Spiritual masters
The European seat of the Karma Kagyü transmission lineage, the learning and meditation center Dhagpo Kagyu Ling is currently placed under the spiritual guidance of Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, and Lama Jigme Rinpoche, his representative in Europe.

Thaye Dorje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa
Born in 1983, the 17th Karmapa is the current holder of the Kagyu lineage, whose transmission he ensures. He is the receptacle of this teaching and all its spiritual influence. He divides his time between study, meditation and traveling all over the world to give teachings. These teachings cannot be confined to texts: they are alive, experienced by great accomplished masters who invite us to live them in our turn.
For further information
Resources
All publications on the karmapa.org website are translated into French in the section actualités / Karmapa

Kunzik Shamar Rinpoche
Shamar Rinpoche (1952-2014), whose name means “Red Hat holder”, was the main disciple of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. He received from his master the entire cycle of Kagyu teachings and he stayed by his side till the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa’s death in 1981. He found his reincarnation in Tibet and, for many years, he ensured that the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, the current Karmapa, received the education and transmissions of the Kagyü tradition. For over thirty years, he has developed a vast activity in the service of preserving authentic spiritual transmission. Generally speaking, shamarpas ensure the continuity of the Kagyü lineage by holding it during the transition period between two incarnations of the karmapa, and are often responsible for the search for and recognition of the new karmapa. Karmapas and shamarpas have been closely linked over the centuries.
For further information
Resources
• Biography in French, on the Sukhavati Garden website
• Masters’ words : transcript of teachings given at Dhagpo, published in the Tendrel magazine

Lama Jigme Rinpoche
For further information
Resources
Clarity and compassion teachings cycle available on videos
• Teaching booklets (and available extracts) on the Library website

Lama Guendune Rinpoche
For further information
Coming soon
Resources
• Masters’ words : transcript of teachings given at Dhagpo, published in the Tendrel magazine