Rangjung Dorje, 3rd Karmapa Lama


Rangjung Dorje was the third Karmapa and an important figure in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, who helped to spread Buddha-nature teachings in Tibetan Buddhism.

Biography

Rangjung Dorje visited China, where the emperor Toghon Temur became his disciple. Upon his death, Rangjung Dorje's face is said to have appeared in the moon there. As a group, the Karmapa Lamas were among the earliest recognized Tulku, or lamas reincarnated as deities or lineage of deceased teachers. The first Karmapas were influential in the Yuan and Ming courts as well as the Tangut Western Xia Kingdom.

Lineage

Born to a Nyingma family, Rangjung Dorje was a lineage-holder in both the Kagyu and the Nyingma :

Teachings and influence

Buddha-nature and shentong

In 1321 the famous scholar Dolpopa visited Tsurphu Monastery for the first time and had extensive discussions with Rangjung Dorje about doctrinal issues. It appears that Rangjung Dorje almost certainly influenced the development of some of Dolpopa's theories, possibly including his Zhentong method.
According to Karma phrin las, Dri lan yid, 91-92, his teacher, Chödrak Gyatso, the Seventh Karmapa, interpreted the nature of Zhentong accepted by Rangjung Dorje.

Chod

Schaeffer conveys that the Third Karmapa was a systematizer of the Chöd developed by Machig Labdrön and lists a number of his works on Chod consisting of redactions, outlines and commentaries.

Dzogchen

,, studied the Great Perfection due to the great inspiration of Rangjung Dorje.

Writings

Rangjung Dorje was a noted scholar who composed many significant texts, the most famous of which is the Profound Inner Meaning, which concern the Vajrayana inner yoga practices. Other important texts of his include: