Citizendia
Your Ad Here

Rangjung Rigpe Dorje

Information
Other name(s): His Holiness Rangjung Rigpei Dorje
Born: August 14, 1924(1924-08-14)
Place of birth: Dergé, Kham, Tibet
Died: November 5, 1981 (aged 57)
Religion: Tibetan Buddhism
School(s): Karma Kagyu
Title(s): 16th Gyalwa Karmapa
Website

Portal:Buddhism

The sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpei Dorje (August 14, 1924–November 5, 1981) (Wylie Rang 'byung rig pa'i rdo rje) was spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Events 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dêgê County () is a county in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China's Sichuan province For other meanings see Kham (disambiguation. KHAM (995 FM) is a commercial Radio station that is licensed to serve the Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including The Schools of Buddhism. Buddhism is classified in various ways Karma Kagyu ( or Kamtsang, is the largest lineage within the Kagyu school one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Karmapa (officially His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa) is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa ( Tibetan Events 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Karma Kagyu ( or Kamtsang, is the largest lineage within the Kagyu school one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including He was born in Denkhok in the Dergé district of Kham (Eastern Tibet), near the Yangtze River. Dêgê County () is a county in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China's Sichuan province For other meanings see Kham (disambiguation. KHAM (995 FM) is a commercial Radio station that is licensed to serve the Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European

Contents

Biography

Jampal Tsultrim, the fifteenth Karmapa's personal attendant, had been entrusted by him with a prediction letter concerning the details of the incarnation of the 16th Karmapa. Certain details were clarified by the 2nd Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, the 11th Tai Situ Rinpoche and the 2nd Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, which helped to successfully locate Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. In Tibetan Buddhism the Tai Situpa is one of the oldest lineages of Tulkus (reincarnated Lamas in the Kagyu school Jamgon Kongtrul was a prominent Tibetan Buddhist teacher ( Lama) and is also the name shared by members of a lineage held by tradition to be his subsequent reincarnations

He was taken to Palpung Monastery where Situ Pema Wangchok gave him ordination, the Bodhisattva vows and many teachings. Palpung Monastery ( is a Buddhist temple in Tibet in the vicinity of Dergé. In the various Bodhisattva vows (sometimes called the Bodhisattva Precepts) of Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattvas take Vows stating Beru Khyentse Lodro Miza Pampa'i Gocha taught him the tantras. Bo Kangkar Rinpoche taught him the sutras. Jamgon Palden Kyentse Oser taught him Mahamudra and the 6 Yogas of Naropa. Mahamudra (Sanskrit Mahāmudrā, Tibetan Chagchen, Wylie phyag chen, contraction of Chagya Chenpo, Wylie phyag rgya chen po) literally means Nāropā ( Tibetan; Sanskrit: Nādapradā, 956-1041 was an Indian Buddhist mystic and Monk, the disciple of He regarded Situ Pema Wangchok and Jamgon Palden Kyentse Oser as his main teachers.

In 1931, at the age of seven, he performed his first Black Crown ceremony. The Black Crown ( is an important symbol of the Karmapa, the Lama that heads the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Thousands were witness to this amazing event. It was said that a rain of flowers fell and the sky was filled with rainbows. [1] Even while still very young, the great power of the 16th Karmapa became widely known. It was recorded that he took his attendant's sword and tied it in a knot. [2] He received his hair cutting ceremony at age thirteen from Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama. Thubten Gyatso ( February 12, 1876 – December 17, 1933) was the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet. [1]

During his education he received all the Kagyu transmissions and was also taught by the Sakya Trizin for many years. The Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism refers to its head as the Sakya Trizin. In the beginning of the 1940 he went into retreat and in 1947 started a pilgrimage to India together with Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub ( 6 July 1935 in Qinghai) He is the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. Rangjung continued his education with the 10th Mindrolling Trichen of the Nyingma School and it was concluded with the Kalachakra initiation of the Gelugpa School. The eleventh Mindrolling Trichen (pronunciation Mìn-drolling Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal འགྱུར་མེད་ཀུན་བཟང་དབང་རྒྱལ་ The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism (the other three being the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug) Kālacakra ( Sanskrit: कालचक्र IAST: Kālacakra Telugu: కాలచక్ర) is a Sanskrit term used in Tantric The Gelug or Gelug-pa, also known as the Yellow Hat sect, is a school of Buddhism founded by Tsongkhapa (1357–1419 a Philosopher Rangjung had therefore received all the major teachings of all the major Tibetan Buddhist schools.

