Far from the mud of drowsinc:s~ and distraction.
LeI the strady and immutabk Ocean of So1/1101dbi absorb me."

(17)
"R('pcatedly contemplating the Incontemplatablc Mind,
Clearly discerning the Indiscernablr Mt'aning,
I forever c:limate the doubts of Yes and No.
Let me surdy behold my Original Face."

(1R)
"When I ob~ervc the outer object~, I find Iwthing but my own Mind:
When I ob~el"\'e my Mind, I find nothing but the Voidnc~~.
Ob~tT\'ing both Mind and Objt'Ct~, freed am I from the '1'\\'0 Clingings.
Let mt reali!.( tht' Trul' Nature of tht· Jllumill:lting Mind-('~~cnce."
• A(l"UlTlullitlon"', Ihe- pcrnlancnl m'f)-di'''ollliion.

205
 KAI<MAI'A, Till' IiLACK IIAl LAMA eH lIBIT

(19)
"lkcJu~e tbat tramrend~ the Mind, it i~ ,alltd the Great Symool:
Btcamt tbat fr{"C~ from the {'xtrtme~, it is caJltd the Gn:at Middk Way:
B('Clu,t' tb.1I encompa'~t~ all and embran'~ all, it i~ caJJc:d tht Great Pnftction,
Lt't me understand that knowing One is knowing All."

(20)
"With r1inginp absent, tht' Great Bli~~ continuously ari~c:s;
-Withrwf6rin to(lingfD,1lk Radi;H\rCighr(jUI~IYlfl(Trl\1.'-dIfr k-hindran('e~~
f..1Jy I comtantly practict the practiCl: of no-dfon, tramcending Mind;
Tht Natural and Spontanl'ou~ Non-Di~cl'rning,"

(21 )
- "The craving for ecstasy and good expcrie:nct in meditation, naturally di~~olvts;
Tht tl'il thought~ and blindnl'~~ rtst Innattly Pure' in the IJb.1r1ll,uibatu,
In thl' 'ordinary mind' thert is no los~ or gain, no claim or di~r1aiIll,
Away from word~. let me realizt the: Truth of the Dharma I-\~c:nn:,"

(22)
"Not knowing thtir natures arc identical with Buddha's,
Sentitnt btinp wander endlessly in Samsara;
To tho~e: mi~ry-hound, who han' undlTgone: endlc~~ sufferings,
MOl)' I forever pity theIll with unhearable Great Compas~ion,"

(23)
"Hight in that moment when the Great Compassion arises,
Emerges nakedly and vividly the Great Voidness;
Let me always find this unmistakable Two'in-Om' Path,
And practice it day and night."

(24)
- "With meditation-produced clairvoyance and other miraculous powers,
May J ripen all the sentic'nt bcing~ and adorn Buddha's Pure Land;
May I fulfill the compassionate vows of all Buddhas,
And evrntuall), achil'l'e the' /Iightst Enlightc:nml'1ll and Pnfl'Clions,"

(25)
"The pawn of the compassion of Buddha,
Thl' power of the 100'ing Bodhisattl'as,
The p(Jwcr of all \'irtues and good deeds,

206
 '1111 vow (lI" MAII.-\Ml'DHA

May I Lind thnl' powt:r~ into Ont: grtat forcc,

H), whirh the Pure Vow of mim:,
And tht hcnt'volent wi~hts of othtr~,
Ill' rcadily fulfilled I"

207
 GLOSSARY

ABHIDHARMA (Skt.): A section of the Buddhist Canon concerning metaphysics.

