KAGYÜPA (bka’-rgyud-pa), Tib., lit. “oral transmission lineage”; one of the four principal schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The central teaching of this school is the “great seal” (mahāmudrā) and the six dharmas of Nāropa (Nāro chödrug). The teachings were brought to Tibet from India in the 11th century by Marpa Gampopa, a student of Milarepa’s, organized them into the Kagyüpa school. From this school is derived that of the Karma Kagyü and others. The school places particular value on the direct transmission of instruction from teacher to disciple.
The Kagyü transmission has its point of origin in Vajradhara (holder of the vajra), an embodiment of the dharmakāya (trikāya) and passed from Tilopa to Nāropa. Marpa the Translator brought these teachings to Tibet, and his student Milarepa succeeded in mastering them all after years of ascetic practice. In the 12th century the physician Gampopa integrated the doctrines of the Kadampas into the Kagyü tradition and formed it into an independent school, which was named after the birthplace of its founder, Dagpo Kagyü. Already in the next generation four further schools developed out of this: (1) Kamtshang or Karma Kagyü, (2) Tsälpa Kagyü, (3) Baram Kagyü, (4) Phagmo Drupa Kagyü. The last of these divided into eight subschools of which the Drugpa Kagyü and the Drigung Kagyü still exist.
A further school associated with the Kagyü, was founded by Khyungpo Naljor (1310-?). It bears the name Shangpa Kagyü and possesses a special mahāmudrā transmission, which originated with Nāropa’s sister Niguma. Through the effort of the Rime movement, this tradition still exists.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Documents on Kagyüpa
Books on Kagyüpa
External Links: Kagyu / Karma Kagyu
Tilopa / Niguma / Naropa / Maitripada / Marpa Lotsawa / Milarepa