Mikyo Dorje

Mikyö Dorje (1507–1554) was the eighth Karmapa, head of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in Satam, Kham, he is said to have declared himself Karmapa upon birth. He was recognized by Tai Situpa and underwent a test devised by Gyaltsab Rinpoche to distinguish him from another claimant, establishing a precedent for future reincarnations. Mikyö Dorje was a prolific writer, producing works on Madhyamaka, Abhidharma, Tantra, and Mahamudra, as well as poetry and linguistics. He also introduced a four-session guru yoga practice central to Karma Kagyu teachings. A skilled artist, he excelled in painting and metalcraft, creating famous thangkas and statues that significantly influenced the art of his time. He famously predicted the Chinese emperor's death before he could travel to meet him. He identified and transmitted the Kagyu lineage to the fifth Shamarpa, Konchog Yenlag, emphasizing their inseparable spiritual connection.