| 1 | Düsum Khyenpa | 1110-1193 | The first Karmapa made predictions about future Karmapas. In particular, he was the first Karmapa to present a prediction letter, detailing his future incarnation. |
| 2 | Karma Pakshi | 1204-1283 | The second Karmapa spent much of the first half of his life in meditation retreat. He is famous for having introduced the melodious chanting of the Om Mani Padme Hung, the mantra of compassion, to the Tibetan people. |
| 3 | Rangjung Dorje | 1284-1339 | The third Karmapa learned and mastered nearly all of the Buddhist teachings brought to Tibet from India. |
| 4 | Rolpe Dorje | 1340-1383 | The third Karmapa composed many wonderful dohas, or songs of realization. |
| 5 | Deshin Shekpa | 1384-1415 | The Fifth Karmapa is said to have manifested 100 days of miracles in response to the extraordinary devotion of the Emperor of China. |
| 6 | Thongwa Dönden | 1416-1453 | The Sixth Karmapa is well-known for the body of liturgies he composed for the Kamtsang lineage, and for joining Chöd ("cutting through egotism") into the main Kagyu lineage transmissions. |
| 7 | Chödrak Gyatso | 1454-1506 | The seventh Karmapa dedicated much of his life to retreat, and is known for his text The Ocean Of Reasoning. |
| 8 | Mikyö Dorje | 1507-1554 | The Eighth Karmapa realized the activity of the Karmapas and Guru Rinpoche as the activity-aspect of all thousand Buddhas of our universe. |
| 9 | Wangchuk Dorje | 1556-1603 | The Ninth Karmapa wrote three mahamudra treatises which have played a major role on the teaching and transmission of mahamudra. |
| 10 | Chöying Dorje | 1604-1674 | The Tenth Karmapa anticipated the disturbances in central Tibet and traveled, living more than three years in the wilds of Bhutan, and then going to what is today northern Yunnan, Burma and Nepal. |
| 11 | Yeshe Dorje | 1676-1702 | The Eleventh Karmapa blended both the Kagyu and Nyingma teachings. |
| 12 | Changchub Dorje | 1703-1732 | The Twelfth Karmapa made pilgrimage to the sacred places of the Buddha in India and Nepal. |
| 13 | Dudul Dorje | 1733-1797 | The thirteenth Karmapa consecrated a distant monastery by throwing blessing grains in the air which showered down from the heavens at the monastery hundreds of kilometres away. |
| 14 | Thekchok Dorje | 1798-1868 | The Fourteenth Karmapa lived very simply and exemplified the ideal monk. |
| 15 | Khakhyap Dorje | 1871-1922 | The fifteenth Karmapa was the first Karmapa to get married, and had three sons, one of whom was recognized as the second Jamgon Kongtrul Palden Khyentse Öser. His life exemplified the bodhisattva with an insatiable desire for learning in order to help sentient beings. |
| 16 | Rangjung Rikpe Dorje | 1923-1981 | The Sixteenth Karmapa oversaw the establishment of his exile seat in Rumtek, and visited North America and Europe. |
| 17 | Orgyen Trinley Dorje | 1985- |