Dagpo Kagyu
Encyclopedia
Dagpo Kagyu encompases all the branches of the Kagyu
school of Tibetan Buddhism which trace their lineage back through Gampopa
(1079-1153) who was also known as Dagpo Lhaje ("the Physician from Dagpo") and as Nyamed Dakpo Rinpoche or the "Incomparible Precious One from Dagpo". All the institutional branches of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism surviving today including the Drikung Kagyu
, Drukpa Kagyu and the Karma Kagyu
are branches of the Dagpo Kagyu.
Narrowly, the term Dagpo Kagyu is sometimes used to refer specifically to the lineage of Gampopa's own monastery of Dagla Gampo. This lineage passed from Gampopa to his own nephew Dagpo Gomtsul. Dagpo Tashi Namgyal (1511-1587) was an important lama in this lineage.
or their immediate successors.
Yeshe Dorje (1161–1211). His fifth incarnation and eighteenth hereditary lineage holder, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594–1651), founded the state of Bhutan
and established the Southern Drukpa Kagyu as its state religion.
, Drikung Kagyu
and the Drukpa Kagyu. For the most part, the teachings and main esoteric transmissions of the other Dagpo Kagyu lineages have been absorbed into one or another of these three independent schools.
Kagyu
The Kagyu, Kagyupa, or Kagyud school, also known as the "Oral Lineage" or Whispered Transmission school, is today regarded as one of six main schools of Himalayan or Tibetan Buddhism, the other five being the Nyingma, Sakya, Jonang, Bon and Gelug...
school of Tibetan Buddhism which trace their lineage back through Gampopa
Gampopa
Gampopa Sonam Rinchen "Sonam Rinchen from Gampo" — who was equally well known in Tibet as Dagpo Lhaje , Nyamed Dakpo Rinpoche , and Da'od Zhonnu , — establishedthe Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism today, as an...
(1079-1153) who was also known as Dagpo Lhaje ("the Physician from Dagpo") and as Nyamed Dakpo Rinpoche or the "Incomparible Precious One from Dagpo". All the institutional branches of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism surviving today including the Drikung Kagyu
Drikung Kagyu
Drikung Kagyu or Drigung Kagyu is one of the eight "minor" lineages of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. "Major" here refers to those Kagyu lineages founded by the immediate disciples of Gampopa while "minor" refers to all the lineages founded by disciples of Phakmo Drupa , one of the three...
, Drukpa Kagyu and the Karma Kagyu
Karma Kagyu
Karma Kagyu , or Kamtsang Kagyu, is probably the largest and certainly the most widely practiced lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in Tibet, China, Russia, Mongolia, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and current...
are branches of the Dagpo Kagyu.
Narrowly, the term Dagpo Kagyu is sometimes used to refer specifically to the lineage of Gampopa's own monastery of Dagla Gampo. This lineage passed from Gampopa to his own nephew Dagpo Gomtsul. Dagpo Tashi Namgyal (1511-1587) was an important lama in this lineage.
Dagpo Kagyu Lineages
Following Gampopa's teachings, there evolved the so-called "Four Primary and Eight Secondary" lineages of the Dagpo Kagyu School.The four primary sub-schools of the Dagpo Kagyu
- Tshalpa Kagyu founded by Zhang Yudrakpa Tsöndru DrakpaZhang Yudrakpa Tsöndru DrakpaZhang Yudrakpa Tsöndru Drakpa [1122-93] , also known as Gungtang Lama Zhang and popularly simply as “Lama Zhang,” was the founder of the Tshalpa Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism...
- Karma Kamtsang or Karma KagyuKarma KagyuKarma Kagyu , or Kamtsang Kagyu, is probably the largest and certainly the most widely practiced lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in Tibet, China, Russia, Mongolia, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and current...
founded by the first KarmapaKarmapaThe Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa , itself one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism....
