Mipham Chokyi Lodro
Mipham Chokyi Lodro is the 14th and current Shamarpa.
He is also known as Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche.
He is the second most important teacher of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism after the Karmapa.
The Karmapas are sometimes referred to as the Black Hat Lamas, referring to their Black Crown.
The second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi, prophesied that 'future Karmapas shall manifest in two Nirmanakaya forms'.
Later the third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje presented his principal student, Khedrup Drakpa Senge, a ruby-red crown which was an exact replica of his own Black Crown.
The Karmapa explained that it symbolised their identical nature and so the lineage of the Shamarpas started.
The current Shamarpa was recognised by the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje.
He is a central figure in the current controversy within the Karma Kagyu lineage.
He has recognised Trinley Thaye Dorje as the current (17th Karmapa.
Some other high lamas within the lineage recognise Ogyen Trinley Dorje to be the current Karmapa, as does the 14th Dalai Lama and civil authorities in the People's Republic of China.
