Just so, as Jamgon Kongtrul the Great put it: "The appearance of the Tai Situpa is like the appearance of a Buddha. The loving protector of beings, Tai Situpa, is in essence inseparable from the victorious Karmapa, although he appears sometimes as the Karmapa’s spiritual master, sometimes as his disciple. Not even a tiny fraction of the lives of the Karmapa and Tai Situpa, the spiritual father and son, can be accurately seen or described by ordinary beings, or even by the gods such as Indra or Brahma. Tai Situpa has already attained full awakening and enlightenment but by the force of his compassion, he continually works for the welfare of others for as long as life remains in the universe."

The Tai Situpa and his incarnations were clearly foretold by Guru Padmasambhava in the Command Seal of Prophecies (Lungten Kagyama) which was discovered by the Terton Sangye Lingpa.

Since beginningless time the Tai Situpas have manifested to benefit beings and will continue to do so. In the past, Tai Situpa appeared as the founding father of the Kagyu lineage in Tibet, Marpa Lotsawa. Likewise, he was the King of Gyantse, Taranatha and Dombi Heruka. His emanations will culminate in the appearance of the 5th and next Buddha of this eon, Maitreya. Maitreya is known as the Protector Loving Kindness. Situ Rinpoche is also the emanation of the Yidam Hevajra and Guru Padmasambhava.

The Terton Chogyur Lingpa predicted in the 19th Century: "The 17th Karmapa's mind shall be blended together with Kenting Tai Situ's mind. Through this, the teachings will flourish." Such a clear prophecy has been fulfilled. Inseparable from the Gyalwa Karmapa, the present and 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche was the regent of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. Tai Situpa is now the principle teacher to the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje.

The relationship of the Karmapas and Tai Situpas dates back to the 12th Century, when the 1st Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa bestowed the Kagyu teachings (and a prediction concerning his rebirth) to his dharma heir Drogon Rechen, a previous incarnation of the Tai Situpa. Situ Rinpoche was therefore second holder of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Since the time of the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa, the Tai Situpas have appeared as either the master or disciple to the Karmapa.

During Situ Rinpoche's fifth incarnation, the Gyalwa Karmapa bestowed upon the Tai Situpa the Red Vajra Crown. This crown symbolizes the Tai Situpa's enlightened qualities and his inseparability from the Karmapa. Just seeing this Vajra Crown plants a fertile seed for enlightenment and it is the cause to be reborn among the retinue of the Buddha Maitreya.