A basic work of the Hil1i1yana. A IIrdaya Silas/Tao
ACHAI{ YA (Skt.): 'Master'. An honorific title denoting great spiritual attainment.
The head of a religious Order.
ADI (Skt.): 'Original'. 'Tht Beginning'.
__ ADLBUDDUA_ (Skt.):-The-'Original-Buddha',thl' Hoot-Teal4lt'r,-the-s),mool-of-
universality and completeness.
ALI-KAU (Skt.): Tht vowels and consonants, thc structural elements of all
AI,Hltras. In the Tantras it has oten said that 'the whole Uni\'(:nc is nothing
but A/i-Ka/i'. The esotcrir signifirann' of thcse: sounds is the inner relation'
ship hetween the left and right subtle nerves (Nadis) of the Yoga-body.
AMITABIIA (Skt.): On, of the: five ])/.>j',mi-Iluddhas, tht· Buddha of Boundkss-
Light and Discriminating Wisdom. (:rib; 01',lPllcd).
AMITA YUS (Skt.); The Buddha of Iloundlt-ss Life. (Tio: nrpamcd).
AMHITA (Skt.~: Nectar, the Elixir of Immortality.
AlUlA l' (Skt.): A Worthy-One, who has transcended the Cyclc of He-births.
crih:' Tracbompa).
AVALOKITESHWAHA (Skt.): The Great Compassionate Bodbisattva. (Tib: eben-
rc:igs ).
BARDO crih.): The Intcrmediate Statc, betwl'en death and rebirth. There arc
various forms of Bardo. (See: 'Tbe Tihetan Uook of tbe Dead').
BLACK PI LLS: Spcrial sacramental medicine, prepared and distributcd by the
Gplwa Karmapa, to confer Lioe:ration from all suffering. Generally asso-
ciated with the 'Black Hat' rite.
BODH GA YA: Thc pilgrimage:-place in Bihar state, N.E. India, wherc Buddha
gaine:d his Enlightenment.
BODHISATTVA (Skt.): Onl' who is freed from the notion of self and who works
for thc Libcration of all bcings.
BONPO (Tib.): The indigenous religion of Tibet. A form of Shamanism which, in
the course of time, adopted many of the Buddhist practises.
BYA.'I1S-CHOS (Tib.): Thl' Doctrines of Maitrcya, the Future-Buddha. The 'Five
Treati~es' of M,litrcya.
CHAKRA (Skl.): 'Whe~'I', 'Centre', 'Cyrle'. Espcrially in connection with the
subtk focal points of the Yoga· Body.
CIIAKRASAMVARA (Skl.): An important Tantrie Tutelar), Deity (}'iJ,lIl1), the
mystic aspe:ct of the Teacher. Of supreme importanre to the Karg)'udpa ~cet.
(Tib: ]Jc/llc/.oog).
CHOD crib.): The rite of 'slaying the ego'. A Tantric practirc rel'ealed by Siddha

211
KAkMAI'A, lltt Ill.ACK ItAl lAMA (n llllU

Phddampa Sangye, E~pel'iall}' familiar to tht !\'yillglll.11'.1 and K.1rgyudp.1

~ects,

CII()f{TEN (Tib,): A structure, u~ually built to hou~e funeral rclic~, or other

precious rt"nlaim, Huilt as a symbol of the subtlt Yoga-Body, (Skt:
Stup.1),
CO~SCI()t)S~ESS-'1 RANSI ERL"lCE YOGA: The Yoga which confcr~ the power
to transfrr the comciousnes~'prin('iplr from the human hody, at will, crib:
_ _ PI.'f~'0l}._Qn~~LtIJ~~Six Yogas' of Siddha Naropa.
DAKINI (Skt,): HCI\'l'nly C;llJlre~~~'ang~-(;u;lTdiai;:~ofrhe t~otcrir-tl'aUlinp;
pn~onificati()m of the n)~l1lic fl'minim- tnngy. ~ometilJl{'S cn·atiIT. ~ome­
times destruClilT. They play an important part in the Tantri(' hierarchy.
(lib: Kb,l7Idro7ll.1),
DALAI LAMA crib,): The incarnate spiritual Head of the Gelug!,.1 ~ert, The
I{uln of Tihl·t from ]642 until the Chinnc inl'asion of 1 YSH/Y. The present
Dalai Lama i~ the founl'('nth incarnation.
D:\/I1A/{U crib.): A double-sided ritual drum,
1>:\/11 NGAGS crib.): The 'Oral Transmis~ion' of the secret ttaching~, Many of the
Tantric teachinp were nevCT writtl'n down, but passed dir('ctly from teacher
to disciple.
DANC\\'ANG crib,): The control of the pitch and resonance of the voiet'. An
important aspect of ritual chant ing,
Dt:l1TSE (Tib.): Sacramental medicill(:. compo~ed of five hnbs noted for their
powlTful curati\'(' propcrties, The 'Fivc Elixir~' (Skt: 1'.111cba7lln'tl1).
DIIARMA (Skt.): Ih'ligious Doctrim', The Buddhist Law, governing all aspcct~ of
c:xistence. (lib: Cbos).
DIIAIU,1ADIIATU (Skt.): Ah~olute Truth. The 'Unil'crsal Wholr'. The ultimatc
location of tvcr)'thing,
DIIY ANI-BU[)IJIIA (Ski.): There arc filT Buddha-aspects; A 711it.1bb.1, AksobbYl1,
Amogbi15iddbi, RI1I11.1,lamhh.111.1 and l'air0Cl171I1. These arc known a~ J>byl1l1i-
Buddhas, each of which has an all-important part in the great transformation,
They arc the expressiom of the varied Tantric teachings and form the basis of
evcry Buddhist Mandala.
DOilA (Sk!.): Mystic song. a~ sung by the Siddhas. This form probably originated
in Eastcrn India, where wandcring Holy Men (Sl1dbu.I) can still be heard to
sing them.
DOLMA (lib.): Thl" Great Mother Goddess and Saliouress a personification of
peaceful and helpful in/lu("l1('es. She has twellty-one different forms. (Skt.
Tara),
D()LMA YESIIE KOHLO crih.): The Mystic Cire1<- of the emanations of the
Goddess Dolma,

