Rangjung dorje

Rangjung Dorje ( 1284 - 1339 ) is the third Karmapa , a significant figure in the history of Tibetan Buddhism . At the age of three, he is said to have built himself a black crown (which later became the symbol of the line) and declared himself the rebirth of Karma Pakshi . Rangjung Dorje was born to a Nyingmapine family and in addition to the transfer of the Karma Kagyu line, received the full transfer of the Nyingma line.

His Holiness Rangjung Dorje, Third Gyalwa Karmapa
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Date of death
Place of death
Occupation

The third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje studied with Rigdzin Kumaraji , the Lama of the Nyingma tradition. Lama Kumaraj taught Rangjung Dorje the doctrine of the “Innermost Essence” ( nying-thig ), the teaching transmitted by Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra . Therefore, Rangjung Dorje refers to the line of the “Inner Essence” of the Nyingma School ^[1] .

The third Karmapa combined two branches in his teachings: the Great Seal of the Kagyu School and the Great Perfection of the Nyingma School. According to Karma Trinley, the depth and vastness of the knowledge of Rangjung Dorje is associated with what is called Renaissance in European culture. He gained knowledge and achieved the realization of most of the Buddhist doctrines ever brought to Tibet and outlined his views in a variety of valuable treatises, the most famous of which is “Deep inner meaning” ( Tib. Zab mo nang don ), a commentary on the essence of internal Yoga practice Vajrayana ^[2] .

In 1321, the scientist Dolpopa ( 1292 - 1362 ) first came to the Tsurphu monastery and spent much time discussing doctrinal issues with Rangjung Dorje. It is believed that Rangjung Dorje had a significant impact on some Dolpop theories, including, perhaps, on the presentation of the shentong method ^[3] .

Unlike Dolopopa Sherab Gyaltsen, Rangjung Dorje recognized 18 types of prajnaparamitan “emptiness from identity” at an absolute level in combination with “emptiness from another”:

“The absolute is the emptiness of its own nature, which is explained as eighteen such emptiness as the voidness of the inner, etc., whereas the true is expressed as self-arisen primordial awareness without the duality of the perceived and perceiving, also existing as absolute. " ^[4]

The third Karmapa crowned the Mongol emperor Togon-Temur and was his teacher. Rangjung Dorje founded many monasteries designed to practice Kagyu teachings. Of these, the temple built in China, at Utaishan , is of particular importance. When Rangjung Dorje, the third Karmapa , left the body, he was at the age of fifty-six. Legend has it that the day after leaving, Karmapa appeared again - showed his face on the disk of the full moon ^[5] .