Karma Kagyü

Karma Kagyü (Wyl. karma bka' brgyud) - the largest branch of the Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Kamtsang Kagyü. This school was founded by Düsum Khyenpa, the first Karmapa, during the twelfth century. He also built its first monastery and official seat, the Tsurpu Monastery in 1189; since then, and up until their recent exile to India, the successive incarnations of the Karmapa have kept residence there. Apart from the Karmapas, the Karma Kagyü school has other lines of incarnations, such as the Tai Situ and Shamar lineages of tülkus.