Riding a Huge Wave of Karma- The Turbulent Life of the Tenth Karma-Pa

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The Tenth Karma-pa was one of the greatest artists and religious leaders of seventeenth-century Tibet, but as a young child his life was far from easy. Wishing to gain control over the young Karma-pa, a greedy monk-ruler, ICags-mo Gushri from the northeastern Tibetan borderlands, "bought" his family and had them moved to his own lands. He then deceived the Karma-pa's parents so as to gain exclusive control over the child and over the substantial offerings that were made to this important young lama by his devoted followers. For years, ICags-mo Gushri denied the child religious education, causing hardship and distress to the Karma-pa and his family. This is undoubtedly why the Karma-pa would later write in his biography, "Though you have all the wealth in the world, life is miserable if you are under the control of others.""

Finally freed at age twelve from this virtual imprisonment, the Karma pa's life took a happier turn when he began to study and travel. During this time, he was fortunate enough to have two fine scholars as his tutors: the Third dPa'-bo and the Sixth Zhwa-dmar.' The Karma-pa developed a close relationship with these two teachers, though both would pass away in 1630 while the Karma-pa was still in his mid-twenties.

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