Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, is a world spiritual leader. Born on 6 May 1983, Karmapa is a Buddhist teacher and ambassador for peace.

Karmapa was 11 years old when he made a dramatic escape from Tibet to India. In 1994, he was enthroned as the 17th incarnation of the Karmapa, and the leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage – one of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

As the 17th Karmapa, he holds the precious transmission of unique Buddhist knowledge and methods passed down for nearly 1,000 years by the Kagyu lineage masters.

Karmapa has spiritual responsibility for over 900 monasteries and Buddhist centers in 68 countries around the world.

Karmapa has a powerful vision of peace. Inner Wealth, he believes, holds the key to peace within ourselves and within our communities. We are all enriched with Inner Wealth, a limitless source of compassion and wisdom. Karmapa teaches that by cultivating our natural, noble qualities, we are all able to experience and express peace.

As a world Buddhist master, Karmapa is able to translate traditional wisdom into practical steps that we can all use to be happier and to benefit the world around us.

He teaches students and the public around the world, through in-person and digital events on karmapa.org.

Karmapa’s other activities include: empowering young people; meeting international leaders in the fields of spirituality, peace, conflict resolution, and education; and creating videos and articles to promote peace and prosperity in our world.

Followers of Karmapa