His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu, one of the major Tibetan Buddhist schools. The Karmapas are Tibet's great wisdom teachers and the oldest lineage in Tibetan Buddhism. The 17th Karmapa's dramatic escape to India in 1999 and his current mission to be of benefit to people of all cultures have propelled him onto the world stage. In 2008, he made his historic first visit to America. The 17th Karmapa currently resides at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, near Dharamsala, India.