Rangjung Dorje, 3rd Karmapa Lama

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Rangjung Dorje (T. rang 'byung rdo rje) (1284–1339) was the third Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He also held Nyingma and Chod lineages.[1]

He was likely the first person to carry the title of Karmapa, following his identification by Orgyenpa Rinchen Pal as the reincarnation of Karma Pakshi, whom Orgyenpa posthumously identified as the reincarnation of Dusum Khyenpa. He spent much of his life traveling across Tibet and made two visits to the Yuan court in China.[1]

Biography

StudyBuddhism states:

At the age of five, the young boy was recognized officially as the rebirth of the Second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi by Orgyenpa Rinchen Pal, who then proceeded to transmit all of the Kagyu teachings to him. Two years later, Rangjung Dorje took novice ordination with Kunden Sherab (Kun-ldan Shes-rab), and then moved to Tsurphu Monastery, the seat of the previous two Karmapas. In 1301, at the age of eighteen, he took full ordination.
At Tsurphu, Rangjung Dorje received teachings from the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions for more than a decade. He received the complete Dzogchen teachings from Rigdzin Kumaradza ... who decades later also transmitted them to the Nyingma master Longchenpa. The Karma Kagyu tradition of Dzogchen is traced from Rangjung Dorje’s Karmapa Heart Essence Teachings (Kar-ma snying-thig).
Later on, Rangjung Dorje also sought out teachers from the Kadampa and Sakya traditions. It is said that he held all the Buddhist teachings that had been brought from India to Tibet. He also composed widely on various topics including tantra, producing works such as the renowned Prayer of the Definitive Meaning Mahamudra ... [and] The Profound Inner Meaning. His writings on the astronomical and calendar calculations found in the “External World” chapter of Stainless Light are the source of the Tshur-bu system (Tshur-lugs) of Tibetan astro sciences.
Rangjung Dorje travelled widely across Tibet – often establishing monasteries or retreat centers on his way – and even visited China on two occasions. In 1331, he received an invitation from the Yuan Emperor Tugh Temür (Emperor Wenzong) to visit Dadu, the capital of the Mongol-ruled Yuan Empire, but Tugh Temür passed away before Rangjung Dorje arrived. The next emperor, Rinchinbal (Emperor Ningzong), also died while the Karmapa was in Dadu, and so he was present when Toghon Temür (Emperor Huizong), the last Yuan emperor, was enthroned. Rangjung Dorje gave the new emperor Buddhist teachings, securing the importance of the Karma Kagyu tradition within the Yuan Mongol court at Dadu, present-day Beijing.
Rangjung Dorje returned to Tibet in 1334, after promising the emperor to return to China within two years. Thus, he was forced to return to China after spending a winter at Samye Monastery (bSam-yas dGon), arriving in Dadu in 1337. Rangjung Dorje passed away two years later in 1339 in Dadu at the age of 55, when it is said that his face appeared clearly in the moon for all to see.[2]

Nyingma lineage

Rangjung Dorje received the Nyingma teachings from Rigdzin Kumaradza, who taught him the nying-thig, "heart-essence," teachings transmitted by Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra.

Rangjung Dorje also shared a close relationship with the Nyingma lama Longchenpa, since they both counted Rigdzin Kumaradza as one of their root teachers.[3]

The Third Karmapa is responsible for introducing Dzogchen vocabulary into the Mahamudra tradition (as well as many elements from semdé and trekchö), and bringing these two traditions closer together.[3] It is said that during a retreat in his early twenties he had a vision at sunrise of Vimalamitra and then Padmasambhava, who dissolved into him at a point between his eyebrows. At that moment, he realized and received all the teachings and transmissions of the Dzogchen tantras. He wrote many volumes of teachings on Dzogchen and founded the Karma Nyingtik lineage.[3]

Writings

Rangjung Dorje was a noted scholar who composed many significant texts. His most notable texts of his include:

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, Buddha Nature: A Tsadra Foundation Initiative
  2. ↑ The Third Karmapa, StudyBuddhism
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rangjung Dorje, Rigpa Shedra Wiki
  4. ↑ Instructions for Mahamudra Innate Union, Translated by Peter Alan Roberts; in Mahamudra and Related Instructions: Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools, pp.153-168

Further reading

Print publications
  • Brunnholzl, Karl (2009), Luminous Heart: The Third Karmapa on Consciousness, Wisdom, and Buddha Nature, Snow Lion Publications 
  • Schaeffer, Kurtis R. (1995), The Englightened Heart of Buddhahood: A Study and Translation of the Third Karma pa Rang byung rdo rje's Work on Tathagatagarbha. (Wylie: de bzhin pa'i snying po gtan la dbab pa). University of Washington.
  • Lama Kunsang, Lama Pemo, Marie Aubèle (2012). History of the Karmapas: The Odyssey of the Tibetan Masters with the Black Crown. Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York. ISBN 1-55939-390-4.
  • Thinley, Karma (2008). The History of Sixteen Karmapas of Tibet. USA: Prajna Press. p. 150. ISBN 1-57062-644-8. 
Web publications
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