Karma Kagyü
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Karma Kagyu (), or Kamtsang Kagyu (), is a widely practiced and probably the second-largest lineage within the
Kagyu The ''Kagyu'' school, also transliterated as ''Kagyü'', or ''Kagyud'' (), which translates to "Oral Lineage" or "Whispered Transmission" school, is one of the main schools (''chos lugs'') of Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan (or Himalayan) Buddhism. ...
school, one of the four major schools of
Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, D ...
. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in
Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
,
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
,
Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
,
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
and
Bhutan Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked country in South Asia, in the Eastern Himalayas between China to the north and northwest and India to the south and southeast. With a population of over 727,145 and a territory of , ...
, with current centres in over 60 countries. The spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu is the ''Gyalwa
Karmapa The Karmapa Tulku lineage of the Gyalwa Karmapa is the oldest among the major incarnating lineages of Tibetan Buddhism,The Karmapa, "The Karmapas Lineage", Kagyu Office established in 1110 CE by the 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa. Karmapa means " ...
''; the 2nd among the 10 Karmapas had been the principal spiritual advisors to successive emperors of China. The Karma Kagyu are sometimes called the "Black Hat" lamas, in reference to the Black Crown worn by the Karmapa. The Kagyu lineage claims a continuity of oral instructions transmitted from master to disciple.
La Lignée du Rosaire d’Or
' ("The golden rosary lineage").
This emphasis is reflected in the literal meaning of ''Kagyu''. The first syllable, ''ka,'' is said to refer to the texts of Buddha's teachings and to the master's verbal instructions. ''Ka'' has the double meaning of the enlightened meaning imparted by a teacher's words, as well as the strength that such words of insight may bear. The second syllable, ''gyu,'' means lineage or tradition. The combination of these syllables thus means "the line of orally transmitted instructions." The elders in the Kagyu lineage, representing the theoretically uninterrupted line of masters and disciples reaching back to Buddha (
Vajradhara Vajradhara (; ; ; ; ; ) is the ultimate primordial Buddha, or Adi-Buddha, according to the Sakya, Gelug and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also a name of Indra, because "Vajra" means diamond, as well as the thunderbolt, or anything ha ...
), are jointly known as the "Golden Rosary".Lama Kunsang and Marie Aubèle, ''L’Odyssée des Karmapas. La grande histoire des lamas à la coiffe noire'' ("The odyssey of the Karmapas: the great history of the Black Hat lamas"), Ed. Albin Michel, 2011


Origins

The Karma Kagyu was founded by Düsum Khyenpa, 1st Karmapa Lama. It is headed by the
Karmapa The Karmapa Tulku lineage of the Gyalwa Karmapa is the oldest among the major incarnating lineages of Tibetan Buddhism,The Karmapa, "The Karmapas Lineage", Kagyu Office established in 1110 CE by the 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa. Karmapa means " ...
; followers believe that the Karmapa's appearance as the first historical consciously reincarnate lama (
tulku A ''tulku'' (, also ''tülku'', ''trulku'') is an individual recognized as the reincarnation of a previous spiritual master (lama), and expected to be reincarnated, in turn, after death. The tulku is a distinctive and significant aspect of Tibet ...
) was predicted by
Gautama Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...
in the
Samadhiraja Sutra Nara. Candraprabha is the Buddha's main interlocutor in the ''Candrapradīpa.'' The ''Samādhirāja Sūtra'' (''King of Samādhis Sūtra'') or ''Candrapradīpa Sūtra'' (''Moonlamp Sūtra'') is a Buddhist Mahayana sutras, Mahayana sutra. Some s ...
.


