Gar Drolma Choling Dharma Center

A Brief Introduction to the Drikung Kagyu Lineage

The Drikung Kagyu Lineage is one of the Kagyu lineages which was founded 852 years ago, by the great spiritual master, Kyoba Jigten Sumgon. This lineage directly came from Buddha Shakyamuni and the primordial Buddha, VajraDhara. All their precious Dharma teachings came to Gampopa from three lineages, through fully enlightened masters. The first lineage was called the Magnificent Blessing Realization lineage. From VajraDhara, it was passed on to Tilopa, from Tilopa to Naropa, from Naropa to Marpa, from Marpa to Milarepa, and then from Milarepa to Gampopa. The second lineage was called the lineage of Profound View. It came from Buddha Shakyamuni, and it was passed to Nagajuna, then to Chanta Kirti and so forth, on to Atisha, and then from Atisha to Gampopa. The third lineage was called the lineage of the Most Excellent Practice. It came from Buddha Shakyamuni to Manjushri, from Manjushri to Maitreya, from Maitreya to Ashanga and so forth, on to Atisha, and then from Atisha to Gampopa. Gampopa received profound teachings, secret oral transmissions, blessings, and so forth of all these three lineages.

Then all these teachings were given to PhagmoDrupa (1110-1170 C.E.) by Gampopa. At the age of 25 Jigten Sumgon (1143-1217 C.E.) met PhagmoDrupa and received all the teachings of Sutras and Tantras. Although PhagmoDrupa had hundreds of thousands of disciples, Lord Jigten Sumgon was one of his closest disciples. PhagmoDrupa prophesied that the teachings and blessings would be carried on by a Bodhisattva, Jigten Sumgon, who already attained the ten Bhumis. Jigten Sumgon received the complete teachings, secret oral transmissions, explanations and initiations, and enlightened realization blessings, and so forth from PhagmoDrupa. At the time of PhagmoDrupa's death, a congregation of disciples witnessed a miraculous transference of a golden dorje of light from the heart of PhagmoDrupa to the heart of Jigten Sumgon. After 7 years meditation in the Achung cave in central Tibet, Jigten Sumgon attained enlightenment at the age of 35. He then received the Bhikshu ordination and his fame began to spread throughout Tibet.

At the age of 37 Jigten Sumgon established the main seat of Drikung, which he named Changchubling . Here he emphasized the importance of moral discipline and Bodhicitta as the basis of Buddha's teachings. Since his mind was one with the mind of all Buddhas, he was able to guide all Bodhisattvas and sentient beings according to the degree of their receptivity and understanding.

When the first Karmapa, Dusum Khenpa, visited Drikung, he saw Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon Ratnashri as the Buddha himself and, developing great faith in him, received his teachings. The kings of India, China. and Tibet all recognized him and Maldrozichen, a king of the Nagas, offered to maintain the growing number of disciples at Drikung. Thus Drikung reached to the heights of spiritual and academic excellence. Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon sent many disciples to the sacred places such as Mount Kailas, Lache (near Nepal), and Tsari (near Arunachal Pradesh). Thus the Drikung Kagyu became the keepers of these holy places.

In turn, Jigten Sumgon gave all the complete teachings, including the six Yogas of Naropa, to his chief disciple, Gurawa Tsultrim Dorje. Now over eight hundred years have passed since the establishment of the Drikung Kagyu order. From the great Abbot, Khenchen Gurawa Tsultrim Dorje until the present, there have been 37 successive teachers who comprise the golden chain of the Drikung Kagyu lamas. All these enlightened energies, blessings and teachings have been handed down through the great spiritual masters to the present 37th and 36th lineage holders, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang.

The Drikung is known for the Great Phowa Practice and great meditators. There are many stories about those who have attained enlightenment in one lifetime. In the 1980's the great Drikung yogis who taught in Tibet and India were Pachung Rinpoche and Kungha Rinpoche, and other great teachers. Kungha Rinpoche has attained the realization of the Yidam. He saw Chakrasamvara face to face in one life time. He taught many three year retreats, including the six Yogas of Naropa. During that time there were many wonderful inspirations given by these great retreat masters.

The Drikung is known for the Great Phowa Practice and great meditators. There are many stories about those who have attained enlightenment in one lifetime. Even today, there are great Drikung Meditation Masters such as Garchen Rinpoche, Tenzin Nima Rinpoche, and Druwang Rinpoche. Druwang Rinpoche has highly realized Mahamudra and is known for going to town and singing spiritual songs like Milarepa. Sometimes he offers a song of inner spiritual realization to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and their Holinesses the Drikung Kyabgons, and other high lamas. There are many great teachers who are in retreat in Tibet and India attaining their goals.

His Holiness Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche has established the Drikung Kagyu Institute, JangChubling, in Dehra Dun, Northern India. There are many monks attending school there and many engaged in the three year retreat. His Holiness travels to the many Drikung monasteries in Ladakh, India and Nepal, giving extensive teachings to monks, nuns, and lay people from the east and from the west.