Birth The 16th Karmapa was born in Denkhok in the
Kingdom of Derge in
Kham eastern
Tibet near the
Dri Chu River (Ch. Yangtze). The previous Karmapa
Khakyab Dorje (1871-1922) left a letter setting forth the circumstances of his next incarnation. The 15th Karmapa's close attendant, Jampal Tsultrim, possessed the letter of prediction, which matched exactly with the process the
11th Tai Situpa was already undertaking to find the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje.
Recognition as Karmapa Political obstacles arose in the recognition process of the 16th Karmapa, due to the delay of the prediction letter's arrival in
Lhasa. Before Jampal Tsultrim could send a copy of the letter to the
13th Dalai Lama's government in Lhasa, a Lhasa Ministry issued a formal statement that the Karmapa’s reincarnation had been born in Lhasa as the son of one of its cabinet ministers, Lungshawa. Lungshawa wanted his son to be named as the Karmapa as part of his plan to modernize Tibet. The Karmapa's Labrang, where the Tsurphu Monastery's administration was located, appealed the decision saying that they had an authentic prediction letter. The Ministry replied that the Dalai Lama had issued a position, which couldn't be changed. The petitioning went back and forth for a year until Lungshawa's son fell from a roof, broke his pelvis and died from ensuing complications. The Tsurphu Monastery re-submitted the Karmapa's name but were again rebuffed by the Ministry, since submitting a single name was equivalent to the Tsurphu Monastery choosing the tulku. The 1st
Beru Khyentse Rinpoche came up with a plan to submit the Karmapa's name twice - once as the son of the father, and a second time as the son of the mother. The Ministry responded by saying the correct
tulku was the mother's son, not the father's son.
Early life and first Black Crown Ceremony He was taken to the
Palpung Monastery where the 11th Tai Situpa, Pema Wangchok, gave him ordination, the
Bodhisattva vows and many teachings. Beru Khyentse Lodro Miza Pampa'i Gocha taught him the tantras. Bo Kangkar Rinpoche taught him the sutras. Jamgon Palden Kyentse Oser taught him
Mahamudra and the
Six Yogas of Naropa. He regarded the 11th Tai Situpa, Pema Wangchok, and the 2nd Jamgön Kongtrül Khyentse Öser as his root gurus. In 1931, at the age of seven, he performed his first
Black Crown ceremony. He received his hair cutting ceremony at age thirteen from
Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama.
Education and Receiving Important Transmissions During his education, he received all the Kagyu transmissions and was also taught by the
Sakya Trizin for many years. In the beginning of 1940, he went into retreat, and in 1947, started a pilgrimage to India, before another one in 1956 together with
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th
Dalai Lama. Rangjung continued his education with the 10th
Mindrolling Trichen of the
Nyingma School and it was concluded with the
Kalachakra initiation of the
Gelugpa School. Rangjung had therefore received all the major teachings of all the major Tibetan Buddhist schools.
Teaching Activity The 16th Karmapa continued his predecessor's activities, travelling and teaching throughout
Tibet,
Bhutan,
Nepal,
Sikkim,
India and parts of
China. His activity also included locating the rebirths of high reincarnate lamas spontaneously, without meditation.
Premonitions of Chinese Occupation and Escape from Tibet Prior to the
Chinese invasion of Tibet the Karmapa made a series of predictions indicating that the Tibetan people would need to be
prepared to escape to India. In 1940, at age 16, Karmapa composed a poem that predicted the occupation of Tibet.: As political circumstances altered Tibet radically with the 1950 takeover by China. The Karmapa, along with the
Dalai Lama, government officials, and other high lamas, attended talks in Beijing to negotiate a settlement. This succeeded for a while, but in 1959 the Chinese government insisted on
land reform, which would undermine the system of independent monasteries in
Tibetan Buddhism. Conflict with the lamas as spiritual leaders accelerated. In February of that year Karmapa took 160 students from
Tsurphu Monastery and escaped to
Bhutan, taking the lineage's most sacred treasures and relics with them.
Tashi Namgyal, the King of
Sikkim, offered the Karmapa the site where the
9th Karmapa had previously established one of three Sikkim monasteries, which was then in ruins. It was here that the 16th Karmapa's seat-in-exile,
Rumtek Monastery, was built then officially inaugurated in 1966. The traditional Tibetan seat of the Karmapa,
Tsurphu Monastery, from where the Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje escaped in 1999, still exists while the number of monks is restricted by the Chinese government. at Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, 1971|alt=|262x262px
Focus on the West In the beginning of the 1970s the Karmapa made the prediction that Tibet would have a hard struggle gaining independence and even if it did, it would not allow the refugees to return.
Rumtek would not be a good place either, and although
Sikkim and
Bhutan are still stable, they can deteriorate as well. However the
Western world will embrace Buddhism, so he sent Lama Gendün to Europe. In 1974, with the help of
Freda Bedi, he embarked on his first world tour. On September 15, The Karmapa left
Rumtek with an entourage of Tulkus and monks, including
Tenga Rinpoche,
Bardor Tulku Rinpoche and
Lama Jigme Rinpoche. He was welcomed in London September 17, by
Chime Rinpoche,
Akong Rinpoche and others, including
Hannah Nydahl and
Lama Ole Nydahl. The Karmapa traveled to
Europe,
Canada and the
United States, where he was welcomed by
Chögyam Trungpa. In October 1974 The Karmapa visited the Second Mesa, Hopi reservation in Arizona. The sixteenth Karmapa helped foster the transmission of
Tibetan Buddhism to the West. He established
Dharma centers and
monasteries in various places around the world in order to protect, preserve, and spread
Buddha's teachings. As part of an initiative by the
Tibetan government-in-exile to consolidate the organizations of Tibetan Buddhism, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje became the first formal head of the
Kagyu School, although the earlier Karmapas had long been considered the most prestigious and authoritative lamas of that school.
Miracles There are several accounts of miracles performed by the 16th Karmapa, which is in keeping with many
Buddhist masters that came before him.
Childhood The Karmapa's identity as a child was kept secret, but nearby villagers noticed auspicious signs at his birth and came to him for blessings. As a child the Karmapa exhibited clairvoyant abilities, and if local peasants lost a sheep or another animal from their flock he knew where their animals were.
Birds Karmapa, who was fond of birds, was said to bless them upon their death. Instead of keeling over they would remain completely stiff and remain upwards for several days. It was understood that the birds were in a state of
samadhi, and this process was known as "liberation through contact". |alt= According to buddhism-affiliated sources, one doctor was also struck by the Karmapa's refusal of pain medication and the absence of any signs of feeling the profound pain that most patients in his condition report. His body was cremated at Rumtek, also according to Tibetan tradition. ==Legacy==