'Deshin Shekpa' (
1384-
1415), also 'Deshin Shegpa', was the fifth
Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the
Kagyu school of
Tibetan Buddhism.
Deshin Shekpa was born in Nyang Dam in the south of
Tibet. According to the legend he said after being born: "I am the Karmapa.
Om mani padme hum shri." Deshin Shekpa was taken to Tsawa Phu who recognized him as the
reincarnation of the Karmapa. Deshin traveled extensively through
Tibet and
Mongolia and taught people about non-violence.
After having finished his education, he was invited in
1406 by the emperor of
China, because the emperor had a vision of
Avalokitesvara. After a journey of three years, he arrived at the imperial palace where tens of thousands of monks greeted him. He convinced the emperor that there are different religions for different people and that does not mean that one is better than the other. This teaching prevented several wars. In
1410 he returned to
Tsurphu where he had his monastery rebuilt which was severely damaged by an earthquake.