9th Karmapa
Wangchuk Dorje (1556–1603) was the ninth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.
Wangchuk Dorje was born in Treshod, Kham. According to legend, he said after being born: "I am Karmapa." Other sources say that soon after his birth he sat cross-legged for three days and declared he was the Karmapa.
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 also wrote many classic Buddhist texts, many of which are still being taught today.
Wangchuk Dorje was not only a spiritual leader, but was also a mediator in conflicts. He was invited by the king of Sikkim to settle a dispute and 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
Near the end of his life, Yonten Gyatso was installed as the fourth Dalai Lama by the Mongolians. Wangchuk Dorje tried to reconquer the power of Lhasa together with monks of the Gelugpa sect who didn't recognize the fourth Dalai Lama. The conquest was violent and monasteries were conquered by force. During this time Yonten Gyatso died under suspicious circumstances. This ultimately resulted in the next Karmapa having to flee Tibet during the civil war which followed.
- The Chariot for Travelling the Path to Freedom, the principal Karma Kagyu ngondro thereafter
Mahamudra Texts
He was not a prolific author, but the texts he did write had an important impact on Mahamudra teaching.
- Ocean of Definitive Meaning (By 9th Gyalwa Karmapa)
- Pointing out the Dharmakaya.
- Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance.
- Zhar dMar dKon mChog Yan Lag, Mahamudra meditation or The Mahamudra, translation Gelongma Karma Tsultim Khechog Palmo, Ed. Karma Rigdol Publications, 1971
