Shangpa Lineage

Among all the Vajrayana Buddhist Lineages, condensed into Eight Categories; among these are: 1) Jonangpa Kalachakra lineage and 2) Chod lineage "to subside one's ego". Then 3) Dorje Ngondrub is the lineage directly from Vajrayogini to the Mahasiddha Urgyenpa and then 4) Marpa Kagyu, and 5) Shangpa Kagyu, 6) Nyingma, 7) Sakkya, and 8) Gelukpa. These are the well-known "Eight Chariots" of Tibetan Buddhism.

All of the eight chariots are directly from the Lord Buddha Sakkyamuni's teachings and sutra and tantra. For example, one can make tea in one teapot and pour it into eight different cups; the tea is from the same teapot, but the cups are possessed by the individuals. What you are drinking, is the same tea from one pot. These eight lineages are taught by the Buddha, but each individual has a different approach so the Buddha's teachings affect them differently, but there is nothing other than the Buddha's thoughts in his lifetime. From this perspective, the Shangpa Kagyu is one of the true authentic Buddha's teachings.

The Lord Buddha Sakkyamuni, the Vajradhara, passed the teachings directly to the divine dakinis Niguma and Sukkhasiddhi, two females born in India as ordinary women. Due to their karmic ripening of many lifetimes of practice, engaging in Bodhisattva conduct across many kalpas, the fruition of their practice led to the true awakening in that very lifetime.

This teaching came to Tibet from one great Tibetan individual, Kyungpo Naljor, who had the karma to propagate this lineage. Due to his karmic ripening, he traveled to India and had 108 teachers, receiving all of the sutra and tantra through hearing, reflecting, and putting them into practice. Especially, he received the complete transmission directly from these two divine Dakinis, Niguma and Sukhasiddhi. After spending fifty years in India, learning, reflecting and putting into practice, he returned to Tibet and practiced in a cave in the Shang region. He transmitted these precious teachings to his heart disciples. It is called "Shangpa Kagyu" because the teachings were first transmitted in the Shang region, with "Kagyu" meaning oral whispered transmission. He began teaching in that region, and within his lifetime, he became well-known with disciples from India, China and all of Tibet. Most of them were quite realized individuals, and according to his biography, it was mentioned that he had 10,000 disciples who could sit in space in lotus position while they received teachings from him. From this, the Shangpa Kagyu lineage flourished and many people benefitted at that time.

Kyungpo Naljor passed the lineage down to his gifted disciple Mokchokpa Rinchen Tsondru, who passed it down to Khyergangpa. At that time, due to various conditions, highly realized yogis would stay in the cave and practice privately; these yogis had no interest to build a monastery and gather monks, and were not interested in the Eight Worldly Dharmas, name, gain, and fame. The great masters, the Mahasiddha “Iron Bridge Builder” Thatong Gyalpo and Taranatha maintained this unique lineage and produced isolated practitioners; however, these yogis were only interested in attaining realization for the benefit of all sentient beings, so this lineage was not so well-known.

After some time, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodu Thaye, who was prophesized by the Lord Buddha in the Samadhiraza Sutra, became the most accomplished and learned mahapandit and realized all the Buddha’s teachings. He was completely non-sectarian (Rimay) and specifically saw that the Shangpa Lineage was the authentic Vajrayana practice, but at risk of being lost. He sought out and requested the initiations from a yogi in a cave, and at first this yogi refused. However, the yogi said he would give Jamgon Kongtrul the complete teachings and transmission on the condition that he would go on retreat and pass this lineage on to others, who in turn would also go on to retreat and practice seriously. Jamgon Kongtrul accepted this condition, and so received the complete transmission of the lineage. After receiving the initiation and transmission, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche went to the Tsadak mountain above Palpung Monastery and founded a retreat center there, first practicing himself and then leading thirteen monks to Three Year Retreat. They all emerged as authentic yogis, causing the lineage to flourish again. The lineage continued, passing on to Khenchen Tashi Ozer, Khenchen Tashi Chophel, Kyentse Ozer (the second Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche), Norbu Dondrub (the Mahasiddha who passed through Nirvana, and miraculously his karmic body disappearing into rainbow body, who was His Eminence Kyabje Karma Rangjung Kungkyab's root guru), then continuing to H.E. Kyabje Karma Rangjung Kunkyab (the previous Kalu Rinpoche) and to his heart disciples, His Eminence Bokar Rinpoche and the Venerable Khenpo Khenchen Lodu Donyo Rinpoche.

Kyabje Karma Rangjung Kunkyab was known as a highly realized meditation master. Early on, Kyabje Rangjung Kunkyab came to central Tibet and was requested by the regent of H.H. Dalai Lama, Rading Dorje Chang, to give the full transmission of all the Kagyu lineage. However, through the realization of his guru Tai Situpa Pema Wangchuk, who foresaw that a revolution was getting started, ordered Kyabje Rangjung Kunkyab to leave immediately. This saved Kyabje Rangjung Kunkyab's life - if he fulfilled Rading Dorje Chang's request, he may have got caught in the very life-threatening revolution. Throughout all his life, Rinpoche repeatedly stated to all of us, that his guru is human form, but mentally, true omniscience. When he said this, tears burst from his eyes - I have personally witnessed this.

In his lifetime, he did so much practice and also produced many accomplished disciples. Even now, many of his disciples continually are working in different parts of the world to benefit many beings. He was very close to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who, from time to time, during giving talks to this day, recalls how much he appreciates Kyabje Rangjung Kunkyab. Once the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa proclaimed to a big audience during a teaching, that His Eminence Karma Rangjung Kunkyab is the 20th Century Milarepa. In Tibet, he is the well-known non-sectarian great master. Jamyang Khyentse, Chokyi Lodu, and His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, and Chamgon Tai Situ Pema Wangchuk, with one voice proclaimed that that Kyabje Rangjung Kunkyab was the activity incarnation of Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. In Tibet, you will find lots of retreatants; he gave them initiation, teachings, and provided food and lodging. In Tsadak Mountain Retreat, there is a retreat compound that could hold thirteen retreatants and he later expanded to twenty-five retreatants while he was Retreat Master at the time. Nowadays, it holds more than forty retreatants.

Niguma, Sukkhasiddhi, Kyungpo Naljor, Rinchen Tsondru, Kyergangpa, and so on, all have biographies that have been translated into English, translated by the Tsadra Foundation. By reading these, you can be inspired in your practice and you will have faith and trust in this lineage.

This is the lineage we are propagating here to the best of our capability. For one who has a strong karmic connection to this lineage, we are providing information to practice. And, depending on your diligence, certainty, renunciation, devotion and compassion, all these conditions can expedite this path to get enlightenment. If you are drawn through karma to be interested in this lineage, please follow this lineage story; we have provided the basics for laying the foundation of your practice and you are welcome to research more in detail.

This lineage also has, from the beginning, preliminary practice up until total realization of omniscience through this path. There is no way that you can avoid the topic to get realization quickly and easily; you have to go through the path in detail and with precision. It does not matter how much number you accumulate, or how long you practice, that does not really matter. What is required is the quality of your practice, and this is the way you are not cheating your life doing useless things. Also, you cannot say "I have done this practice", and claim that you have better realization than somebody else. When you actually practice, your speech and body completely changes and beings have confidence and trust in you, leading you to help many beings. We are not talking just this lineage, each and every lineage is exactly the same as described here.

This short lineage history was composed by me, Lama Lodu Rinpoche. If you see any errors, don't hesitate to clarify with me directly, so I will learn from my mistakes.