Thekchok Dorje was born in the village of Danang in the Khan region of eastern Tibet during the midwinter while the flowers blossomed and many rainbows appeared.

Was recognized by Drukchen Kunzig Chokyi Nangwa and was enthroned and later ordained by the ninth Tai Situpa.

Received teaching and the lineage transmissions from Situpa Pema Nyinche Wangpo and Drukchen Kunzig Chokyi Nangwa.

Lived very simple and exemplified the idea monk.

Participated in the rime (nonsectarian) movement, whereby many noted scholars showed greater interest in each others' traditions and teachings particularly between Kagyu and Nyingma.

Received some tantras from the Nyingma visionary treasure-revealer Chokyur Lingpa who had important visions of future Karmapas, up to twenty-first, which were recorded and them memorialized in a thangka.

The fourteenth Karmapa's spiritual heir was the great nonsectarian master and prolific author Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye.

Passed into parinirvana at the age of seventy-one, leaving detailed instructions of his next incarnation.