Teaching and practice

The Karma Kagyu school belongs to the
Vajrayana ''Vajrayāna'' (; 'vajra vehicle'), also known as Mantrayāna ('mantra vehicle'), Guhyamantrayāna ('secret mantra vehicle'), Tantrayāna ('tantra vehicle'), Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, is a Mahāyāna Buddhism, Mahāyāna Buddhis ...
branch of
Mahayana Mahāyāna ( ; , , ; ) is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, Buddhist texts#Mahāyāna texts, texts, Buddhist philosophy, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India ( onwards). It is considered one of the three main ex ...
Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
. It conceives itself as a member of the third turning of the
dharmacakra The dharmachakra (Sanskrit: धर्मचक्र, ) or wheel of dharma is a symbol used in the Dharmic religions. It has a widespread use in Buddhism.John C. Huntington, Dina Bangdel, ''The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art,'' p. ...
and participates in the
Rimé movement The Rimé movement (Tibetan Wylie: ''ris med''; approximate pronunciation "reemay") also written in some English sources as Rime, Ri-me, Rimay) is a movement or tendency in Tibetan Buddhism which promotes non-sectarianism and universalism.Sam ...
. Important teachings of the Kagyu school include the Buddhist philosophical traditions of
Yogacara Yogachara (, IAST: ') is an influential tradition of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing the study of cognition, perception, and consciousness through the interior lens of meditation, as well as philosophical reasoning (hetuvidyā). ...
and
Madhyamaka Madhyamaka ("middle way" or "centrism"; ; ; Tibetic languages, Tibetan: དབུ་མ་པ་ ; ''dbu ma pa''), otherwise known as Śūnyavāda ("the Śūnyatā, emptiness doctrine") and Niḥsvabhāvavāda ("the no Svabhava, ''svabhāva'' d ...
, as well as the tantric tradition of Chakrasamvara, among others. The view known as
Shentong ''Rangtong'' and ''shentong'' are two distinctive views on emptiness ( sunyata) and the two truths doctrine within Tibetan Buddhism. Rangtong (; "empty of self-nature") is a philosophical term in Tibetan Buddhism which is used by Tibetan defende ...
(empty of other) has become popular in Karma Kagyu, due to its promotion by the influential Rimé philosopher Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thayé (1813–1899). This Shentong view has been upheld by various modern Kagyu masters such as
Kalu Rinpoche Kalu Rinpoche (1905 – May 10, 1989) was a Tibetan Buddhist lama, meditation master, scholar and teacher. He was one of the first Tibetan masters to teach in the West. Early life and teachers Kalu Rinpoche was born in 1905 during the Fema ...
and
Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche (; 1 March 1934 – 22 June 2024) was a Tibetan scholar yogi in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He taught widely in the West, often through songs of realization, his own as well as those composed by Mi ...
.Brunnholzl, Karl. ''The Center of the Sunlit Sky: Madhyamaka in the Kagyu Tradition.'' Snow Lion Publications, 2004, page 446. However, as noted by Karl Brunnholzl, several important Kagyu figures have disagreed with the view of "Shentong Madhyamaka", such as Mikyö Dorje the 8th Karmapa Lama (1507–1554) and
Pawo Tsuglag Threngwa Pawo Tsuglag Threngwa () (1504–1566), the second Nenang Pawo, was a Tibetan historian of the Karma Kagyu. He was a disciple of Mikyö Dorje, 8th Karmapa Lama. He was the author of the famous ''mkhas pa'i dga' ston'', '' A Scholar's Feast'', ad ...
, the second Pawo Rinpoche, both of whom see "Shentong" as another name for
Yogacara Yogachara (, IAST: ') is an influential tradition of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing the study of cognition, perception, and consciousness through the interior lens of meditation, as well as philosophical reasoning (hetuvidyā). ...
and as a separate system to
