School Vajrayana Lineage Karma Kagyu | Name Mipham Lodro Role Lama | |
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Born October 27, 1952
Derge, Tibet ( 1952-10-27 ) Title Shamarpa, Lama, Rinpoche Died June 11, 2014, Renchen, Germany | ||
Long life ceremony for the 14th shamarpa mipham chokyi lodro greek subtitles
Mipham Chokyi Lodro (27 October 1952 - 11 June 2014), also known as Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, was the 14th Shamarpa of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Shamarpa is the second most important teacher of the Karma Kagyu school after the Karmapa. The Karmapas are sometimes referred to as the Black Hat Lamas, referring to their Black Crown.
Karma Pakshi, 2nd Karmapa Lama, prophesied that "future Karmapas shall manifest in two Nirmanakaya forms". Later, Rangjung Dorje, 3rd Karmapa Lama presented his principal student, Khedrup Drakpa Senge, a ruby-red crown that was an exact replica of his own Black Crown. The Karmapa explained that it symbolised their identical nature and so the lineage of the Shamarpas started. The 14th Shamarpa was recognised by Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa.
During his lifetime, the Shamarpa was a central figure in the current controversy within the Karma Kagyu lineage. He recognised Trinley Thaye Dorje as the current (17th) Karmapa, as opposed to Ogyen Trinley Dorje, of whom other high lamas within the lineage recognised to be the current Karmapa, as does the 14th Dalai Lama and civil authorities in China.
After having completed several days of teachings, the 14th Shamarpa died in Renchen, in Baden-Württemberg, on 11 June 2014 due to a sudden heart attack in the morning.