• Born to a family of tantric practitioners of the Nyingma lineage in central Tibet.
  
  
  
• Received the Black Crown and all the possessions of the second Karmapa at the age of five from Orgyenpa, the main disciple of the second Karmapa.
  
  
• Received and realized all the teaching and transmissions of the dzogchen tantras of the Nyingma lineage and found the Karma Nyingtik lineage in his twenties.
  
  
• Unified the Kagyu Mahamudra and Nyingma dzogchen through his mastery of the profound Nyingma teaching of Vimalamitra.
  
  
• Wrote many treatises including the universally renowned Profound Inner Meaning, one of the most famous Tibetan treatises on Vajrayana.
  
  
• Visited China and enthroned his disciple, the emperor, Toghon Temur. Rangjung Dorje later passed away in China.

The Fourth Karmapa Rolpe Dorje
(1340-1383)

The Fifth Karmapa Dezhin Shekpa (1384-1415)

The Sixth Karmapa Thongwa Donden (1416-1453)

The Seventh Karmapa Chodrak Gyatso (1454-1506)

The Eighth Karmapa Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)

The Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje (1556-1603)

The Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje (1604-1674)

The Eleventh Karmapa Yeshe Dorje (1676-1702)

The Twelfth Karmapa Changchub Dorje (1703-1732)

The Thirteenth Karmapa Dudul Dorje (1733-1797)

The Fourteenth Karmapa Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868)

The Fifteenth Karmapa Khakhyab Dorje (1871-1922)

The Sixteenth Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981)

The Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje (1985-Present)