The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa,
Supreme Head of the Karma Kagyu Tradition
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H.H. Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the sixteenth in the line of Gyalwa Karmapas that had begun with Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa in the twelfth century, was born in 1924 at Denkhok in Kham, eastern Tibet, into the Athub Lhakar clan. At the age of seven, he was enthroned in Palpung monastery by Tai Situ Pema Wangchuk Gyalpo, and later accompanied Situ Rinpoche to Tsurphu monastery in central Tibet, the principal seat of the Gyalwa Karmapas. There, he was enthroned for the second time.
For the next few years, His Holiness studied with Beru Khyentse Rinpoche and Bo Kangkar Rinpoche. Then, in Palpung, he received the entire transmission of the Kagyu Treasury of Tantras and the Treasure of Spiritual Instructions from Situ Rinpoche. From Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, he obtained the Collection of All Sadhanas.
In 1946, His Holiness received full monastic ordination from Situ Rinpoche. A little later, the Nyingma master, Orgyen Tulku, bestowed upon him the complete works of Chogyur Dechen Lingpa. Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche gave him instructions in Mahamudra and the Six Doctrines of Naropa.
Throughout the 1950s, His Holiness carried out his teaching and administrative duties both in Tsurphu and in other parts of Tibet. However, in 1959, the worsening political situation compelled him to go into exile in India. In 1962, His Holiness established Rumtek monastery in Sikkhim as his principal monastic seat. There he supervised the education of a new generation of Karma Kagyu incarnate lamas, including the incarnations of the Shamar, Situ, Gyaltsab and Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoches.
His Holiness made two major visits to Britain as part of his tours of the West. The first visit was in 1974 and during his second visit, in late 1977, His Holiness visited Kagyu Ling in Manchester at the invitation of Karma Thinley Rinpoche and Lama Jampa.
His Holiness passed away in Chicago in 1981. Two incarnations have been recognised: one by H.E. Shamar Rinpoche and one by H.E. Situ Rinpoche.