212
 CLO~~AI{\,

DOH)E (Tib.): The Adam:mtine (,Diamond') Sn·ptre. Symbol of rhe l'ajr.1y.lrIa,

rhe Tantric War of Buddhism. (Skt: Vajr.1).
DOH)E CHANG (Tih.): The Celestial Buddha, the Hoot-Guru of the Kargyudpa
sect. U~ually dark hlue in colour, he hold.~ a Sceptre and Bell, ~)'lnholic of
rhe Union of Wi~dom and Meam. (Skt. \'.1jmdbara).
DOH) E NAL)ORMA crih.): See I'ajra),ogini.
DOH) E PIIAGMO (Tih.): See \'ajr.IV.1r.lbi.
DREAM YOGA: Tht· Yoga ..... hich arou~e~ tht con'riousnn~ from both the ~It'('ping
-----arla-W;[\;ilflr'0 reOfFsraTe\ '-of-Sam\aric-ex is tcnce--t 0 a-t ru('-u ndt'lu dt'd -f:on--
sciou\ SI<lIt· (l\'inww). One of the 'Six Yoga.,' of Siddha Naropa.
DI{ONG)UG Cfih.): The Yoga of Tramformation, u\ed for the animation of
corpses.
DRUP DE crib.): Tht place whert· a community of monks practises nwditJtion,in
cal'es or other retreats.
DIWPTOP crib.): See Siddba.
DZICIlIM Clib.): A precious metal, with properties of spiritual POWt'f, made or
found by magil'al means. There arc various colours of this precious material,
u~ed for casting bronze statue\ and protective talismans.
DZOGCIlEN crib.): The 1'antra of Non-Duality. A meditative Way, followed par-
ticularly Ly adherents of the Nyi1lg11lapa sect. It is called t he 'Great
Perfection'. (Skt: Maba.lampanna).
EKADI1ATU (Skt.): 'One Element'. A particular metal u\cd for the c3Hing of
sacred objects.
EKAJATA (Skt.): A Tantric form of Mabaka/i, depicted with one eye, one tooth,
one breast and one hair. A secret Mother-Goddt·s\ and Protector, especially
familiar to the Nyingmapa sect.
GADEN crib.) A Paradise, presided over by tht· Future Buddha Maitrcya.
GAHUDA (Skt.): A huge hawk-like bird, the dt'I'ourer of snakes and poi\ons. One
of the outer gatc-kt'epers of Mandalas. In the Hindu pantheon Garuda is the
vehicle of Visbnu, 'Lord of the Universe'. (Tib: Kbyung),
GAU (TiL.): An amulet-box, reliquary. Usually made of metal.
GELONG (Till.): An ordained monk.
GELUGPA (TiL.): The 'Heformcd' sect of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Je
Tsongkhapa. It is the 'Ycllow Hat' sect. The Dalai Lama is their reincarnate
Teacher.
GE NYEN (Tib.): The primary ordination, given to Loth lay-pcoplt- and nHlnks.
Various Buddhi~t vows arc taken at thi~ time.
GESHE crib.): 'Doctor of Divinity'. An honorific title, u~ually rrccil'Cd after
pa~\ing difficult rdigious examinations.
GE TSUL (Tib.): A nm'itiatc monk. An ordination of ten \'ows.

