THE 3^RD SHAMARPA

The five month old infant-Shamarpa had no difficulty in recognizing many of his monks, who were previously close to him, intimating that he was indeed their anxiously awaited Incarnate. A year later, he returned to Takse one of his monasteries, at the invitation of his monks, where he was under the tutelage of two great Scholars, Payül Chözang and Wön Drakpa. At the age of eight, he met the Karmapa, staying with him for a long period of time, receiving all the Kagyü Teachings of which includes numerous Empowerments and Ritual Readings. As he imparted the teachings, the Karmapa also gave him full authorization to instruct.

With his extra-ordinary power of clairvoyance, the fame of the 3rd Shamarpa spread rapidly into the depth of China. The Emperor, a disciple of the 5th Karmapa was most intrigued that any one could see into his past lives in vivid detail as the Shamarpa could; and the thought that the Shamarpa had been the teacher to the 5th Karmapa – the Guru of his own Guru, filled him with an unsatiable sense of longing for an even closer relationship. He sent a minister to distant Tibet, the bearer of precious gifts – a Buddha statue and a statue of Dorje Chang, made of the finest bell-metal. They were for the Shamarpa, a token of his sincerest devotion. In his letter of thanks, the Shamarpa reminded this mighty ruler of the basic principle in Buddhism, which is benevolence, that he might be ever mindful of the well-being of his people.

When later the Shamarpa was representative for the Karmapa in Kong-Po and other southern provinces in Tibet, seeing to the spiritual needs of the people, this basic principle for a ruler was most strictly adhered to.