Rolpe Dorje (Standard Tibetan: རོལ་པའི་རྡོ་རྗེ་ེ་) (1340–1383) was the fourth Gyalwa Karmapa (the head of the Karma Kagyu, a subschool of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism). According to legend, the fourth Karmapa's mother, while pregnant, could hear the sound of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum while the child was in her womb and the baby said the mantra as soon as he was born. His early life was full of miracles and manifested a total continuity of the teachings and qualities of his former incarnation, including receiving teachings in his dreams. While in his teens, he received the formal transmissions of both the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages from the great Nyingma guru Yungtönpa, the third Karmapa's spiritual heir, now very advanced in years. At the age of nineteen, he accepted Toghon Temür's invitation to return to China where he gave teachings for three years and established many temples and monasteries.
Rolpe Dorje, the 4th Karmapa
On his return to Tibet, while in the Tsongkha region, Rolpi Dorje gave lay ordination to a very special child, whom he predicted to be of great importance to Buddhism in Tibet. This was Tsong Khapa, the future founder of the Gelugpa school, famous for its Dalai Lamas.
When Temur died, the Mongol dynasty of China ended and the Ming dynasty began. The new emperor invited Rolpi Dorje, who declined the invitation but sent another lama in his stead. Rolpi Dorje composed mystic songs throughout his life and was an accomplished poet, fond of Indian poetics. He is also remembered for creating a huge painting (thangka) following a vision of one of his students, who had imagined a Buddha image over a 100 metres tall. The Karmapa, on horseback, traced the Buddha's outline with hoofprints. The design was measured and traced on cloth. It took 500 workers more than a year to complete the thangka, which depicted the Buddha, Maitreya and Manjusri; the founders of Mahayana.
The monastery of Shadzong Ritro near Taktser village, where the 14th Dalai Lama was born, was founded at the 14th century by the 4th Karmapa.
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. ISBN1-55939-390-4.
Thinley, Karma (2008). The History of Sixteen Karmapas of Tibet. USA: Prajna Press. p. 150. ISBN1-57062-644-8.
Further readingedit
"The Fourth Karmapa, Rolpai Dorje". The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
rolpe, dorje, karmapa, lama, rolpe, dorje, standard, tibetan, པའ, 1340, 1383, fourth, gyalwa, karmapa, head, karma, kagyu, subschool, kagyu, school, tibetan, buddhism, according, legend, fourth, karmapa, mother, while, pregnant, could, hear, sound, mantra, man. Rolpe Dorje Standard Tibetan ར ལ པའ ར ར 1340 1383 was the fourth Gyalwa Karmapa the head of the Karma Kagyu a subschool of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism According to legend the fourth Karmapa s mother while pregnant could hear the sound of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum while the child was in her womb and the baby said the mantra as soon as he was born His early life was full of miracles and manifested a total continuity of the teachings and qualities of his former incarnation including receiving teachings in his dreams While in his teens he received the formal transmissions of both the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages from the great Nyingma guru Yungtonpa the third Karmapa s spiritual heir now very advanced in years At the age of nineteen he accepted Toghon Temur s invitation to return to China where he gave teachings for three years and established many temples and monasteries Rolpe Dorje the 4th Karmapa On his return to Tibet while in the Tsongkha region Rolpi Dorje gave lay ordination to a very special child whom he predicted to be of great importance to Buddhism in Tibet This was Tsong Khapa the future founder of the Gelugpa school famous for its Dalai Lamas When Temur died the Mongol dynasty of China ended and the Ming dynasty began The new emperor invited Rolpi Dorje who declined the invitation but sent another lama in his stead Rolpi Dorje composed mystic songs throughout his life and was an accomplished poet fond of Indian poetics He is also remembered for creating a huge painting thangka following a vision of one of his students who had imagined a Buddha image over a 100 metres tall The Karmapa on horseback traced the Buddha s outline with hoofprints The design was measured and traced on cloth It took 500 workers more than a year to complete the thangka which depicted the Buddha Maitreya and Manjusri the founders of Mahayana The monastery of Shadzong Ritro near Taktser village where the 14th Dalai Lama was born was founded at the 14th century by the 4th Karmapa References editThe Kagyu Lineage and the Karmapas Ken Holmes Karmapa Altea Publishing 1995 ISBN 0 9524555 4 4 The 4th Gyalwa Karmapa Rolpe Dorje Lama Kunsang Lama Pemo Marie Aubele 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 Further reading edit The Fourth Karmapa Rolpai Dorje The Treasury of Lives Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters Retrieved 2013 08 09 Preceded byRangjung Dorje Reincarnation of the Karmapa Succeeded byDeshin Shekpa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rolpe Dorje 4th Karmapa Lama amp oldid 1017329317, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
