Karmapa

Karmapa Thaye Dorje, HH 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, is leader of the 900 year old Karma Kagyu lineage. From traditional texts to social media. Karmapa resides in Delhi, India.

From childhood in Tibet to travelling the globe as a world Buddhist leader. The life story of the Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, spans East and West, just as his activity bridges traditional values and contemporary issues. Here is Karmapa’s official short-form biography:

Karmapa was born on 6 May 1983 in central Tibet. His parents were the great Nyingma lama Mipham Rinpoche an

d Dechen Wangmo. As soon as he could speak, he told them he was the Karmapa. The Karmapas are the leaders of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. In March 1994, in accordance with the 900 year old tradition, Thaye Dorje was enthroned as the 17th Karmapa. His Holiness the 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, the second most senior Karma Kagyu lama, enthroned him. The 14th Shamarpa, Mipham Chokyi Lodro was himself recognized by the 16th Karmapa and His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1957 and officially enthroned in 1963. Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche passed from this life on 11 June 2014. The first Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa, was born in 1110. The first Dalai Lama, Gendun Drub, was born in 1391. The Karmapa leads the longest unbroken chain of reincarnated leaders among the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Karmapa escaped from Tibet in 1994. In 2003, his formal education was completed when he received the title of Vidyadhara, or Knowledge Holder of the Sutras and Tantras. Trinley Thaye Dorje means Limitless Unchanging Buddha Activity. Today, Karmapa travels extensively, meeting students, young people, world leaders, and leading lights in the fields of spirituality, peace, conflict resolution, and education. He has the spiritual responsibility for over 900 monasteries and meditation centres around the world. Karmapa’s activities include: empowering young people; meeting international leaders in the fields of spirituality, peace, conflict resolution, and education; and creating videos and articles to promote peace and prosperity in our world. Karmapa defines education as “knowledge that offers compassion and wisdom”. Cultivating our innate values of compassion and wisdom – our Inner Wealth – enables us to experience peace. More than half of the world’s population is under the age of 30. For Karmapa, young people are therefore essential to engage with for peace in our world. Karmapa says that “It is essential that non-material values are supported, to help us cultivate balanced and beneficial human beings.”

This year’s Karmapa Public Course at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) took place between the 8th and ...
28/03/2026

This year’s Karmapa Public Course at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) took place between the 8th and the 16th of March, 2026.

On the afternoon of the 10th of March, Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, granted the empowerment of White Tara (Tib. Dolkar), one of the Buddha aspects representing longevity, to a large gathering of practitioners who had come to KIBI to attend the course, including Rinpoches, monks, nuns and lay practitioners from East and West. Karmapa gave detailed instructions on the meaning and essence of the practice, so as to enable the students to follow the various steps of the empowerment.

In the following days Karmapa continued his teaching on the 8th chapter of the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by the great Indian scholar Shantideva, dedicated to the Paramita of Meditative Concentration (Tib. Samten). During each of the sessions Karmapa reserved a generous amount of time for questions and answers.

Karmapa also guided daily practice sessions on the Four-Armed Chenresig.

On the afternoon of the last day Karmapa bestowed the empowerment of Avalokiteshvara (Tib: Chenresig), the meditation aspect embodying the enlightened compassion of all Buddhas, to the gathered practitioners.

Several other eminent teachers shared their knowledge and experience of the Buddha Dharma with the course participants: His Eminence Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche taught on Buddha Nature, Venerable Lama Jampa Thaye on Mind Training (Tib. Lojong), and Venerable Khenpo Lobsang on the Uttaratantra Shastra (Tib. Gyu Lama).

Please enjoy this selection of pictures from this year’s Karmapa Public Course at KIBI.

www.karmapa.org/karmapa-public-course-2026-photos/ ‎

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message on the occasion of the 85th birthday of ...
19/03/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message on the occasion of the 85th birthday of Lama Ole Nydahl.

Dear Dharma friends,

Today marks the 85th birthday of our dear Lama Ole.

For more than fifty years, Lama Ole has dedicated his life to practicing and sharing the Buddha Dharma. Over the course of these many years, he has inspired countless individuals through his example and offered them access to the Dharma, the Buddha’s teaching.

This precious activity has accumulated immense joy and merit, and I deeply rejoice in the vast benefit for both our Karma Kagyu lineage and innumerable sentient beings.

