The 14th Karmapa Tegchog Dorje incarnated in Danang, eastern Tibet.  The Karmapa sat up and recited the Sanskrit alphabet upon birth.  Even though Tegchog Dorje was born in the middle of winter, flowers bloomed everywhere and rainbows appeared.  He was found based on the prediction letter given to the Gyalwang Drukpa Rinpoche.  Karmapa was brought to Karma Gon Monastery and began receiving teachings from the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages.  The 9th Tai Situpa Pema Nyingje Wangpo ordained and enthroned 14th Karmapa at Tsurphu.    

The 14th Karmapa was a scholar of unlimited capacity.  Tegchog Dorje was a painter, sculptor, and astrologer.  He mastered Tibetan medicine and healing, along with debate and literature. He commentated on the Buddhist scriptures and was learned in the Indian, Tibetan and Chinese languages.  The Karmapa was a proponent of non-sectarianism like his root-guru the Tai Situpa.

From the Terton Chogyur Lingpa, Tsurphu Monastery was blessed with the introduction of the ceremonial dances, enacting the Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava.  The Terton transmitted the Vajrakilaya (Dorje Phurba) Tantra to the Gyalwa Karmapa.  The Terton also received a visionary prediction form Guru Padmasambhava concerning the Fifteenth through the Twenty First incarnations of the Karmapa, which were recorded in writing and in a painting.  

Likewise, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and the Sakya master Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo possessed rare transmissions which they bestowed upon the 14th Karmapa.  Both were also close students of the 14th Karmapa.  Tegchog Dorje banned hunting, saved countless animals from slaughter and demanded the release of innocent prisoners.  The Karmapa urged his disciples to follow strict monastic life. 

He enthroned the 10th Tai Situ Rinpoche and many other important lineage holders. Jamgon Lodro Thaye became the next lineage holder.  Tegchog Dorje passed away in his sixtieth year.

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye manifested many miracles at birth, which indicated that he was the reincarnation of an enlightened being. As a young child he proved beyond doubt to be learned and realized.

First he studied the Bon tradition, or the pre-Buddhist religion, of Tibet since that was his family tradition. Even though Jamgon Kongtrul was a Bon master, he was a great Bodhisattva whose disciples attained enlightened qualities. Such was the skillful means of his activity.

However, Kongtrul Rinpoche soon turned to Vajrayana Buddhism which possessed the ultimate teachings on enlightenment. He took Nyingma ordination in 1832 at Shechen Monastery. The next year he became a Karma Kagyu monk and was reordained by the 9th Tai Situ Rinpoche.

Jamgon Kongtrul was spotted by Tai Situ Rinpoche to be a young man of extraordinary qualities. Tai Situ Rinpoche became his root guru, even though Kongtrul would also study with over sixty other Lamas from various lineages.

Jamgon Kongtrul, together with Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo of the Sakya lineage and Chogyur Dechen Lingpa of the Nyingma lineage, initiated the non-sectarian or Rimey movement.

Jamgon Kongtrul also mediated political conflicts and turmoil in Tibet.

Rinpoche received numerous rare and near extinct transmissions of Buddhism. By perfecting and collecting these transmissions, he revived numerous lineages and traditions. Therefore, traditions that were nearly lost became abundant throughout Tibet.

The Five Treasures of Kongtrul Rinpoche include the Rinchen Terzo which is composed of over sixty volumes, the Gyachen Kardzo composed of five volumes, the Ngadzo, the Dam Ngadzo and the Sheja Dzo composed of three volumes.

Jamgon Kongtrul was the main teacher to the 15th Gyalwa Karmapa.

Kongtrul Rinpoche passed away in his eighties and had five incarnations of body, speech, mind, quality and activity. However, his main emanation continued to be Jamgon Kongtrul, and another famous emanation who was not enthroned was Kalu Rinpoche. Some of his other incarnations included Shechen Kongtrul and Dzigar Kongtrul.