1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa

Gyalwa Karmapa of Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism (1110–1193) August 2026 right|240px|thumb|The 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (1110–1193) The 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (དུས་གསུམ་མཁྱེན་པ་ dus gsum mkhyen pa, 1110–1193) was the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. His name Düsum Khyenpa means "knower of the three times", the past, present and future. It was given to him to refer to the knowledge of the three forms of time he gained at his enlightenment, including the "timeless time" of enlightened awareness.Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. (2003). "Brief Histories of the Sixteen Karmapas". In: Music in the Sky: The Life, Art & Teachings of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Snow Lion Publications, U.S.A. First Indian Reprint: New Age Books, New Delh. (2004), p. 277. 81-7822-193-4. History Düsum Khyenpa was born to a devout family of Buddhist practitioners in Teshö in Kham and was called Gephel as a child. He first studied with his father and then continued training with other Buddhist teachers in the region.Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. (2003). "Brief Histories of the Sixteen Karmapas". In: Music in the Sky: The Life, Art & Teachings of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Snow Lion Publications, U.S.A. First Indian Reprint: New Age Books, New Delh. (2004), p. 277. 81-7822-193-4. Gephel was a gifted child who studied and practiced Buddhism intently from an early age. Already quite learned by the age of twenty, he became a monk and studied the sutras and tantras intensively for another ten years. At thirty, he went to Daklha Gampo, the monastery of Gampopa, to receive teachings directly from Gampopa, a heart student of Milarepa. He trained formally in the foundation practices of the Kadam tradition and, following that, in the general philosophy of the sutras during his time there. Gephel received empowerments and instruction in the Hevajra tantra and spent four years in strict retreat, training in samatha and vipassanā. He then received the full transmission of the inner instructions of the Kagyu tradition. In nine days he absorbed what Naropa had received over 12 years from Tilopa. Rechungpa, the "moon-like" disciple of Milarepa, also instructed him, principally in the Six Yogas of Naropa. His attainment in one of these - tummo - was particularly boosted by his own natural compassion, and produced rapid results. Following his teacher's instruction he then went away to meditate.October 2014 Gampopa eventually died and Dusum Khyenpa returned to Daklha Gampo to honor his remains. He had a powerful vision of his teacher and knew that it was time to implement one of his final instructions: To go to the place where he would achieve enlightenment - Kampo Kangra - and to practice mahamudra there. He promised that he would live until the age of 84, in order to benefit the Dharma. He achieved enlightenment at the age of fifty, while practicing dream yoga. He had a vision at that time of the dakinis offering him a vajra crown woven from their hair. From then onwards, his teaching activity was as intense as his activity in building monastic centers. In 1164 at the age of 55, he founded a monastery at Kampo Nenang, and at the age of 60 he established Panphuk Monastery in Lithang, eastern Tibet. Then in 1185 at the age of 76, he established an important seat at Karma Gon Monastery in Chamdo, in Kham and, at the age of 80 his main seat at Tsurphu Monastery, in central Tibet along the valley of the Tolung River, which feeds into the Brahmaputra River.The Karmapa, "The First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa", Kagyu Office.org The khenpo of the Buddhist monastery at Bodh Gaya sent a conch to Düsum Khyenpa at Tsurphu. The Conch symbolism is found in many stories of the sixteen Karmapas.October 2014 Düsum Khyenpa made predictions about future Karmapas. In particular, he was the first Karmapa to present a prediction letter detailing his future incarnation. He gave it to his main disciple, Drogon Rechen, predecessor of the Tai Situpa line, who passed it to his own student Pomdrakpa. Pomdrakpa recognized the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi after they met. Fulfilling his promise, Düsum Khyenpa passed at the age of 84. His heart was found intact in the funeral pyre and some of his remaining bones bore self manifesting symbols of Buddhas.October 2014 Among his main disciples were Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal, founder of the Taklung Kagyu; Tsangpa Gyare, founder of the Drukpa Lineage now widespread in Bhutan; and the Nyingma master Katok Dampa Deshek,Katok Dampa Deshek some information by RIGPA SHEDRA founder of Katok Monastery. The forefathers in the Kagyu lineage are known as the "Golden Rosary." The lineage of the Kagyu emphasizes the continuity of oral instructions passed on from master to student.Some information on the Kagyu Lineage and the Golden Rosary https://web.archive.org/web/20090326002810/http://kagyuoffice.org/kagyulineage.goldenrosary.html 2009-03-26 The principal student who held the lineage of the Golden Rosary from the First Karmapa was Drogon Rechen.The First Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (1110 - 1193) https://web.archive.org/web/20081007225231/http://www.kagyuoffice.org/kagyulineage.karmapa1.html 2008-10-07 kagyuoffice An ink and gouache drawing of Düsum Khyenpahttps://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/secrets-of-the-seated-buddha/ V&A · Explore the Collections was found in a statue of the Buddha and is in the Victoria and Albert Museum. See also Tulku Lucid dream Footnotes References Note: This text is based on the abstract from Ken Holmes book Karmapa on the web site https://web.archive.org/web/20050214123733/http://www.samye.org/k1.htm 2005-02-14 used with the author's permission. Other sources are indicated by footnotes. Ken Holmes, Karmapa, Altea Publishing 1995, 0-9524555-4-4. Author's website Thinley Karma The History of Sixteen Karmapas of Tibet 2008 Prajna Press USA 978-1-57062-644-9 150 Lama Kunsang, Lama Pemo, Marie Aubèle (2012). History of the Karmapas: The Odyssey of the Tibetan Masters with the Black Crown. Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York. 1-55939-390-4. First Karmapa: The Life and Teachings of Dusum Khyenpa (2012), Translated by Michele Martin & David Karma Choepel, KTD Publications, New York. 978-1-934608-32-6. External links The First Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (1110 - 1193) kagyuoffice Gampopa (spiritual predecessor) Reincarnation of the Karmapa Karma Pakshi 1 Category:1110 births Category:1193 deaths Category:12th-century Tibetan people