KAGYU

The Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism

The most important source of the Kagyu order is traced back to the great Indian yogi Tilopa (988-1069), one of the 84 mahasiddhas of India, who first developed the spontaneous insight. He gained this realization through the methods that were taught by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni to his closest students, methods that continued to be practiced during the time of Tilopa. In turn, the realization or these masters was passed down to their disciples through the great forefathers of the lineage: Indian mahasiddha Naropa, Marpa-the great translator (1012-1097), Milarepa-the greatest yogi of Tibet, and then to Gampopa-whose coming was prophesied by the Buddha.