Born to a family of tantric practitioners in Chida in northern Tibet.

Spoke the Sanskrit mantra, Ah Hung, at birth and spoke "There is nothing in the world but emptiness" at five months of age.

Recognized as the seventh Karmapa by Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche in accordance with the instruction letter of the sixth Karmapa.

Chodrake Gyatso dedicated much of his life to retreat. He was also an accomplished scholar who authorized many texts, such as The Lamp of the Three Worlds and The Ocean of Reasoning.

The Karmapa formally established monastic universities at Tsurphu and other places and convinced numerous people to recite millions of Om Mani Padme Hung mantras as a cure for all ills.

Before passing into parinirvana at the age of fifty-three, he provided details of his next incarnation.