KARMAPAS RECOGNITION PROCEDURES

The following accounts concern the proceedings on the basis of which the reincarnations of the Karmapas have been recognized. It is important to know that some of the reincarnations left behind written instructions indicating the circumstances of the next incarnation, other Karmapas simply left oral instructions behind, whereas yet others left no instructions at all. When this was case the reincarnation himself made it evident that he was truly the Karmapa.

One must also know that the instructions that were left behind, whether in written or oral form, were indications that had to be interpreted by disciples who had attained various levels of realization. This gave them the ability to interpret correctly these instructions that would seem quite obscure to a layman who would not have the capacity to interpret them. Thus these recognition procedures consist of a combination of the instructions, the correct interpretation of them by highly developed masters and the examination of the child to determine whether he demonstrates the characteristics that befit a true reincarnation. However, as mentioned before, certain cases of the line of Karmapas' reincarnations have been recognised as the true reincarnation solely on the undeniable basis of their own activity.

The first Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa (1110-1193)