Karmapa is the head Lama of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism since the XII century. The first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193) was a yogi from the Kham, a region in the eastern Tibet. He arrived to the monastery of Gampopa Sonam Rinchen (1079–1153), one of the most prominent Buddhist teachers of the time, a direct disciple of Milarepa, around 1140. Karmapa was already

Sixteenth Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje was born in 1924 in the cave of Guru Rinpoche. He was learning from the best teachers of his time, visited many holy places in Nepal and Tibet associated with the names of Buddha Shakyamuni and Guru Rinpoche. 16th Karmapa was taking an active part in part in Tibet's resistance when Chinese communist army was invading Tibet, but whe he

Düsum Khyenpa, the first Karmapa in the future, was born on the year of the Iron Tiger (1110) in the snowy heights of Eastern Tibet, province of Kham. The first Dharma teachings he received from his parents who were advanced practitioners of Buddhist teachings themselves. When Düsum Khyenpo was eleven years old he had a vision of Mahakali, the feminine form of protective energy. Her

Second Karmapa Karma Pakshi was born on 1206 in a family of descendants of Dharma-king Trisong Detsen who ruled in the VII century. His parents, who faithfully practiced Dharma, named their son Chedzin. The boy was maturing much more rapidly than his peers and six years old he could read and write well. When he was ten he realized the essence of the Buddha teachings.

On eight day of the Water Monkey (1284) in a place Dingri Langkor in the western Tibet the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje was born. It is said that during labor the moon was rising and the kid, barely born, sat down and said: - The moon has raised. Small Rangjung Dorje was highly developed child. Once, when he was three years old, he was playing

While the mother of the future Fourth Karmapa was pregnant, many auspicious signs appeared in her dreams that heralded the birth of a great Teacher. On the eighth day of the third month in the year of Iron Dragon (1340) Rolpe Dorje, Fourth Karmapa, was born. From the baby’s lips were coming sounds of six-syllable mantra and a delicate fragrance was radiating from his body.

Deshin Shekpa, Fifth Karmapa, was born at the dawn of the eighteenth day of the sixth month of year of Wood Mouse (1384), in a family of yogi Guru Rinchen and his wife Lhamo Kyi. The period of his mother’s pregnancy was marked by many favorable events, and people heard how immediately after his birth Deshin Shekpa exclaimed: - I prostrate to all Buddhas. I

Sixth Karmapa Thongwa Dönden was born in 1416 in Ngoma, near Karma Gon Monastery, in Kham, that was founded by first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa in 12 th century. Thus he kept his promise given to residents of the eastern region in his previous incarnation. Parents of the future Karmapa were devoted to Buddha teachings. While his mother was pregnant, she and her husband had unusual

Seventh Karmapa Chödrak Gyamtso was born in the first month of 1454 in the north of Tibet. His father's name was Dragpa Paldrub and his mother was Lhamo Kyi. When boy was still in his infancy he was announced as incarnation of the spiritual teacher and in his first year of life he demonstrated the maturity that people more and more were convinced this must