The 1st Situ Rinpoche (1377-1448) was born in the fire-pig year, in the region of Karma Gon. He became a disciple of the 5th Gyalwa Karmapa. From the Gyalwa Karmapa, the Tai Situpa received the empowerments and teachings of Mahamudra in their entirety.

Tai Situpa traveled to China with the Karmapa. The Chinese Emperor Tai Ming Chen (Yungle), an emanation of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, conferred the honorific title "Kenting Naya Tang Nyontse Geshetse Tai Situpa" on Chokyi Gyaltsen as well as a crystal seal and other gifts.

Tai Situpa spent most of his life meditating in caves and became a perfect example of the Buddha’s teachings. The 5th Gyalwa Karmapa appointed the 1st Tai Situpa to be the head instructor at Karma Gon Monastery, one of the main seats of the Karma Kagyu lineage in Tibet.