16th Gyalwa Karmapa - Rangjung Rigpe Dorje - The King of Yogis (1924-1981)

Rangjung Rigpe Dorje quickly reestablished the enlightened activity of his predecessors. At seven years of age he took his bodhisattva vows, monastic vows and received many teachings. He later received the Tantras from Beru Kyentse Rinpoche, the Sutras from Bokangkar Rinpoche and the Mahamudra and Six Yogas of Naropa from Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche.

During the Chinese invasion in 1959, Karmapa had already-moving plans for the escape of many people, high lamas, teachings, statues, relics and important artifacts of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. As early as 1953, Karmapa asked Kalu Rinpoche to work out the suitable route of escape. He was with one hundred and sixty people who traveled over Bhutan to India during the passage over the Himalayas.

In India, Karmapa created a new base of activity. He chose Rumtek and built a monastery there. Up to his life’s last seconds in 1981, where Karmapa had died in Chicago, he had greatly impacted people of all spiritual traditions, the highest lamas of all lineages and Buddhist traditions, and left huge blessing for the western hemisphere’s growth in the Dharma. His energy still guides many hundreds of Karma Kagyu meditation centers around the world. He exemplifies the Mahamudra yogi-tradition and still passes on this transmission through his students and the meditations he imparted to his followers.

“...If you have one hundred percent confidence in the teachings, your realization is not purely dependent on just formal practices. If you have one hundred percent dedication and confidence in the teachings, then every living situation can be a part of the practice. You can be living the practice instead of just doing it. But the more you lack the confidence, the more you will find yourself separated from the Dharma.”
16th Karmapa, Rangung Rigpe Dorje

 

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