Eighth Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)

Research and Translations

THE ASTONISHING LIFE AND WORKS OF THE 8TH KARMAPA, MIKYO DORJE: An overview and compilation of research and translations aand 17th Karmapa’s teachings

Liberation-Stories/Biographies

GURUS OF THE EIGHTH KARMAPA (PART II): FIRST SANGYE NYENPA. ‘Gnarled blue Uncle’, vegetarian yogi Siddha from Denma – First Sangye Nyenpa, Tashi Peljor

GURUS OF THE EIGHTH KARMAPA (PART I): 2nd GOSHRI GYELTSAB. The man who chose the 8th Karmapa despite bribes and bitter division in the Kagyu Great Encampment

Collected Works

GOLDEN OFFERING FROM A WEALTHY NUN: THE 8TH KARMAPA’S COLLECTED WORKS: EDITIONS AND CONTENTS. Handwritten edition by 8th Karmapa, Outline edition by 5th Zhamarpa, golden manuscript edition sponsored by wealthy nun and contemporary editions

Chod

8TH KARMAPA ON CHOD: TEXTS AND LINEAGE. New translation of 8th Karmapa’s short daily Chod practice and full transcription of 17th Karmapa Chod teaching

Praises and Supplications

‘Song to Lineage Masters, Je Tsongkhapa, Bodong Panchen, Je Ngorchen and Rongton Chenpo’ by 8th Karmapa

‘Supplication to the Life of 1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa’ by 8th Karmapa

Praise to the Source of the Gyalwang Karmapas’ Midnight-Blue ‘Dakini Hair’ Black Crown by 8th Karmapa

The Single Intention by Jigten Sumgon

The 8th Karmapa on the ‘Single Intention’ (Gong Chig) by Drikung Jigten Sumgon

Artistic abilities

MARVELLOUS MURALS AND MAHAKALA MELODIES: EARLY AND LATER KARMA ‘GAR-DRI’ STYLE TIBETAN ART (as presented by 17th Karmapa)

Texts and Commentaries

‘The difference between Buddha-Nature and Dharmakāya’ by 8th Karmapa

‘Direct Instructions on the Great Compassionate One’ by 8th Karmapa with commentary by 17th Karmapa

One Day Meditation on Mind of Awakening by 8th Karmapa

Kālacakra as the ‘ultimate pinnacle’ of all the tantras: Jetsun Tāranātha and 8th Karmapa

White Tara

White Tārā Daily Sadhana by 8th Karmapa

Transcripts and Teachings of 17th Karmapa on the 8th Karmapa

8th Karmapa’s Autobiographical Stories (Teachings by 17th Karmapa, March-May 2023)

LIKE A ROSE BLOOMING IN WINTER: CHERISHING AND PROTECTING THE JEWEL OF 8TH KARMAPA’S FOUR GREAT COMMENTARIES ON THE MAIN BUDDHIST TEXTS AND OTHER WORKS(17th Karmapa, Day 13 (Part II) Spring 2023 teaching)

LIKE SHOOTING AN ARROW IN THE DARK: “WITHOUT TELEPATHY AND CLAIRVOYANCES DO NOT GATHER OR TEACH STUDENTS”: 8th Karmapa on the crucial importance of the six clairvoyances as a teacher and practitioner (17th Karmapa Spring 2023, Day 12)

THE ORIGINAL ‘MOTHER’ OF THE KARMA KAGYU FOUR-SESSION GURU YOGA: Lama Zhang’s four-session guru yoga, the vajra words of the dakinis, pure visions of 8th Karmapa and his students, and Karma Chagme’s texts on its practice and origin (17th Karmapa, Spring 2023 teachings, Day 11, part 2)

‘HIDDEN’ TIBETAN HEROES: PURE VISIONS OF MIKYO DORJE AND THE HISTORY AND HEROIC SAVIOUR OF THE “SILVER SPACE STATUE” OF TSURPHU: 8th Karmapa’s conduct around his many bad followers, the origin of the silver statue of Sangye Nyenpa, miraculous pure visions during its consecration and the ‘hidden hero’ who saved it from destruction (17th Karmapa, Spring 2023 teachings, Day 11, part I)

