Shamarpa


The Shamarpa, also known as Shamar Rinpoche, or more formally Künzig Shamar Rinpoche, is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and is regarded to be the mind manifestation of Amitābha. He is traditionally associated with Yangpachen Monastery near Lhasa.
The first Shamarpa, Drakpa Senggé, received the title "Shamarpa", and a red crown, an exact replica of Karmapa’s black crown from Rangjung Dorje, 3rd Karmapa, establishing the second line of reincarnate lamas in Tibetan Buddhism. The Karmapa was the first.
The Shamarpa is often referred to as the "Red Hat Karmapa", especially in early Kagyu texts.
The 5th Dalai Lama saw the Shamarpa as equal to the Karmapa:

The Shamarpa lineage

Shamarpa considered to be successive reincarnations are listed in "The Garland of Moon Water Crystal" by the 8th Tai Situpa Chökyi Jungne and Belo Tsewang Künkhyab.


  1. Khedrup Drakpa Senge was the principal disciple of the 3rd Karmapa.
  2. Shamar Khachö Wangpo was recognized by the 4th Karmapa.
  3. Shamar Chöpal Yeshe. Chöpal Yeshe is renowned for having constructed several monasteries and retreat-centers. He was also able to abolish the practice of animal sacrifice in the regions of Tibet where that custom had continued.
  4. Shamar Chokyi Drakpa Yeshe Pal Zangpo was recognized by the 7th Karmapa, who became his Lama. The famous Tibetan monastery Ga Mamo Tashi Rabten was founded by him. He also established many smaller monasteries. During his travels outside Tibet, Chökyi Tragpa built many monasteries, among others there are four monasteries in Bhutan and he was the first of the Shamar reincarnates to visit Nepal where he built a small monastery in Swayambhunath, one of the country's most sacred places. Upon returning to his , he acted as the king of Tibet for a period of twelve years and he ruled the country on the basis of strict adherence to Buddhist principles.
  5. Shamar Köncho Yenlak was identified by the 8th Karmapa. He also recognized and became the Lama of the 9th Karmapa.
  6. Shamar Mipan Chökyi Wangchuk was recognized by the 9th Karmapa who was his main Lama.
  7. Shamar Yeshe Nyinpo was recognized by the 10th Karmapa, and he became the Karmapa's disciple.
  8. Palchen Chökyi Döndrup was born in Yilmo, Nepal and was taken to Tibet at age 7. He received teachings and instructions from the 11th Karmapa before his death. The Shamarpa in turn, recognized and enthroned 12th Karmapa as the 12th Karmapa and acted as his Root-guru.
  9. Könchog Geway Jungnay was born in Paro in Bhutan, and was discovered by the 13th Karmapa, but lived only until age nine
  10. Mipam Chödrup Gyamtso was the stepbrother of the 6th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Palden Yeshe. He was taught primarily by the eight Tai Situ Rinpoche, and also recognized the ninth Tai Situ Rinpoche. Shamar Tulku spent many years reviving the Dharma in Tibet. In particular, Shamar Tulku attempted to bring the Kagyu teachings to central Tibet, which was a stronghold of Gelugpa-allied political elements at the time, with the help of his brother the 6th Panchen Lama of the Gelugpa lineage. After carrying out this activity Shamarpa went on pilgrimage to Nepal. According to some sources, a dispute over his claim to his stepbrother's material inheritance led to an armed conflict in which the Shamarpa conspired with the Nepalese Gurkha army in 1788. According to other sources, while Shamarpa was on a pilgrimage to Nepal, fighting broke out between the Nepalese Gurkhas and Tibet. Shamarpa attempted to make peace and mediate in the conflict. In Tibet the influential Gelugpa minister Tagtsag Tenpai Gonpo saw an opportunity to remove a perceived political threat and acquire property. He spread rumors that Shamarpa was instigating the fighting and seized Yang Chen monastery from Shamarpa. The monks were forcibly converted to the Gelug school. Subsequently an order was passed by the government that all of Shamarpa’s monasteries must convert to the Gelug school. This, and other disputes between the Gelug and Kagyu schools led to the exile from Tibet of the Shamarpa and a legal ban by the Tibetan government on further Shamarpa incarnations This ban remained in place until after the Dalai Lama lost power in Tibet during the 1950s, although it was later revealed that the Karmapa had recognized reincarnations of the Shamarpa secretly during the intervening period.
  11. Unknown, presumed forced into hiding by the Tibetan government.
  12. Tugsay Jamyang was the son of the 15th Karmapa. However, it is recorded that he taught and practiced Buddhism as a layman.
  13. Tinlay Kunchap, an infant who survived only a little over a year
  14. Mipham Chokyi Lodro was born in Derge, Tibet and at the age of four he was recognized by the 16th Karmapa. He died on 11 June 2014 in Germany.