Madhyamaka Madhyamaka ("middle way" or "centrism"; ; ; Tibetic languages, Tibetan: དབུ་མ་པ་ ; ''dbu ma pa''), otherwise known as Śūnyavāda ("the Śūnyatā, emptiness doctrine") and Niḥsvabhāvavāda ("the no Svabhava, ''svabhāva'' d ...
. Both of these figures, as well as the Ninth Karmapa,
Wangchuk Dorje Wangchuk Dorje (1556–1603) was the ninth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. Life Wangchuk Dorje was born in Treshod, Kham. According to legend, he said after being born: "I am Karmapa." Other sources say that soon a ...
, criticized the Shentong view and held that the teachings on Buddha nature were of expedient meaning. The central yogic practice of the Karma Kagyu is the doctrine of
Mahamudra Mahāmudrā (Sanskrit: महामुद्रा, , contraction of ) literally means "great seal" or "great imprint" and refers to the fact that "all phenomena inevitably are stamped by the fact of wisdom and emptiness inseparable". Mahāmud ...
, also known as the "Great Seal". This doctrine focuses on four principal stages of meditative practice (the Four Yogas of Mahamudra): * The development of single-pointedness of mind, * The transcendence of all conceptual elaboration, * The cultivation of the perspective that all phenomena are of a "single taste", and * The fruition of the path, which is beyond any contrived acts of meditation. It is through these four stages of development that the practitioner is said to attain the perfect realization of mahamudra. Mahamudra is practiced both independently and as the completion stage of Vajrayana practice. Within the Karma Kagyu, meditative practice is almost invariably presented in a progressive manner. Early practice includes samatha, introduction to Buddhist
history History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the Human history, human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some t ...
and
philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
and
initiation Initiation is a rite of passage marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components. In an extended sense, it can also signify a transformatio ...
into the lower tantras - classically across the iṣṭadevatās ()
Avalokiteśvara In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara (meaning "the lord who looks down", International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ), also known as Lokeśvara ("Lord of the World") and Chenrezig (in Tibetan), is a Bodhisattva#Bhūmis (stages), tenth-level bodhisattva associ ...
, Tārā and
Amitābha Amitābha (, "Measureless" or "Limitless" Light), also known as Amituofo in Chinese language, Chinese, Amida in Japanese language, Japanese and Öpakmé in Tibetan script, Tibetan, is one of the main Buddhahood, Buddhas of Mahayana, Mahayana Buddh ...
. This is followed by
ngöndro In Tibetan Buddhism, Ngöndro (, ) refers to the preliminary, preparatory or foundational practices or disciplines (Sanskrit: sādhanā) common to all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and also to Bon. They precede deity yoga. The preliminary pr ...
and vipassanā. During the traditional three-year retreat, retreatants usually focus their practice on the
Six Yogas of Naropa The Six Dharmas of Nāropa (, Skt. ''ṣaḍdharma'', "Naro's six doctrines" or "six teachings") are a set of advanced Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices compiled by the Indian mahasiddhas Tilopa and Nāropa (1016–1100 CE) and passed on to t ...
. At the
Anuttarayoga Tantra Classes of Tantra in Tibetan Buddhism refers to the categorization of Buddhist tantric scriptures in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism inherited numerous tantras and forms of tantric practice from medieval Indian Buddhist Tantra. There wer ...
level of practice, the principal iṣṭadevatās of the lineage are Dorje Pakmo,
Hevajra Hevajra ( Tibetan: kye'i rdo rje / kye rdo rje; Chinese: 喜金剛 Xǐ jīngāng / 呼金剛 Hū jīngāng;) is one of the main yidams (enlightened beings) in Tantric, or Vajrayana Buddhism. Hevajra's consort is Nairātmyā ( Tibetan: bdag ...
and Cakrasaṃvara.


