H.H. 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje
H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje
Karma Kagyu
The Kagyu Lineage is one of the four major Lineages of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet. Its main branch, and the largest, is the Karma Kagyu, which has been guided over eight hundred years by the successive incarnations of its Supreme Head, the Glorious Karmapa. With the spread of Vajrayana Buddhism beyond Tibet over the last fifty years, numerous Karma Kagyu Dharma centres have been founded all over the world, under the inspiration of His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, Ranjung Rigpe Dorje, with the aim of making the complete teachings of the Buddha available all over the world and independent of any state, religion or political institutions.
Over 889 Buddhist centres and monasteries of the Karma Kagyu lineage in 62 countries follow H.H. the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje who was recognized by the 14th Shamarpa Mipham Chokyi Lodro.
According to the 800-year-old tradition of the Karma Kagyu lineage, successive reincarnations of Karmapas and Shamarpas recognize each other. In the history of Tibetan Buddhism, the Karmapa was the first reincarnated lama and Shamarpa was the second.
Different Buddhist Schools
Buddha gave instructions for three different types of people. Those who wanted to avoid suffering received the instructions about cause and effect called the Foundational Teachings (skt. Hinayana). Those who wanted to do more for others were given the teachings on wisdom and compassion called the Great Way (skt. Mahayana). Where people had strong confidence in their own and others’ Buddha nature, Buddha taught the Diamond Way (skt. Vajrayana). Here, he manifested as forms of energy and light or directly transmitted his enlightened view as a flow of awareness. On this highest level, the aim is the complete development of mind, the spontaneous effortlessness of the Great Seal (skt. Mahamudra).
The Diamond Way offers the modern world “effective methods that lead to a direct experience of mind,” as explained by Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche, one of the most experienced teachers of Tibetan Buddhism. One learns to experience the world from a rich and self-liberating viewpoint. Diamond Way meditations develop a deep inner richness and lead to a non-artificial and unwavering mind where every enlightened activity can unfold.
