17 Karmapas' History:

• The First Karmapa
  Dusum Khyenpa (1100-1193)
• The Second Karmapa
  Karma Pakshi (1204-1283)
• The Third Karmapa
  Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339)
• The Fourth Karmapa
  Rolpe Dorje (1340-1383)
• The Fifth Karmapa
  Dezhin Shekpa (1384-1415)
• The Sixth Karmapa
  Thongwa Donden (1416-1453)
• The Seventh Karmapa
  Chodrak Gyatso (1454-1506)
• The Eighth Karmapa
  Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)
• The Ninth Karmapa
  Wangchuk Dorje (1556-1603)
• The Tenth Karmapa
  Choying Dorje (1604-1674)
• The Eleventh Karmapa
  Yeshe Dorje (1676-1702)
• The Twelfth Karmapa
  Changchub Dorje (1703-1732)
• The Thirteenth Karmapa
  Dudul Dorje (1733-1797)
• The Fourteenth Karmapa
  Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868)
• The Fifteenth Karmapa
  Khakhyab Dorje (1871-1922)
• The Sixteenth Karmapa
  Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981)
• The Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa
  Ogyen Trinley Dorje (1985-Present)

The Eighth Karmapa Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)

• Born in a small village named Satam in eastern Tibet.
• Spoke "I am the Karmapa" at birth and was confirmed to be the new Karmapa by Tai Situpa.
• When he was five, a child from Amdo was put forward as the Karmapa. To investigate the two children the Karmapa's regent, Gyaltsap Rinpoche, was set out from Tsurphu.
• On meeting with Mikyo Dorje, Gyaltsap Rinpoche found himself spontaneously prostrating and knew that he was the real Karmapa. Nevertheless, Mikyo Dorje passed all the test given by Tai Situpa and Gyaltsap Rinpoche and other students of previous Karmapa.
• He took the essential Kagyu teachings from Sangye Nyenpa Tashi Paljor.
• At the very young age, Karmapa declined an invitation to China because he predicted the emperor would pass away before he could arrive; and the prediction turned out to be true.
• Mikyo Dorje was one of the most renowned of the Karmapas, a great meditation master, a prolific scholar, and a author of over thirty volume of work.
• Through many visions, Mikyo Dorje realized that the manifestations of the Karmapa and Guru Rinpoche are inseparable.
• Foreseeing his imminent passing, Mikyo Dorje entrusted a prediction letter to Shamar Knochok Yenlak and entered parinirvana at the age of forty-seven.