Rangjung Rigpay Dorje - (1924 - 1981)

The XVIth Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Khyabdag Rigpay Dorje, was born in Denkhok of the Derge province in east Tibet, the son of a noble family called Athup. Having received instructions from different masters in Derge that she would bear a great bodhisattva son, his mother had gone to stay in a holy cave, once used by Guru Rinpoche, where she waited to give birth. She was accompanied by a Khenpo who instructed her on the cleansing ceremony. It is said that, at one point at the very end of the pregnancy, the future Karmapa disappeared entirely from his mother's womb for a whole day. The day of his birth, his mother returned to normal pregnancy size and soon gave birth to this great bodhisattva. Those present heard him say to his mother that he would be leaving soon .The details of the birth coincided precisely with those of a prediction letter given by the Fifteenth Karmapa to his attendant, Jampal Tsultrim, which set forth the circumstances of this new incarnation. Jampal Tsultrim handed the letter to the authorities at Tsurphu monastery, who then asked Tai Situpa, Beru Khyentse, and Jamgön Kongtrul to clarify certain points. A search party subsequently located the incarnation.

The Eleventh Tai Situpa soon recognized the child as being the new reincarnation of the Gyalwang Karmapa and sought confirmation from HH the Dalai Lama.The Karmapa received first ordination and then bodhisattva vows from the Tai Situpa and Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche, the two foremost disciples of the Fifteenth Karmapa. Eventually, the Dalai Lama gave his acknowledgement.While still residing in Derge, when he was eight years old he received the Vajra Crown and ceremonial robes of the Karmapa brought to him from Tsurphu. On the way to Palpung Monastery, he stopped to visit and bless the Derge Monastic Publishing House, foreshadowing his publication of the Buddhist cannon in India. Tai Situ Rinpoche enthroned him as the XVIth Karmapa, Rangjung Khyabdag Rigpay Dorje.Tai Situpa then accompanied him on the long journey to Tsurphu, the seat of the Karmapas in central Tibet, where the new incarnation was greeted by Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche and Nenang Pawo Rinpoche.Soon after his arrival at Tsurphu, the XVIth Karmapa was received by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama who performed the "hair-cutting" ceremony.

While so doing, the Dalai Lama had a vision of the ever-present wisdom-crown on the Karmapa's head. After this ceremony the Karmapa was officially enthroned at his main seat of Tsurphu, by Tai Situpa and the Head of the Drukpa Kagyud school. He received the full Kagyu lineage transmissions from Tai Situpa Pädma Wangchok Gyalpo and Jamgön Kongtrul Palden Khyentse Özer. The XVIth Karmapa then studied many sutrayana texts with Gangkar Rinpoche and tantric teachings with Khyentse Rinpoche. He received the mahamudra transmission from Jamgön Kongtrul Palden Khyentse Özer, and many other great masters of the time.Karmapa then visited the Lithang Pangphuk monastery, where, in the tradition of the Karmapas and their inconceivable activity,

He is said to have left footprints in solid rock. The 18-year old Karmapa returned to Tsurphu and between 1941 and 1944 spent much time in retreat. Tsurphu monastery was extended in size during this period. Beginning in 1944, His Holiness began to strengthen relationships with neighbouring Buddhist states in the Himalayan region, as well as with India. During a pilgrimage in southern Tibet, the XVIth Karmapa accepted an invitation from His Highness Jigme Dorje Wangchuk, the King of Bhutan. The Karmapa and his party then visited Bumthang (in northern Bhutan) and other areas in Bhutan, engaging in many spiritual activities. In 1947, The Karmapa and his party continued their pilgrimage to Nepal, India, and Sikkhim (India), visiting the major places of the Buddha's life: Lumbini, just inside Nepal where the Buddha was born, Benares (Varanasi) where he first taught, and Bodh-Gaya, the place of Buddha's enlightenment. After travelling through Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh in northern India) and Purang to visit Mount Kailash, His Holiness returned to Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet.

In 1954, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, H.H. the XVIth Karmapa and other high lamas of Tibet visited China. The XVIth Karmapa subsequently returned to Tibet, stopping along the way at many monasteries in eastern Tibet. In 1956, The Karmapa and party travelled to Sikkhim and from there continued on pilgrimage. H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. the Panchen Lama, and H.H. the Karmapa visited India, at the invitation of the Mahabodhi Society of India, to join in the celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of Buddhism. During this trip, the Karmapa and his party revisited the holy sites of India as pilgrims.