213
KAIlMAPA, 11H BLACK IIA1 LAMA Of 11BET

GHANTA (Skt.): Ritual Bell, symbolic of the female principle. ("Jib: Tn·lbu).
Gml (Skt.): One of the ten orders of a~cetics of Shankaracharya. It denotes one
who lin>s in forests and foothills.
GOMCHEN (Tib): Ascetic. (Skt: }'ogi).
GONPO (Tib): A Protector. Especially used for Ala!.>akala. the Great Time Deity.
usually hlack of colour and very wrathful.
GREAT PERFECTION: Sec I>:ogcbrn.
Ci \::J IIY-ASAMAj-A-(Skt;} :-The-name- ofa...'l"antric-Tu tl'laT:},J)ei l)·._thcemb_Qdim!,J).L
of a specific esoteric teaching.
GllJW (Skt.): Tearher, Master. (Tib: Lama).
GYALWA (Tib.): 'Victorious Onr'. A title of a liodbi;attt>a. The hOllorifir name
of H. H. Th(' Karmapa Lama and H. H. The Dalai Lama.
GYALWA GYAMTSO (Tib.): A red, four-armed form of Avalokitrs!'>wara.
IiA YAGRIV A (Tib.): A horse-headed Tantric Deit),. (Tib: Tamdn·n).
H1·:ART DROP: The D:ogcbrn Nying-T!.>ig. The Tantrir doctrines of Vimalamitra.
as taught mainly by the Nyingmapa sect. The Maba Ati dortrines.
IIF1WKA (Skt.): Wrathful Tantric Deities, usually winged.The embodiment of the
male qualities of Buddhahood. they unite with the Daki71is of certain realms.
HEVAj RA (Skt.): An important Tantric Tuttlary Deiry, the mystic aspect of the
Teacher. Hrvajra means 'The Indestructible', 'The Adamantine Onc'. Depicted
usually blue of colour, dancing, with sixteen arms, embracing his consort
Nairatma ('Non-self'). It is also the name of a Tantra which gives the ex-
planatiom and mystic symbolism of this form_
HINAYANA (Skt.): The ancient Tbrravada tradition of Buddhism, as currently
practised in Ceylon, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia.
ILLUSOHY-BODY YOGA: The Yoga through which Full Knowledge of the
purely relative existence of natural phenomena is attained. (Tib: Gyu·/u).
One of the 'Six Yogas' of Siddha Naropa.
INNER·HEAT YOGA: The Yoga through which Psychic Energy is developed and
controlled, creating a source: of inne:r warmth and invulne:rabiliry to extreme
cold. (Tib: Tummo). One of the 'Six Yogas' of Siddha Naropa.
INTERMEDIATE-STATE YOGA: The Yoga through which the transition through
the Intermediate: State between death and Te-birth can be controlled and
tramccnded. (Tib: Ilardo). One of the 'Six Yogas' of Siddha Naropa.
jAMBHALA (Skt.): The God of Wealth. Usually depicted holding a mongoose.
JNANA DAKINI (Skt.): A Wisdom-holding Goddess (Dakini). (Tib: Yrsbr
1\/;,mdro71la).
KADAMPA (Tib.): A sect of Buddhism in Tibet. founded by Pandit Atisha in the:
clevcnth ccntury. It influenced the Kargyudpa and later sects.
KALACHAKRA (Skt.): An important Tantric Tutelary Deity, the mystic aspect

214
 GLOSSARY

of tht Trarhtr. }{J!arbJkra ml'ans 'Cycle of Time', and is depictrd blue of

colour, with twenty-four arms, tmbraring his consort. Also the name of a
Tanir;!, which givrs the relatiomhips betwetll tht Yoga-Body and tht Astro-
logical pallt'rnS and cyelts. (Tih; J)uskor).
KALI (Sk!.); The Mothn Goddns, of thl· Hindu pantheon. Dark and wrathful
C'. ttlna)))" she conn:als htr inntr compassionate natun· Thr spouse of }{,1!,1,
'Time'. crib; U'J1I1o).
_JS:,~-'J YUCA (Sk!.); The laS! of tht" hlur Agts, whidl make up tht· Great Time
(:);z.it~(,rl.17.ayilg'l )-(lftlu-Inaiin claso;"i"ral-rrad irion-:-I t-ist h e-prnrnt -))a rk-Agc,--
of q~()tism and dissention.
KANG IONPOCIIE (Tib.); MOUn! Kailash, in Westl"Tn Tibet. Tht main plan' of
pilgrimage for \J(lth Buddhists and lIindus. This mountain ran be understood
as an initiatory M,l7Id,1!a.
KANJ UI{ crib.); Canonical litnOl!llrt", 'Translat ion of tht Buddha Word' ron'
sist ing of \ ';IIJ)'01 Su/r,lS, tht I'roJjn,I/,Jr,l1l1i/,I, the AI'lbaYo11/'1 SUtro1S and I'arious
mnJitatil't" and ritual instructions (71111/r,I.\). Ahout om· hundred volumes in
entirety, allrihutrd to Lord Buddha himst·lf.
KAHG'l'UI)J'A· (Tib.); A sect of Buddhism in Tikt, founded by Marpa Tht
Translator', in tht tlel'enth n·ntury. Tht· Stct which t'specially strtsses tilt"
importanre of the 'Oral Transmission',
KAHIKA (Skl.); A romm('ntary on the Su/ras.
KAHMA (Skt.): Action and r("action, undl"Tstood as Ont'. Tht rourse of el'ents.
I)('stiny, self-made.
KAI{MAPA (Skl./Tih.): 'Man of Anion'. 'Man of }{anna'. The name of the
Gyalwa Karmapa, founder of the }{,ml/a-branch of the great }{arg)'lIdpa sert
in Tibet. Leader of the' Black Hat' Buddhists.
KIIENCHEN (Bon. Tib.); Sec }{brn/,o.
KHANDHOMA (Tib.): Sec Do1k;n;.
KI\ZIIlPA (Tib.): An Order, denoting spiritual attainment. One who is especially
fit for bestowing monastic ordination.
KHENI'O ('rib.): Abbot of a monastery, and in charge of monastic and academic
studies.
KUHUKULLA (Skt.): A Tantric form of the Goddess Tara, depicted holding a
bow and arrow made of flowers.
KUSIlINAGAHA: The pilhrrimagc-placc in U.I'., India, the site of the l'oJro1/11·rvalla
of Lord Buddha.
LAMA Oib.); Teachn, Guru. A Superior Man. (Skt: Gum).
LA!llIUM crib): r.kditation Way.
LlIAMO crib.); A MOlhcr-GoJdns. A female Dil·init)", usually of a wrathful
nature, but boon-bestowing. (SkI: !I1.ltrika).