PURE DEVOTION TO AN INEXHAUSTIBLE TREASURY OF GOOD QUALITIES: RECEIVING THE BLESSINGS AND SIDDHIS OF A QUALIFIED GURU: 8th Karmapa on staying away from jealous and competitive people, impure gurus and lineages, the meaning of real devotion (17th Karmapa Spring Teaching 2023, Day 10, part 1)

THE GREAT ARMOUR OF THE SOLITUDE OF BODHICITTA: 8th Karmapa’s interest and reasons why big monasteries can become like ‘fortresses’ of conflict and sectarianism, and his interest and joy at practising in isolated, difficult retreat places, and the meaning of real ‘solitude’ from the’ Bodhisattva perspective  (17th Karmapa Spring 2023 teachings, Day Nine)

A TIBETAN TRAVESTY: DESTRUCTION AND APPROPRIATION OF KARMA KAGYU/8TH KARMAPA’S MANY MONASTERIES: Reasons why 8th Karmapa newly established many colleges and retreat centres, disrespect of his activities by Sakya teacher, Tsarchen Losal Gyatso, and case study of the Karma Kagyu Gatsel Karma Zhunglug Ling college and its stolen/forced conversion into Ganden Thosam Dargye Ling monastery by the 5th Dalai Lama/Gelug (17th Karmapa Spring teaching 2023, Day 8)

THE YELLOW-HAT KAGYUPAS: LOST, STOLEN AND DESTROYED KARMA KAGYU TRADITIONS AND MONASTERIES IN TIBET. 8th Karmapa on inclusivity in Dharma communities, the yellow-hat Kagyu tradition of the Karmapas, signs of being in the last 500-year period of ‘merely wearing the robes’, worldly warring ‘monks’, and the many shedras and retreat places established by the 8th Karmapa (17th Karmapa Spring teaching 2023, Day 7)

THE CAUSE OF BUDDHA’S TEACHINGS BEING DESTROYED: DISPUTES BASED ON ATTACHMENT AND AVERSION: 8th Karmapa on the dangers of religious sectarianism and harmful disputes based on arrogance, pride and jealousy (17th Karmapa Spring Teachings 2023, Day 6)

‘YOUR LIPS ARE WHAT WILL SEND YOU TO HELL AND NEED TO BE SHUT AND LOCKED’: 8th Karmapa on the difference between ‘dry’ and ‘juicy’ words, Je Gampopa on signs of the Dharma disappearing,  and the importance of having pure perception of all people’s faults and mistakes, and keeping your lips shut (17th Karmapa’s Spring teachings 2023 (Day 5)

“CALLING A BEGGAR A KING, DOES NOT MAKE THEM A KING”: 8th Karmapa on the fifth pāramitā of Dhyana and why he did not teach Mahāmudrā, or secret instructions to those who have not even entered the Dhyana meditation  (17th Karmapa Spring Teachings Day 4)

HYPOCRITICAL ‘SPIRITUAL FOOLS’ AND HONEST ‘HERO YOGIS’: 8th Karmapa on pseudo-Dharma and pretender yogis, the importance of not breaching the lower vows, and of vast and enduring discipline, patience, and infinite effort (teaching by 17th Karmapa, Spring Teachings 2023, Day 3)

THE ‘SAMĀDHI MASTERY OF THE TREASURY OF SPACE’ AND EMANATING ENDLESS WEALTH: The purpose of liberation-stories, the meaning of ‘excellent deeds’, Drugpa Kunleg and the 8th Karmapa on the first pāramitā of generosity and the importance of non-attachment to wealth and pleasure ( Day Two)

BEING AN INDEPENDENT THINKER AND MEDITATING ON ULTIMATE BODHICITTA: The status of nuns in India and Tibet, 8th Karmapa’s vast knowledge of all the different views, his independence of thought, amazing qualities and vegetarian students (Day One)

