The Eight Karmapa Mikyo Dorje was born in Ngam Chu, eastern Tibet.  Upon his birth, Mikyo Dorje declared that he was the Karmapa. 

The family immediately reported this to His Eminence the 3rd Tai Situ Rinpoche.  Tai Situpa expressed his strong confidence that their child was the Gyalwa Karmapa.

Situ Rinpoche told Mikyo Dorje’s father to take excellent care of their child.  The child told Tai Situ Rinpoche, “Do not have doubts about me, I am the Karmapa!”  Mikyo Dorje was sent to begin studies at Karma Gon Monastery, the seat of the Tai Situ Rinpoche.

Soon, an obstacle arose in recognizing the Karmapa.  At this time, another family from the Amdo region of Tibet bribed the Tsurphu administration to accept their child as the Karmapa. The family claimed their son said he was the Karmapa. 

The 2nd Goshir Gyaltsab spoke with Situ Rinpoche about the doubts he had concerning this second child.  Tai Situ Rinpoche passed away soon after and Gyaltsab Rinpoche was left to uphold the lineage. 

Gyaltsab Rinpoche then tested both children in public to prove that Mikyo Dorje, the child from Ngam Chu, was indeed the Gyalwa Karmapa.  Mikyo Dorje correctly identified the possessions of his predecessor when a mass collection of objects was presented, while the child from Amdo sat idly, not knowing more than his parents.  The entire congregation knew instantly who was the real Karmapa. To everyone's surprise, Mikyo Dorje turned around and declared that the other child was Zurmang Chungtsang Rinpoche.

Mikyo Dorje was enthroned by Gyaltsab Rinpoche and received the transmission from the Gyaltsabpa and others including the Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche.  The Karmapa was invited to China, but declined. Although this irritated the Chinese envoys, the Karmapa accurately predicted that it would futile to go to China, since the Emperor would pass away before he arrived. The Karmapa's prediction proved correct since the Emperor died soon after.

Gyalwa Karmapa was a visionary and realized that his activity was inseparable from Guru Rinpoche, the Buddha Dipankara, and all the One Thousand Buddhas that are to come in this present Eon.

Mikyo Dorje was a remarkable author of commentaries and texts.  Karmapa’s important works included numerous liturgies including the Four Session Guru Yoga, used in preliminary practices to increase devotion to the lineage.  Gyalwa Karmapa explained and debated the Shengtong view, an interpretation of the Middle Way philosophy of Nagarjuna.  Mikyo Dorje was an artist who developed the unique Karma Gadri style of painting.

At forty-seven years old, the 8th Karmapa passed away. 

The prediction letter was given to the 5th Shamar Rinpoche.  Mikyo Dorje proclaimed in a song, “A spontaneously arisen image of the glorious Chenrezi is encircled by snow covered mountains, located in the northern area of the region of Tresho.  Near the site where a waterfall issues forth, where numerous sentient beings hear the sound of the Dharma, I will reincarnate.”

The 5th Shamarpa Konchog Yenlak chanted Chenrezi’s mantra upon birth and completed his studies by twelve years old.  He was enthroned by the 8th Gyalwa Karmapa.   Rinpoche became a scholar, meditation master, and an author of many commentaries and poetry.  Some of his disciples, apart from the 9th Gyalwa Karmapa, included Drikung Chogyal Phunstok and Taglung Kunga Tashi.