Vidyadhara Ceremony of HH17 Karmapa Thaye Dorje

28 November 2003

The Karmapa International Buddhist Institute and the Monastic Community of Rumtek is pleased to inform you that on Monday, December 1, 2003 at 10.00 am, the Vidyadhara Ceremony of the 17th Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje is held in celebration of the formal completion of his monastic education in the sutras and tantras, and all other aspects of the teachings of the profound lineage.

The ceremony takes place at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute, New Delhi, India. The Karma Kagyu lineage spans over nine hundred years of Tibet’s Buddhist history. The first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa, (12th century) began the practise of reincarnating in a line of successive masters. The second Lama to do so was the first Shamarpa Tragpa Senge, (13th century). And, they have acted as the supreme heads of the Karma Kagyu school. Thus, the Karmapas and the Shamarpas are central to Buddhism in Tibet.

The present Shamarpa Palden Mipham Chokyi Lodrö recognized the son of Mipham Rinpoche of Dzakhog, Derge, East Tibet and his wife Dechen Wangmo as the reincarnation of the XVIth Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. This son, Tenzin Khyentse, was enthroned as the XVIIth Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje.

H. H. Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje’s education includes the Profound View Tradition of Nagarjuna, and the Vast Conduct Tradition of Asanga. He holds empowerments of Buddhist Tantras brought to Tibet by Marpa, and the Mahamudra teachings from the Mahasiddha traditions of Saraha and Maitripa, and other Indian Buddhist masters. He further holds empowerments of the six doctrines, and other teachings of the Highest Buddhist Tantras emphasized by the Indian Buddhist master Naropa.