Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa
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Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa
  • The Karmapa
    • A Short Biography
    • The Lineage of Karmapas
    • Activities & Projects
  • Teachings
    • YouTube Archive
    • Video Library
    • Podcast
  • News
  • Schedule
  • Buddhism
    • Shakyamuni Buddha
    • Buddhism in India
    • Buddhism in Tibet
    • Kagyu Lineage
    • The Golden Rosary
  • Centers
    • North America
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Oceania
    • Africa
    • South America
  • Office
    • Media
    • Contact
  • English
  • France
  • Germany
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Marpa Lotsawa

Marpa traveled to India from Tibet at great personal peril across the Himalayas to study with his principal teachers, Naropa and Maitripa.
Marpa Lotsawa

Marpa the Translator brought the Kagyu Lineage to Tibet.

Marpa Chökyi Lodrö, was born in Lhodrak Chukhyer to a well-to-do family. He began studying at a young age and was wild and untamed compared to other children. Marpa first received training for three years at Mangkhar with Drokmi Shakya Yeshe and mastered the Sanskrit language. He decided to travel to India to study dharma with renowned Indian buddhist masters. Marpa returned home to Lhodrak and converted his entire inheritance into gold for his travel expenses and to make offerings to his Indian gurus for requested teachings.

Marpa’s travels to India

Marpa set out on his journey to India. Arriving first in Nepal, he studied with Paindapa and Chitherpa, two famous students of Naropa.

Later, Paindapa accompanied Marpa to Pullahari, near Nalanda University, where Naropa taught. Marpa spent twelve years receiving abhishekas, instructions, and studying with Naropa and other great Indian gurus to whom Naropa sent him to study or receive instructions. At the end of twelve years, Marpa offered a ganachakra and sang his first song of realization to his guru, Naropa. Shortly after, he set forth on his journey back to Tibet, where he taught and continued his dharma activities.

Subsequently, Marpa traveled to India two more times and studied with Naropa and other great mahasiddhas of India. Of these, his main gurus were Naropa and Maitripa. In total, he traveled three times to India and four times to Nepal. On his third visit, Marpa went through an adventure in finding Naropa, because Naropa, having already entered into the tantric conduct, was nowhere to be found. However, with determination, trust, and devotion, Marpa managed to find Naropa and receive the final teachings and instructions from him. At that time, Naropa prophesied that a family lineage would not continue for Marpa, but that his lineage would be carried on by disciples—especially one with the appearance of a monk and the inner realization of Mahayana. This prophecy foretold of the arrival of Lord Gampopa.

Bringing the complete Dharma to Tibet

Marpa now had received the full transmissions, so Naropa formally declared Marpa to be his dharma successor. Marpa brought the teachings and lineages of vajrayana and mahamudra back to Tibet.

Naropa in general had seven major disciples including Paindapa, Chitherpa, Shri Shantibhadra or Kukuripa, and Maitripa. His most well known disciple and lineage holder was the Marpa, the translator.

Upon his return to Tibet, Marpa spent many years translating Buddhist scriptures and contributed to the effort to bring the complete buddhadharma to Tibet. Many of his translations are part of the Kagyur and Tangyur.

Marpa continued to practice and give teachings, abhishekas, and transmissions to many students in Tibet. After his third visit to India, Mila Thöpaga or Milarepa became his disciple, who inherited his lineage in full. Marpa along with his wife, Dakmema and their sons lived in Lhodrak in the southern part of Tibet.

Marpa had numerous disciples. The four most outstanding students were known as the “Four Pillars:” 1) Ngok Chöku Dorje, who became the principal student to receive the transmissions and master the explanations of the Tantras, 2) Tsurtön Wanggi Dorje, who became the main student to receive the transmissions and master the practice of Phowa [transference of conciousness], 3) Meytön Chenpo, who became the primary student to receive the transmissions and master the practice of Ösal [luminosity], and 4) Milarepa, who became the principal student to receive the full transmissions and master the view, meditation, and conduct.

Marpa gave the full transmission of his lineage to Milarepa, who became his spiritual heir and continued the lineage of Naropa. The principal student and lineage heir of Marpa was Milarepa.

Statues of Marpa and his lineage holders

The Gyalwang Karmapa designed and built statues of Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa, the founders of the Kagyu Lineage in Tibet, and presented them to all of the Karma Kagyu monasteries.

Milarepa, Marpa and Gampopa

The Golden Rosary

  • Vajradhara
  • Tilopa
  • Naropa
  • Marpa
  • Milarepa
  • Gampopa
  • The 1st Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa
  • Drogon Rechen
  • Pomdrakpa
  • The 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi
  • Orgyenpa
  • The 3rd Karmapa, Ranjung Dorje
  • Gyalwa Yungtonpa
  • The 4th Karmapa, Rolpe Dorje
  • Khacho Wangpo
  • The 5th Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa
  • Ratnabadra
  • The 6th Karmapa, Thongwa Donden
  • Bengar Jampal Sangpo
  • Goshir Paljor Dhondrup
  • The 7th Karmapa, Chodrak Gyatso
  • Tashi Paljor
  • The 8th Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje
  • Konchok Yenlak
  • The 9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje
  • Chokyi Wangchuk
  • The 10th Karmapa, Choying Dorje
  • Yeshe Nyingpo
  • The 11th Karmapa, Yeshe Dorje
  • Palchen Chokyi Dhondrup
  • The 12th Karmapa, Chanchup Dorje
  • Chokyi Jungney
  • The 13th Karmapa, Dudul Dorje
  • Mipham Chodrub Gyatso
  • Pema Nyinje Wangpo
  • The 14th Karmapa, Theckchok Dorje
  • Jamgon Kongtrul, Lodro Thaye
  • The 15th Karmapa, Kyakyab Dorje
  • Pema Wangchog Gyalpo
  • Palden Khyentse Öser
  • The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje

Recent Updates

  • The Special Kagyu Monlam Begins at Bokar Monastery: Day One
  • The Anniversaries of Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa: Kagyu Gunchoe Conference
  • Restoring Karma Kamtsang Traditions: Hayagriva
  • Ancient Translation Methods: Dynamism and Debate
  • Approaches to Understanding the Thirty Verses of the Mind Only
  • The Inauguration of the 23rd Kagyu Gunchoe
  • The Essence of Glory: A Shakyamuni Puja in the Kadampa Style

Kagyu Office Around the World

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About the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is the head of the 900 year old Karma Kagyu Lineage and guide to millions of Buddhists around the world.

Born in 1985, the Karmapa resides in his temporary home at Gyuto Monastery in India after making a dramatic escape from Tibet in the year 2000.

Traveling the world, the Karmapa skillfully teaches traditional Tibetan Buddhist Dharma while also advocating topics such as environmental conservation, feminism, digitization of the Dharma, and much more.

Please use the icons below to find the Karmapa on social media maintained by his office of administration.

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