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HH2 Karmapa - Karma Pakshi
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Life of HH2 Karmapa - Karma Pakshi The 2nd Karmapa - Karma Pakshi (1024-1283) was the first tulku ever to be recognised. From Chilay Tsakto in Eastern Tibet, the second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi was something of a child prodigy. By the age of six, he had taught himself to read and write. At ten, he was displaying a photographic memory for texts, and had already acquired a general understanding of Dharma philosophy and practice. On his way to Central Tibet for further education, he encountered Pomdragpa Sonam Dorje, who had been told by a vision of Dusum Khyenpa, the first Karmapa, that this boy would become the next lineage-holder. Karma Pakshi was persuaded to stay, and received the Kagyu transmission. Pomdragpa had received the full Kagyu transmission from his teacher, Drogon Rechen, who had in turned received it from HH1 Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa. It is said that Karma Pakshi could absorb the contents of a text with only one reading, and progressed seemingly without efforts. As an Enlightened being, this would necessarily be so. However, to preserve the unbroken stream of empowerments, Drogon Rechen passed on all the precious Kagyu teachings including the various empowerments. Like all previous Karmapa's, the present Karmapa, HH Thaye Dorje has also formally received all the empowerments and transmissions, despite his inherent clarity and wisdom. In the first half of his life, Karma Pakshi was more or less continually in meditation retreat. However, he did also visit and restore many of the monasteries that his predecessor, Dusum Khyenpa, had established. It was Karma Pakshi who introduced the communal chanting of Cherezig's mantra, 'om mani padme hum' to the broad masses of Tibetan people. His renown was such that he was invited to the imperial court of China. Kublai Khan, grandson of Ghengis Khan, invited him to China, and at the age of 47, Karma Pakshi set out on the three year journey. During his time in China, Karma Pakshi displayed many miracles, and became an important peacemaker in the empire. However, despite frequent requests, he decided not to remain there permanently, due to the desire to avoid conflicts with the Shakya's, who were very influential in China at that time. For ten years, Karma Pakshi travelled throughout China, Mongolia and Tibet and his fame and renown spread. He was especially beloved to the ruling Munga Khan, the brother of Kublai, and Karma Pakshi recognised him as being one of his former disciples. Kublai become Khan on Munga's death and Karma Pakshi became guru to the new emperor. Kublai Khan bestowed on him the Chinese title of Pakshi, 'highest spiritual leader.' All the Karmapas up to the tenth followed Karma Pakshi in this function of guru to the emperor of China. However, perceiving a slight in Karma Pakshi's previous turning down of his request made years before to reside permanently at his court, he later ordered the arrest of the Karmapa. Nevertheless, it proved impossible to capture or kill Karma Pakshi despite many attempts, due to his siddhis or powers. It is said that in one incident, Karma Pakshi caused 37,000 soldiers to freeze on the spot, through the use of mudra, though Bodhicitta remained firm in his heart. As a show of skilful means or method, Karma Pakshi eventually allowed himself to be captured, and then exiled. He believed that his great compassion and miracles would ultimately bring about a change of heart in the Khan, a belief which later turned out to be well founded. In his final years in Tibet, as the result of a visionary dream he had had many years before, he commissioned an enormous sixteen metre tall statue of the Buddha to be build at Tsurphu. As the finished statue was tilted, Karma Pakshi sat at the same angle, and then straightened himself up. The statue straightened as he did. In general, Karma Pakshi was renowned both for the depth of his realisation and for his powers, and he consequently had students throughout Tibet, Mongolia and China. He attained complete mastery of the tantric teachings and was considered the embodiment of the highest expression of Mahamudra wisdom.
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