14th Shamarpa Mipham Chökyi Lodrö

Shamar Rinpoche was recognized at the age of six by the 16th Karmapa and enthroned in Tsurphu Monastery, the seat of the Karmapa in Tibet – initially, informally for political reasons. Later, in the old Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, Karmapa's main seat in exile, the ceremony could take place officially after approval by the Dalai Lama. Shamarpa was 11 years old at the time.

The young 14th Shamarpa remained under the care of the 16th Karmapa in Rumtek, and through the guidance of the meditation masters of his time, acquired an extensive treasury of transmissions there. Shortly before the 16th Karmapa died, he gave his disciple and successor the special oral instructions of the Lineage of Absolute Realization, which was transmitted through Tilopa in an unbroken lineage from Buddha Vajradhara.

After the 16th Karmapa passed away, Shamarpa, as the new lineage holder of the Karma Kagyü school, naturally took up the activities of his teacher in addition to his own responsibilities, and continued them in the unique way of his root lama. These included (among countless projects), the establishment of the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi, India.

Shamar Rinpoche founded the Bodhi Path organization in 1996 with the aim of providing access (free of sectarianism) to people interested in Buddhism worldwide.

He traveled and taught tirelessly. He was also in close contact with Karmapa’s students, Ole and Hannah Nydahl. He was often invited by Lama Ole to give teachings and empowerments to Diamond Way students, and Hannah was his translator and close confidante. Together they made sure that the 17th Karmapa, Thaye Dorje could be found, escape from Tibet and be officially recognized.