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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The First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa

“In the future, you will be the buddha named Drukpa Sengge, In the present, you nurture all realms through many emanations. Lord of dharma, ruler of the teachings of the practice lineage, Düsum Khyenpa, we supplicate at your feet. ” —from Supplication To The Karmapas (full text)

First Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa Statue by 17th KarmapaStatue of the First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa, designed by the 17th Karmapa.

The birth of the 1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa

Born to a family of devoted Buddhist practitioners in Teshö in eastern Tibet, the boy who was to become known as the first Karmapa was called Gephel as a child. He first studied with his father, and became a knowledgeable and seasoned practitioner, even as a young child. He continued his education with other Buddhist teachers of the region. First Teachers

Already quite learned by the age of nineteen, he moved to Central Tibet, became a monk and spent the next twelve years or so engaging in study and meditation practices. He studied with very well known masters of the time, such as Chapa Chokyi Senge (1109-1169), a great logician and the founder of the debate system in Tibet, and Patsab Lotsawa Nyima Drakpa (1055-?), who translated many madhyamaka texts (one of the highest schools of Buddhist philosophy) into Tibetan and was a great master of the Prasangika Madhyamaka tradition.

Training under Gampopa

At the age of thirty, he received teachings from Gampopa, the heart son of the greatest yogi in Tibetan history, Milarepa. Düsum Khyenpa first trained in the foundation practices of the Khadampa tradition and, following that, in the general philosophy of the sutras. This training in the basis of all Buddhist traditions established a pattern for all future Kagyu followers by demonstrating the importance of establishing a correct basis of knowledge. This is true even when engaging in the most powerful of advanced vajrayana practices. Düsum Khyenpa also received and unified the lineage teachings he received from Rechungpa and other students of Milarepa.

The Karmapa’s accomplishment in meditation and the practices transmitted to him by his teachers were greatly enhanced by his own natural compassion. His practice produced rapid results and great accomplishments, or siddhis. Such accomplishment is often perceived by followers as the ability to perform miraculous activity and in fact, the legends of the Karmapas through the ages speak of their ability, through the manifestation of this seemingly miraculous activity, to create a great sense of wonder and faith in their students. All the Karmapas have since been known for their ability to inspire, through their simple presence, this profound sense of wonder and faith in the reality of the accomplishment which is the fruition of the Buddhist path.

Establishing monastic seats

At the age of 55 (1164), Düsum Khyenpa founded a monastery at Kampo Nénang; and at the age of 60 (1169), he started the Panphuk monastery in Lithang, in East Tibet. Later, at the age of 76 (1185), he established an important seat at Karma Gön, in eastern Tibet (1184). At the age of 80 (1189), he established his main seat at Tsurphu, in the Tolung valley, a river which feeds into the Brahmaputra, in central Tibet.

The first Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa, made predictions about future Karmapas. In particular, he prophesied detailing his future incarnation.

Düsum Khyenpa passed away at the age of eighty-four. Among his other main disciples were Tak-lungpa, founder of the Ta-lung Kagyu, Tsangpa Gyare, founder of the Drukpa Kagyu, and Lama Khadampa Deshek, founder of the Katok Nyingma lineage.

The principal student who held the lineage of the Golden Rosary from the First Karmapa was Drogon Rechen.

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 Essence of Glory: A Shakyamuni Puja in the Kadampa Style
  • The Gyalwang Karmapa’s Closing Remarks to the Mar Ngok Summer Teachings
  • Differing Perspectives on the First Council and the Compilation of the Tripiṭaka
  • Upāli – the Foremost in the Vinaya and Contemporary Analyses of the First Council  
  • Ananda’s Offenses, Arhatship, and Recitation of the Sūtras
  • Results of the First Buddhist Council: How the brahma penalty was imposed on Channa
  • The First Council continues with contributions from Ananda, Upāli, and Pūrṇa

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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