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A Brief Introduction to the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism
originated with the great yogi Tilopa, who lived in Northern India around
the 10th century A.D. He is considered the founder of the lineage and, in
addition, he received four special transmissions (Tib: bka-babs-bzhi) for
which he became the lineage holder.
Although there is some discrepancy in historical sources regarding the
identities of the yoga masters associated with each of the four
transmissions, the most common consensus indicates that their origins are
as follows: the first of the four came from Lopon Ludrub (Tib:
slob-dpon-klu-sgrub, Skt: Acarya Nagarjuna) and consists of two tantras,
the "Sangwa Dupa" Tantra (Tib: gsang-ba-dus-pa, Skt: Guhasamaja) and
the tantra called "Denshi" (gden bzhi). This transmission also incorporates
the practices called "Illusory Body" (Tib: sgyu-lus, Skt: Mayadeva) and
"Transference" (Tib: pho-ba, Skt: Samkranti). The second special
transmission came from Nakpo Chopa (nag-po-spyod-pa). It includes the
tantra called "Gyuma Chenpo" (Tib: sgyu-ma-chen-po, Skt: Mahamaya) and
the practice called "Conscious Dreaming" (Tib: rmi-lam, Skt: Svapna). The
third special transmission came from Lawapa (la-ba-pa) and is called
"Demchok" or, alternatively, "Korlo Dongpa" (Tib: bde-mchog,
khor-lo-sdompa, Skt: Chakrasamvara), and the practice called "Clear Light"
(Tib: odgsal, Skt: Prabhasvara). The fourth was transmitted from Khandro
Kalpa Sangmo (mkha-gro-bskal-pa-bzangmo) and includes the tantra
known as "Gyepa Dorje" (Tib: dgyes-pa-rdo-rje, Skt: Hevajra) and the
practice called "Tumo" (Tib: gtum-mo, Skt: Candali).
These teachings were passed from Tilopa to the yogi Naropa and were
systematized as the "Six Yogas of Naropa," meditations that are
considered a central teaching of the Kagyu Lineage. Based on several
textual references, it seems that Naropa was born in 956 A.D.. He
transmitted his knowledge to Marpa (born in 1000), the great translator,
who journeyed from Tibet to India in order to receive instructions and who
subsequently returned to Tibet and spread the teachings of the Dharma
widely.
Marpa's student Jetsun Milarepa, born in 1033, became one of Tibet's
great yogis. His life story, beginning with difficult circumstances due to his
father's early death, his vengeance upon his dishonest aunt and uncle,
and his subsequent regret which led to an earnest desire to learn the way
of the Dharma, is widely known among Tibetan people. Through his
perseverance and ability to accept all circumstances which he met, he
achieved profound realization of the ultimate nature of reality. His
teachings are recorded in the 100,000 songs of Milarepa and other
collections.
Milarepa's teachings were carried on by Gampopa (born in 1079), also
known as Dakpo Lhaje, the physician from Dakpo. He first studied under
the Kadampa tradition, which is a gradual and systematic path that
includes the Lam Rim teachings. At a later age, he met Milarepa and
practicing under him received and realized the true meaning of the
complete teachings. Since that time, the lineage has been known as the
Dakpo Kagyu and includes many sub-sects.
The Drikung Kagyu Lineage is one of the Kagyu lineages, which was
founded 852 years ago, by the great spiritual master, Kyobpa Jigten
Sumgon.
Although PhagmoDrupa had hundreds of thousands of disciples, Lord
Jigten Sumgon was one of his closest and chief disciples. PhagmoDrupa
prophesied that a Bodhisattva, (Jigten Sumgon), who already attained the
ten Bhumis, would carry on the teachings and blessings. Jigten Sumgon
received the complete teachings, secret oral transmissions, explanations
and initiations, and enlightened realization blessings, and so forth from
PhagmoDrupa. Jigten Sumgon gave all the complete teachings, including
the six Yogas of Naropa, to his chief disciple, Gurawa Tsultrim Dorje.
