Rolpe Dorje took novice ordination at the age of six, and full ordination at eighteen, observing every detail of the rules of conduct with the utmost scrupulousness. Neither a hair's tip of meat nor a breath of alcohol was ever permitted in his presence. Although he retained profound wisdom from his previous lifetimes concerning all aspects of the Dharma, he retained profound wisdom from his previous lifetimes concerning all aspects of the Dharma, he accepted the vast and profound transmissions of each lineage in order to demonstrate the relationship between master and disciple. While receiving the transmissions of deities, he directly received their divine presence.

       Rolpe Dorje was invited to the Chinese Imperial Court, and knowing that a visit would benefit many beings, he agreed to go. When he arrived, feminine, epidemics, and rebellion engulfed the country. Rolpe Dorje restored peace by pacifying local gods, and through the blessings of the Medicine Buddha and the Deity of Wealth, he gradually restored health and prosperity to the land. The Emperor and his children, through their deep faith, were able to receive and understand the profound oral transmission he bestowed upon them. Many officials from China, Mongolia, Korea, and other regions gave rise to the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the sake of all beings, and received the Bodhisattva Vow from Karmapa. Although China grew prosperous and contented, Rolpe Dorje foresaw the end of the dynasty and insisted upon returning to Tibet. He visited many regions along the way teaching extensively and giving whatever offerings he received to support the Dharma. During his travels, he bestowed novice ordination upon the young Tsongkhapa, who later founded the Gelugpa school.

       At the end of his life, Rolpe Dorje traveled to the high, solitary mountain in the far north of Tibet. He instructed his monks to bring along a large amount of juniper wood, explaining that there would be no wood suitable for a funeral pyre where they were going. When they reached the mountain, he told his followers that if a pure monk were cremated on the summit, foreign armies threatening Tibet at the time would be unable to invade. His disciples did not understand that he meant to pass away, however, his health suddenly declined. He entered parinirvana soon afterwards, and when his body was cremated a rain of divine flowers fell from the sky and the earth trembled six times. Many people saw his image in the sky, encircled by a rainbow.

DESHIN  SHEKPA(1384-1415)

       The great fifth Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa, has been praised thus: "You are the ocean of supreme Intention, laden with jewels, of Omniscient Wisdom. The profound depths of your compassion transcend conceptual limit. Continuous waves of your activity stream in the ten directions. To the Lama, the Ocean of knowledge, I bow down".

       In accordance with the prediction of Rolpe Dorje, Deshin Shekpa was born in Nyangdam, in southern Tibet. His father and mother were advanced tantric practioners, and from his mother's womb he was heard reciting Om Mani Pemay Hung. so many magnificent omens arose during his mother's pregnancy that people gathered in great numbers as soon as he was born in order to make offerings, prayers, and prostration to him. By the time he was two months old, he had demonstrated beyond question that he was indeed the Karmapa.

       Through his mastery of the ten Paramitas,Karmapa won the devotion and respect of all who met him. He obtained mastery of phenomena through mastering his own mind, and understood precisely how to benefit and mature the stream of being of everyone he met. Buddha Shakyamuni, Manjushri, Maitreya, Chenrezig, the sixteen arhats, and the goddess Tara visited him repeatedly to bestow blessings and prophecies. Hosts of protectors and guardian deities scrupulously accomplished his activity without requiring any instruction or command.

       Yung Lo, the Ming emperor, invited Deshin Shekpa to the Chinese Imperial Court, where he was received by ten thousand monks. He bestowed many Vajrayana transmissions upon the Emperor and his retinue, who through their devotion achieved excellent results in meditation and practice. The Emperor, in particular, perceived the mystic black crown of Chenrezig that rests above the heads of all the Karmapa incarnations. So that others with less ability might receive its blessing, Yung Lo obtained Karmapa's permission to contract a replica of silk, gold, and jewels. He then offered the crown to Deshin Shekpa, who consecrated it with the divine original. The material crown has been passed down to tall subsequent Karmapas, and is displayed in a ceremony conferring Chenrezig's blessing.

       Deshin Shekpa meanwhile manifested limitless miracles in the vicinity of the Imperial court. Rainbows, multicolored clouds, visions of flying saints, gods, and goddesses, and mysteriously glowing lights appeared to all who lived in the Imperial city. The emperor commanded court artists to paint these visions on a silk scroll, which he then offered to the Karmapa.

THONGWA DONDEN(1416-1453)

Thongwa Donden was born in Ngom, in eastern Tibet, near Karma Monastery. Immidiately after his birth, he sat up and began to lough. Celestial fragrance permeated the countryside when his umbilical cord was out. As an infant, he accompanied his parents to the home of the previous Karmapa's disciple, Lama Ngompa Jadralwa. He became very excited upon seeing Jadralwa's face, and when the lama asked him "who are you?" Thongwa Donden replied, "I am unborn and ineffable. I am non-abiding. I have come as the glory of all who are born, to guide to liberation all those who wander without abode in the cycle of rebirth, leaving no one behind."

       When Thongwa Donden was four months old, a rumour arose that Lama Jadralwa had been killed while traveling. Though many were devastated by the news, Thongwa Donden danced with joy and assured his mother that Jadralwa had not been harmed. Jadralwa indeed returned safely, and again asked the child, "Who are you?" Thongwa Donden replied, "I am the incarnation of Deshin Shekpa, don't you know?"

       In time, Thongwa Donden was taken to Karma Monastery and shown images of previous Karmapas. When asked, "Who is that?" he replied,laughing, "That is me!" when shown the Karmapa's black crown, he declared, "It is mine!" and took it in his hands. When an attendant brought tea, the child called him by the name the former Karmapa had used. Thongwa Donden also identified all the images in the various temples, convincing those who witnessed the event that he really was the Karmapa. For three days, local residents saw flowers rain from the sky, and it was proclaimed thereafter that Thongwa Donden was the Lord of Dharma himself.

       Other miracles followed. Karmapa ended a smallpox epidemic by conferring blessings, and relieved a drought simply by playing with water. After he consecrated a religious painting with barley, seven grains remained floating in the air. When a former disciple named Lama Kunpangpa, asked him, "Please give a gift to one whom you have held near to your heart," Thongwa Donden called him affectionately by the name he had used in his previous life, and gave him a present. The Lama's face flowed with tears.

       Thongwa Donden took novice ordination at the age of nine. He received the Bodhisattva Vow and transmissions of the various lineages, which he cultivated for many years in retreat. At the time, many of the liturgies of Kagyu lineage were fragmentary, drawn from source tantrasand Indian texts. Oral instructions were required to explain different stages of practice. Karmapa organized the liturgy and wrote many of the standard versions still used today. He also traveled throughout Tibet restoring monasteries, mediating disputes, and teaching the Dharma. All who saw him received his blessing, which transformed their lives. At the age of thirty-eight, Thongwa Donden suddenly grew ill, and after carefully packing and sealing his books and shrine objects, commanded his disciples not to break the seals until he returned. After his passing, his body was cremated and many beautiful relics were found in the ashes.

From: Karmapa the Sacred Prophecy:

          Kagyu Thubten Choling,1999. The Himalayan Voice, Aug/Sept 2000, No.21, Tilopa (988-1069).