During this visit, the Karmapa strengthened his ties to his disciples Tashi Namgyal, the King of Sikkhim, and Ashi Wangmo, the Bhutanese Buddhist princess. The King of Sikkhim invited him to visit Rumtek, a monastery in Sikkhim that the ninth Karmapa had founded at the end of the 16th century. His Holiness was unable to accept his invitation at that time but said that he would go there in the future, when it would be needed. In 1959, foreseeing the communist Chinese invasion of Tibet, and the inevitable destruction of Buddhist institutions in Tibet, the Karmapa informed the Dalai Lama of his intention to leave his homeland in the spring of 1959. The XVIth Karmapa, accompanied by a large entourage, left Tsurphu, and fled Tibet. The escape was organized by Dhamchoe Yondu, the General Secretary for His Holiness. The party also carried with them the sacred statues, paintings, reliquaries, and other precious items of the lineage of the Karmapas. The timing and organization of the departure made for a relatively easy journey to Bhutan. After three weeks, the party arrived safely in northern Bhutan, where the most senior Bhutanese government officials received them. The Choegyal (King) of Sikkhim extended a formal invitation to His Holiness to set up his seat in Sikkhim, and two months after entering Bhutan the party arrived in Gangtok, Sikkhim.

Of the several sites proposed by Choegyal Tashi Namgyal, the Karmapa chose to settle at Rumtek. The Karmapa stated that Rumtek could be his seat outside Tibet, although he hoped one day to return to Tibet.The Karmapa and his party left Gangtok for Rumtek shortly after the Choegyal extended his offer to settle in Rumtek. Although Rumtek monastery had been established many centuries earlier by the ninth Karmapa, by 1959 it lay almost in ruins. The area around Rumtek was also undeveloped and had no facilities for supporting the Karmapa and his party.

The Karmapa, teachers and community lived in temporary quarters for many years, while His Holiness gathered resources to begin construction of new facilities to support his monastic seat and the lay people surrounding the monastery.In 1962, His Holiness undertook the construction of a new monastery and other facilities for the Karmapa's monastic seat in Rumtek began in earnest three years later. The foundation stone of the new monastic centre was laid by the new King of Sikkhim, who had assumed responsibility for the kingdom after the previous Choegyal had passed away. Construction was led by the General Secretary for His Holiness, Dhamchoe Yondu. It was funded primarily through the generosity of the Sikkhimese royal family and of the Indian government, the latter occurring after the Karmapa's meeting with Pandit Nehru. Construction of the monastery was completed in four years and the sacred items and relics brought out from Tsurphu were installed there. On Tibetan New Year's day (losar) H.H. the XVIth Gyalwa Karmapa officially inaugurated the new seat called "The Dharmachakra Centre, a place of erudition and spiritual accomplishment, the seat of the glorious Karmapa."

In 1974, H.H. the XVIth Karmapa set out on his first world tour, visiting the United States, Canada, and Europe. Accompanied by other teachers, a full entourage of monks and other staff, he performed the Vajra Crown ceremony in the Western hemisphere for the first time, gave empowerments, and dispensed dharma advice.In mid-January 1975, H.H. the XVIth Karmapa flew to Rome and met with His Holiness the Pope John Paul the Sixth.In 1976, His Holiness the XVIth Karmapa again travelled to the West for a more extended visit, followed by a wide-ranging world tour. He visited religious centres in four continents and met heads of state, heads of religion, elders of many traditions and people from the world of arts.During that time, the Karmapa was given a palace and a large piece of land upon which to establish a major monastery by the royal family of Bhutan. The Karmapa strengthened his ties with Bhutan over these early decades.

On November 28th 1979, H.H. the XVIth Karmapa laid the ground for the construction of Karmae Dharma Chakra Centre southeast of New Delhi, at a ceremony attended by the President and Prime Minister of India. The Centre was envisioned as a study, meditation, and translation centre. In May 1980, His Holiness the XVIth Karmapa began his last world tour, travelling through Greece, England, the United States, and Southeast Asia. During this tour, H.H. gave teachings, Vajra Crown Ceremonies, empowerments, interviews, audiences, and engaged in many beneficent activities.

On Nov. 5th, 1981, H.H. the XVIth Karmapa passed away into parinirvana at the American International Clinic in Zion, near Chicago, Illinois, USA. His Holiness' kudung (body) was flown back to India. On Dec. 20, 1981, Karmapa's cremation ceremony took place in Rumtek monastery. Indian dignitaries and several thousand of his disciples from all over the world attended the services.

On Dec. 21, 1981, a reliquary box ("Jangchub Chorten") for the sacred relics of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa was sealed with the hashes of his body.

The XVIIth Incarnation was found and enthroned at the Seat of Tsurphu in Tibet, as per the indications left by the prediction letter written by his predecessor. Regardless to some controversial claims entertained by a few under the leadership of H. E. Shamar Rinpoche, most of the lineage holders of the Karma Kamtsang Lineage are unanimous to recognize His Holiness Orgyen Trhinley Dorje as the XVIIth Gyalwang Karmapa, Supreme Head of the Kagyud Lineage.

Excerpt from the official website of The Tsurphu Labrang