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The great Fifth Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa (1384-1415), has been praised thus: "You are the Ocean of Supreme Intention, laden with jewels of Omniscient Wisdom. The profound depths of your compassion transcend conceptual limit. Continuous waves of your activity stream in the ten directions. To the Lama, the Ocean of Knowledge, I bow down." In accordance with the prediction of Rolpe dorje, Deshin Shekpa was born in Nyangdam, in southern Tibet. His father and mother were advanced tantric practitioners, and from his mother's womb he was heard reciting Om Mani Pemay Hung. So many magnificent omens arose during his mother's pregnancy that people gathered in great numbers as soon as he was born in order to make offerings, prayers, and prostrations to him. By the time he was two months old, he had demonstrated beyond question that he was indeed the Karmapa. Through his mastery of the ten paramitas, Karmapa won the devotion and respect of all who met him. He obtained mastery of phenomena through mastering his own mind, and understood precisely how to benefit and mature the stream of being of everyone he met. Buddha Shakyamuni, Manjushri, Maitreya, Chenrezig, the Sixteen Arhats, and the goddess Tara visited him repeatedly to bestow blessings and prophecies. Hosts of protectors and guardian deities scrupulously accomplished his activity without requiring any instruction or command. Yung Lo, the Ming emperor, invited Deshin Shekpa to the Chinese Imperial Court, where he was received by ten thousand monks. He bestowed many Vajrayana transmissions upon the Emperor and his retinue, who through their devotion achieved excellent results in meditation and practice. The Emperor, in particular, perceived the mystic black crown of Chenrezig that rests above the heads of all the Karmapa incarnations. So that others with less ability might receive its blessing, Yung Lo obtained Karmapa's permission to construct a replica of silk, gold, and jewels. He then offered the crown to Deshin Shekpa, who consecrated it with the divine original. The material crown has been passed down to all subsequent Karmapas, and is displayed in a ceremony conferring Chenrezig's blessing. Deshin Shekpa meanwhile manifested limitless miracles in the vicinity of the Imperial court. Rainbows, multicolored clouds, visions of flying saints, gods, and goddesses, and mysteriously glowing lights appeared to all who lived in the ImperialCity. The Emperor commanded court artists to paint these visions on a silk scroll, which he then offered to the Karmapa. Upon his return to Tibet, Deshin Shekpa appeared to grow ill. Though ceremonies were undertaken to prolong his life, he told his students that he had already arranged the conditions for his rebirth in the vicinity of Karma Monastery in eastern Tibet. He then passed away, and images of deities and many other rainbow-colored relics were recovered from the ashes after his cremation. Remarks: The first Kenting Tai Situpa is the 5th Karmapa's disciple, he accompanied the 5th Karmapa to China. From this incarnation to the 7th Kenting Tai Situpa, Karma Gon Monastery was the main seat of the Kenting Tai Situpas. In this biography, Karma Monastery should mean Karma Gon Monastery.
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