All these enlightened energies, blessings and teachings have been handed
down through the great spiritual masters to the present 37th and 36th
lineage holders, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and His Holiness
Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang. These are among the most precious
spiritual masters in the Drikung Kagyu lineage and the direct lineage
holder of Jigten Sumgon. Among his disciples, Lord Jigten Sumgon
prophesied repeatedly, "In the future my teachings will flourish by the two
Bodhisattvas, who are like the sun and the moon, through their
compassion and wisdom." His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang is like
the sun. He is the emanation of Chenrezig, the compassionate deity. His
Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang is like the moon. He is the
emanation of Manjushri, the wisdom deity.
The Drikung is known for the Great Phowa Practice and great meditators.
There are many stories about those who have attained enlightenment in
one lifetime. In the 1980's the great Drikung yogis who taught in Tibet and
India were Pachung Rinpoche and Kungha Rinpoche, and other great
teachers. Kungha Rinpoche has attained the realization of the Yidam. He
saw Chakrasamvara face to face in one lifetime. He taught many
three-year retreats, including the six Yogas of Naropa. During that time
there were many wonderful inspirations given by these great retreat
masters.
Even in these days, there are great Drikung Meditation Masters such as
Garchen Rinpoche, Tenzin Nima Rinpoche, and Druwang Rinpoche.
Druwang Rinpoche has highly realized Mahamudra and is known for going
to town and singing spiritual songs like Milarepa. Sometimes he offers a
song of inner spiritual realization to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and their
Holinesses the Drikung Kyabgons, and other high lamas. There are many
great teachers who are in retreat in Tibet and India attaining their goals.
His Holiness Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche has established the Drikung
Kagyu Institute, JangChubling, in Dehra Dun, Northern India. There are
many monks attending school there and many engaged in the three-year
retreat. His Holiness travels to many Drikung centers in the west,
monasteries in India and Nepal, giving extensive teachings to monks,
nuns, and lay people from the east and from the west.
the 10th century A.D. He is considered the founder of the lineage and, in
addition, he received four special transmissions (Tib: bka-babs-bzhi) for
which he became the lineage holder.
Although there is some discrepancy in historical sources regarding the
identities of the yoga masters associated with each of the four
transmissions, the most common consensus indicates that their origins are
as follows: the first of the four came from Lopon Ludrub (Tib:
slob-dpon-klu-sgrub, Skt: Acarya Nagarjuna) and consists of two tantras,
the "Sangwa Dupa" Tantra (Tib: gsang-ba-dus-pa, Skt: Guhasamaja) and
the tantra called "Denshi" (gden bzhi). This transmission also incorporates
the practices called "Illusory Body" (Tib: sgyu-lus, Skt: Mayadeva) and
"Transference" (Tib: pho-ba, Skt: Samkranti). The second special
transmission came from Nakpo Chopa (nag-po-spyod-pa). It includes the
tantra called "Gyuma Chenpo" (Tib: sgyu-ma-chen-po, Skt: Mahamaya) and
the practice called "Conscious Dreaming" (Tib: rmi-lam, Skt: Svapna). The
third special transmission came from Lawapa (la-ba-pa) and is called
"Demchok" or, alternatively, "Korlo Dongpa" (Tib: bde-mchog,
khor-lo-sdompa, Skt: Chakrasamvara), and the practice called "Clear Light"
(Tib: odgsal, Skt: Prabhasvara). The fourth was transmitted from Khandro
Kalpa Sangmo (mkha-gro-bskal-pa-bzangmo) and includes the tantra
known as "Gyepa Dorje" (Tib: dgyes-pa-rdo-rje, Skt: Hevajra) and the
practice called "Tumo" (Tib: gtum-mo, Skt: Candali).
These teachings were passed from Tilopa to the yogi Naropa and were
systematized as the "Six Yogas of Naropa," meditations that are
considered a central teaching of the Kagyu Lineage. Based on several
textual references, it seems that Naropa was born in 956 A.D.. He
transmitted his knowledge to Marpa (born in 1000), the great translator,
who journeyed from Tibet to India in order to receive instructions and who
subsequently returned to Tibet and spread the teachings of the Dharma
widely.