The 16th Karmapa continued his predecessor's activities, travelling and teaching throughout Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, India and parts of China. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Sikkim ( Nepali:, also Sikhim) is a Landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas It is the least populous state in India India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National His activity also included locating the rebirths of high reincarnate lamas through his meditation.

The Escape from Tibet

Political circumstances altered Tibet radically with the 1950 takeover by the Chinese. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Karmapa, along with the Dalai Lama, government officials and other high lamas attended talks in Beijing to negotiate a settlement, which succeeded for a while, but in 1959 the Chinese government insisted on land reform and the conflict with the lamas who owned a lot of land accelerated. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

In February of that year, Karmapa took 160 students from Tsurphu Monastery and proceeded overland to Bhutan, taking the lineage's most sacred treasures and relics with them. Tsurphu Monastery (also Tolung Tsurpu / sTod lung mTshur phu is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery which served as the traditional seat of the Karmapa. The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. [3]

Tashi Namgyal, the King of Sikkim, offered land to the Karmapa near the site where the 14th Karmapa had established a monastery. For the 16th century Tibetan Buddhist scholar see Dakpo Tashi Namgyal. Sikkim ( Nepali:, also Sikhim) is a Landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas It is the least populous state in India It was here that his new seat, Rumtek Monastery was built in 1966. The traditional seat of the Karmapa, Tsurphu Monastery, still exists, but the number of monks is restricted. Tsurphu Monastery (also Tolung Tsurpu / sTod lung mTshur phu is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery which served as the traditional seat of the Karmapa. [4]

Focusing on the Western World

In the beginning of the 1970s the Karmapa made the predication that Tibet would have a hard struggle gaining independence and even if it does, it will not allow the refugees to return. Rumtek would not be a good place either, and although Sikkim and Bhutan are still stable, but can deteriorate as well. Rumtek ( also called the Dharmachakra Centre, is a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery located in the Indian state of Sikkim near the capital Sikkim ( Nepali:, also Sikhim) is a Landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas It is the least populous state in India The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. However the Western world will embrace Buddhism. The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings And after that predication he send Lama Gendün to Europe. [5]

In 1974 he embarked on his first world tour, travelling to Europe, Canada and the United States, giving several Black Crown ceremonies, and an audience was granted by Pope Paul VI. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Pope In 1976-77 he began a more exhaustive tour, giving extensive teachings and empowerments and visiting nearly every major city in Europe. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays

The sixteenth Karmapa helped foster the transmission of Tibetan Buddhism to the West. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including He established Dharma centers and monasteries in various places around the world in order to protect, preserve, and spread the Buddha's teachings. The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious This article concerns the buildings occupied by monastics. For the life inside monasteries and its historical roots see Monasticism. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder As part of an initiative by the Tibetan government-in-exile to consolidate the organizations of Tibetan Buddhism, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje became the first formal head of the Kagyu School, although the earlier Karmapas had long been considered the most prestigious and authoritative lamas of that school. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA officially the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is a Government in exile headed by Tenzin The Kagyu or Kagyupa school also known as the " Oral Lineage " or Whispered Transmission school is one of four main schools of Himalayan

Karmapa's death

In 1980-81 the Karmapa began his last world tour, giving teachings, interviews and empowerments in South East Asia, Greece, England and the United States. Rangjung Rigpei Dorjé died on November 5, 1981 in the United States in a hospital in Zion, Illinois. Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Zion is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22866 at the 2000 census and estimated at 24303 as of 2005 Doctors and nurses at the hospital remarked on his kindness and how he seemed more concerned with their welfare than his own. [6] One doctor was also struck by the Karmapa's refusal of pain medication and the absence of any signs of feeling the profound pain that most patients in his condition report. [6] Upon his death, against hospital procedure but in keeping with Tibetan tradition and with special permission from the State of Illinois, his body was left in the hospital for three days and his heart remained warm during this time. [7][6][2] Chief of staff Radulfo Sanchez had no medical explanation for this. [8]

During the seven weeks between his death and his cremation, the Karmapa's body spontaneously shrank to the size of a small child. He was cremated in Rumtek. His two dogs died on the day of his cremation even though they were healthy. [9] During the cremation a triple circular rainbow appeared above the monastery in a clear blue sky. [6] Many photographs exist of this remarkable phenomenon. While his body burnt, an object rolled from the flames to the edge of the stupa to Lopon Chechu Rinpoche. This object was quickly recovered and proved to be the Karmapa's eyes, tongue and heart. This was taken to indicate that the body, speech and mind have come together to be saved as relics for the future and is common in only the highest of accomplished Buddhist yogis - the exact same thing is said to have occurred during the cremation of Gampopa and the Second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi. Gampopa ( (1079-1153 "the man from Gampo" — who was equally well known in Tibet as Sonam Rinchen ( Dagpo Lhaje ( ("the Physician from Dagpo" Karma Pakshi ( 1203 &ndash 1283) was the 2nd Gyalwa Karmapa. He was a child prodigy who had already acquired a broad understanding of Dharma philosophy [10]