, Düsum KhyenpaDüsum KhyenpaDüsum Khyenpa was the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.Düsum Khyenpa literally means "Knower of the Three times"...
. - Barom Kagyu founded by Barompa Darma Wangchug
- Phagdru Kagyu founded by Phagmo Drupa Dorje GyalpoPhagmo Drupa Dorje GyalpoPhagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo [1110-1170], was one the three main disciples of Gampopa Sonam Rinchen who established the Dagpo Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism; and a disciple of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo [1092-1158] one of the founders of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism...
(1110-1170)
The eight secondary sub-schools of the Dagpo Kagyu
The eight secondary lineages (zung bzhi ya brgyad or chung brgyad) of the Dagpo Kagyu all branched from the Phagdru Kagyu tradition and were founded by senior disciples of Phagmo Drupa Dorje GyalpoPhagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo
Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo [1110-1170], was one the three main disciples of Gampopa Sonam Rinchen who established the Dagpo Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism; and a disciple of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo [1092-1158] one of the founders of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism...
or their immediate successors.
- Drikung KagyuDrikung KagyuDrikung Kagyu or Drigung Kagyu is one of the eight "minor" lineages of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. "Major" here refers to those Kagyu lineages founded by the immediate disciples of Gampopa while "minor" refers to all the lineages founded by disciples of Phakmo Drupa , one of the three...
founded by Drigung Kyobpa Jikten Gönpo Rinchen Päl (1143-1217) - Lingre Kagyu founded by Lingrepa Pema Dorje (1128-1188)
- Martsang Kagyu founded by Marpa Drupthob Sherab Yeshe who established Sho Monastery (ཤོ་དགོན) in E. Tibet.
- Shugseb Kagyu -
- Taklung KagyuTaklung KagyuThe Taklung Kagyu is a sub-sect of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.-History:The Taklung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by the Dharma Lord Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal in 1180 AD. He was the first lineage holder of this tradition...
founded by Taklung Tangpa Tashi PalTaklung Thangpa Tashi PalTaklung Thangpa Tashi Pal is the Founder of the Taklung Kagyu lineage.The Taklung Kagyu lineage remains unbroken to this day.Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal founded the Taklung Yarthang Monastery....
(1142-1210). - Trophu Kagyu established by Gyal Tsha Rinchen Gon (1118-1195) and Kunden Repa (1148-1217). The tradition was developed by their nephew, Thropu Lotsawa.
- Yabzang Kagyu
- Yelpa Kagyu was established by Drubthob Yeshe Tsegpa.
The Drukpa Kagyu
The Drukpa Kagyu, often enumerated outside the four primary and eight secondary sub-schools, was founded by Ling Repa's disciple Drogon Tsangpa GyareTsangpa Gyare
The great ascetic Drogon Tsangpa Gyare was the main disciple of Lingchen Repa Pema Dorj and the founder of the Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism the main or central branch of which was, until the 17th Century, transmitted by his hereditary family lineage at Ralung in the Tsang region of western...
Yeshe Dorje (1161–1211). His fifth incarnation and eighteenth hereditary lineage holder, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594–1651), founded the state of Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and established the Southern Drukpa Kagyu as its state religion.
Dagpo Kagyu Lineages Today
The principle Dagpo Kagyu lineages existing today as organized schools are the Karma KagyuKarma Kagyu
Karma Kagyu , or Kamtsang Kagyu, is probably the largest and certainly the most widely practiced lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in Tibet, China, Russia, Mongolia, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and current...
, Drikung Kagyu
Drikung Kagyu
Drikung Kagyu or Drigung Kagyu is one of the eight "minor" lineages of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. "Major" here refers to those Kagyu lineages founded by the immediate disciples of Gampopa while "minor" refers to all the lineages founded by disciples of Phakmo Drupa , one of the three...
and the Drukpa Kagyu. For the most part, the teachings and main esoteric transmissions of the other Dagpo Kagyu lineages have been absorbed into one or another of these three independent schools.