Marpa's student Jetsun Milarepa, born in 1033, became one of Tibet's
great yogis. His life story, beginning with difficult circumstances due to his
father's early death, his vengeance upon his dishonest aunt and uncle,
and his subsequent regret which led to an earnest desire to learn the way
of the Dharma, is widely known among Tibetan people. Through his
perseverance and ability to accept all circumstances which he met, he
achieved profound realization of the ultimate nature of reality. His
teachings are recorded in the 100,000 songs of Milarepa and other
collections.
Milarepa's teachings were carried on by Gampopa (born in 1079), also
known as Dakpo Lhaje, the physician from Dakpo. He first studied under
the Kadampa tradition, which is a gradual and systematic path that
includes the Lam Rim teachings. At a later age, he met Milarepa and
practicing under him received and realized the true meaning of the
complete teachings. Since that time, the lineage has been known as the
Dakpo Kagyu and includes many sub-sects.
The Drikung Kagyu Lineage is one of the Kagyu lineages, which was
founded 852 years ago, by the great spiritual master, Kyobpa Jigten
Sumgon.
Although PhagmoDrupa had hundreds of thousands of disciples, Lord
Jigten Sumgon was one of his closest and chief disciples. PhagmoDrupa
prophesied that a Bodhisattva, (Jigten Sumgon), who already attained the
ten Bhumis, would carry on the teachings and blessings. Jigten Sumgon
received the complete teachings, secret oral transmissions, explanations
and initiations, and enlightened realization blessings, and so forth from
PhagmoDrupa. Jigten Sumgon gave all the complete teachings, including
the six Yogas of Naropa, to his chief disciple, Gurawa Tsultrim Dorje.
All these enlightened energies, blessings and teachings have been handed
down through the great spiritual masters to the present 37th and 36th
lineage holders, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and His Holiness
Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang. These are among the most precious
spiritual masters in the Drikung Kagyu lineage and the direct lineage
holder of Jigten Sumgon. Among his disciples, Lord Jigten Sumgon
prophesied repeatedly, "In the future my teachings will flourish by the two
Bodhisattvas, who are like the sun and the moon, through their
compassion and wisdom." His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang is like
the sun. He is the emanation of Chenrezig, the compassionate deity. His
Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang is like the moon. He is the
emanation of Manjushri, the wisdom deity.
The Drikung is known for the Great Phowa Practice and great meditators.
There are many stories about those who have attained enlightenment in
one lifetime. In the 1980's the great Drikung yogis who taught in Tibet and
India were Pachung Rinpoche and Kungha Rinpoche, and other great
teachers. Kungha Rinpoche has attained the realization of the Yidam. He
saw Chakrasamvara face to face in one lifetime. He taught many
three-year retreats, including the six Yogas of Naropa. During that time
there were many wonderful inspirations given by these great retreat
masters.
Even in these days, there are great Drikung Meditation Masters such as
Garchen Rinpoche, Tenzin Nima Rinpoche, and Druwang Rinpoche.
Druwang Rinpoche has highly realized Mahamudra and is known for going
to town and singing spiritual songs like Milarepa. Sometimes he offers a
song of inner spiritual realization to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and their
Holinesses the Drikung Kyabgons, and other high lamas. There are many
great teachers who are in retreat in Tibet and India attaining their goals.
His Holiness Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche has established the Drikung
Kagyu Institute, JangChubling, in Dehra Dun, Northern India. There are
many monks attending school there and many engaged in the three-year
retreat. His Holiness travels to many Drikung centers in the west,
monasteries in India and Nepal, giving extensive teachings to monks,
nuns, and lay people from the east and from the west.
Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon
| Vajradhara |
| His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang |
| His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang |
The Four Immeasurable Wishes of Buddhism
Love: May all mother sentient beings, boundless as the sky, have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Compassion: May they be liberated from suffering and the causes of suffering.
Bliss: May they never be separated from the happiness which is free from sorrow.
Equanimity: May they rest in equanimity, free from attachment and aversion.
Love: May all mother sentient beings, boundless as the sky, have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Compassion: May they be liberated from suffering and the causes of suffering.
Bliss: May they never be separated from the happiness which is free from sorrow.
Equanimity: May they rest in equanimity, free from attachment and aversion.
