The First Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa was born in Ratey, Eastern Tibet.  He is sometimes known as Lama Tsurphula or Useyla. Since childhood, he studied the dharma with his devout father and qualified teachers.  At twenty years old, he departed for Central Tibet and studied for another decade with numerous dharma masters such as Lotsawa Nyima Trag and Kyabpa Chokyi Senge.  At about thirty years old, he arrived at Gampopa’s monastery and began receiving the Kagyu teachings.

First, Gampopa trained Dusum Khyenpa in the Kadampa tradition which emphasizes mind training and discipline. Dusum Khyenpa then progressed to learn the philosophy of the sutras, and the purification and foundation practices (ngondro). 

Gyawa Karmapa spent four years just meditating with the tranquillity (shinay) and insight (lhatong) meditations. Certain Kagyu transmissions the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa received from Rechungpa, such as some of the Six Yogas of Naropa.

The Gyalwa Karmapa meditated for over twelve years in retreat.  Dusum Khyenpa was so accomplished that, within only nine days, he mastered what took the mahasiddha Naropa twelve years to learn from Tilopa.  His Holiness acquired supernormal powers, enabling him to visit the sacred sites of the Buddha in India and the pure land of Guru Rinpoche, where he received transmissions from the dakinis. 

At forty-four years old, after years of practice and training, Dusum Khyenpa once again assumed public life and remained in Tibet until his death. After Gampopa passed away, the Gyalwa Karmapa paid homage to the remains at Gampopa’s monastery. 

The 1st Karmapa then had a vision to go to Kampo Kangra, where he meditated intensively on Mahamudra and demonstrated the attainment of complete enlightenment at fifty years old. 

Dakinis wove a celestial crown of their black hair, coronating the 1st Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa as the Master and Knower of the Past, Present and Future Times:  the performer of the Buddha’s vast activity. The Black Vajra Crown was also offered by the dakinis. The Black Vajra Crown has become a trademark of the Karmapa’s activity.  It remains only perceivable to those of high devotion or realization. However a physical replica, which can be seen by all beings, is displayed in a ceremony by the Gyalwa Karmapa.

Dusum Khyenpa established the Kampo Nenang, Karma Gon and Tsurphu Monasteries (in the Tolung valley of Central Tibet).  Dusum Khyenpa’s fame spread far and wide, even the Abbot of the Bodh Gaya Temple in India sent a conch shell as an offering to him. 

The 1st Karmapa passed away at eighty-four years old.  His bones created spontaneously arisen images of enlightened beings and his heart was found unburned after the cremation.  He passed the glorious lineage and prediction concerning his next incarnation to Drogon Rechen, a predecessor to the tulku line of the eminent Tai Situ Rinpoche.

His other principle disciples included Taglungpa; founder of the Talung Kagyu lineage, Tsangpa Gyarey; founder of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage and  Khadampa Desheg; founder of the Kathok Nyingma lineage.

The Gyalwa Karmapa predicted that his reincarnation would appear in the region near the Drichu river.  After the Karmapa’s passing a man named Gangarwa, the care taker of Tsurphu, disregarded these instructions and prediction.  Therefore, it was not until Pomdragpa that these instructions were recognized to be true, fully revealing that Karma Pakshi, the 2nd Gyalwa Karmapa, was in fact none other than Dusum Khyenpa reborn.

Drogon Rechen Drogon Rechen (1148-1218) was born to an educated family in the Yarlung district of central Tibet. As a young child, he demonstrated his awakened potential in the gradual path of Hinayana and Mahayana. At the age of nine, he connected to the Kagyu master Zangri Repa. He received many teachings, including ear-whispered teachings and dohas of the Mahamudra masters.

He practiced meditation wearing only a cotton cloth and was therefore called "Rechen,"which means "great cotton-clad yogi." He experienced many signs of meditative accomplishment.

When he reached the age of fifteen, his teacher, Zangri Repa, passed into parinirvana. Before his passing away, Drogon Rechen was advised to find the disciples of Milarepa's lineage. In this way, Zangri Repa said that Drogon Rechen could receive the full lineage transmission.

Although Drogon Rechen had already attained great qualities of samadhi, he still was not fully satisfied.

Deciding to leave his home to develop his practice further, he journeyed to eastern Tibet. On his way, he met and received many teachings. From Thöpa Samdrup, he received the complete transmission of the Chöd lineage. From Ngari-pa, he received Vajrapani and Vajrasaddhu's transmissions. From Nyalpa Chosei, he received Manjushri and Mahakala. He also received the heart-drop (Nyithig) lineage of Vimalamitra. Situ Drogon Rechen established eighteen centers of tantric learning, as a result numerous individuals gained realization.

Drogon Rechen mastered practices which balanced the winds and energy channels. Upon hearing the fame of the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa (who was living at Kampo Nenang), Drogon Rechen decided to meet him. He simply wished to pay Dusum Khyenpa his respects, but had no intention of studying with the Karmapa.

The 1st Gyalwa Karmapa told Drogon Rechen when they first met, "O young tantric practitioner, you can go and study with my students."

Drogön Rechen asked, "What kind of students do you have?"

Gyalwa Karmapa replied, "Deuchung Sangye, Baltsa Takdelwa, and so on."

So, Drogon Rechen first went to see Deuchung Sangye. Deuchung who directed him to Baltsa Takdelwa.

When Drogon Rechen went to the cave of Takdelwa, he saw a huge tiger sleeping there and he ran back with great fear. Deuchung told Drogon Rechen to go back again. When he did, he saw a little pond in the cave. Situ Drogon Rechen circled the water and threw some pebbles in it and left. When Deuchung told him to go back, Drogon Rechen saw an old yogi who had those pebbles he threw on his lap.

At that time, Drogon Rechen thought, "If these students are like this, it is unnecessary to point out how great their teacher's realization and achievement must be!" Making a strong commitment, he practiced under the Karmapa's direction for seven years.

Drogon Rechen became the heart disciple and regent of the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa. He was fully ordained as a monk at the age of thirty-seven and received the name Sonam Drakpa.

When Gyalwa Karmapa traveled back to central Tibet, Drogon Rechen stayed behind in eastern Tibet. Drogon Rechen oversaw the activity of the seats of Karma Gon and Kampo Nenang Monasteries. In future lifetimes, the Tai Situpa continued to oversee the activity at Karma Gon Monastery, which was the second most important seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa.

At the age of seventy, Drogon Rechen passed away. Many relics arose from the cremation.

The 1st Karmapa entrusted the prediction concerning his next rebirth to Situ Drogon Rechen. Drogon Rechen’s principal disciple and the Kagyu lineage holder was Pomdrakpa Sonam Dorje.

Starting with Drogon Rechen, the relationship between the Karmapas and Tai Situpa have been without any interruption.

Pomdragpa took birth in the Drikung region.  He was extremely intelligent and became fluent in language by five years old. He began receiving dharma teachings by nine years old from Lama Lhakang Gang. Pomdragpa sought out Drogon Rechen and received the entire Kagyu lineage transmissions from him.  He also received the instructions concerning the next incarnation of Dusum Khyenpa.  Pomdragpa taught Karma Pakshi, the 2nd Gyalwa Karmapa, and likewise had a vision from Dusum Khyenpa that this young boy would become the next lineage holder.