Wangchuk Dorje

Wangchuk Dorje (1556–1603) was the ninth Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Treshod, Kham, and famously declared himself the Karmapa shortly after birth. His primary teacher was the fifth Shamarpa, Köncho Yenlak, under whom he received his education while traveling with a nomadic camp across Tibet, Mongolia, and Bhutan. During his travels, he founded many monasteries. Wangchuk Dorje was not only a spiritual leader but also a skilled mediator. He was invited by the king of Sikkim to settle a dispute, and during his visit, he founded three monasteries, including one in Rumtek, which is now a significant center for the lineage after the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The other two monasteries he founded are Phodong and Ralang. While not a prolific author, Wangchuk Dorje's writings on Mahamudra teaching, such as 'The Chariot for Travelling the Path to Freedom' and 'Ocean of Definitive Meaning', had a lasting impact and are still studied today.