Home > Karmapa
The Karmapa (in Sanskrit "the manifestation of the activities of all the Buddhas") is the title of the head of the Karma Kagyu, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. This primary sub-lineage of the wider stream of transmission originates from the 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa ( 1110- 1193), a heart son of the great Tibetan master Gampopa. The source of oral lineage is traditionally traced back to the Buddha Vajradhara , was transmitted to the indian master of mahamudra and tantra Tilopa
( 989- 1069), through Naropa ( 1016- 1100) to Marpa and Milarepa. These forthathers of the Kagyu lineage are collectively called the golden rosary.
The 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi ( 1204Events February Byzantine emperor Alexius IV is overthrown in a revolution, and Alexius V is proclaimed emperor. April 12 The Fourth Crusade take Constantinople by storm, and pillage the city for three days. End of the Fourth Crusade. May 16 Baldwin, Coun- 1283Events Teutonic Knights subjugate Prussia Sopot comes under the control of Gdansk Gregory Cyprius becomes Patriarch of Constantinople Northern section of the Grand Canal of China is completed Thai alphabet created by King Ramkhamhaeng the Great Edward I o), was the first person ever recognized and empowered as a tulkuIn Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a reincarnated lama. The most famous example is the Dalai Lama, who has existed in 14 reincarnations since 1391. Lineages of tulkus may be interlinked — for example the Panchen Lama recognizes the new incarnation of the Dal, a reincarnated lamaLama can refer to: the Tibetan word for religious teacher (like the Sanskrit term 'guru') see Tibetan Buddhism. Some well-known lamas are: the Dalai Lama the Panchen Lama Buddhist terms a commune in the Haute-Corse departement in France Serge Lama is a Fr, and thus the Kagyu were the first sect to introduce this important aspect of Tibetan Buddhism. The Karmapa lineage differs from other most other tulkuIn Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a reincarnated lama. The most famous example is the Dalai Lama, who has existed in 14 reincarnations since 1391. Lineages of tulkus may be interlinked — for example the Panchen Lama recognizes the new incarnation of the Dal lineages, however, in that the Karmapas are self-recognizing. This means the new tulku is chosen not based on the perception of other lamas, but rather on the basis of a special prediction letter left by the previous incarnation detailing the circumstances of the next rebirth.
1 The Black Crown
The Karmapas are the holders of the Black Crown (Tib. 'shwa-nag') and are thus sometimes known as the Black Hat lamas. This crown, rangjung chopen (the self-luminous crown), was woven by the dakiniA dakini ( Sanskrit: s. sky walker, witch, imp") is a Tantric priestess of ancient India who "carried the souls of the dead to the sky. According to legend, members of the Indian royal castes and the wealthy nobility brought their deceased to the far Norts from their hair and given to Karmapa in recognition of his realization. It is said that the sole sight of this crown can awaken deepest mind potential and even bring enlightenmentBodhi ( Pali and Sanskrit. awakening''. enlightenment is a title given in Buddhism to the specific awakening experience attained by the Indian spiritual teacher Gautama Buddha and his disciples. It is sometimes described as complete and perfect sanity, or. The physical crown displayed by the Karmapas was offered to the 5th Karmapa by the Chinese Yongle EmperorThe Yongle Emperor ( May 2, 1360 August 12, 1424), born Zhu Di was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His era name means "Perpetually Jubilant". His usurpation of the throne is now sometimes called the "Second Founding" of t as a material representation of the spiritual one.
It is currently held in RumtekRumtek (Rum-theg dGon-pa), is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in the Indian state of Sikkim. Originally built by the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje in 1740 Rumtek served as the main seat of the Kagyu lineage in Sikkim for some time. But when the 16th Kar in Sikkim, which was the last home of the 16th Karmapa.
