The 12th Karmapa Changchub Dorje incarnated in Chile Chakhor within the Derge province of eastern Tibet.  Mingyur Dorje informed Karmapa’s father that one day he will have no need to sell pottery any longer, for his son was to become one of the greatest men in all of Tibet. 

Two months after his birth, Changchub Dorje declared himself to be the Karmapa.  The Terton Mingyur Dorje confirmed the incarnation immediately.  Shamar Rinpoche likewise recognized the Karmapa. Changchub Dorje was brought to Karma Gon Monastery.

The Karmapa and the Abbot of the Nyingma Kathog Monastery exchanged transmissions with each other.  The Karmapa, Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Shamar Rinpoche and Tai Situ Rinpoche then set forth on a pilgrimage to India and Nepal.  They visited Nepal at the King’s Request.  There, the Karmapa ended a widespread epidemic and a drought. 

Changchub Dorje made pilgrimage to the Swayambunath and Bodhanath Stupas, and the Namo Buddha site where the Buddha gave his flesh to a starving tigress who was about to eat her own cubs. 

Karmapa and his retinue proceeded to India. They made pilgrimage to Kushingara, the site of the Buddha’s death.  Tai Situ Rinpoche stunned the Indian scholars with his wisdom, becoming famous due to his scholarship and proficiency in numerous languages. 

Gyalwa Karmapa and his entourage returned to Tibet, soon to be invited by the Chinese Emperor.  His Holiness entrusted the 8th Tai Situpa as his Regent. 

Then, the Gyalwa Karmapa, along with the 8th Shamar Rinpoche, departed for China.  During their journey, numerous officials, lay-people and monks received teachings and blessings.  The Karmapa wrote the sacred prediction letter, and via a messenger, had the letter delivered to Tai Situ Rinpoche.  The Karmapa and Shamarpa, soon after arriving at China’s Imperial Court, died due to smallpox.

The 8th Tai Situpa Chokyi Jungne was the student of the Karmapa and the Shamarpa. He was born in the province of Alu Shekar. At the age of eight years, he was recognized according to predictions of by the 8th Karmapa Mikyo Dorje, Terton Sangye Lingpa, Terton Mingyur Dorje and 8th Shamarpa.

Tai Situpa was taken to Tsurphu monastery for his enthronement. He received all the teachings and empowerments from, and studied philosophy and medicine under, the 12th Karmapa Changchub Dorje, the 8th Shamar Rinpoche, and the Kathok master Rigdzin Tsewang Norbu.

In 1727, the 8th Tai Situpa founded the great Palpung monastery near Derge in eastern Tibet. He also built and restored countless other monasteries throughout his life. Palpung Monastery became the main seat of the Tai Situpas. It was the inspiration for the founding of Palpung Sherab Ling Monastery in India by the 12th Tai Situpa Pema Donyo Nyinjey centuries later.

The 8th Tai Situpa became one of the most famous masters in Tibetan history. He was acknowledged as a supreme scholar who had no equal in the five knowledges. Even as a child, he had the ability of prediction.

Rinpoche became learned in almost every field from thangka painting and art, to astrology and the Sanskrit, Nepali and Chinese languages. Chokyi Jungne also became a skilled physician and a master of Tibetan medicine. He composed numerous texts on all these subjects and founded his own painting style at Palpung.

Due to the hypocrisy that existed in some monasteries and the greed of even some teachers, Rinpoche often warned against trying to gain wealth or fame as a teacher, and encouraged everyone to follow the precepts.

Tai Situpa visited Nepal on pilgrimage and was highly honored there. Once, after a debate with Pandita Jaya Mangola of Kashmir, it was proclaimed by the local Hindus that Tai Situpa must have been blessed by the Lord Shiva, since that was the only way he could have achieved such insight and learning.

The Tai Situpa returned to Tibet and taught throughout the land. He translated many texts from Sanskrit, including prayers to Tara. Situ Rinpoche also visited China at the invitation of the Emperor Chi'en Lung (1735-1796) and was highly honored.

Palpung Monastery’s fame reached well beyond the borders of Tibet at this time. The Kangyur and Tengyur were revised, and the Derge Printing Press was founded. Copies and prints of these texts are still in use today due to their quality. Palpung had many other satellite monasteries, even in mainland China, exceeding well beyond a hundred.

The 8th Tai Situpa found and recognized the 13th Karmapa Dudul Dorje, imparting the complete lineage to him.

It is said that the Tai Situpa’s limitless activities were equal to those of Nagarjuna's in India. It was also a common saying at the time that "If all of the other Kagyu monasteries came together, their activity would not be equal to that of Situ Chokyi Jungne!"

While meditating in the lotus posture of a Buddha, the Tai Situpa passed away. It was observed that his heart-region remained warm for seven days and there was a strong smell of incense everywhere. Situ Rinpoche predicted his next rebirth before his passing.

His foremost disciples were the thirteenth Karmapa, the tenth Shamarpa, Gyalwang Drukpa Trinley Shingta, Drikung Chokyi Gyalwa, Nenang Pawo Rinpoche, Drubtop Choje Gyal, Khamtrul Chokyi Nyima, and Lotsawa Tsewang Kunchab.