9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje
Wangchuk Dorje (1556–1603) was the ninth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.
Life
Wangchuk Dorje was born in Treshod, Kham. According to legend, he said after being born: "I am Karmapa."[1] Other sources say that soon after his birth he sat cross-legged for three days and declared he was the Karmapa.[2]
He received his education from Shamar Köncho Yenlak, the fifth Shamarpa, in a nomadic camp which traveled through Tibet but also passed through present day Mongolia and Bhutan. During his travels, many monasteries were founded. Wangchuk Dorje also wrote many classic Buddhist texts, many of which are still being taught today.Biography of the 9th Karmapa
Wangchuk Dorje was not only a spiritual leader, but also a mediator in conflicts. He was invited by the king of Sikkim to settle a dispute while there he founded three monasteries, one of them being in Rumtek, which is currently the most important monastery of the lineage after the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The other two are Phodong and Ralang Monastery [3]
Works
Wangchuk Dorje was not a prolific author, but the texts he did write had an important impact on Mahamudra teaching. Among them:
- The Chariot for Travelling the Path to Freedom ('phags lam bgrod pa'i shing rta, the principal Karma Kagyu ngondro)
- Ocean of Definitive Meaning (nges don rgya mtsho)
- Pointing out the Dharmakaya (chos sku mdzub tshugs)
- Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance (ma rig mun sel)
- Knowing One Liberates All (gcig shes kun grol, a collection of empowerments)
- Feast for the Fortunate, a commentary on the Madhyamakāvatāra
Translated works
- Pointing Out the Dharmakaya, translated by Cortland Dahl, published by Nalanda Translation Committee.
- Ninth Karmapa, The Karmapa's Middle Way: Feast for the Fortunate, translated by Tyler Dewar, Snow Lion, 2008.
- Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, The Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning, Snow Lion, 2003.
- Ninth Karmapa, The Mahamudra Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance, commentary by Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, translated by Alexander Berzin, LTWA, 1978.
- Ninth Karmapa, Jewels From the Treasury: Vasubandhu's Verses on the Treasury of Abhidharma and Its Commentary Youthful Play by the Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje, translated by David Karma Choephel, KTD Publications, 2012.
Notes
External links
Media related to Wangchuk Dorje, 9th Karmapa at Wikimedia Commons
TBRC profile- 9th Karmapa's Collected Works at dharmadownload.net
Karmapa Incarnation Line, Rigpa Shedra Wiki
9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje, Wikipedia
