The 13th Karmapa Dudul Dorje incarnated in Champa Drongsar, southern Tibet.  After birth, it was noticed that Dudul Dorje's tongue was already marked with the syllable Ah, the symbol of the Buddha’s speech, and his chest was red-colored.  From a young age, the Karmapa told stories about traveling to Nepal, India and China.  He also received visions of various deities including Mahakala Bernachen who appeared to him, saying, “There is no difference between you and me.”  Karmapa often communicated and had close relationships with animals and nonhumans.

Soon, based on the details of the prediction letter, Tai Situ Rinpoche and the Nyingma master Kathog Rigdzin Tsewang Norbu recognized Dudul Dorje as the Karmapa.  The 7th Dalai Lama Kalzang Gyatso likewise confirmed the incarnation to be correct.  Gyaltsab Rinpoche enthroned the child as the Karmapa at Tsurphu monastery.

The 13th Karmapa received the Kagyu transmission from Tai Situ Rinpoche, Gyaltsab Rinpoche and the 6th Gyalwang Drukpa Thinley Shingta.  Karmapa received the Nyingma transmission from Rigdzin Tsewang Norbu. 

Gyalwa Karmapa Dudul Dorje was summoned by the Lhasa authorities to fulfill a prediction made by Guru Padmasambhava:  The Jowo image of the Buddha Shakyamuni was about to be swept away by a flood sent by an angry naga, a serpent like spirit, and only the Karmapa could save it.  The Karmapa stopped the flood. Upon offering a white scarve to the Jowo Statue, its arms reached out to accept it, remaining that way ever since. The Jowo statue remains in the Jokhang temple in Lhasa, Tibet.

The Karmapa always wore simple cloths. When speaking to the public, he used vernacular and taught so his words could be easily understood.  Even the most sectarian and arrogant people of his time regarded the Karmapa as a true living master of enlightenment.  The Karmapa performed numerous miracles. In one case, when the Karmapa was asked to consecrate a monastery far way, he simply threw grains in the air. Miles away, at the monastery which requested the consecration, grains of rice fell from the sky.

The 10th Shamarpa Mipam Chodrub became the last Shamarpa to be recognized in Tibet. The 9th Shamarpa died a premature death due to obstacles faced by his lineage. The 10th Shamar Rinpoche took birth in Central Tibet, as the brother to the 6th Panchen Lama Palden Yeshe. The Shamarpas, like the Panchen Lamas, are considered to be emanations of the Buddha Amitabha. The 10th Shamarpa effectively passed on numerous transmissions of the lineage to the 9th Tai Situpa, who in turn was the root guru to the 14th Gyalwa Karmapa. After the Panchen Lama passed away, Shamarpa fled to Nepal amid growing tensions with the Tibetan Government. There, he continued his dharma activities. However, the Nepalese King Bahadur invaded Tibet in 1792 over a currency dispute. Soon after the combined effort of the Tibetan and Chinese armies defeated Nepal, the 10th Shamarpa passed away. At his cremation in Nepal, rainbows appeared in the sky.

However after the 10th Shamarpa's death, the Tibetan Government seized Yangpachen monastery (the Shamarpa's main seat in Tibet) and issued an order banning his future incarnations from being enthroned again. The line of Shamarpas in Tibet came to an end.

The 9th Tai Situpa Pema Nyinjey Wangpo was born in Yilung, near Derge in eastern Tibet. He was recognized by the Gyalwa Karmapa, and the Nenang Pawo Rinpoche who received a prediction from Guru Rinpoche in a vision concerning Tai Situ's rebirth. At the age of five years he was formally enthroned. Tai Situpa received all of the teachings of the lineage from Karmapa Dudul Dorje, Shamar Mipham Chodrub, and Dzingar Dorje Trakpa, amongst other accomplished masters.

The Tai Situpa renovated Palpung monastery and made countless precious offerings to many
monasteries of all traditions. He authored over two hundred treatises and combined the traditions of the Tibetan lineages.

He became the root-lama to the first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse Wangpo Rinpoche, and Chogyur Lingpa. The 9th Tai Situpa started the Rimey (Nonsectarian) movement of Tibet, which was later on firmly established and expanded upon by his disciples.

Tai Situpa spent most of his life in deep meditation and was a renowned scholar and teacher. He
performed many miracles such as leaving footprints in rock. His wisdom was well-known. In one case, he even surprised a monk with his omniscience: Rinpoche reprimanded the monk for his alcoholism. Even though the monk thought his
weakness was done in secrecy, evidently it could not pass the all-knowing wisdom eye of the Situ Rinpoche. Rinpoche spent most of the end of his life in meditation, over thirty years of his entire life were solely in retreat. At the age of seventy-nine he passed away. At that time the sky was filled with rainbows and there were many other highly auspicious signs.