Shamar Rinpoche

Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chökyi Lodrö (1952–2014), was the 14th Shamarpa. The Shamarpa or “Red Hat Lama of Tibet” is Tibetan Buddhism’s second oldest reincarnate lineage after the Karmapa’s lineage. Born in Derge, Tibet, Shamar Rinpoche was recognized by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa in 1957 and was enthroned as the 14th Shamarpa in 1963. He was also recognized by the 14th Dalai Lama. Following many years of study with Buddhist scholars, he began in 1980 to spread the Buddha Dharma, teaching at Karma Kagyu centers throughout the world. Shamar Rinpoche was an accomplished Buddhist master and teacher, respected and cherished the world over. In 1996, Shamar Rinpoche began organizing Bodhi Path Buddhist Centers, a network of centers covering many continents, in which a non-sectarian approach to meditation is practiced. In addition over the years, he founded several non-profit organizations worldwide engaged in charitable activities, including projects to provide schooling for children born into poverty, and an organization committed to promoting animal rights. Shamar Rinpoche encouraged meditation and study among his students, and authored several books for these purposes during his lifetime, including a detailed biographical compilation on the 10th Karmapa, "A Golden Swan in Turbulent Waters" (2012), and a concise meditation guide, "Boundless Awakening: The Heart of Buddhist Meditation" (2013), both published by Bird of Paradise Press. Shamar Rinpoche authored a key text for students, "The Path to Awakening" (Delphinium Books, distributed by Harper Collins, 2014), a presentation of Chekawa Yeshe Dorje’s Seven Points of Mind Training, which is both a timely guide to living a fulfilling life as a Buddhist, and a practical manual of meditation techniques. Shamar Rinpoche's advice to his students on how to use and apply the contents of his books on meditation and practice is featured in the preface of his book "Boundless Wisdom" (2019).