Rooted in Wisdom: Our Lineage Story

Since the Buddha perfected all qualities of meditation, he was able to attain full enlightenment — not just for himself, but to show that every sentient being has the potential to do the same. A central teaching of Buddhism is that Buddhahood is not something external or distant; it lies within each of us. By looking inward and cultivating wisdom and compassion, we too can awaken.

The Buddha taught in three great cycles, known as the 'Three Turnings of the Dharma Wheel':

The First Turning — Known as the Hinayana or Foundational Vehicle, these teachings include the Four Noble Truths, meditation practices, and insight into the emptiness of self.

The Second Turning — The Mahayana path emphasizes the emptiness of all phenomena and the cultivation of bodhicitta — the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

The Third Turning — The Vajrayana, or Diamond Vehicle, reveals that all things are not only empty, but also inherently imbued with Buddha nature — the pure, awakened essence within every being.

From the Buddha to his disciples and through countless generations, the Dharma has been passed down in an unbroken lineage. In the 9th century, Buddhism took root in Tibet when King Trisong Detsen invited the great masters Guru Padmasambhava and Khenpo Bodhisattva Shantarakshita to share the teachings. From that time onward, four major traditions emerged: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug.

The Kagyu Lineage was first brought to Tibet in the 10th century by the translator Marpa the Translator. It was continued by his devoted disciple, the great yogi Milarepa, who then passed it on to Gampopa. Among Gampopa's many students, the most renowned was Düsum Khyenpa, the 1st Karmapa. The line of successive incarnations of Düsum Khyenpa — the Karmapas — has preserved and spread these sacred teachings uninterrupted to this day, culminating in His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje.

Tibetan Buddhism — particularly the Kagyu tradition — is grounded in the Hinayana, which lays the foundation through ethical discipline and renunciation of samsara. Building upon this, the Mahayana inspires practitioners to develop compassion and work for the benefit of others. Finally, the Vajrayana offers profound methods for realizing the true nature of mind and attaining liberation in this very lifetime.

Through the blessings of the Kagyu masters, this lineage continues to inspire both monastic and lay practitioners alike — whether one lives in a monastery or navigates the challenges of daily life in the modern world.