What is the Kagyu Lineage?
There are four major lineages (teaching traditions) of Tibetan Buddhism. Our center represents one of these, the Kagyu lineage, which traces its history back to 1000 A.D. The Kagyu lineage is called the “practice lineage” because of its emphasis on meditation practice. It is also known as the “whispering lineage” because its highest teachings are passed orally from teacher to student in an unbroken line. His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa is recognized as the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. He is a highly realized meditation master who represents the lineage and embodies its accumulated spiritual energy.
