Wangchuk Dorje
Encyclopedia
Wangchuk Dorje was the ninth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu
School of Tibetan Buddhism
.
Wangchuk Dorje was born in Treshod, Kham
. According to legend, he said after being born: "I am Karmapa." Other sources say that soon after his birth he sat cross-legged for three days and declared he was the Karmapa.
He received his education from Shamar Köncho Yenlak, the fifth Shamarpa
, in a nomadic camp which traveled through Tibet
but also passed through present day Mongolia
and Bhutan
. During his travels many monasteries were founded. Wangchuk also wrote many classic Buddhist texts, many of which are still being taught today.
Wangchuk Dorje was not only a spiritual leader, but was also a mediator in conflicts. He was invited by the king of Sikkim
to settle a dispute and while there he founded three monasteries one of them being in Rumtek which is currently the most important monastery of the lineage after the Chinese
occupation of Tibet
. The other two are Phodong and Ralang Monastery
Near the end of his life, Yonten Gyatso was installed as the fourth Dalai Lama
by the Mongolia
ns. Wangchuk Dorje tried to reconquer the power of Lhasa
together with monks of the Gelugpa sect who didn't recognize the fourth Dalai Lama. The conquest was violent and monasteries were conquered by force. During this time Yonten Gyatso died under suspicious circumstances. This ultimately resulted in the next Karmapa
having to flee Tibet during the civil war which followed.
teaching.
Kagyu
The Kagyu, Kagyupa, or Kagyud school, also known as the "Oral Lineage" or Whispered Transmission school, is today regarded as one of six main schools of Himalayan or Tibetan Buddhism, the other five being the Nyingma, Sakya, Jonang, Bon and Gelug...
School of Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
.
Wangchuk Dorje was born in Treshod, Kham
Kham
Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...
. According to legend, he said after being born: "I am Karmapa." Other sources say that soon after his birth he sat cross-legged for three days and declared he was the Karmapa.
He received his education from Shamar Köncho Yenlak, the fifth Shamarpa
Shamarpa
Shamarpa of the Red Crown"), also known as Shamar Rinpoche or more formally Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and the mind manifestation of Amitabha Buddha, He is traditionally associated with Yangpachen monastery near Lhasa.The first...
, in a nomadic camp which traveled through Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
but also passed through present day Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. During his travels many monasteries were founded. Wangchuk also wrote many classic Buddhist texts, many of which are still being taught today.
Wangchuk Dorje was not only a spiritual leader, but was also a mediator in conflicts. He was invited by the king of Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
to settle a dispute and while there he founded three monasteries one of them being in Rumtek which is currently the most important monastery of the lineage after the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
occupation of Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. The other two are Phodong and Ralang Monastery
Ralang Monastery
Ralang Monastery is a Buddhist monastery of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism in southern Sikkim, northeastern India. It is located six kilometres from Ravangla....
Near the end of his life, Yonten Gyatso was installed as the fourth Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
by the Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
ns. Wangchuk Dorje tried to reconquer the power of Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
together with monks of the Gelugpa sect who didn't recognize the fourth Dalai Lama. The conquest was violent and monasteries were conquered by force. During this time Yonten Gyatso died under suspicious circumstances. This ultimately resulted in the next Karmapa
Chöying Dorje
Chöying Dorje , also Choying Dorje, was the tenth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.Chöying Dorje was born in Khaytri Tang in the kingdom of Golok in Amdo. At the age of eight, he was recognized by Shamar Mipan Chökyi Wangchuk, the sixth Shamarpa and received the complete...
having to flee Tibet during the civil war which followed.
- The Chariot for Travelling the Path to Freedom, the principal Karma Kagyu ngondroNgöndroNgöndro refers to the preliminary, preparatory or foundational 'practices' or 'disciplines' common to all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and also to Bön...
thereafter
Mahamudra Texts
He was not a prolific author, but the texts he did write had an important impact on MahamudraMahamudra
Mahāmudrā literally means "great seal" or "great symbol." It "is a multivalent term of great importance in later Indian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism" which "also occurs occasionally in Hindu and East Asian Buddhist esotericism."The name refers to the way one who...
teaching.
- Ocean of Definitive Meaning (By 9th Gyalwa Karmapa)
- Pointing out the Dharmakaya.
- Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance.
- Zhar dMar dKon mChog Yan Lag, Mahamudra meditation or The Mahamudra, translation Gelongma Karma Tsultim Khechog PalmoFreda BediFreda Bedi sometimes spelled Frida Bedi also named Sister Palmo, or Gelongma Karma Kechog Palmo, was a British woman born in Austria or in Derby, England, who became famous as the first Western woman to take ordination in Tibetan Buddhism.- Early life :Freda Bedi was born Freda Swan in Austria or...
, Ed. Karma Rigdol Publications, 1971