The Karma Kagyu Lineage

Lord Marpa

 The Kagyu lineage originated with the great Indian mahasiddha Tilopa who lived around the 10th century AD. Tilopa is said to be self-realized as he received the highest teachings of the nature of mind directly from Vajradhara, the enlightened mind of the Buddha himself.

These teachings were passed from Tilopa to the Indian mahasiddha Naropa, were systematized as the six yogas of Naropa and are considered root practices of the Kagyu Lineage. Naropa transmitted his knowledge to the great Tibetan master Marpa Lotsawa, "the translator," who journeyed to India three times in order to receive instructions from the Indian mahasiddhas. Marpa also received the mahamudra teachings from the mahasiddha Maitripa, and joined the teachings of the six yogas of Naropa and mahamudra into one lineage. Thereafter, Marpa returned to Tibet where he widely spread the Dharma and is considered to be the father of the Kagyu lineage or "New Translation School

Marpa's supreme disciple Milarepa became known as Tibet's greatest poet and was one of its most beloved yogis. Through perseverance in the practice of mahamudra and the six yogas of Naropa, Milarepa achieved enlightenment, the profound realization of the ultimate nature of reality.
Milarepa's transmission was continued by his most eminent student Gampopa, the physician from Dhagpo. Gampopa first studied the Kadampa tradition, the gradual path of mahayana mind training. Under Milarepa's guidance, Gampopa attained realization of the ultimate nature of reality. Gampopa established monastic institutions, taught extensively and attracted many students.

Four of his disciples founded the four major Schools of the Kagyu lineage: Babrom Dharma Wangchuk founded the Babrom Kagyu, Pagdru Dorje Gyalpo founded the Pagdru Kagyu, Shang Tsalpa Tsondru Drag founded the Shangpa Kagyu, and the 1st Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa founded the Kamtsang Kagyu, also known as the Karma Kagyu school.

The eight minor Kagyu lineages originated with Pagdru Dorje Gyalpo's eight main disciples. These eight lineages are: Taglung, Trophu, Drukpa, Martsang, Yerpa, Yazang, Shugseb and Drikung Kagyu.