The eleventh Karmapa, Yeshe Dorje (1676-1702), was born at Maysho in east Tibet. Once identified by Shamar Yeshe Nyingpo, he was taken to his monastery of Yangchen in central Tibet before being enthroned at the monastery of Tsurphu, one of the Karmapa's three principal seats in Tibet.

Not only did Shamarpa give him the Kagyu teachings, but Yongay Mingur Dorje and Taksham Nuden Dorje also gave him Tercho teachings, which originated with Padmasambhava, the Indian master - thereby fulfilling a prophecy of Phamasambhava's, recorded in the scriptures, to the effect that the eleventh Karmapa would hold certain Tercho lineages.

Yeshe Dorje also located and identified the eighth Shamarpa, Paichen Chokyi Dondrub, who became his close student and next lineage holder.