When the 16th Karmapa passed away in 1981, the 14th Shamarpa shouldered all the responsibility, upholding and preserving the legacy of the Karma Kagyud Lineage.  Due to his faithful devotion, he continued to fulfill the important missions of the late 16th Karmapa, including the project in New Delhi known as the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI), as well as the printing of the Tengyur texts for free distribution to all the Tibetan monasteries. The 14th Shamarpa is also known to have played an important role in restoring the Yangpachen monastery in Tibet and the Shri Diwakar Vihara in Kalimpong for the benefit of the Sangha. He instructed the monks of the lineage to uphold and observe their Vinaya discipline, Mahayana and Samaya vows. He also initiated the project of in Shar Minub Retreat Centre, providing a conducive and peaceful environment for the Sangha to engage in retreat.

On March 1994, the 14th Shamarpa recognized the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa in KIBI, giving him the name of Trinley (meaning Buddha activity) Thaye (meaning limitless) Dorje (meaning unchanging), as well as empowerments, oral transmissions and instructions of the entire Karma Kagyud lineage and Mahamudra teachings. 

Very much akin to the Western way of life, the 14th Shamarpa’s life is dedicated to developing pragmatic ways to improve the global understanding of the main Buddhist truth such as appreciating the precious human life which is for sure not given for ever, thinking about our own responsibilities in the chain of cause and effect we all create every day, knowing how to tame our mind through meditation, especially when it develops thoughts and actions causing more suffering. The 14th Shamarpa’s vast dharma activities include establishing many Bodhipath Centres all over the world.

In 1979, the 14th Shamarpa visited Singapore in 1979 and under his encouragement and advice, a protem committee was formed in preparation for the founding of Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre in Singapore.  In 1982, the 14th Shamarpa requested the 2nd Shangpa Rinpoche, to be based in Singapore be their spiritual advisor.

Shamarpa is concerned about the well-being of all sentient beings including animals and has created the “Infinite Compassion Foundation” for the sake of their protection.

The 14th Shamarpa passed away on 11 June 2014 at Renchen Ulm, Germany. He left his body after 3 days in a meditative state, on the full moon day of Vesak; an auspicious day in which Buddha was born, gained enlightenment and passed into parinirvana.  Many auspicious signs appeared on this day, such as colourful rainbows around the sun and moon, beautiful vivid rainbows visible in many places, which inspired tens of thousands of his disciples and practitioners.

The beneficial activities of the 14th Shamarpa are vast and beyond the sky limits. He had unmistakably and beautifully fulfilled his noble missions as prophesized by the great compassionate ones, in his capacity as the Red Hat Shamarpa, the second incarnation of the Black Hat Karmapa, the supreme head and lineage holder of the precious golden lineage.