Lamas

The supreme
lama Lama () is a title bestowed to a realized practitioner of the Dharma in Tibetan Buddhism. Not all monks are lamas, while nuns and female practitioners can be recognized and entitled as lamas. The Tibetan word ''la-ma'' means "high mother", ...
of the Karma Kagyu is the
Karmapa The Karmapa Tulku lineage of the Gyalwa Karmapa is the oldest among the major incarnating lineages of Tibetan Buddhism,The Karmapa, "The Karmapas Lineage", Kagyu Office established in 1110 CE by the 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa. Karmapa means " ...
, who always presides as lineage holder once he has reached his majority and received all the necessary training and
dharma transmission In Chan and Zen Buddhism, dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a "successor in an unbroken lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual 'bloodline' ('' kechimyaku'') theoretically traced back to the Buddha him ...
s. From the death of one Karmapa until the next takes his seat as lineage holder, one (or more) of the previous Karmapa's principal disciples holds the lineage.
Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (; August 14, 1924 – November 5, 1981) is the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is of the oldest line of reincarnate lamas in Vajrayana Buddhi ...
left the lineage in the hands of four eminent lamas: the 14th
Shamarpa The Shamarpa (; literally, "Person (i.e. Holder) of the Red Crown"), also known as ''Shamar Rinpoche'', or more formally Künzig Shamar Rinpoche, is the second-oldest lineage of tulkus (reincarnated lamas). He is one of the highest lineage hold ...
, the 12th
Tai Situpa Tai Situ (; from ) is one of the oldest lineages of tulkus (reincarnated lamas) in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism In Tibetan Buddhism tradition, Kenting Tai Situ is considered as emanation of Bodhisattva Maitreya and Guru Padmasambhava ( Gur ...
, the 3rd
Jamgon Kongtrul Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thayé (, 1813–1899), also known as Jamgön Kongtrül the Great, was a Tibetan Buddhist scholar, poet, artist, physician, tertön and polymath. He is credited as one of the founders of the Rimé movement (non-sectarian ...
and the 12th Goshir Gyaltsab. There is
controversy Controversy (, ) is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of conflicting opinion or point of view. The word was coined from the Latin '' controversia'', as a composite of ''controversus'' – "turned in an op ...
over who is the 17th Karmapa, with two major candidates both having been recognized and enthroned by their supporters. Neither candidate has been enthroned at
Rumtek Monastery Rumtek Monastery (), also called the Dharma Chakra Centre, is a gompa located in the Indian state of Sikkim near the capital Gangtok. It is the seat in exile of the Gyalwang Karmapa, inaugurated in 1966 by the 16th Karmapa. It is also a focal ...
. The direct master-disciple transmission of the lineage holders of the Karma Kagyu is known as the Golden Rosary of Kagyu Fathers. They are: #
Vajradhara Vajradhara (; ; ; ; ; ) is the ultimate primordial Buddha, or Adi-Buddha, according to the Sakya, Gelug and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also a name of Indra, because "Vajra" means diamond, as well as the thunderbolt, or anything ha ...
(Tib. Dorje Chang) #
Tilopa Tilopa (Prakrit; Sanskrit: Talika or Tilopadā; 988–1069) was an Indian Buddhist tantric mahasiddha who lived along the Ganges River. He practised Anuttarayoga Tantra, a set of spiritual practices intended to accelerate the process of attaini ...
, 989–1069 CE #
Naropa Nāropā (Prakrit; , Naḍapāda or Abhayakirti) was an Indian Buddhism, Buddhist Mahasiddha. He was the disciple of Tilopa and brother, or some sources say partner and pupil, of Niguma. As an Indian Mahasiddha, Naropa's instructions inform ...
