Jigme Rinpoche
Mahamudra Art wird von Jigme Rinpoche in der Funktion als Vorstand und Berater begleitet.
Lama Jigme Rinpoche ist der Generalsekretär von Thaye Dorje, seiner Heiligkeit der 17. Gyalwa Karmapa. Rinpoche ist ein buddhistischer Lehrer und Autor und leitet die buddhistischen Dhagpo Zentren in Frankreich.
Lama Jigme Rinpoche wurde 1949 in der Kham-Region Osttibets geboren, in der adligen Familie von Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, seiner Heiligkeit dem 16. Gyalwa Karmapa. Rinpoche ist der Bruder des 14. Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chokyi Lodro. Nach der chinesischen Invasion verließ er Tibet zusammen mit dem 16. Karmapa und vielen anderen Lehrern. Im damaligen Königreich Sikkim ließen sie sich in Rumtek nieder, wo das Kloster Rumtek, der Hauptsitz des Karmapa, errichtet wurde. Hier erhielt Rinpoche alle Hauptübertragungen und Lehren direkt vom 16. Karmapa und empfing Lehren von vielen anderen bedeutenden Meistern.
Als der 16. Karmapa in den 1970er Jahren nach Europa kam, sah er , dass die Menschen für die Weisheit der buddhistischen Lehre offen waren. Um dem Dharma zu ermöglichen, äusserte er den Wunsch nach einer buddhistische Universität (Tibetisch: Shedra), eine Bibliothek, ein Rückzugszentrum und ein Kloster zu bauen sowie Dharmazentren in ganz Europa zu gründen .
Bei seinem ersten Besuch in Europa wählte der 16. Karmapa Dhagpo Kagyu Ling im Süden Frankreichs zum Hauptsitz seiner europäischen Tätigkeit und ernannte Lama Jigme Rinpoche, um dort als sein Repräsentant zu bleiben. Rinpoche, unterstützt von anderen hohen Lamas wie Gendun Rinpoche und Pawo Rinpoche, erfüllte alle fünf Wünsche des 16. Karmapas und der Dharma blüht weiter in Europa und im Westen.
Lama Jigme Rinpoche erfüllt diese Funktion für den 16. Karmapa kontinuierlich und führt nun dieselbe Aktivität für Thaye Dorje, seine Heiligkeit den 17. Gyalwa Karmapa weiter. In Anerkennung seiner immensen Fähigkeiten ernannte Karmapa Jigme Rinpoche zu seinem Generalsekretär.
Als der 16. Karmapa Lama Jigme Rinpoche als seinen Vertreter in Europa ernannte, sagte er: "In der Person von Lama Jigme Rinpoche, lasse ich mein Herz zurück". Jigme Rinpoche, fährt fort, in ganz Europa und um die Welt zu reisen, Einweihungen zu geben, zu lehren und alle zu inspirieren, die ihn treffen.
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Mahamudra Art will be accompanied by Jigme Rinpoche as our Chairman and Consultant.
Lama Jigme Rinpoche is the General Secretary for Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. Rinpoche is an accomplished Buddhist teacher and author, and leads the Dhagpo Buddhist centres in France.
Lama Jigme Rinpoche was born in 1949 in the Kham region of eastern Tibet. Part of the noble family of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rinpoche is the brother of the late 14th Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chokyi Lodro. After the Chinese invasion, he left Tibet with the 16th Karmapa and many other teachers. In the then kingdom of Sikkim, they settled in Rumtek, where Rumtek monastery was built, the main seat of the Karmapa. Here, Rinpoche received all of the main transmissions and teachings directly from the 16th Karmapa, as well as receiving teachings from many other eminent masters.
When the 16th Karmapa came to Europe in the 1970s, he saw that people were open to the wisdom of Buddhist teachings. In order for the Dharma to flourish, he expressed the wish for five conditions to be fulfilled: for a Buddhist university (Tibetan: shedra), library, retreat centre, and a monastery to be constructed, and for Dharma centres to be founded throughout Europe.
On his very first visit to Europe, the 16th Karmapa chose Dhagpo Kagyu Ling in the south of France to be the main seat of his European activity, and appointed Lama Jigme Rinpoche to remain there as his representative. Rinpoche, aided by other high lamas including Gendun Rinpoche and Pawo Rinpoche, accomplished all of the five wishes of the 16th Karmapa, and the Dharma continues to flourish in Europe and the West.
Lama Jigme Rinpoche fulfilled this function for the 16th Karmapa continuously, and now performs this same activity for Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. In recognition of his immense capabilities, Karmapa appointed Jigme Rinpoche his General Secretary.
