A short History of the Karma Kagyu Buddhist lineage and the Gyalwa Karmapas

The Kagyu Lineage of the Karmapas is one the four well-known schools of Buddhism from Tibet (Sakya, Nyingma, Kagyu and Gelug). The lineage originated with the great yogi Tilopa who lived in Northern India around the 10th century A.D. Tilopa received special transmissions from the celebrated Buddhist masters Nagarjuna, Charyapa, Nakpopa and Lawapa and mastered all of them. These teachings were passed on from Tilopa to his student Naropa. These “Six Yogas of Naropa” are the principal theme in the Kagyu Lineage. Naropa transmitted his knowledge to Marpa. Marpa’s student, Milarepa, became one of Tibet's great yogis. Milarepa’s foremost disciple Gampopa carried on his transmission.

One of Gampopa’s most prominent students was Dusum Khyenpa. It was, Dusum Khyenpa, the first Karmapa, who received the complete Mahamudra transmission from Gampopa. It is said that he was able to realize and master the teachings, which took Naropa 12 years to receive, in only 9 days. Dusum Khyenpa was also connected with Milarepa by receiving teachings from Rechungpa and other students of Milarepa. Prophesied by Lord Buddha in both the Lankavatara Sutra and the Samadhi Raja Sutra, this great meditation master went to Kampo Kangra to practice Mahamudra and gained Enlightenment at the age of 50. His liberation was celebrated by the dakinis who made him a gift of a crown made from their hair. This black crown is said to always be present above the heads of all the Karmapas, though only visible to those with exceptional insight.

Almost ten years after the passing of the first Karmapa, in the year 1204, a child was born in Chilay Tsakto in Eastern Tibet. Astonishing many people by claiming to be Dusum Khyenpa, the first Karmapa, this child prodigy was soon recognized by Pomdragpa Sonam Dorje, who had been told by a vision of Dusum Khyenpa that this boy would become the next Karma Kagyu lineage holder. Thus, Karma Pakshi, the second Karmapa, became Tibet’s first reincarnate lama (Tib. Tulku Skt. Nirmanakaya) starting a long tradition that continues today in all four schools of Vajrayana Buddhism. These Successions of enlightened beings, considered to be emanations of Avolikitisvara, have been the lineage holders of the Karma Kagyu to the present day.