3rd Karmapa Rangjung Dorje

The 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, who was born in Dingri Langkor, startled those present by sitting up shortly after his birth and declaring himself the Karmapa. Afterward, he said, "The moon has risen." Karmapa's mother saw this as a bad omen and immediately stuffed ash into his mouth. As a result, the boy didn't speak for three years. Then he renewed his claims by making himself a black hat, having his friends build him a throne out of turf, and once again declaring himself Karmapa.

Two more years would pass before, at his own request, he met Drubtob Urgyenpa, who recognized the child as the reincarnation of Karma Pakshi, the 2nd Karmapa. He gave him the 2nd Karmapa's possessions and transmitted all the Kagyü teachings to him. The 3rd Karmapa's education and training began at the age of seven, when he received novice ordination and formal enthronement as Karmapa from Lama Kunden Sherab at Tsurphu Monastery. For the next 11 years, he studied the complete teachings of the Kagyü and Nyingma schools at Tsurphu.

Rangjung Dorje subsequently sought out the masters of all Buddhist traditions of that time. Among others, he studied with Trophu Kunden Sherab and Nyenre Gendün Bum. He also participated in intensive meditation retreats. This brought him great fame and many followers. He built monasteries and meditation centers, as well as bridges, which benefited both the daily and spiritual lives of his countrymen. He wrote numerous texts and commentaries for posterity and preserved many teachings in a form that is still useful today. He also accepted invitations to teach the Chinese emperor and traveled twice from Tibet to China (where he died). It is said that his face was clearly visible in the moon on the night of his death.

The 3rd Karmapa, like the 8th Karmapa and Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye in the 19th century, was given the unofficial title, “khendrub” – “khen” means to learn, to know, and “drub” means all enlightened abilities or qualities. Whenever he received a spiritual transmission, he realized it immediately. From these, he created important writings and instructions for his students, in which he explained their essence with absolute clarity. When he received the transmissions on the connection between consciousness and wisdom, he composed the “Namshe Yeshe”. These transmissions on buddha-nature became the so-called, “Gyü Lama”. He summarized the Mahamudra transmissions in 26 verses, which Lama Ole enjoyed teaching for years and about which he himself wrote a book. After receiving the transmissions on Tibetan medicine, he composed the “Sowa Rigpa,” the Buddhist science of healing (e.g., the Jewel and Karmapa pills that are still made today exactly as he instructed). On a mountain range behind the Tsurphu Monastery (northeastern Tibet), he founded a new monastery surrounded by meditation caves. There he wrote a treatise on astrology – “Zabmo Nangdön” (The Hidden Inner Meaning). In keeping with his unusual abilities, the 3rd Karmapa composed a meditation designed to awaken and strengthen this very gift in everyone.

Since the Nyingma school during the Karmapa's time lacked a qualified, highly realized lama who could teach and transmit their transmissions, they asked Rangjung Dorje if he could do so. He agreed, and thus, the Karmapa gradually received all the transmissions of the Nyingma school. Last in this series, and after a thorough examination of his suitability, he received the transmission on Conscious Dying from Lama Kumaraja: Phowa (which Lama Ole taught for 27 years). This special and rare transmission is called “Longchen Nyingthig” in the Nyingma school. Longchen Rabjam was the greatest scholar of the Nyingma school, who compiled various Phowa transmissions. “Nyingthig” means "heart drop" and denotes the essential, central transmissions of the Nyingma school.

The Karmapa always maintained close ties to China, where he traveled several times. In fact, he died there. Both the emperor and his wife saw Rangjung Dorje in the moon. An artist who was present immediately painted this moment. The emperor also commissioned a gem artist to create this image with jewels.