Kagyu School | Tibetan Buddhism

Marpa Lotsawa | Kagyu

The Kagyu school, which translates to "Oral Lineage" or "Whispered Transmission" school, is one of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Kagyu lineages trace themselves back to the 11th century Indian Mahāsiddhas Nāropa, Maitrīpa and the yogini Niguma, via their student Marpa Lotsawa (1012–1097), who brought their teachings to Tibet. Tibetan Kagyu tradition gave rise to a large number of independent traditions.

Gampopa | Kagyu

Prior to endless aeons when Lord Gampopa was a Bodhisattva, he accumulated the immeasurable merits (accumulation of virtues and accumulation of insight) in the presence of many Buddhas. He received all the definitive teachings from Tathāgata Śākyamuni Buddha. Later then, by the name of the Jīvaka (Bhikṣu Physician) he was known to the people of Tibet. He lived with 500 perfect and imperfect disciples, receiving

HH Gyalwa Karmapa | Kagyu

Karmapa is the head Lama of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism since the XII century. The first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193) was a yogi from the Kham, a region in the eastern Tibet. He arrived to the monastery of Gampopa Sonam Rinchen (1079–1153), one of the most prominent Buddhist teachers of the time, a direct disciple of Milarepa, around 1140. Karmapa was first.

Barompa | Barom Kagyu

Barompa Darma Wangchug (b.1127 - d.1194). The boy took novice ordination in his 7th or 8th year and received the name by which he would from then on be known, Darma Wangchug. In 1153 Gampopa presented Darma Wangchug with a piece of gold and advised him to go and meditate at a hermitage in Barom. During his 7 year retreat in Barom the community grew

Lama Zhang | Tsalpa Kagyu

Zhang Yudrakpa Tsondru Drakpa (b.1123 - d.1193). Zhang Yudrakpa Tsondru Drakpa, also popularly known as Lama Zhang was born in 1123 at Tsawadru in the valley of the Lhasa River south of Lhasa. Lama Zhang later became the founder of the Tsalpa Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and a prominent religious figure, but his extensive involvement in the political and military conflicts of Tibet was

Origin of mantra Karmapa Chenno

Here I would like to share with you a story about the origins of Karmapa Chenno mantra. The Karmapa mantra has originated at the times of 8 th Karmapa Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554) in context of teaching about "Calling the Lama from afar." It is believed sounds of this mantra are directly connected with the enlightened mind of HH Karmapa and carry its enlightened qualities and

Tilopa's Mahamudra Song

This is the great Tilopa’ Mahamudra Song. Tilopa was a great Buddhist sage, living at the beginning of 11 th century (988–1069) in India and a very mythical person indeed. It is believed he has received Mahamudra teachings from primordial Buddha Vajradhara himself – the primordial essence of all things, the absolute Wisdom and Compassion. This Mahamudra Song he later transmitted to Naropa near the

Milarepa (c. 1052 – c. 1135 CE)

Outside the land of Tibet where the stories and songs of Milarepa (c. 1052 – c. 1135 CE) are very well-known and loved, far too little is known of this great Buddhist sage. The 60 songs of Milarepa, published here all concern that Dhamma which is common to the whole Buddhist tradition. Everyone who has read some of Lord Buddha's Discourses in the Pali Canon

Nāgārjuna | Life & Works

The Indian philosopher Nāgārjuna (c. 150 – c. 250 CE) is probably the single most important Buddhist philosopher. Nothing reliable is known about his life; modern scholars do not accept the traditional account whereby Nāgārjuna lived for some 600 years and became a Tantric wonderworker (siddha), although it is believed that Nāgārjuna was the teacher of Āryadeva. There is a number of works attributed to

Tibetan Book of the Dead

Tibetan Book of the Dead or otherwise known as Bardo Thödol, here you can read online full text of this very important book, written in the environment of Tibetan Buddhism - what expects you, your close ones and everyone else in the after-death state of transference of Consciousness-principle from this material plane of existence to the after-death state, what happens, what you should know and

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