KARMAPAS RECOGNITION PROCEDURES

The accounts below are excerpts from 'The Garland of Moon Water Crystal' by Situ Chökyi Jungay, the eighth Situpa and Belo Tsewang Künkhyab (vol. I, pages 4-44)

This tells the reader that the first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (110-1193) left the following brief oral instructions behind with a group of disciples: [page 40] "Remain here [at Tsurpu Monastery] for one or two years after my death." The most prominent of the disciples in this group was Gyalsay Pomdragpa (1170-1249), one of the Karma Kagyu lineage-holders.

Another of Düsum Khyenpa's brief instructions was: [page 81] "In the area of the river Drichu an individual who will fulfill my intentions will appear. That person is my reincarnation."

Gyabpa Ganggarwa, a prominent disciple of Düsum Khyenpa, showed disregard for some of the instructions he had been given by Düsum Khyenpa. The Karmapa was consequently displeased. Furthermore, because of disagreements between Layakpa the then caretaker of Tsurpu Monastery and Gyabpa Gangkarwa who later became Tsurpu's caretaker after Düsum Khyenpa's death, hindrances to the swift return of the reincarnation arose.

Therefore, the second Karmapa Karma Pakshi was only able to come to Tsurpu in his thirties, and it was he himself who made it clear that he was indeed the reincarnation of Düsum Khyenpa. As a young child he had not been recognized and enthroned.

The second Karmapa Karma Pakshi (1204-1283)