Vima Nyingtig

Kagyu School (bka' brgyud)

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This tradition was introduced to Tibet by the great Lotsawa Marpa and his student Milarepa. Milarepa's student Gampopa later fused the teachings of Marpa with teachings he had received in the Kadam lineage of Atisha. The lineages stemming from Gampopa came to be known as the Dakpo Kagyu. The Dakpo Kagyu developed into the so-called four greater and eight smaller Kagyu schools. The "four greater" lineages were established by direct disciples of Je Gampopa and his nephew and dharma heir Dakpo Gomtsul Tsultrim Nyingpo (1116-1169), while the "eight smaller" ones were founded by students of Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110-1170), one of the four main students of Gampopa.

A second tradition of Kagyu teachings was brought to Tibet by Khyungpo Naljor. This lineage is referred to as the Shangpa Kagyu.

The Four Greater Kagyu lineages:

The kam tshang or karma bka' brgyud founded by the 1st Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193), the 'ba' rom bka' brgyud founded by Darma Wangchuk (1127-1199), the tshal pa bka' brgyud founded by Zhang Yudragpa Tsöndrü Drakpa (1123-1193), and the phag gru bka' brgyud founded by Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110-1170).

The Eight Smaller Kagyu lineages:

The 'bri gung bka' brgyud founded by Drigung Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön (1143-1217), stag lung bka' brgyud founded by Taglung Thangpa Tashi Pal (1142-1210), khro phu bka' brgyud founded by Gyal Tsha Rinchen Gön (1118-1195) and Kunden Repa (1148-1217), 'brug pa bka' brgyud founded by Lingje Repa Pema Dorje (1128-1188) and Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje (1161-1211), smar pa bka' brgyud founded by Marpa Drubthob Sherab Senge (no dates available), yel pa bka' brgyud founded by Drubthob Yeshe Tsegpa (born 1143), g.ya' bzang bka' brgyud founded by Sharawa Kalden Yeshe Senge (died 1207) and shug gseb bka' brgyud founded by Gyergom Chenpo Zhönnu Drakpa (1090-1171)

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Lineages

• Vajradhara
  
• Tilopa
  
• Naropa
  
• Marpa
  
• Milarepa
  
• Gampopa & Rechungpa
  

• From Gampopa, numerous lineage arose. These are commonly referred to as the Dakpo Kagyu, which includes the Four Great Kagyu Lineages:
  • Karma Kagyu
  • Tsalpa Kagyu
  • Barom Kagyu
  • Pagtru Kagyu - & the Eight Lesser Kagyu Lineages, which were created by the students of Phagmo Drupa:
    • Taglung Kagyu
    • Trophu Kagyu
    • Drukpa Kagyu
    • Martsang Kagyu
    • Yerpa Kagyu
    • Yazang Kagyu
    • Shugseb Kagyu
    • Drikung Kagyu

• A separate lineage was introduced by Khyungpo Naljor, known as the Shangpa Kagyu:

Teachings

• Six Yogas of Naropa
  
• Mahamudra
  
• Vajrayogini
  
• Chakrasamvara
  

Alternate Names & Spellings

• Kagyud
  
• Kagyudpa
  
• Kagyupa