The Karmapa

The Karmapa. The last Karmapa came to the United States and I believe his passed over here in 1981. The tradition of "The Karmapa" predates the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhism. The link goes back in spiritual lineage all the way back to Tilopa, master of Mahamudra and Tantra in who lived from 989 to 1069 AD. The lineage moved through Marpa, the Translator to Milarespa(the most revered Tibetan Buddhist Saint). These forefathers are often called the "Golden Rosary"

Though I did not meet the last incarnation when he came to America in the physical, I have felt a connection to him. I have seen photographs of when he came to America and faded out to where photographs of him showed him as a ghost and one could see very clearly the wall behind him. I have also heard stories from those Americans who traveled with him first hand, of how amazing events occurred all the time around the Karmapa.

I realized this evening that the new Karmapa that is recognized by the Dalai Lama was born in Kham, Tibet like my friend,Geshela. Though Geshela has passed away now here in the United States, the new Karmapa was born the summer of 1985 in Kham, Tibet. As a very young child he proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of the Karmapa and eventually was recognized by Tai Situpa, another tulku. I reached Bodhgaya in late December 1985. We all reached Dharmsala from Bodhgaya by way of Varanasi, the Taj Mahal and New Delhi by way of Train. After a while in New Delhi, we continued by train to Amritsar in the Punjab and then by bus through Pathankot to Dharamsala, India.My family and I reached Dharamsala in late January 1986. The Dalai Lama lives in Dharamsala.

The 2nd Karmapa,Karma Pakshi (1204-1283) is often said to be the first person ever recognized and empowered as a tulku, a reincarnated Lama.

The present Karmapa is the 17th conscious reincarnation of the tulku Karmapa.

Since the last Karmapa is said to have attained enlightenment through Dream Yoga, I would like to quote from an article on Dream yoga from Wikipedia under the heading 'Dream Yoga'. Begin quote, "Buddha Shakyamuni often told his disciples to regard all phenomena as dreams. he used many examples, like an echo, a city in the clouds or a rainbow to illustrate the illusory nature of the phenomenal world. Dreams just represent one type of illusion. The whole universe arises and dissolves like a mirage. Everything about us, even the most enlightened qualities, are also dreamlike phenomena. There's nothing that is not encompassed within the dream of illusory being:so in going to sleep, you're just passing from one dream state to another."endquote