Drukpa Kagyu

Drukpa ('brug pa)
The Drukpa Kagyu lineage (’brug pa) was established by Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje (gtsang pa rgya ras ye shes rdo rje), (1161-1211) the main disciple of Lingje Repa Pema Dorje (gling rje ras pa padma rdo rje), (1128-1188). As with some of the other Kagyu schools, a number of sub-sects arose within the Drukpa Kagyu lineage. There are the Upper Drukpa (stod ‘brug) lineage, established by Götsangpa Gönpo Dorje (rgod gtsang pa mgon po rdo rje), (1189-1258); the Middle Drukpa (bar druk) lineage, established by Tsangpa Gyare's nephew Dharma Senge Sangye On (dhar ma seng ge sangs rgya ’on 1177-1237); and the the Lower Drukpa (smad 'brug), established by Lorepa Wangchuk Tsöndru (lo ras pa dbang phyug brtson ’grus, 1187-1250); From these these branches further sub-sects came into being, such as the Barawa Kagyu lineage ('ba' ra dkar brgyud). Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (zhabs drung ngag dbang rnam rgyal) (1594-1651), who was the hereditary lineage holder of the Middle Drukpa seat of Ralung and one of the two incarnations of the 4th Drukchen Pema Karpo, went to Bhutan and established his lineage there which became known as the Southern Drukpa. He was the first to unify Bhutan and became the founder of the Kingdom of Bhutan as we know it today.

Some of the most famous masters of the school were the yogi Drukpa Kunleg (’brug pa kun legs), (1455-1529), a disciple of the 2nd Gyalwang Drugpa Kunga Paljor (rgyal dbang ’brug chen kun dga’ dpal ’byor), (1428-1476), and the 4th Gyalwang Drukpa Pema Karpo (kun mkhyen pad ma dkar po), (1527-1592), an exceptional scholar, realised master and great historian.