The truest warrior victoriously cuts through all self-centered desires, creatively working to benefit others impartially. Such warriors are known as Bodhisattvas, possessing compassion, enlightened qualities and wisdom. Due to their exceptional realization and attainments, the Bodhisattvas are capable of manifesting as ordinary beings in order to benefit others.

The Gyalwa Karmapa is one of the most realized masters of Buddhism, and throughout the centuries he has been crucial to the continuation of Buddhism in Tibet

He is a completely enlightened Bodhisattva who carries out the activity of the Buddha. The title Gyalwa Karmapa means, "The victorious one who performs Buddha Activity." His activity is so renown that even the Emperors of China hailed the Karmapa as a living buddha.

The Gyalwa Karmapas have manifested as numerous enlightened masters in the past. Likewise, the Karmapas manifest throughout the entire universe and various realms to benefit sentient beings. For each world though, there is only one Karmapa.

The First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa, was born in the 12th Century C.E.

Dusum Khyenpa received the transmission of the Kagyu lineage, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, from his guru Gampopa. Thereafter, each Karmapa has left specific instructions so his disciples can accurately find and enthrone the next Karmapa incarnation. For Twenty-one successive incarnations, the Karmapa will be found according to this tradition and bear the official title. However, the line of the incarnations of the Karmapa shall never cease as long as there is a single living being suffering.

The 16th Karmapa was instrumental in bringing Buddhism to the West.  The Karmapa sent some of the first Tibetan lamas to Europe and the Americas, including Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Kalu Rinpoche and Akong Rinpoche.  The 16th Karmapa also traveled extensively, and his passing was mourned by millions.

The present and 17th Gyalwa Karmapa was born in Tibet, as predicted by the 16th Karmapa on numerous occassions. According to the instructions of his predecessor, the Karmapa was found by a search party in Tibet and then enthroned in 1992 by Tai Situ Rinpoche. The connection between the 17th Karmapa and Tai Situ Rinpoche already was prophesized by the 19th century Terton Chogyur Lingpa.  Chogyur Lingpa predicted over a century ago that the mind of the 17th Karmapa and Tai Situpa would be fused together as one.

The 17th Karmapa’s identity was confirmed by the unfailing wisdom of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the supreme spiritual leader of Tibet. 

In late 1999, the Karmapa fled Tibet due to the restrictions by the Chinese Communist regime on his religious education. He currently resides in northern India, at Gyuto Tantric University, near the Dalai Lama. 

The Karmapa is the emanation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion (Avalokitesvara), known as Chenrezi in Tibet. Likewise, the Karmapa embodies the essence of the Yidam Chakrasamvara, a personal meditation deity. In the future, the Karmapa will manifest as the Buddha Simha, the sixth buddha of this eon of one thousands Buddhas. In this eon, Shakyamuni (born as Siddhartha) was the fourth buddha and Maitreya shall be the fifth buddha.

In the Lankavatara sutra, the Buddha Shakyamuni said: "To north of India there will appear a supreme spiritual friend who increases virtue. He will possess the greatest enlightened power and humble appearance. Many will gather to listen to his teachings. He will carry the name Dusum Khyenpa (knower of the three times) and Karmapa (holder of all the Buddhas' activity). Whoever sees his face, be it only once, will be freed from his or her obscuring veils. Simply seeing the Karmapa brings liberation."

The Samadhi Raja Sutra, spoken by the Buddha, proclaimed: "An enlightened hero with the lion's voice named Karmapa will appear. He will use his powers, achieved due to perfecting meditation, for the benefit of all sentient beings. By seeing, hearing, touching him or thinking of him, one will be led to happiness."

In the treasure predictions of Ratna Lingpa it is said: "Upholding the activity of Avalokitesvara, a yogi with awesome behavior, endowed with the name Karmapa, will transverse the whole land. He will tame beings and protect them with skillful means and compassion."