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 KAKMAYA, THE Ill.ACK HAT LAMA OF TIBET

LIGHT YOGA: The Yoga through which Knowlc:dgc of the Void, from which all
phenomena arc mad, \'isitJlt, is attained. (TitJ: 05.1/). One of the 'Six Yogas'
of Siddha Naropa.
LI KADUR (Tib.): A metallic t'Ompound, used for the casting of images and bt·lIs.
LOTSAWA (Till.): A Trambtor of the Buddhist teachings.
LUMBINI: The birthplace of Lord Buddha, in Nepal.
-l.W\J.G_('[jbJ.: 'Wind~fin cmpowcrmrnt, or authorisation.
MADIIYAMIKA (Skt.): -Aphljosopl1i-(-:arl'Onc.'Ci)f~as txp<rnn-dt'd-by-th,-Siddha-
Nagarjuna. Tht· 'Middk Way' of Buddhism.
MAIIAKALA (Sk!.): The Great Time Deity, a Tantric Prote('\or, especially of the
Kar&.'1'udpa stct. He is mually depicted as bring extrcmtly wr;l!hful, black of
("lour, and holding a skull-cup and chopper. A Guardian of dtTp secrets, his
consort is tht· Mabakali. (Tib: Gonpo Nakpo Cben).
MAIIAKALAKAKAMVKIIA (Skt.): The crow-headed form of Milb.1kala. In the
form of a cremation-oracle.
MAHAMA YA (Skt.): Tht Great Illusion. The name of a Tutc:lary Ikity and the
tcachinp concl'rning the oVCfcoming of illusion.
MAIIAMVDRA (Sk!.): The Great Sign, Great Symbol. The Inexpressible, the
Highest Teaching. A mystic concept, especially held by the Karma·
Kargyudpas. (Tib: 'Oakya CbCl1pO').
MAHAYANA (Skt.): The 'Greater Way' of Northern Buddhism, as opposed to the
Hinayana ('Lesser Way') of the South. The teachings of Mabayallil stress the
liodbisattl>a path, and incorporate the Tantras as the means to the activation
of compassion. The Vajrayana is the inner part of the Mahayana.
MAHAYOGINI TANTRA (Skt.): The esoteric teaching of the Great Yogini Cycle.
(Tib: Naljorma G:yud).
MAITREY A (Skt.): The Future Buddha, from the West. He is usually depicted
~eated on a throne, with a Stupa over his head.
MAITIU (Skt.): Compassion. The essence of action as a Bodbisattva.
_ MALLA (Skt.): A rosary, used for counting Mantras. Prayer-beads.
MANDALA (Skt.): A Mystic Circle, generally used to convey initiations. Symbols
and expressions of the psychological processes of unfoldment and integration.
(Tib: Karla).
MANI (Skt.): Jewd, in the mystic sense. The philosopher's ~tone. The 'Mo111i'
Mantra is of the Compa~~ionate Bodbisattva Avalokitcsbwara.
MANJLlGHOSA (Skl.): A form of the Ilodbi.lattva Manjusri.
MA~JVSRI (Skt.): The Great Compassionate Ilodbisattva of Wi~dom. Tht· em-
bodiment of All Learning. He is usually shown holding a sword and a book.
(Tib: jambya7lg).
~\ANTRA (Skl.): Mptic sound-syllables, composed of vowels and consonants.

