Shangpa Kagyu

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The Shangpa Kagyu is a relatively obscure sub-sect of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was revitalized in the 20th century by the Second Kalu Rinpoche, who had many students in Tibet and in the west.

1 Origins
2 Practice and doctrine
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Origins

The Shangpa Kagyu tradition is said to have been founded in Tibet by Kadrup Kyongpo Naljor, a Tibetan yogi. He went to India in search of a teacher, and came to study with Niguma, the sister of the famed scholar and yogi Naropa, and with Sukhasiddi, pupil of the master Virupa. According to legend, Kadrup Kyongpo Naljor stayed in India for 50 years and taught many thousands of students.

[edit] Practice and doctrine

The Shangpa Kagyu is counted among the Kagyu schools because of its connection to Naropa, one of the lineage holders of all Kagyu schools, and because of the many practices it holds in common with them. However, the Shangpa line is to some degree a school unto itself. The lineage transmission has also been incorporated into the Sakya school and other Kagyu schools. Tsongkhapa, who founded the Gelug school, was also versed in the doctrine of the Shangpa Kagyu.

Unique to the Shangpa Kagyu tradition is a body of tantric practices called the "Six Yogas of Niguma," which are very similar to the "Six Yogas of Naropa" practiced by all other Kagyu schools.

The present heads of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage are Bokar Rinpoche, the primary disciple of Kalu Rinpoche II, and Kalu Rinpoche III, a young tulku still in training.