Born to a family devoted Buddhism with his father and other well known masters of the time in central Tibet before he reached thirty years of age.

At the age of thirty, he received teachings from Gampopa who is the heart son of Milarepa, the greatest yogi in Tibetan history.

Attained enlightenment that gave him knowledge of the three modes of time (past, present and future) and the timeless time of enlightened awareness.

The first Karmapa to present a prediction letter detailing his future incarnation.

Among his main disciples were Taklunpa, Founder of Talung Kagyu; Lama Kadampa Deshek, founder of the Katok Nyingma Lineage; and Tsangpa Gyare, founder of the Drukpa Kagyu.