On the auspicious occasion of his 85th birthday, I offer my prayers to the Karma Kagyu lineage masters, as well as to the longevity aspect of White Tara, to bless and protect Lama Ole, and I invite all of my students to join me in these prayers.

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa

www.karmapa.org/karmapas-message-for-lama-oles-85th-birthday

15/03/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, teaches on Chapter 8 of Shantideva's text "Entering the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" (Bodhicaryavatara).

Day 8 of the Karmapa Public Course 2026 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi, India.

For more details, see https://www.karmapa.org/karmapa-public-course-2026-streaming/

14/03/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, teaches on Chapter 8 of Shantideva's text "Entering the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" (Bodhicaryavatara).

Day 7 of the Karmapa Public Course 2026 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi, India.

For more details, see https://www.karmapa.org/karmapa-public-course-2026-streaming/

13/03/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, teaches on Chapter 8 of Shantideva's text "Entering the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" (Bodhicaryavatara).

Day 6 of the Karmapa Public Course 2026 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi, India.

For more details, see https://www.karmapa.org/karmapa-public-course-2026-streaming/

12/03/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, teaches on Chapter 8 of Shantideva's text "Entering the Bodhisattva's Way of Life"(Bodhicaryavatara).

Day 5 of the Karmapa Public Course 2026 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi, India.

For more details, see https://www.karmapa.org/karmapa-public-course-2026-streaming/

11/03/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, teaches on Chapter 8 of Shantideva's text "Entering the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" (Bodhicaryavatara).

Day 4 of the Karmapa Public Course 2026 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi, India.

For more details, see https://www.karmapa.org/karmapa-public-course-2026-streaming/

The Karmapa Public Course 2026 takes place at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) from 8-16 March.Thaye ...
10/03/2026

The Karmapa Public Course 2026 takes place at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) from 8-16 March.

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, will give empowerments and teaching on Shantideva’s text “Entering the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life” (Bodhicaryavatara). Other respected teachers will also give teachings.

For the streaming schedule, see:
www.karmapa.org/karmapa-public-course-2026-streaming

23/02/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message on the occasion of Losar, Tibetan New Year, 2026.

May the Wish-Fulfilling Wheel of White Tara,
The embodiment of All-Accomplishing Wisdom
Grant us longevity, prosperity, and wisdom. On this occasion of the beginning of the Male Fire Horse year, I would like to offer greetings and a wish for all of us.

It is completely up to us how we would like to view this so-called "life". Nevertheless, it may be inspiring to view it as our opportunity to generate and enjoy both temporary happiness and ultimate happiness, which arises from the combination of our effort and the Buddha's blessings.

www.karmapa.org/losar-2026-karmapas-message

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message on the occasion of Losar, Tibetan New Ye...
23/02/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message on the occasion of Losar, Tibetan New Year, 2026.

May the Wish-Fulfilling Wheel of White Tara,
The embodiment of All-Accomplishing Wisdom
Grant us longevity, prosperity, and wisdom. On this occasion of the beginning of the Male Fire Horse year, I would like to offer greetings and a wish for all of us.

It is completely up to us how we would like to view this so-called "life". Nevertheless, it may be inspiring to view it as our opportunity to generate and enjoy both temporary happiness and ultimate happiness, which arises from the combination of our effort and the Buddha's blessings.

www.karmapa.org/losar-2026-karmapas-message

The cremation ceremony for the Third Ju Mipham Rinpoche, His Eminence Mipham Namgyal Gyatso Tshojung Gyepe Dorje, was he...
22/02/2026

The cremation ceremony for the Third Ju Mipham Rinpoche, His Eminence Mipham Namgyal Gyatso Tshojung Gyepe Dorje, was held at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) on the 10th of February 2026, following the traditional 49 days of rituals.

This final selection of photos completes the impressions of this unique occasion.

https://www.karmapa.org/mipham-rinpoches-cremation-part-3/

The cremation ceremony for the Third Ju Mipham Rinpoche, His Eminence Mipham Namgyal Gyatso Tshojung Gyepe Dorje, was he...
20/02/2026

The cremation ceremony for the Third Ju Mipham Rinpoche, His Eminence Mipham Namgyal Gyatso Tshojung Gyepe Dorje, was held at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) on the 10th of February 2026, following the traditional 49 days of rituals.

The following photos continue the impressions of this unique occasion.

https://www.karmapa.org/mipham-rinpoches-cremation-part-2/

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