Mipham Chokyi Lodro

During his lifetime, the Shamarpa was a central figure in the current controversy within the Karma Kagyu lineage. He recognised Trinley Thaye Dorje as the current (17th) Karmapa, as opposed to Ogyen Trinley Dorje, whom other high lamas within the lineage recognised to be the current Karmapa, as does the 14th Dalai Lama and civil authorities in China.

Karma Pakshi, 2nd Karmapa Lama, prophesied that "future Karmapas shall manifest in two Nirmanakaya forms". Later, Rangjung Dorje, 3rd Karmapa Lama presented his principal student, Khedrup Drakpa Senge, a ruby-red crown that was an exact replica of his own Black Crown. The Karmapa explained that it symbolised their identical nature and so the lineage of the Shamarpas started. The 14th Shamarpa was recognised by Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa.

After having completed several days of teachings, the 14th Shamarpa died at the age of 61 Renchen, in Baden-Württemberg, on 11 June 2014 due to a sudden heart attack in the morning. “All beings, even the Buddha himself, must pass,” he told his followers just before his death. The government of Nepal granted a “no objection” letter to perform the traditional cremation at Rinpoche’s new Shar Minub monastery in Kathmandu. The government then reversed its decision. As a result of not being allowed in Nepal, the corpse was greeted by tens of thousands of people in Renchen-Ulm, Germany, majority Diamond Way students; then New Delhi and Kalimpong, India; and finally the Royal Palace in Bhutan, where Shamar Rinpoche had a close relationship with the royal family. The Nepalese government reversed their decision again, and the final cremation took place in Kathmandu.

Shamarpa looked after 800 traditional monasteries throughout Tibet and the Himalayas. In the West Shamarpa founded a retreat center in Virginia in 1996 as well as other Bodhi Path centers, nonsectarian and secular meditation groups. He wrote a book about reforming government corruption, and cared deeply about animals, founding the "Infinite Compassion Foundation" for humane and ethical treatment. In the book he proposes a government structure where decentralized power moves from small democratic village units up to state and federal structures, where lawmakers protect the natural environment, humans and animals alike.

In the 1980s the 14th Shamar Rinpoche established an education center for Tibetan exiles in Rumtek, the Nalanda Institute. He also founded an education center in Kalimpong and retreat center in Parphing. He also oversaw the construction of the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute, and ran the institute personally in its first years of inception.

In 1956 Shamar Rinpoche and his brother Lama Jigme Rinpoche went to Tsurphu, the seat of the Karmapas in Lhasa. The 4 year old Shamarpa showed special abilities, including recognizing a few monks from a previous life at Yangpachen monastery. With these special signs the 16th Karmapa asked the Dalai Lama to revoke the prohibition of the Sharmapa incarnations. (See Shamarpa#Controversy) Consent was given and private enthronement took place in 1958. His formal education took place at Rumtek and he received transmission initiations from the Karmapa and other Kagyu and Nyngma masters. In 1964 the Tibetan Government in Exile formally lifted the 170 year ban on the Shamarpa institution. Shamar Rinpoche was officially enthroned. After completing his studies in 1979 Sharmapa began his extensive teaching activity.

Mipham Chokyi Lodro (27 October 1952 – 11 June 2014), also known as Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, was the 14th Shamarpa of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Shamarpa is the second most important teacher of the Karma Kagyu school after the Karmapa. The Karmapas are sometimes referred to as the Black Hat Lamas, referring to their Black Crown.