Kagyu

Kagyu is one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, alongside Nyingma, Sakya, and Gelug. The name Kagyu means "oral transmission" or "lineage," reflecting its emphasis on direct teacher-to-student instruction and the living lineage of practice.

The tradition traces its roots to Indian tantric masters Tilopa and Naropa and to their Tibetan disciple Marpa the Translator in the 10th-11th centuries. Marpa transmitted the teachings to Milarepa, who became renowned for his austere meditation and poetic songs; Milarepa's disciple Gampopa systematized the curriculum and established a monastic framework, forming the core Kagyu lineage known as the Dagpo Kagyu.

The Kagyu tradition places particular emphasis on contemplative practice and the realization of the nature of mind, with Mahamudra as a central goal. Advanced meditative trainings also include the Six Yogas of Naropa, transmitted through generations of lineage holders. The Kagyu have diversified into several sub-schools, the largest of which is the Karma Kagyu, led by a line of reincarnate lamas known as the Karmapas. Since the 20th century there have been competing claims to the title of Karmapa, notably Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Thaye Dorje.

Other Kagyu lineages include Drikung Kagyu, Drukpa Kagyu, Taklung Kagyu, and Shangpa Kagyu, each with its own line of luminaries and monasteries, while sharing core practices and doctrine. Today, Kagyu institutions maintain networks of monasteries and meditation centers worldwide, supporting study, retreat, and community activity.