This Tibetan gilt bronze portrait of a
Karmapa is seated on high lotus throne
with a pendant over his knees. He is
wearing patchwork monastic robes that
are finely stippled and incised on the
borders with floral motifs. He is
crowned with a hat of the Kagyu sect.
This Headdress is adorned with
supturned lappets, foliate motifs, and
the emblem of the sun and crescent
moon. The adoration of Karmapa was
often expressed through the production
of statuary. Devout worshippers
touched the divine images, asking for
the Karmapa's protection and mercy in
prayer. The coming of the first Karmapa
fulfilled a prophecy (mentioned in the
Samadhiraja Sutra and the Mahakaruna
Pundarika Sutra) by Shakyamuni
Buddha that this emanation of the
Great Compassionate One (Bodhisattva
Chenrezi, Skt. Avalokiteshvara) would
appear in the world in order to alleviate
the sufferings of sentient beings in the
Dark Age. According to predictions, He
will be the sixth Buddha in this eon of a
thousand Buddhas, the one after the
coming of the Buddha Maitreya. He will
be known as Buddha Simha, the Lion.
The Good Age Sutra says: "...Born into a
royal family... His father's name will
mean 'Lion Tiger' and His mother's
'Roar of Joy'... In a first wave of dharma
He will teach a thousand million beings,
in a second wave nine hundred million
and in a third wave some eight hundred
million..."In the history of Tibet, His
Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa, the
holder of the Black Vajra Crown and the
Head of the Karma Kagyu Lineage, was
the first Tulku to consciously incarnate.
The 1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa was
the foremost disciple of the famous
Gampopa from Dakpo. He was born in
Doh Kham, in the year of the Iron Tiger
(1110 A.D.). Dusum Khyenpa means, He
who possesses the extraordinary ability
of knowledge of the three times and
therefore is able to see into the past,
present and future. He founded three
main centers: Tolung Tsurphu (the mind
mandala of the Karmapas), Karma Gön
(the speech mandala) and Kampo
Nenang (the body mandala). Of the
three, Tsurphu Monastery became the
main seat of all the Karmapas. Through
Him the Oral Transmission known as
the Golden Rosary/or Mala has been
passed down in an unbroken lineage
until today. The treasure revealer
Ngadak Nyang said: "Each moment He
will guide countless sentient beings.
Whoever sees, hears of, thinks of Him
or is touched by Him, will be born in the
presence of the Buddha after that life."
- (PF.5503)
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