    Controversy

In 1792 the Tibetan government found the 10th Shamarpa guilty of inciting a war between Tibet and Nepal. He was exiled from Tibet and a ban placed on his future incarnations, thereby abolishing the Shamarpa line. A modern Tibetologist proved this interpretation of history to be wrong and showed that the Shamarpa mediated in this conflict.
The comment of the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa on this period was: "Merit was becoming smaller and smaller. There was much political interference. Black was becoming white. The real was becoming unreal. At that time it was not practicable to have any Shamarpa recognised or enthroned. Everything was kept secret. The incarnations appeared, but were not revealed." In 1963, following a request from the 16th Karmapa, the Tibetan Government in Exile lifted the ban. The 14th Shamar Rinpoche was officially enthroned, and after completing his studies in 1979 began his extensive teaching activity.
Another controversy began in 1992, during the search for and recognition of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. The controversy grew to include the rights to the seat and holdings at Rumtek monastery in Sikkem, and the recognition of the reincarnated Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. A division formed within the Karma Kagyu sangha. The two Karmapa candidates, Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Thaye Dorje issued joint statements calling for cooperation, and the wish to find the 15th Shamar Rinpoche together.

14th Shamarpa

The 14th Shamarpa was Mipham Chokyi Lodro, born in Derge, Tibet in 1952. At age four he was recognized by his uncle, the 16th Karmapa, as the reincarnation of the previous Shamarpa. In 1964 he was officially enthroned in Karmapa's Rumtek monastery. At this occasion the Karmapa wrote a poem:
"The most exalted, the lord of the lands of snow is Avalokiteśvara.
The coalescence of his essence is the glorious Karmapa.
Inseparable from his three mysteries, in the manner of the three lords,
Is his manifestation, the great emanation; the majestic sun,
Whom I invest now sovereign of the practice lineage's order.
By the power of scattering auspicious flowers of excellent virtue
Combined with the true words of the ṛiṣhi's truthfulness
May he successfully and everlastingly be the sovereign of the order."
He remained with the 16th Karmapa until his death in 1981.
He received the entire cycle of Kagyu teachings from the 16th Karmapa. After the death of the 16th Karmapa, the Shamarpa was involved in the search for the reincarnation. He was a member of the 1992 search committee for the Karmapa's reincarnation, led by Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. Tai Situ Rinpoche and Gyaltsab Rinpoche were also on the committee. After the Karmapa's prediction letter of his reincarnation was discovered and revealed by Tai Situ, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche died in a mysterious accident. The Shamarpa left to the United States, and a report states the Sharmapa met with Jamgon Kongtrul's donors, instead of attending his funeral ceremonies as was traditionally expected.
The search committee led by Tai Situ continued, locating then confirming the recognition of Ogyen Trinley Dorje on 07 June 1992. After the announcement of the confirmation on 12 June at Rumtek monastery, the Sharmapa entered the monastery with armed members of the Indian military, and afterwards the Indian army command denied involvement. The Sharmapa wrote two letters, on 17 June and 18 July, confirming his support for the Dalai Lama's decision to recognize Ogyen Trinley Dorje, before his enthronement as the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa on 27 September 1992, in Tibet at Tsurphu monastery.
Two years later, the Sharmapa recognized Thaye Dorje as the 17th Karmapa in 1994, and enthroned him in India. His choice created a controversy for the Kagyu lineage. His choice was supported by great masters as Chobkye Tri Rinpoche, Lopön Chechu Rinpoche, Lama Gendün Rinpoche, the 16th Karmapa's European representative Lama Jigme Rinpoche and many others.
Ogyen Trinley Dorje is held to be the 17th Karmapa by a majority of great teachers of the Karma Kagyu lineage, including the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche, the 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche, the 7th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, the 9th Thrangu Rinpoche, and the 7th Mingyur Rinpoche. The head of the Sakya lineage, Sakya Trizin, also acknowledges Ogyen Trinley Dorje, as does the 14th Dalai Lama.
Shamar Rinpoche died on 11 June 2014 in Germany, and a joint statement from Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Thaye Dorje was issued in 2020, which calls for a coordinated recognition process for the Sharmapa's reincarnation, in order to protect the Karma Kagyu lineage from destruction.