Kagyü

Kagyü (Wyl. bka' brgyud) — one of the four main traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The most important source of the Kagyü lineage (which literally means 'Lineage of the Oral Tradition') is traced back to the great Indian yogin Tilopa (988-1069) and one of his main disciples Naropa (1016-1100?). This lineage of teachings and practice was brought to Tibet, translated, and further spread by Marpa Lotsawa (1012-1097), who in turn empowered one of his main disciples, Milarepa (1040-1123)—considered to be the founder of the Kagyüpa school, called Drupgyü (Wyl. sgrub brgyud) at that time—with the continuation of the lineage.

Milarepa's main disciple, Gampopa, aka Dakpo Lharjé (1079-1173), brought together the Drupgyü and Kadampa lineages, thus founding the Dakpo Kagyü school. This lineage was later subdivided into four schools by his four main disciples.

Sub-schools

Four Major Schools of the Dakpo Kagyü

• Karma Kagyü, also known as Kamtsang Kagyü, founded by Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193), later designated the first Karmapa
• Barom Kagyü, founded by Barompa Darma Wangchug (1127-1199)
• Tsalpa Kagyü, founded by Zangyu Dragpa Darma Drag (Zhang Rinpoche) (1123-1194)
• Pagdru Kagyü, founded by Pakmodrupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110-1170), which splintered into eight sub-schools as follows:

Eight Pagdru Kagyü Sub-schools

• Drikung Kagyü, included the Lhapa sect, builders of the earliest dzongs in Bhutan, later eclipsed by the Drukpa
• Drukpa Kagyü
• Taklung Kagyü
• Mar Kagyü
• Shugseb Kagyü
• Trophu Kagyü
• Yamzang Kagyü
• Yelpa Kagyü

Today, only the first three of these eight Pagdru Kagyü sub-schools remain; these three are also the closest to the Nyingma school, sharing a large number of transmissions.

Note: the Shangpa Kagyü school, although very similar to the Dakpo Kagyü school, is different in its Indian origins and practices. However, during the nineteenth century, these two lineages merged into one: the Dashang Kagyü lineage.