216
 Understood a~ the component vihration~ of tht Univtr~e. U~ed for rontrolling
the Mind and for tr:lII~forming it.
MANTHAYANA (Skt.), The Way of M,l11tra' prJct ice.
MATlUKA (Skt.), Mothn Godde~~. Fonm of Ma/.J.l/.:ali.
M lJDRA (Sk t.): Gnturt.. 'Seal', Consort. A m)'q ic tnm, with mJny mcaning' in
different conteXh. A~Mab,wllldra, tht'lIighn Teaching.
MULA (SI..!.): 'I{oot'. A~ Hoot-Guru. Root-Teaching.
~ __I\ADI (Skt.): The subtle ncrve-channeb of the Yoga· Body. (,fih: Tla).
_ N A I HA ·1"1AlSJ.:t~FI\-Wi~aonl:116IaiTig~J);rkil1i;-t·m bodi IllCllt-of-thc·'N on-~l'l f'-Con,-
sort of J/('l'ajra. (Tih: /)ag1l1rma).
NAGA (Skt.): A snake or serpent, Guardiam of the underworld, treasures and
cntain ('soH'ric ~rnns. (Tih: Lu).
NAMCIIAK (Tib.): Litt'Tally 'Sky-fallen'. The nanll' giv('J1 to ml·tl'Orilt'·metal. Used
for ritual ohjt'ClS and talismans.
NARO C1-l0S DRUG Cfib.): Tht, 'Six Yogas' of Siddha I\aropa: (i) Inner-lleat
Yoga, (ii) Illusory-Body Yoga, (iii) Dream Yoga, (il') l.ight Yoga, (v) Inter-
mediatl··State Yoga and (vi) Consciousness· Transference Yoga.
NAHO KIIANDHOMA ('rih.): An emanation of the Great J)"b'71i, in the form in
whirh she H'veakd hendf to the Siddha N.lropa. (Skt: Sarmhuddba
])ak;71;).
NATIi (Skt.): 'Lord'. The namc of'l ~ect of Sadbus in India. A title of Shil'a, Lord
of Yoga.
NIH VANA (Skt.): The final extinction of the fabe idea of self. Freedom from the
suffering of Samsara.
NO){BU ('rib.): Gem. The Wish-granting Gem. (Skt: ."fabarat,w).
NORBU KO){ SEMS (1'ib.): Particular esoterir teaehinp rrl'ealed to tht· Siddha
Tilopa. (Lit: 'Jewel-Mind Cyclr').
NYEN ZOG crib.): Full ordination, of 253 vows.
NYINGMAPA crib.): The original ('Old') sect of Buddhism in Tibet, founded by
Guru Padm;u;ambhava, the Lotus-born. Closely rdated to the I\argyudpa srct.
NYING THiG (Tib.): See Heart Drop.
PADMA (Skt.): Lotus. Mystically as well a~ actually. Symbol of femininity.
PADMASAMBHAVA: A natil'l' of Urgyen, Guru Padmasambhava I'isitl'd Tibet in
thl' middle of the eighth century, at the rrgul'st of the Tibl·tan King. Ill' sub-
durd the Shamanist demons and tSlaulishl'd Tantrir Buddhism. Foundn of
thr Nyiugnz,lpa sed. lIt- is abo known as Padilla Jungnay or Guru Hinpochc.
I'ANCHA ....1HITA (Skt.): Thl' Fin' Elixirs, of medicinal hcrb~. A. sacramrnt.
!'/\NDITA (Skt.): Scholar-Teacher. A karned man of great n-pu!t·.
PAI{J\?\IHV/\NA (Skt.): 'Beyond "'inmw'. The passing of a /iIlJI>i.I,7t/l)ol. tht·
Gn'atn Enlightenmcnt, away from this world.

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 t(AKMAI'A, lHE Ill-ACt( HAT LAMA 01 lll1ET

I'AWO (Tib.): Uno. The name gil'en to the Siddha Choswang Lhundrup, who
became the fint Pawo Rinpoche.
PHOWA (Tib.): See Tramft'rencl' Yoga.
PIlYAGYA CBENpO crib.): Sl'l'Malmnudra.
pOTALA (Tib.): The Great Palacc of tht Dalai Lama~, in Lhasa, largtly built in
the sel'cntet'nth ('tntury. It is situatt·d on a hill OI·trlooking the city, a site
used for fortrt'sses and monastnio for many centuries prel·iously.
I'HAjNAMULA (Skl.): The Hoot·Wisdom tt'achings, reLted to the great hajlla-
-I',lr,l111ita~
I'RAJNApAHAMlTA (Skl.): 'The h:rfcnion of Wisdom'. Tilt, tn:atist l'Ontaining
the ('ssenee of M.1bayalla, rCl'caltd to the Siddha Nagarjuna, The book exists
in many difftrent ltngths, from a few verso to many hundrnis of pagt's. The
principle thcmt is the concept of Voidness (Sunyata).
pl{ATlMOKSIIA (Skl.): A treatise ronc('rning monastic rull'S.
PliMBA crih.): Elixir Jar. (Skt: Kalasba).
PURI'A DRUI' cm:l'\ crib.): Scc Vairakila.
PUHI'AKILA (Tib.): Sec Vailakila.
HABjUM (Tib.): Thl' first step of ordination, of 5 \'ows.
I{A NGj UNG (Tib.): Stlf-originated. Sec SW.1y.Hllhbu.
HINpOCHE (Till.): Literall), 'Precious One', the honorific titlt given to High Lamas
and Teachers.
IUNSIiEL(Tih.): Pm:ious rtlies in the form of small, hard, shining particles, some-
times found among the funeral ashes of Saints or Holy Men. They are of many
differC'nt kinds and have great esoteric significance. They arc much sought
after by devotees, and arc usually preserved in Stupas or statues.
SADHU (Skt.): An Indian Holy Man, An Ascetic.
SA KY A (Skl.): The name of the early sect of Buddhism in Tihet, founded by
Lama Drogmi. A 'Hed Hat' sect.
SAKYA LAMA: The Leadn of the Sak)'a scct. The Sakya Pandita.
SAKYAPA (Tib.): 'Of the Saky.1 sect'.
SAKYAMUNI (Skt.): Gautama the Buddha, born in Lumbini. Founder of Budd-
hism.
SAKY A PANDITA (Skt.): Sakya Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251).
SAMANTABHADRA (Skt.): The first Bodbisattv.1. The Adi-liuddba of rhe Nying-
'11.1/1<1 ~l'Ct. (Tib: Kuntu 7~wgp(}).
SAMSARA (Skt.): Tilt, Crcle of E\istl'ncc; birth, old-age and death. The infinite
interaction of cau~e and effect.
SANGHA (Skt.): The Order of Buddhist monb and nuns. crib: CeduTI).
SARASWATI (Skt.): Thl' Godde,s of Learning and the Am. crib: Yaug
eben/na).

