This practice text was composed by the great terton Mingyur Dorje, who had a vision of the Second Karmapa Karma Pakshi as the embodiment of all the gurus, yidams, dakas, dakinis and Dharma protectors — the single source of the Three Jewels and the Three Roots. Later other masters, like the Fourteenth Karmapa Tekchok Dorje or Palden Khyentse Özer, the Second Jamgön Rinpoche, added the ritual parts and supplications to create a complete sadhana used nowadays.

The Karma Pakshi Guru Sadhana is a complete yidam practice text, with Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche, a short ganachakra and torma offering. If instructed by the guru, some practitioners could use it daily or during meditation retreats. It is also often practiced during ganachakra gatherings at Kagyu monasteries and centers, because of its ability to bring quick blessings and siddhis.

As Gyalwang Karmapa wrote in his introduction:

While practicing the wisdom protector Bernakchen, the vidhyadhara Mingyur Dorje had a vision from which this practice originated of the mahasiddha Karma Pakshi in the middle as the principle deity surrounded by the mandala of the five oceans of the Great Compassionate One. By practicing this:

He magnetized the yidam and gained power over appearance and existence,
Subdued the arrogance of Mongolians, non-Buddhists, and kings,
And conquered the power of fire, water, poison, weapons, and the elements.
I supplicate Karma Pakshi.

This is praised as the greatest for receiving the blessings of the Jewels and dispelling obstacles of ghosts, döns, and spirits.

The sadhana should be used with care and only by those who received the appropriate empowerment, transmission and instructions from a qualified lama.