March 9, 2018

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, and his beloved wife Sangyumla, are delighted to share the joyous news that they are expecting their first child.

As with the announcement of Karmapa’s marriage last year, Karmapa hopes that this news will greatly benefit the Karma Kagyu lineage and the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Both Sangyumla and the baby are in good health. The due date is during the first week of September.

The 15th Karmapa, Khakyab Dorje, was also a father, and had three sons, two of whom he recognised as reincarnate masters – the second Jamgon Kongtrul and the twelfth Shamarpa, Tugsey Jamyang.

Karmapa says,

My heart is filled with joy. Sangyumla and I have a precious opportunity and responsibility to be parents, and follow the great examples of our own mothers and fathers. We also wish to express our heartfelt appreciation for all of you. We have received thousands of messages of support since our marriage announcement last year. Sangyumla tells me that she feels blessed and welcomed into our global family, and I have every confidence that you will offer the same loving kindness for our baby. My role as Karmapa continues as ever, and is somehow now imbued with even more purpose, more responsibility and more compassion. I have a strong feeling that this baby will be a special addition to our Karma Kagyu family. As the third Karmapa to marry, and the second to become a father, I trust that all of my decisions may benefit our precious lineage, and all sentient beings, now and for generations to come.

Read the press release.