When the 16th Karmapa appointed Lama Jigme Rinpoche as his representative in Europe, he said: “In the person of Lama Jigme Rinpoche, I leave you my heart”. Jigmela, as he is affectionately known today by his students, continues travelling throughout Europe and over the world, giving empowerments, teaching, and inspiring all those who meet him.
Thousand Years History
The Kagyü tradition was introduced to Tibet by Marpa the translator (1012-1097), who emphasized four special transmissions that trace their origin to the Indian siddha Tilopa and other Indian masters of the Mahamudra lineage.
The Sakya tradition was founded by Khön Könchog Gyalpo (1034-1102), who focused his transmission on the teachings expounded by the Indian Mahasiddha Virupa.
The Gelug (or Ganden) tradition was established by Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), who stressed the teachings of the Kadampa school founded in Tibet by the Indian master Atisha (982-1054).
The Kagyü Lineage
The Kagyü lineage originated with the great yogi Tilopa who lived in Northern India sometime around the 10th century AD. Tilopa received the four special transmissions (Tib. bka-babs-bzi) and mastered them.
Although there is some discrepancy in the historical sources regarding the identities of the masters associated with each of the four transmissions the most common consensus indicates that their sources are as follows: the first of the four came from Nagarjuna and consists of two tantras, the "Sangwa Düpa Tantra" (S. Guhyasamaja) and the "Denshi Tantra". This transmission also incorporates the practices called "Illusory Body" (Tib. sgyu-lus) and "Transference" (Tib. pho-ba). The second special transmission came from Nakpopa and includes the tantra called "Gyuma Chenmo" (S. Mahamaya), and the practice called "Conscious Dreaming" (Tib. rmi-lam). The third special transmission came from Lawapa and includes the "Demchok Tantra" and the practice of "Clear Light" (Tib. od gsal). The fourth was transmitted from Khandro Kalpa Zangmo and includes the tantra known as "Gyepa Dorje" (S. Hevajra), and the practice called "Tummo".
Compiled and translated by members of the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute's Department of Translation ( 1994 by K.I.B.I. ).
Historical Background
The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, gave many different kinds of teachings in order to accommodate the various capacities of beings. All these teachings are subsumed under the Sutrayana and the Tantrayana. Although the Buddha gave only oral teachings, his early disciples recorded his instructions in writing and thus passed them on in their original form. Accomplished Buddhist masters also authored many treatises that explain the meaning of the Buddha's teachings. The emphasis was on the authentic and accurate transmission of the teachings as this is of prime importance. Over the centuries different lines of transmission, each with its own characteristics, came about.
Buddhism in Tibet includes all the teachings that originated in India. Through the effort of Tibetan translators and Indian masters, the whole corpus of Buddhist teachings was translated into Tibetan. Thus, Buddhism flourished in Tibet until the middle of the 20th century.
In the 8th century the Tibetan King, Trisong Detsen, invited two Buddhist masters, Guru Rinpoche and Shantarakshita, to Tibet. At the same time the king initiated translation of important Buddhists texts into Tibetan. This early activity of teaching and translation brought about the Nyingma tradition, the 'Old Tradition'. The teachings in the Nyingma tradition are based on the texts of this early period of translation.
During the 11th century a second period of translation which involved the revision of earlier terminology as well as new translations took place. The traditions that base their transmission on that period are referred to as the Sarma traditions, the 'New Traditions'. Of these, the Kagyü, Sakya, and Gelug are the most well-known.
Karmapa Rangjung Rigpé Dorjé (1924 – 1981)
The previous holder of the Kagyü Lineage did several long journeys to Europe, America and South-East Asia after his exile from Tibet in 1959. At the request of many westerners, as soon as 1975 he laid the foundation for the establishment of the Dharma on our continent and declared Dhagpo his European seat.
The Gyalwa Karmapa is a perfectly enlightened being, holder of the Kagyü lineage, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The teaching of that lineage, originating with the Buddha, has been preserved pure until today through an uninterrupted transmission from master to disciple.
Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje
The 17th Karmapa was born in 1983 and is the actual holder of the Kagyü lineage. He is the recipient of that teaching and of its spiritual influence, and ensures its transmission. He shares his time between study, meditation and travels around the world to provide teachings. These cannot be limited to texts: they are alive, experienced by great accomplished masters who invite us to in turn live them.
The Gyalwa Karmapa is a perfectly enlightened being, holder of the Kagyü lineage, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The teaching of that lineage, originating with the Buddha, has been preserved pure until today through an uninterrupted master to disciple transmission.
Official website: karmapa.org
Documentary project: karmapa-news.org
