The 10th Karmapa Choying Dorje was born in the Golok province of northeast Tibet.  Upon his birth, the Karmapa took seven steps and declared that he was the Karmapa.   The 6th Shamar Rinpoche bestowed upon Choying Dorje the transmission of the lineage.  By six years old, the Karmapa was a skilled painter, far exceeding his own tutors. 

During this time period, various Mongol warlords were vying for power throughout Asia.  Gushri Khan soon entered Tibet, determined to take over the country.  The Mongol Ruler was a patron of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama and therefore offered all of Tibet to the Dalai Lama. 

The Dalai Lama told the Khan that no bloodshed should occur, and that the Tibetan Government under his auspices was to remain stable without any further war.

The Dalai Lama urged his representatives and his patron Gushri Khan that he did not even wish for the Tsangpa Prince (who previously attempted to destroy many Gelugpa monasteries) to be harmed.

However, the Khan ignored this and swept through Tibet. He executed the Tsangpa Ruler and defeated an enemy Mongol tribe that was trying to intervene.  The Khan then wrecked havoc upon the Nyingma and Kagyu monasteries who laid in his path. The abbots of Sera, Drepung and Ganden soon began to list grievances over the violence the Khan was causing.

Before the Karmapa’s camp was overrun by the Mongol warlords, he installed Gyaltsab Rinpoche as his regent and gave money to the poor. Then, with an attendant flew, the Karmapa flew in the air to Bhutan. The Tai Situ Rinpoche also followed the Karmapa into exile.

Later on, the 10th Gyalwa Karmapa traveled to Nepal, Burma and Yunnan.  The King of Yunnan proposed to invade Tibet and enthrone the Karmapa as its ruler, however the Gyalwa Karmapa refused such an unethical act. 

The Karmapa returned to Tibet secretly during this time to recognize Tulkus.  The 6th Situ Rinpoche, who was born in the mid-17th Century, became an outstanding yogi who stunned numerous people with his miracles.  Later in his life, the Gyalwa Karmapa returned to Tibet officially after twenty years in exile. The 5th Dalai Lama promised to protect the Karmapa from the Mongol hordes.  The Karmapa bestowed the Mahamudra transmission to the Great Fifth Dalai Lama.

The 10th Karmapa informed his attendant, Kuntuzango, that he would take rebirth again and left a letter of prediction.  He passed away at seventy years old.   

The 7th Shamarpa Yeshe Nyingpo incarnated near the Machu River in eastern Tibet.  The Karmapa transmitted the entire lineage to Shamarpa.  Rinpoche became an intelligent philosopher.  For most of his life, Rinpoche meditated in retreat.  Shamar recognized the 11th Karmapa, Yeshe Dorje, according to the authentic instructions of the 10th Gyalwa Karmapa.