The Lineage of Kenting Tai Situpa | The current Kenting Tai Situpa | Active Peace | Interfaith Dialogue | Monasteries and Centers | News | Mahamudra Ocean of Definitive Meaning | PAVA Online |
Karma Kagyu Refuge Tree Masters ~

The 2nd Karmapa - Karma Pakshi


Image from: Thangkha painted by the 8th Kenting Tai Situpa Chokyi Jungne.
Please, when using any picture from this website, give source as - http://www.palpung.org.

In accordance with the sacred prediction letter of the Lord Dusum Khyenpa, Karma Pakshi (1203-1283) was born in Drilung to a family descended from the Dharma king Trisong Detsen. As a child, he effortlessly learned to read and write. By the age of ten, he had fixed the meaning of many Dharma texts clearly in his mind after only a single reading, so that he did not need to rely on many teachers. He was naturally able to rest his awareness on the essence of the mind, as if watching a vast, still ocean.

He received ordination at the age of eleven. The master Pomdrakpa bestowed the transmission of the kagyu lineage upon him, declaring, "More wonderful than the offering of wealth filling the entire country is a great meditator who recognizes the nature of his own mind." For the next ten years, Karma Pakshi devoted himself to uninterrupted practice. He mastered the four activities and brought the powerful gods and spirits of Tibet into his service.

While residing at the main seat of the lineage at Tsurphu Monastery, Karma Pakshi was invited to China by the Mongol prince, Kublai Khan. Knowing such a visit would benefit many beings, he accepted. Over the course of three years, Karmapa proceeded toward China, helping religious communities and restoring monasteries along the way. When at last he arrived at Prince Kublai's court, he was received with lavish honors. Later, at the Imperial court, Karma Pakshi bestowed the Bodhisattva Vow upon the emperor Mongka Khan and his retinue and granted them the transmission and teaching of Khorlo Dechog. Accompanied by the Emperor, he traveled extensively throughout China granting empowerments and teachings. Through the tremendous power of Karmapa's blessing, Mongka Khan perceived the true nature of his own mind and many non-Buddhists became followers of the Dharma.

Mongka Khan died soon after Karma Pakshi departed for Tibet. Kublai khan, the new emperor, conceived a grudge against the Karmapa and sent soldiers to intercept him along the way. Karma Pakshi felt only sympathy for his captors, who were unable to harm him in any way. When the soldiers attempted to tie him up , their ropes simply passed through his body as if through a rainbow. When they threw him and two of his disciples into a blazing fire, water issued from their bodies to extinguish the flames. When thrown from a cliff, he floated down to the ground, and when cast into a lake, he glided effortlessly across the waters. When he was taken to a desolate place beside the ocean and left to die, he lived there contentedly without difficulty. At length, Kublai Khan requested Karmapa's forgiveness and became his disciple.

While in China, Karmapa was inspired to build a colossal statue of the Buddha at Tsurphu. He sent vast quantities of precious materials from China and appointed a craftsman to oversee the work. Upon returning to Tsurphu, Karma Pakshi discovered that the fifty-five foot statue, cast in a single piece, was leaning to one side. He meditated in front of the statue, inclining his body at the same angle. When he straightened his own posture, the stature also righted itself.

Karma Pakshi passed away at the age of eighty. His eyes, tongue, and heart were found unburned among his cremation ashes, along with rainbow-colored spirals, images of deities, and symbolic letters.

Top


Mahamudra Ocean of Definitive Meaning~~

Karma Kagyu Refuge Tree Masters


01 Vajradhara

01 Tilopa

01 Naropa

02 Lodro Rinchen

03 Saraha

04 Nagarjuna

05 Shawaripa

06 Maitripa

07 Marpa

08 Milarepa

09 Gampopa

10 The 1st Karmapa

11 Drogon Rechen

12 Pomdrakpa

13 The 2nd Karmapa

14 Orgyenpa

15 The 3rd Karmapa

16 Gyalwa Yungtonpa

17 The 4th Karmapa

18 The 2nd Shamar Rinpoche

19 The 5th Karmapa

20 Rigowa Rinjung (Ratnabhadra)

21 The 6th Karmapa

22 Bengar Jampal Sangpo

23 The 1st Gyaltsab Rinpoche

24 The 7th Karmapa

25 The 1st Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche

26 The 8th Karmapa

27 The 5th Shamar Rinpoche

28 The 9th Karmapa

29 The 6th Shamar Rinpoche

30 The 10th Karmapa

31 The 7th Shamar Rinpoche

32 The 11th Karmapa

33 The 8th Shamar Rinpoche

34 The 12th Karmapa

35 The 8th Kenting Tai Situpa

36 The 13th Karmapa

37 The 10th Shamar Rinpoche

38 The 9th Kenting Tai Situpa

39 The 14th Karmapa

40 The 1st Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche

41 The 15th Karmapa

42 The 11th Kenting Tai Situpa

43 The 2nd Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche

44 The 16th Karmapa


There are many reference sources for this catagory. Please kindly advise us if there is copyright issue or mistake.
[email protected]

Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat

P.O. Upper Bhattu Via Baijnath - 176125, Distric Kangra, Himachal Pradesh 176-125, India
TEL:(91)1894-209093 (91) 1894-209088S