Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa
Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, is the current head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in 1983 in central Tibet, he began telling his parents, the great Nyingma lama Mipham Rinpoche and his mother Dechen Wangmo, that he was the Karmapa almost as soon as he could speak. Traditionally, the Karmapas are said to recognise themselves during each incarnation. Following the tradition of many centuries, the child was tested and formally recognised by the second highest religious authority of the Karma Kagyu tradition, the 14th Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chokyi Lodro. It was Shamar Rinpoche who conferred him the name Trinley Thaye Dorje, meaning Limitless Unchanging Buddha Activity.
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Having escaped from Chinese-controlled Tibet in 1994, His Holiness Karmapa was officially enthroned as the 17th Karmapa in March 1994 at KIBI by the 14th Shamar Rinpoche. Having studied and practiced Buddhism extensively while living at KIBI and the Kalimpong Shedra, his formal education was completed in 2003, when Shamar Rinpoche conferred him the title of Vidhyadhara or Knowledge Holder of the Sutras and Tantras. Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, who himself had been recognized by the 16th Karmapa in 1957, passed from this life on June 11, 2014.
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Currently, Karmapa resides in New Delhi, India. In 2017, he followed the example of the 10th and the 15th Karmapa who both married. On August 11, 2018, Karmapa's wife Sangyumla Rinchen Yangzom "Precious Prosperity Gathered" from Thimphu, Bhutan, gave birth to the couple's firstborn son, Thugsey.
Karmapa & KIBI
Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa has the spiritual responsibility for over 900 monasteries and meditation centres worldwide, including KIBI, which runs courses in Buddhist higher education. He is also the Chief Patron of KIBS Europe e.V.
Karmapa & the Kagyu lineage
The Karmapa is one of the most important holders of the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. The first Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa (1110-1193), one of the preeminent lamas of his time, started the oldest and longest unbroken chain of reincarnated masters in Tibet.
Since the first Karmapa, successive reincarnations of Karmapas have been recognized to head the Karma Kagyu tradition. Their biographies show their extraordinary qualities in terms of vast knowledge, pure conduct and compassion. They always made great efforts to study Buddhism, reflecting on it and in their meditation. Furthermore, they always displayed extraordinary abilities in teaching the Dharma, helping disciples to dispel doubts and in composing treatises to support others on their spiritual path.
The Karmapas are therefore considered to be great bodhisattvas who manifest in our world for the welfare of others. In the course of their reincarnations they have always contributed towards an authentic transmission of Buddhism in Tibet. The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981), was furthermore instrumental in making Buddhism and in particular its Karma Kagyu teachings accessible to the West.
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