About the Karmapa
The ‘one of action’ – an enlightened master returns to help all sentient beings
The name ‘Karmapa’ dates back 900 years to the 12th century and means the ‘one of action’ in Sanskrit. The first Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa, originated the tradition of ‘tulkus’ or reincarnations of great masters, and founded the ‘Kagyu’ lineage of which the Karmapa is spiritual head. A reincarnate lama is believed to be someone who, having attained enlightenment, chooses to return again in a human body to help sentient beings be free from the causes of suffering and attain enlightenment.
Before dying the Karmapa predicts his next rebirth in a written letter
A unique aspect of the Kagyu lineage is the Karmapa’s prediction letter, which is written by the previous Karmapa before passing away and then given to a trusted devotee . For example, the letter left by the 16th Karmapa contained predictions as to year and place of birth, father’s and mother’s name and special signs of the time of birth. These predictions led a Tibetan search party to the discovery of the 17th Karmapa in Tibet in 1992. Because the recognition involves only the hand-written, sealed prophesy of the previous Karmapa, the tradition of succession is known as self- recognition.
The current 17th Karmapa was born on June 19th 1985, in a black tent in East Tibet into a large nomad family and lived there until the age of eight. The Dalai Lama also later confirmed the recognition and the Chinese Government issued an official certificate accepting his recognition as a reincarnate lama or ‘living buddha’.
From 1992 to 1999, the Karmapa received a traditional monastic Buddhist education at Tsurphu Monastery, his seat in Tibet, and was accorded favoured status by the Chinese Government. However, in spite of promises, the government refused to allow certain of his teachers to travel to Tibet to bestow important teachings upon him. The Karmapa recognised that in order to fulfill his role in the world and his responsibilities to his lineage he would have to leave Tibet.
Escape from Tibet
On December 28th, 1999, the then 14 year old Karmapa pretended to enter a solitary retreat in order to cover his escape. Dressed as a civilian, he climbed out of a window and slipped away into the night. Accompanied by a handful of attendants, he began a daring escape across the Himalayas by car, on foot, on horseback, by helicopter, train and taxi, which brought him finally to Dharamsala at the dawn of the new millenium.
When the Karmapa reached Dharamsala, on January 5th 2000, he was greeted with astonishment and joy and was received, shortly after his arrival, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His escape made world headlines. In 2001, the Indian Government granted the Karmapa refugee status and he continues to live near Dharamsala, India.
For more information about the Karmapa please visit: http://www.kagyuoffice.org/kagyulineage.17karmapas.html
