Over twenty-five centuries ago, the Buddha Shakyamuni demonstrated to us that enlightenment is possible for every sentient being. He did this by appearing on earth as Prince Siddhartha, who left worldly royal life in order to accomplish Buddhahood. After achieving realization, the Buddha taught the path that ends suffering and benefits others.
Buddha Shakyamuni predicted that Tibet would be protected by the Bodhisattva of Compassion Chenrezi. Many of the Kings of Tibet, along with great masters such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Gyalwa Karmapa, are considered to be direct incarnations of this Bodhisattva.
In the 9th Century C.E., at the invitation of King Trisong Detsen, the master Guru Padmasambhava firmly planted the teachings of the Buddha in Tibet. In the centuries that followed, the various transmissions of Buddhism were brought to Tibet. These were collected into four main lineages: the Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelugpa. Mahasiddha Tilopa, the teacher of Naropa, is often referred to as the first holder of the Kagyu tradition because he brought together the transmissions from various masters and accomplished enlightenment, seeing directly "the face" of the Buddha Dorje Chang. The teachings of the Kagyu lineage were brought from India to Tibet by Marpa Lotsawa, who courageously went to India three times to receive the transmission of the lineage from Naropa and Maitripa. Although Marpa was a layman, he accomplished complete realization. Marpa Lotsawa passed down this profound tradition
to Jetsun Milarepa. Jetsun Mila is renown as a wandering sage whose
songs of realization are still in the hearts of the Tibetan people today.
Milarepa passed down the Kagyu lineage to Je Gampopa, who integrated
the code of monastic discipline and the Kadampa tradition of gradual
studies and mind training with the mainstream Kagyu lineage.
One of Gampopa's foremost disciples was Dusum Khyenpa, the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa. The Gyalwa Karmapa's foremost disciple was Drogon Rechen, a past incarnation of the Tai Situ Rinpoche. Since that time, the Gyalwa Karmapa and Tai Situpa have been the main holders of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Just like a rosary without any missing links, the Kagyu lineage has been passed down through an unbroken chain of masters and disciples.
Integrating the Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism paths, Kagyu practices can bring realization to the practitioner in a single lifetime. Mahamudra, known as the Great Seal or Gesture, is the meditation which brings forth the fruition of enlightenment in Kagyu practice. The Six Yogas of Naropa and the completion of three-year meditation retreats, usually accompanied by intensive study in monastic colleges (shedras), are core practices of the Kagyu lineage. The Mahayana Buddhist Nunnery was founded by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, and is located in the same town where Tilopa demonstrated complete realization after pounding sesame seeds. The Nunnery is presently under the overall guidance of Tai Situ Rinpoche.
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