, 1016–1100 CE # Marpa, 1012–1097 CE #
Milarepa Jetsun Milarepa (, 1028/40–1111/23) was a Tibetan , who was famously known as a murderer when he was a young man, before turning to Buddhism and becoming a highly accomplished Buddhist disciple. He is generally considered one of Tibet's most fa ...
, 1040–1123 CE #
Gampopa Gampopa Sönam Rinchen (, 1079–1153) was the main student of Milarepa, and a Tibetan Buddhist master who codified his own master's ascetic teachings, which form the foundation of the Kagyu educational tradition. Gampopa was also a doctor and ...
, 1079–1153 CE # Düsum Khyenpa, 1st Karmapa Lama, 1110–1193 CE # Drogon Rechen, 1148–1219 CE # Pomdrakpa, 1170–1249 CE # Karma Pakshi, 2nd Karmapa Lama, 1204–1283 CE # Orgyenpa, 1230–1312 CE # Rangjung Dorje, 3rd Karmapa Lama, 1284–1339 CE # Yungtön Dorjepel, 1296–1376 CE # Rolpe Dorje, 4th Karmapa Lama, 1340–1383 #2nd
Shamarpa The Shamarpa (; literally, "Person (i.e. Holder) of the Red Crown"), also known as ''Shamar Rinpoche'', or more formally Künzig Shamar Rinpoche, is the second-oldest lineage of tulkus (reincarnated lamas). He is one of the highest lineage hold ...
, Khacho Wangpo, 1350–1405 CE # Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama, 1384–1415 CE # Ratnabhadra (dates unknown) # Thongwa Dönden, 6th Karmapa Lama, 1416–1453 CE # Jampal Zangpo, 1427–1489 CE # Paljor Dondrup, 1st Goshir Gyaltsab, 1427–1489 CE # Chödrak Gyatso, 7th Karmapa Lama, 1454–1506 CE #1st Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, Tashi Paljor, 1457–1525 CE # Mikyö Dorje, 8th Karmapa Lama, 1507–1554 CE #5th Shamarpa, Kongchok Yanglak, 1526–1583 CE #
Wangchuk Dorje, 9th Karmapa Lama Wangchuk Dorje (1556–1603) was the ninth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. Life Wangchuk Dorje was born in Treshod, Kham. According to legend, he said after being born: "I am Karmapa." Other sources say that soon af ...
, 1555–1603 CE #6th Shamarpa, Chokyi Wangchuk, 1584–1629 CE # Chöying Dorje, 10th Karmapa, 1604–1674 CE #7th Shamarpa, Yeshe Nyingpo, 1631–1694 CE # Yeshe Dorje, 11th Karmapa, 1676–1702 CE #8th Shamarpa, Chokyi Dondrup, 1695–1732 CE # Changchub Dorje, 12th Karmapa Lama, 1703–1732 CE #8th
Tai Situpa Tai Situ (; from ) is one of the oldest lineages of tulkus (reincarnated lamas) in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism In Tibetan Buddhism tradition, Kenting Tai Situ is considered as emanation of Bodhisattva Maitreya and Guru Padmasambhava ( Gur ...
, Chokyi Jungney, 1699–1774 CE # Dudul Dorje, 13th Karmapa Lama, 1733–1797 CE #10th Shamarpa, Mipham Chodrub Gyatso, 1742–1793 CE #9th Situpa, Pema Nyinche Wangpo, 1774–1853 CE # Thekchok Dorje, 14th Karmapa Lama, 1798–1868 CE #
Jamgon Kongtrul Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thayé (, 1813–1899), also known as Jamgön Kongtrül the Great, was a Tibetan Buddhist scholar, poet, artist, physician, tertön and polymath. He is credited as one of the founders of the Rimé movement (non-sectarian ...
, 1813–1899 CE #
Khakyab Dorje, 15th Karmapa Lama The 15th Karmapa, Khakyab Dorje (; 1871–1922 or 1870–1921) was born in Sheikor village in Tsang, central Tibet. Sources state that at his birth he spoke the Chenrezig mantra, and at five he was able to read scriptures. He was recognized as ...
, 1871–1922 CE #11th Situpa, Pema Wangchuk Gyalpo, 1886–1953 CE #2nd Jamgon Rinpoche, Palden Khyentse Oser, 1904–1953 CE #
Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (; August 14, 1924 – November 5, 1981) is the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is of the oldest line of reincarnate lamas in Vajrayana Buddhi ...
, 1924–1981 CE Because of the