Legacy

The simple presence of Karmapa would create a profound and lasting blessing on all people coming into contact with him. He himself said that a Buddha should be known by his laugh and it was said that when Karmapa laughed, which he did all the time, one would hear him several houses away.

He also demonstrated a complete ability to communicate with animals, e. g. , at a course in Europe, a large raven tapped on the window where Karmapa was teaching. Raven is the common name given to the largest species of Passerine Birds in the Genus Corvus. When let in, the bird flew directly to Karmapa, after which he instructed two people to go to a barn a few miles down the road where two other birds were trapped and starving. Of course the birds were discovered and rescued. [11] Rangjung Rigpe Dorje had a special fondness for birds and he considered a visit to the local petshop in every city in the world an essential part of his travels.

Rangjung Rigpe Dorje was considered by many to be a living Buddha. In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. Like his predecessors, he was primarily a spiritual figure and therefore not involved in politics. He, instead, made efforts to keep the spiritual traditions of Tibet intact and in this way helped to preserve the identity of Tibet as a unique and individual culture. Spiritually, he is an inspiration to hundreds of thousands of people across the world who meditate on him daily.

References

  1. ^ a b Simhas.org Biography of the 16th Karmapa. (Retrieved: September 16, 2006)
  2. ^ a b Kagyu.org Biography of 16th Karmapa. (Retrieved: September 16, 2006)
  3. ^ Diamondway Buddhism Biography 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. (Retrieved: September 16, 2006)
  4. ^ SaveTibet.org Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002. (Retrieved: September 16, 2006)
  5. ^ Karmapa Thaye Dorje, Het Boeddistische boek van Wijsheid en Liefde, page 76, 9080582352 (Dutch translation). Trinley Thaye Dorje ( (born 6 May, 1983, Lhasa, Tibet) is recognized by a number of Buddhist groups as a 17th Karmapa.
  6. ^ a b c d 16th Karmapa, The Lion's Roar (DVD), link
  7. ^ Lama Ole Nydahl, Tibets geheimen voorbij, page 176, 908058231X (Dutch translation)
  8. ^ Karmapa Thaye Dorje, Het Boeddhistische boek van Wijsheid van Liefde, page 46, 9080582352 (Dutch translation. Ole Nydahl (born March 19 1941 near Copenhagen, Denmark) is a controversial Buddhist lay teacher original title: Le livre bouddhiste de la sagesse et de l'amour)
  9. ^ Karmapa Thaye Dorje, Het Boeddistische boek van Wijsheid en Liefde, page 108, 9080582352 (Dutch translation)
  10. ^ Lama Ole Nydahl, Tibets geheimen voorbij, page 179, 908058231X (Dutch translation)
  11. ^ Lama Ole Nydahl, Tibets geheimen voorbij, page 116, 908058231X (Dutch translation)

Other sources used:

External links

Preceded by
Khakyab Dorje		 Reincarnation of the Karmapa Succeeded by
Disputed: between
Ogyen Trinley Dorje
and
Trinley Thaye Dorje
Trinley Thaye Dorje ( (born 6 May, 1983, Lhasa, Tibet) is recognized by a number of Buddhist groups as a 17th Karmapa. Ole Nydahl (born March 19 1941 near Copenhagen, Denmark) is a controversial Buddhist lay teacher Ole Nydahl (born March 19 1941 near Copenhagen, Denmark) is a controversial Buddhist lay teacher The fifteenth Karmapa, Khakyab Dorje (1871-1922 spoke the mantra of Chenrezig " Om mani peme hung " at his birth in Sheikor village in Tsang province The Karmapa (officially His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa) is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa ( Tibetan The recognition of the Seventeenth Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, has been the subject of controversy Ogyen Trinley Dorje ( (b June 26, 1985) also written Urgyen Trinley Dorje ( or Orgyen Trinley Dorje or Ugyen Trinley Dorje Trinley Thaye Dorje ( (born 6 May, 1983, Lhasa, Tibet) is recognized by a number of Buddhist groups as a 17th Karmapa.
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic