Overview
Kagyü
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(Tib., bka' brgyud).
One of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism (see Tibet). Its name means ‘oral transmission lineage’, and its teachings were brought from India in the 11th century ce by Marpa. Gampopa, a student of Milarepa, organized the teachings and practices into the Kagyü school. The core doctrines of this school concern the Great Seal (mahāmudrā) and the Six Yogas of Nāropa. The orginal school later became subdivided into the Shangpa (Shangs-pa) and the Dakpo (Dwags-po) lineages, the latter being further subdivided into four major branches: the Karma (Karma), Tshal-pa (Tshal-pa), Ba-rom (‘Ba’-rom), and Phakdru (Phag-gru). Further subdivions of the above are also known, such as the Drugpa ('brug-pa) associated with Bhutan.
From: Kagyü in A Dictionary of Buddhism »