Karmapa controversy There are currently two, separately enthroned 17th Karmapa, Gyalwang Karmapas: Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Trinley Thaye Dorje. The Karmapa is the spiritual leader of the nine-hundred-year-old Karma Kagyu lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhi ...
, the identities of the next lineage holders have not been definitively identified. In all likelihood, they are either: :42. 12th Situpa, Pema Tönyö Nyinje, 1954–present CE :43. 17th Karmapa,
Ogyen Trinley Dorje Ogyen Trinley Dorje (, ; born 26 June 1985), also written as Urgyen Trinley Dorje () is a claimant to the title of 17th Karmapa. The Karmapa is head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Ogyen Trinley Dor ...
, 1985–present CE or :42. 14th Shamarpa,
Mipham Chokyi Lodro Mipham Chokyi Lodro (27 October 1952 – 11 June 2014), also known as Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, was the fourteenth Shamarpa of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Shamarpa is the second-most important teacher of the Karma Kagyu school, ...
, 1952–2014 CE :43. 17th Karmapa,
Trinley Thaye Dorje Trinley Thaye Dorje () (born 6 May 1983 in Lhasa) is a claimant to the title of 17th Karmapa. The Karmapa is head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Thaye Dorje are the persist ...
, 1983–present CE At the next level of precedence, all Kagyu Lamas who have been accorded the title
Rinpoche Rinpoche, also spelled Rimpoche (), is an honorific term used in the Tibetan language. It literally means "precious one", and may refer to a person, place, or thing—like the words "gem" or "jewel" (Sanskrit: '' Ratna''). The word consists of '' ...
(Lit: precious one) are highly regarded as trustworthy teachers. Those who hold the
Khenpo The term khenpo (Tib. མཁན་པོ། mkhen po), or khenmo (in the feminine) is a degree for higher Buddhist studies given in Tibetan Buddhism. In the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya traditions, the title is awarded usually after a period of 13 ...
degree have completed the equivalent of a
doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...
in Buddhist studies. There are (both currently and historically) many female Kagyu Lamas. For example, in the Refuge Tree pictured above, two of the figures floating in the sky above the tree (
dakini A ḍākinī (; ; ; ; alternatively 荼枳尼, ; 荼吉尼, ; or 吒枳尼, ; Japanese: 荼枳尼 / 吒枳尼 / 荼吉尼, ''dakini'') is a type of goddess in Hinduism and Buddhism. The concept of the ḍākinī somewhat differs depending on t ...
Sukhasiddhi and
Machig Labdrön Machig Labdrön (, sometimes referred to as Ahdrön Chödron, ), or "Singular Mother Torch from Lab" (1055–1149), was a Tibetan Buddhist nun believed to be a reincarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal, and the renowned 11th-century Tibetan tantric Buddhi ...
) are great historical female Lamas of the lineage. Mindrolling Jetsün
Khandro Rinpoche Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche (birth name Tsering Paldrön; born August 19, 1967) is a lama in Tibetan Buddhism. Born in Kalimpong, India and the daughter of the late Mindrolling Trichen, Khandro Rinpoche was recognized by Rangjung Rigpe D ...
is a living female tulku of the Karma Kagyu. Probably the most well-known active female Kagyu Lamas in the West are Ani Pema Chödrön and
Tsultrim Allione Lama Tsultrim Allione (born Joan Rousmanière Ewing in 1947) is an American author and teacher who has studied in Tibetan Buddhism's Karma Kagyu lineage. She has been recognised by two different Tibetan Buddhist lamas as an emanation (a form of re ...
.


References


Further reading

*


External links

Karma Kagyu (Trinley Thaye Dorje)
Karma Kagyu Tradition: Official web site

Diamond Way Buddhism Worldwide
Karma Kagyu (Orgyen Trinley Dorje)
Karma Kagyu Lineage: Official web site
Pages
Karma Kagyü Calendar , Official Page on Facebook
{{Authority control History of Tibetan Buddhism Politics of Tibet