The All-victorious Dharma activity of the Karmapas

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Homage to Dusum Khyenpa the first Karmapa

He was a gifted child who studied and practiced Dharma intently from an early age. Already quite learned by the age of twenty, he became a monk and studied the sutras and tantra intensively for a further ten years. At thirty, he went to Daklha Gampo -- Gampopa's monastery -- to receive teachings from him. Although this was an historic meeting of two great Buddhist bodhisattvas emanating on Earth with a profound purpose, Gampopa nevertheless first made Dusum Khyenpa train formally in the foundation practices of the Kadampa tradition and, following that, in the general philosophy of the sutras.

This set a fine example for all future Kagyu followers and showed the need for the correct basis of knowledge even when -- especially when -- one does the most powerful of Vajrayana practices.

The first Karmapa received empowerments and instruction in the Hevajra tantra and spent four years in strict retreat, training in the peaceful stability (shamatha) and profound insight (vipaśyanā) aspects of meditation. He then received the full transmission of the inner instructions of the Kagyu tradition. In nine days he absorbed what Naropa had received over 12 years from Tilopa. Rechungpa, the 'moon-like' disciple of Milarepa, also instructed him, principally in the Six Yogas of Naropa. His attainment in one of these -- tummo, inner-heat -- was particularly boosted by his own natural compassion and produced rapid results. Following his teacher's instruction he then went away to meditate.

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Seventh Gyalwa Karmapa

Chödrak Gyatso (1454–1506), also Chödrag Gyamtso, was the seventh Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Chödrak Gyatso was born in Chida in the north of Tibet. According to the legend, he said at the age of five months: "There is nothing on this world, except for emptiness." He was recognized as Karmapa at the age of nine months.

According to the legend he established peace at the age of five during a tour through Tibet where in the south the tribes of Nagaland and Bhutan were engaged in a war.

He spent a large part of his life protecting animals and teaching people to give up hunting and fishing. His main activities were to prevent and solve conflicts between the tribes and building bridges and roads to connect the different areas. The best medicine against all problems and conflicts was saying "Om mani padme hum" one million times. Chödrak send a lot of gold to India to enable the gilding of the statue of the Gautama Buddha near Bodhgaya.

According to Karma phrin las, Dri lan yid, 91-92, his teacher, Chödrak Gyatso, the Seventh Karmapa, interpreted the nature of Zhentong (gzhan stong) accepted by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje who, in turn, had probably influenced, and been influenced by, the great Zhentong master, Dolpopa.^[1]

He was also an accomplished scholar, most famous for authoring the Ocean Of Logic, which is considered the most important text on pramana in the Kagyu tradition. He also authored an important commentary on Asanga's Abhisamayalamkara called The Lamp Of The Three Worlds.