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 GLOSSARY

SARNATH: The deer-park, ncar Benart's, V.P., India, where Gautama Buddha first
proclaimed the J)barma.
SAHVABUDDHA DAKINI (Skt.): The Tantric J).1ki7li who emLodies the Wisdom
of all tht' Buddhas and who initiated the Siddha Naropa into the mysteries of
Buddhist esoterism.
SHAMAH ('rih.): The 'Red Hat' Lama of the J\arm,l·J\argyudp.1 serl.
SIIAMBALA ('rib.): A mythical country of uncertain location, thought to be to
thl' North \\'t'st of Vrg)'en, from where the Kalach.1kra 7antra is said to hal'e
origin:lIed, the King of Shambala hal'ing written the [T('atis(, down after
-li;tl'niliifTo-[clfinruaalla-ais('!wm on-tlle-:.;ur;jeciRect'nt-cl·icknce suggcsts-
it can be id('ntified with the Sambalpur art'a of Orissa.
SIIES DA (Tib.): School of Philosophy.
SIIINJE crih.): Protector of the Buddhist j)i>arm,l, tht, Great Lord of Death. (Skt:
}'a ma).
SIDDIIA (Skt.): A Pcrfectt'd Bl'ing. A Saint.
SIDDIII (Skt.): Yogic powns, attained thruugh inner dc\'dopmcnt.
SIX DOCT}{INES/YOGAS: Sl't' N.lrO C/.>05 Drug.
STVPA (Skt.): Sce Cbortc11.
SVBTLE BHEATH: A Yogic tl't'hniqut, dndopt'd by tht, Indian SiJdhas, hy
which means Psychic Enl'Tgy is circulated through the subt'" nerve-channels.
(Tib: Tsa Lung).
SVTRA (Skt.): Dbcoursrs of Lord Buddha. A 'song'. Scriptural text.
SWA YAMBHV (Skt.): Self-originated. Naturally-formed. (TiL: Rangjung).
TAMDHIN (Tib.): Sec Jlayagriva.
TANJVH (Tib.): Canonical litnaturt', consisting of translatt'd works of individual
Indian Masters (Siddba.l), being thl' comllltntaries on the Sutras and T{1ntras.
Various later theoril's and practices arc also includcd in the 1alljur, which
generally comprises about two hundred volumes.
TANTHA (Skt.): Tcachings outlining mystic practices as the most direct way to
Enlightenment. The e~otl'Tic teachings specific for the J\{1/i Yuga. this Dark
Age. (Till: G)ud).
TARA (Skt.): The Compassionate Mother Goddess, gennallr green or white of
colour. (Tib: /)o/ma),
TATIIAGATA (Skt.): Gautama, Lord Buddha. Lit: 'He who exists only as
such'.
TEHCIIEN (,rib): A store of hidden trt·a,urt·. An honorific title.
TEHCIIOS (lib.): Literally 'Treasure of thl' /JI',lrIlla'. Teachings traditionally hid-
den by Guru i'admasambhava.
TE!{MA (,rib): Trl'3surc. A teaching, It'xt or religious objl'rt, ~hit'h has ken
r('\'t'aled for tht' propagation of the flb.lrIIJ.1.

