16th Karmapa

H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981), was born in Derge province in eastern Tibet. The 15th Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje (1871-1922), left a letter setting forth the circumstances of his next incarnation. On the basis of this letter the authorities of the Tsurphu monastery were able to successfully locate the child.

17th Karmapa

H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, was born in Tibet in 1983. He was the first son of the 3rd Mipam Rinpoche, a great Nyingma Lama, and Dechen Wangmo, the daughter of a noble family descending from King Gesar of Ling. At the age of one and a half the boy started telling people that he was the Karmapa.

Shamar Rinpoche

An emanation of Buddha Amithaba, the 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, is second to Gyalwa Karmapa in the spiritual hierarchy of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. The first Shamar Rinpoche, Khedrup Trakpe Senge (1283-1349), was the principal disciple of the 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje.

Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche


Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche


Jigme Rinpoche

Jigme Rinpoche, the reincarnation of the Tibetan yogi, was born into the family of H.H. the 16th Karmapa as the brother of Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. He received extensive teachings from the 16th Karmapa who, during his first visit in the West, left him there as his representative.

Lama Ole Nydahl

Lama Ole Nydahl is one of the few Westerners fully qualified as a Lama and meditation teacher in the Karma Kagyu Buddhist tradition. Challenging people's concepts of life and Buddhism in an unorthodox manner, Lama Ole has been a major driving force in bringing Buddhism to the West.

Hannah Nydahl

In December 1969 Hannah Nydahl and her husband Ole became the first Western students of H.H. the 16th Karmapa. For over 30 years, Hannah has interpreted for the highest Karma Kagyu teachers and translated texts of Buddhist philosophy.