The Golden Kagyu Garland

"The Golden Kagyu Garland" refers to the masters who are holders of the lineage in which Mahamudra is a main theme. They are the Indian masters of the lineage and the successive reincarnations of the Karmapas and their most important students who pass on the transmissions to Him. The lineage holders are selected by the Karmapa himself which ensures that the teachings remain intact and pure.

The Karmapa himself always chooses the teacher who will pass on the lineage to him in his future incarnation. He is a great bodhisattava who has the capacity to perceive the realization and qualities of others. It is through this ability that He selects his own guru. There is no fixed rule which defines the teacher in advance. In some cases the lineage holders are eminent reincarnates and in other cases exceptional practitioners without high status in the religious hierarchy.

Another aspect of the Karma Kagyu lineage is the interim directors of the adminstration who are caretakers of the Karmapa's monasteries in between His reincarnations. These caretakers are not lineage holders. For example the 14th Karmapa, Thegchog Dorje, installed the head of the Drugpa Kagyu, the 9th Drugchen Mipham Chokyi Gyamtso (also known as Mingyur Wangi Gyalpo), as the interim director of the adminstration. The 16th Karmapa, in accordance with the Indian law, installed a legal body, the Karmapa Charitable Trust, and appointed the trustees.