[1079 - 1153] He was the first monk of the Karma-Kagyü lineage. It is said that Gampopa in his former lives was a disciple of Buddha Kasyapa and Buddha Shakyamuni. In the days of Buddha Shakyamuni his name was Candraprabha Kumara. When the Buddha asked who of his students will teach the Samadhiraja and Candrapradipa-Sutra in the future when times will get harder, Gampopa said that he will do that.

In two Sutras Buddha made a prophecy of the appearance of the monk-doctor in the northern land of the snow - in Tibet.

Gampopa was born in 1079 in a Nyingma family. His father was a doctor and he became one too. He also received a lot of Dharma teachings. At the age of 22 he married and he had two children. Some years later his son and daughter died during an epidemic. Shortly after this his wife died too.

Due to this he decided to get ordained and he became a monk of the Kadampa tradition. He received the teachings of Atisha and of the Tantras of the Kadampa tradition. It is said that he could stay 13 days in Samadhi but he didn't find the true insight into the nature of mind.

At the age of 32 he first heard the name of Milarepa and he longed to meet him. Despite the objections of his teachers he left the monastery and he finally met Milarepa in the mountains. Milarepa already had told his students that the holder of his lineage will soon appear.

In the next 10 Years Gampopa received all the transmissions of the Kagyu Lineage and he realised Mahamudra.

According to Milarepas order he left and settled down in Gampo Dar, near Dhagpo in south Tibet. That's where his name comes from: "Gampopa - the man from mount Gampo".

Gampopa founded a monastery in the Kagyu tradition. He had 51.600 students, among them about 500 Yogis, living in caves and a retreat center around the monastery. His foremost student was Dusum Chenpa the first Karmapa. Karmapa and three other students founded the "four great" schools of the Kagyü tradition.

(Skt. Prahevajra), Nirmanakaya (Phowa Lineage). The "State of compassion" (Tulku) is the manifestation of enlightenment in the physical realm. It is there to help those beings who have not yet reached the level of a Bodhisattva. The first human lineage-holder of the Dzog chen was the Nirmanakaya Garab Dorje, an emanation of the Buddha Diamond Mind. He was born a son of a royal family in Uddiyana, the land of the Dakini. Even as a child he already showed many special signs which made it very clear that he was by no means an ordinary boy. It is said that he entered into a philosophical debate with 500 scholars and won, at age seven and that without ever having studied himself. Afterwards he meditated in a hut on top of a mountain until his 32nd birthday. It was here that he received the direct transmissions of Diamond-Mind and realized his Buddhahood. Together with the Dakinis he spent three years recording those teachings. He meditated and taught for the rest of his life in Sitavana, a famous old cemetery Northeast of Bodhgaya. In old India cemeteries were considered to be powerful places, inhabited by Dakinis, ghosts, wild animals and Yogis. The cemetery offered them the opportunity for undisturbed practice and also served as a daily reminder of impermanence. It is here that Garab Dorje met his "main-pupil" Dschampel Shenyen.

The latest of the four great lineages (schools) of Tibetan Buddhism. This "reformed school" was founded at the end of the 14. century be Je Tsongkhapa. The school emphasises scholarship and right conduct. Leader is the Ganden Tripa Rinpoche the throne keeper of the monastery Ganden.
Although they have some Tantras they don’t accept the first transmission of Buddhism to Tibet by the  Nyingma lineage. The Gelug school presents itself often belonging more to  Mahayana than to Diamondway.

Lama Gendun Rinpoche was the meditation master and spiritual director of Dhagpo Kagyu Ling (France). He spent more than thirty years in solitary retreat and was then sent to Europe by the 16. Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. He passed away in October 1997. more

Touching Earth Gesture.          

[Tib. Nagpo Chenpo, Skt. Mahakala] The protection power of all Buddhas.

Maha Ati

[Tib. Theg Chen, Skt. Mahayana, Lit.: The Great Vehicle] Practioneers of the Great Way have developed the whish to attain enlightenment to liberate all sentient beings from suffering. Is also called Bodhisattva-way. Its basis is the development of compassion and all-embracing wisdom. It is distinguished into Sutra- and Mantra-Way.

Liberatice

Inhabitant of the least painful of the Six Realms of Samsara. The lives of gods, while long and marked by sensuous bliss, are ended in great sorrow as they foresee their future lower rebirth. There are gods of the Desire, Form and Formless Realms.

Literally "to meditate". Third phase of practice, which follows receipt of teachings and instruction and effort made to comprehend them. Gompa is the actual pursuit of meditational practice.

[ca. 730 - 810] [Tib. Pema Jungne, Skt. Padmasambhava, Lit. the Lotus-born] The probably Afghan yogi who brought the full cycle of Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. Guru Rinpoche is an emanation of the Buddha Amithaba. From 755 onwards, he spent more than 55 years in Tibet. He manifested an exciting life and countless wonders and is highly revered in the three non-reformed schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He founded the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. His energy-field is especially present on the tenth day after new moon. (Phowa Lineage).

[1196 - 1231] Guru Tschober was the son of the younger brother of Khepa Nyibum (Phowa Lineage). Until his seventh birthday he seemed to be a rather stupid child, but then, suddenly, he showed great aspects of wisdom. He lived with his uncle Khepa Nyibum until age 18 and received his complete transmissions. Later in his life he studied with the famous Sakya Pandita. He became known for his sharp intellect and his scholarly wisdom. It is said that he had a vision of each of the Buddha aspects that he meditated on.

[Tib. Lami Naljor] Three Lights Meditation.

Almighty Ocean.

[1097 - 1167] Already as an adolescent Shangton studied the Dharma intensively. He had visions of Loving Eyes, the Liberatrice and other Buddha-Aspects. Dorje Legpa especially appeared to him on several occasions, asking Shangton to accompany him so that he would reach enlightenment. Dorje Legpa protected him in many dangerous situations. In Chimphu he discovered different Dharma-jewels of Drime Shenyen 's (Vimalamitra). Gyelwa Shanton had also visions of Drime Shenyen. He received the complete transmission of the highest teachings from Jetsun Senge Wangtschug (Phowa Lineage). As a sign that he had reached realization, his body did not throw a shadow anymore.

Illusory Body Meditation