History
The "beginning" of Drigung Kagyu can be understood on many different levels from myriad contexts and points of view. In so far as Drigung Kagyu is a practice-lineage that is blessed with the unbroken transmission of the Dharma originating from the Dharmakaya Vajradhara, it has "no beginning." On another level, Drigung Kagyu "began" with the establishment of the monastic community at Drigung Valley in 1179 by Kyobpa Rinpoche Jigten Sumgön. Just as many lineage masters preceded Kyobpa Rinpoche, many others followed. From this perspective, Drigung Kagyu - like any living lineage - is continuously  "beginning," vibrantly and dynamically unfolding and blooming for the benefit of all sentient beings.

On this website, many of the different perspectives and views on the history  and development of Drigung Kagyu can be found. The following links will take one to standard histories of the lineage, historical and trans-historical biographies of lineage masters, and recent history and development of the lineage.

• Origins of the Kagyu Lineage

• Marpa the Peerless Translator and  Milarepa the  Lord of  Yogins

• Dharma Lord Gampopa and Dagpo Kagyu

• The Expression of "The Four Greater and Eight Lesser Lineages"

• A Brief Introduction to Kyobpa Rinpoche

• Drigung Kagyu - the Early Centuries

• Chögyal Rinchen Phuntshog and the Yangzab Cycle of Terma

• The Chetsang and Chungtsang Tulku Lineages

• The Ebbs and Flows of a Lineage

• Drigung Kagyu in Western Tibet

• Modern History of Drigung Kagyu

• Drigung Kagyu Around the World