12th Karmapa

Karma Kagyu
The Kamtshang (kam tshang) or Karma Kagyu lineage (karma bka' brgyud) was established by the 1st Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (dus gsum mkhyen pa), (1110-1193). He founded the Tsurphu (mtshur phu) monastery in the Tölung (stod lung) valley, not far from Lhasa. It was to become the main seat of the Karmapas. Other important centers of the Karma Kagyu lineage are Lho Karma Gön (lho karma dgon), Palpung (dpal spung), Surmang (zur mang), Benchen (ban chen) and others, all of them in Eastern Tibet. The present head of the Karma Kagyu lineage is the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Thrinle Dorje (o rgyan phrin las rdo rje), (b. 1985). Other important masters of the Karma Kagyu lineage are the Shamar (zhwa dmar), Tai Situ (si tu), Gyaltsab (rgyal tshab), Pawo (dpa' bo) and Treho (tre ho) Rinpoches. In the 19th cent., the lineage of the Jamgön (’jam mgon) Rinpoches was added. There are two further lineages within the Karma Kagyu, the Surmang Kagyu (zur mang bka’ brgyud), established by Mase Togden (rma se rtogs ldan blo gros rin chen), a disciple of the 5th Karmapa Deshin Shegpa (de bzhin gshegs pa), (1384-1415); and the Nendo Kagyu (gnas mdo bka’ brgyud), established by Karma Chagme (kar ma chags med), (1613-1678), a disciple of the 6th Shamar Rinpoche (zhwa dmar chos kyi dbang phyug), (1584-1630).

See also:

• The Karmapas
  
• The Shamar Rinpoches
  
• The Situ Rinpoches
  
• The Gyaltsab Rinpoches
  
• The Pawo Rinpoches