8th Karmapa’s Autobiographical Stories (Teachings by 17th Karmapa, March-April 2022)

‘LIKE STARS IN THE DAY’, THE DESCENT OF FEMALE ARHATIS: FULLY ORDAINED TIBETAN BUDDHIST NUNS IN TIBET, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (17th Karmapa Spring Teachings (Day 13)

A YOGI’S ‘INTENTIONS FULFILLED’: ‘CANDYMAN’ MILAREPA’S SECRET STASH OF ‘GOLD’ CANDY AND MIRACULOUS PARTING GIFTS AND FINAL ADVICE ‘TO EAT SH*T!’ Milarepa’s last testament and miraculous gifts and new translation of his song ‘Intentions Fulfilled’ from ‘The Black Treasury’

‘WHY IS LIFE SO UNFAIR?!’ PRAISING AND GIVING TO OTHERS FOR PERSONAL FAME AND GAIN; WHY ‘BAD THINGS’ HAPPEN TO ‘GOOD’ PEOPLE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ‘LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’ (17th Karmapa Spring Teaching 2022, Day 7)

‘WAKING UP FROM THE SLUMBER OF IGNORANCE’: THE ‘KA-NYING’ CONNECTION. (17th Karmapa Spring teachings, Day 6)

‘CALLING A SPADE A SPADE’ AND THE ‘SEEDS OF HONESTY’: THE 8TH KARMAPA’S DIRECT AND UNBIASED WAY OF TEACHING AND HIS DENIAL OF AUTHORSHIP OF A DOCUMENT REFUTING THE NYINGMA SECRET MANTRA (17th Karmapa, Spring Teaching, Day 5 )

‘PRACTISING WHAT YOU PREACH AND TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK’: TRANSFORMING OTHERS’ NEGATIVITY INTO VIRTUE. (17th Karmapa, Spring Teachings Day 4)

DON’T BE LIKE A PARROT RECITING ‘MANI’ MANTRAS. The most valuable investment in the universe, dealing with demons/obstacle-makersand the importance of motivation and discipline when accepting ‘food of faith’ offerings and reciting rituals and texts (17th Karmapa Spring 2022 teachings, Day 3)

‘NEVER TAKING AN ORDINARY BREATH’: ASPIRING BODHICITTA AND EXCHANGING SELF WITH OTHERS. The unbearable compassion of the boy 8th Karmapa who slept with a calf and the extraordinary life of Kadampa mind-training master, Geshe Langri Thangpa (Day Two, Spring Teachings 2022)

‘WALKING IN MY SHOES’: STORIES TO INSPIRE FAITH AND DEVOTION. THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBERATION-STORIES (NAMTHAR) OF GREAT BEINGS (17th Karmapa, (Day One. Spring Teachings 2022)

Good Deeds by 8th Karmapa (Teachings by 17th Karmapa, February-March 2021)

TIBETAN ART, PRE-GREAT ENCAMPMENT (KARMA GAR-RI) : Indian, Newar and the ‘Three Great Tibetan Styles’ of Men-ri, Khyen-ri and Jeyu-ri (7th -15th Century) by 17th Karmapa

THE ‘SINGLE-SITTING’ VEGETARIAN PRACTICE: Sakya Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo’s vegetarianism; Kālacakra master, Śākyaśrī and the four monastic communities (Joden Tshogpa Zhi); the Gedun Gangpa’s monastic ordination of the 4th-8th Karmapas

UNBEARABLE GRIEF LIKE EATING THE FLESH OF ONE’S OWN CHILD: Jamgon Kongtrul the Great, Yogi Drugpa Kunleg and 17th Gyalwang Karmapa on abandoning meat; love and compassion more important than scriptures and logic

JE MILAREPA’S SONG ON THE SUFFERING OF ANIMALS FOR THE EVIL ‘CUSTOM’ OF MEAT-EATING

COMPASSION NOT COMPETITION: THE MAHAYANA VIEW ON EATING ANIMALS. Buddha’s vegetarian disciples, Devadatta, Mahākāśyapa and Bakula; Mahayana Sūtras on great compassion and Buddha-Nature; and Chinese Buddhist vegetarianism

