Introduction To Lineage

The Lineage Traditions Of Nalandabodhi
The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
Compiled specially for the web (2000)
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Buddhadharma or Buddhism, as it is widely known today, was founded over 2500 years ago in ancient India by the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. Over the following centuries, the teachings spread to the other countries of Asia, including Tibet. Nalandabodhi is connected with the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism, two of the great schools of Buddhism, which were established in Tibet during the first millennium.

The Nyingma Lineage in particular is known for preserving and continuing the teaching lineage of Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, who came from India to Tibet  in the 8th century, C.E.

The Kagyu Lineage puts special emphasis on the oral teaching transmission, and traces the lineage back specifically to the teachings of Tilopa who lived in India in the 11th century, C.E.

The director of Nalandabodhi, The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, was traditionally trained as an abbot of The Dzogchen lineage of the Nyingma school as well as in the Karma Kagyu school. Rinpoche is one of the lineage holders of the Nyingma school, as well as of the Karma Kagyu school as he was a heart son of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa.

Transmission from India to Tibet

Fulfilling an ancient vow and aspiration to bring the teachings of the Shakyamuni Buddha to Tibet, three great masters established the Buddhadharma in Tibet:

• Padmasambhava, the Guru of Oddiyana
• Shantarakshita, the Abbot of Nalanda University
• Tri-song Deu-tsen, the second Dharma King

Buddhist teachings came to Tibet in eight major practice lineages in early times. Gradually, these practice lineages continued within the four major lineage streams, known as the Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Geluk. (For a general discussion about the major transmission from India to Tibet, see History Of Buddhism In Tibet.)

The Nyingma Lineage

The Kagyu Lineage