219
"-,"'kMAPA, ,'In BLACK IIAT LAMA 01· TlllrT

TEHTON (Tih,): One who rn't:ll~ hidden trea~ures or tcachings, usually an inrar-
nate Lama, (Skt. l'idYiJdbiJra),
THANGKA (Tib.): A scroll painting, Usually mountt'd on a h:lnm'r.
'1IKA (Skt.): A dttailt-d explanation of a Slilra.
TORMA (Tib.): An offering-cake, usually made of barley-flour, butter and sugar.
Coloured with various intrit'ate designs, they are offered to the invoked
Deities and are tht'll frequently distributed amongst those partiripating in the
-rites. -
'II< 1LIlU (TiL): Ritual IIdl. (Skt: Gbanla.)
TSA LUNG (Tih,): Sc-e Sutnk Breath.
'I SEClIU nih.): Cnemony of the Eight Manift-stations of Guru I'admasambhava.
TSLPAMED crib.): Tht- Buddha of Boundless Life. (Skt: Amilayus).
TULKU (Tib.); An Incarnate Lama.
·1U.~\MO (Tib.): See Inner Ileat Yoga.
'lUSIIITA (Skt.): See Gaden.
TUTELAkY: Sec Yidanl.
UHGYEN: The native ('ountry of Guru Padmasambhava. Most likely modern
OrisS<l.
VAjJ{A (Skt.): The Adamantilll' Sceptre, symbol of tbe VajriJYi171a, The expression
of masculinity. ('lib: Dorjc)_
V Aj HADAKINI (Skt.): The Vajra-Goddess. The inl'tiatory aspect of femininity.
VAj RADHARA (Skt.): The Celestial Buddha, th(' Root-Guru of the Kargyudpa
s(·et. (Tib; Dorje Cbang).
VAjRAHUMKARA MUDRA (Skt.): The mystic gesture <Mudra) of the Cdestia I
Buddha Vajradbara. in which the hands arc crossed over the chest. Symholic
of the seed-S)'lIablc 'lIum', an expression of the Great Void.
VAjRAKILA (Skt.): A fierce Tantric Deity, in the form of a winged knife with a
tri-blade. Invoked in times of extreme misfortune. A highly mystical form. An
initiation. (Tib: Durje Purpa).
VAJRA MVKUT: The BJat·k Vajra-Hat, presented to the Fifth Karmapa by the
Chinese Emperor Tai Ming Chen. The mere sight of this Hat is said to confer
Liberation.
VAJRAPANI (Skt.): The nanK of a lIodl.>i.lallru and Protector, usually depicted
holding a Vajra in the right hand. He manifests both peacefully and wrath-
fully_ crib: Cbana /)orje).
VAJRASAll'VA (Skt.): The Higher Aspect of the [)byalli-Buddhas, and an em-
bodiment of the Cdestial Huddha I'ajrlldbara. Ill- i~ generally whitl' in ('(llour
and is dcpiw'd holding a S{'Cptre (l'ajri1) abo\'c a Bell «(;ba7lIa). (lih: Dorjl'
Scm~pll).
\':\J1\:\\'j\RAIII (Skt.): The Sow-headed Goddess, a Guardian of~ecrets Symbol

220
 ClOS~AI!Y

of the Great subti<--m-n'l' (S,,>bu7I111.J) and a most important Protector of the

Karl1lapas. (Tib: [)orjc /'/;agmo).
VA) RA Y ANA (Skl.): Tht Way of tht· Vajr·a. The Adamantin(' I'ath,lt-ading quit'kly
to EnlightenmCllt.
VAJRA YOGINI (Skl.): The Bliss-/).1/;ini, who dances ecstatically. An important
and highly symbolical Tantric wnn:pt of femininity. Symbol of the Subtle
Firt'. crib: lJorje "',djonna).
~AHSUA _(SktJ:_-nlt·_ptritLd_()frm.l,:atdur~ng.!I!I'_r;Jirl),J>£;l:\on, whtl) monks arc
forbidden to travcl. crib: }'ama),),
VEDA (Skl.): The ancient hymns and scriptures of tht Hindu Ilrahrllanic tradition.
VINA YAPUSI'AMALLA (Skt.): A ttxt relating to thl' 1';11,1),,1 Sulr,H.
VINA YA SUTHAS (Skl.): A st,ction of the Buddhist canon, roncerning rdigious
discipline. A basic text of the lfillayalla tradition, included in tht, I\alljur.
VIRA (Skt): Hero. crib: I'awo).
VISHNU: 'Lord of the Univtrst", in tht Hindu panthcon.
WANG crib.): Ernpowrrmtnt, Initiation, The mystic transmission of a teaching.
Abo \I'arlgliur.
YAII· YUM crib.): The Malt/Female aspec,t of Divinity, combined as One, indio
cating the Union of all Dualities. The One-ness, fnTd from polarity.
YAMANTAKA (Skt.): A Tantric Tutelary Deity, a PrOll'C1or of :he Buddhist
I)banna, Usually depicted in a \\Tathful form, with a bull's head and thirty-
f ou r arms.
YANG CHENMA crib.): Sec Saraswati,
YESHE (Tib.): Wisdom.
YIDAM (Tib.): Tutelary Deity. Protector and benefactor, in the esoteric sense. The
mystic form of the Teacher and the embodiment of th" secret teachings. (Skt:
Is/odella/a),
YOGA (Skt.): Cosmic Union, The aim of all spiritual endeavour.
YOGI (Skt.): One who practises }'oga.
YOGINI (Skt.): A ft'male Yogi,
ZHAMAR (Tib.): 'Red Hat', Sec Sbamar,
ZIiANAG crih.): 'Black Hat'. Sec "ajra Muku/,
ZI STONE: A form of precious handed agate, highly prized by Tihetans. (Tib: Zi).

221