RULES OF BUDDHIST CONDUCT (VINAYA) FOR MONASTICS (AND LAYPEOPLE) ON EATING MEAT: 17th Karmapa on the Vinaya rules on ‘offered’ meat and the three ‘tests’ of impurity –

‘IF YOU EAT MEAT YOU ARE NOT KAGYUPA’: The 8th Karmapa and other Karmapas’ strict vegetarianism and the Great Encampment rules

JE TSONGKHAPA AND THE KAGYU LINEAGE: Marpa’s Guhyasamāja and Nāropa’s Cakrasaṃvara and Six Yogas. ‘Good Deeds’ teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 12)

TEENAGE 8TH KARMAPA’S ADAMANT REFUSAL TO MEET CHINESE EMPEROR: thousands of people, offerings and threats of force could not persuade him. ‘Good Deeds’ teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 10: part 2)

THE KARMAPA WHO SAID ‘NO’ TO WORLDLY POWER: 5th Karmapa’s refusal to take control of Tibet; Je Tsongkhapa; famous Chinese translators, Zhiguang and Palden Tashi; the Chinese ‘Marco Polo’ explorer, Zhenghe; and a $45 million thangka. Good Deeds teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 10: Part I).

EMPRESS XU’S DREAM REVELATION OF A SUTRA BY AVALOKITESVARA AND ADVOCATE OF WOMANS EDUCATION. ‘Good Deeds’ by 17th Karmapa (Day 9: part 2)

OFFICIAL SEAL OF APPROVAL: White jade seal, paintings and precious objects given by Chinese Emperor to the 5th Karmapa, and other Tibetan seals, their language and origin. ‘Good Deeds’ teaching by 7th Karmapa (Day 9:Part I)

‘THUNDEROUSLY BLOWING HIS TRUMPET’: Abandoning distractions and the 8th Karmapa’s visit to Jang. ‘Good Deeds’ teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 8)

EATING ONLY THE ESSENCE: Birthplace of 8th Karmapa and his first gurus, 2nd Goshri Gyaltsab Rinpoche and 1st Sangye Nyenpa, Siddha from Denma: ‘Good Deeds’ teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 6)

NON-SECTARIAN SONG OF FAITH AND DEVOTION: 8th Karmapa’s ‘Song to Lineage Masters, Je Tsongkhapa, Bodong Panchen, Je Ngorchen and Rongton Chenpo’. ‘Good Deeds’ teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 5: Part II)

WOLVES IN MONK’S ROBES: 8TH KARMAPA’S ACCOUNT OF ABANDONING NEGATIVE FRIENDS , SONG FOR JE TSONGKHAPA, AND THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A KARMAPA: ‘Good Deeds’ teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 5)

SACRED GEOGRAPHY OF KARMA KAGYU: THREE MAIN SEATS, ‘OUTER’ AND ‘INNER’ SITES OF CHAKRASAMVARA AND BIRTH PLACES AND DATES OF THE EIGHT KARMAPAS. ‘Good Deeds’ teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 4)

THE WHITE CONCH’S RESOUNDING HORN: ASTONISHING CHILD PRODIGY, MIKYO DORJE AND THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE ‘WESTERN’ AND ‘EASTERN’ CANDIDATES: ‘Good Deeds’ Teaching by 17th Karmapa (Day 3)

‘JAW-DROPPING’ HANDWRITTEN COLLECTED WORKS THAT EMANATED LIGHT: TEXTUAL SOURCES, THE MEANING OF ‘LIBERATION-STORY’, IMPORTANCE OF FAITH AND INNER QUALITIES: ‘Good Deeds’ by 17th Karmapa (Day Two)

THE BRAVE ‘KAGYU FOX’: Meaning and origin of the name ‘Karmapa’, the ‘midnight-blue crown’ and ‘Karmapa Khyenno’ mantra: ‘Good Deeds of 8th Karmapa’ by 17th Karmapa (Day One)