The Treasury of Lives

The Barom branch of the Kagyu tradition was established by Barompa Darma Wangchuk, a disciple of Gampopa. The name is based on the monastery Darma Wangchuk established in Kham in 1160, Barom Riwoche. Among the recent illustrious members of the tradition were Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

The Bodong (bo dong) tradition has a long and complicated history. The seat of what would become the institutionally independent Bodong lineage was the monastery Bodong E, which was founded in 1049 by Geshe Mudrapa Chenpo. What teachings were current there is difficult to know, save that in the twelfth century Kodrakpa Sonam Gyeltsen invited the Nepali yogin Vibhūticandra to Tibet and received from him a new transmission of the six-branch practice of the Kālacakra. Kodrakpa also propagated a lineage of Lamdre which was later subsumed into the Sakya tradition by Sonam Gyeltsen and Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo. Its greatest representative was Bodong Paṇchen Chokle Namgyel, with whom the unique Bodong Tradition is commonly said to have begun. It is important to avoid confusing Bodong Panchen with Jonang Chokle Namgyel, a teacher of Tsongkhapa and proponent of the Zhentong view.

The Orgyen Nyendrub (o rgyan bsnyan sgrub) is a tantric tradition that was included by Jamgon Kongtrul in his “Eight Chariots of the Practice Lineage” doxography, but which never developed a distinct institutional identity. It is also known as the Dorje Sumgyi Nyendrub (rdo rje gsum gyi bsnyen grub). Kongtrul credited its origin to the thirteenth century when Orgyenpa Rinchen Pel, a disciple of the Drukpa Kagyu Lama Gotsangpa Gonpo Dorje and of the Second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi. Orgyenpa traveled twice to India, first in the north to Oḍḍiyāna, Kashmir and Ladakh, and then later to Vajrāsana. He passed on his teaching to disciples in the Drukpa and Karma Kagyu tradition.

The Shukseb Kagyu, one of the eight sub-branches of the Kagyu tradition, was founded by Gyergom Tsultrim Sengge, a student of Pakmodrupa Dorje Gyelpo. The Shukseb lineage is named after Shukseb Monastery, which Gyergom founded in 1181. Its teachings were based on the do ha cycles trasmitted to Tibet that originated with Indian masters including Tilopa and Naropa.

The Yabzang Kagyu, one of the eight minor Kagyu lineages, was founded in the twelfth century by Pakmodrupa's disciple Zarawa Kelden Yeshe Sengge, whose student Yabzang Choje Chokyi Monlam systematized the teachings of Zarawa to form the basis of the tradition. Yabzang and Zara were important Yabzang Kagyu monasteries. Neither monasteries flourished for very long, and the Yabzang Kagyu teachings were absorbed into other traditions.

The Barawa Kagyu ('ba' ra ba bka' brgyud) was established in the fourteenth century by Gyeltsen Pelzang from Baradrak in Shang. Gyeltsen Pelzang also founded the first monastic complex of this tradition there, Dondrubding Monastery, which served as the seat of his incarnation line, the Barawa Tulku. The Barawa tradition emerged from the Yanggon Kagyu, founded by Yanggonpa Gyeltsen Pel. The latter is in turn a sub-branch of the Upper Druk. As early as the fourteenth century, the Barawa Kagyu spread to Bhutan. Later monasteries were established at different places in Tibet but mainly along the Himalayan slopes and in Sikkim. The most important centers in Tibet were Dondrubding Monastery in Baradrak, Drapu Choling Monastery in Kyirong, and Kagyu Gonsar Monastery in the Chumbi Valley, none of which have survived into the modern era, although the tradition continues in exile communities. The core teachings include, among others, the Mountain Dharma Trilogy (ri chos skor gsum) by Yanggonpa Gyeltsen Pel and the Exegesis of Buddhism (thar par 'jug pa'i gru bo zab don chos kyi gter mdzod), an encyclopedia of Buddhist scholasticism by Barawa Gyeltsen Pelzang.

Ehrhard, Franz-Karl. 2009. "The Lineage of the 'Ba'-ra-ba bKa'-brgyud-pa School as Depicted on a Thangka and in Golden Rosary Texts." Münchner Beiträge zur Völkerkunde 13, 179–209.

Erschbamer, Marlene. 2017. The 'Ba'-ra-ba bKa'-brgyud-pa: Historical and Contemporary Studies. Vienna: WSTB.

Buddhashri surrounded by the lineage teachers of the Yogachara tradition of Buddhist philosophy. He was the principal teacher of Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo, the founder of the Ngor branch of the Sakya tradition.

Shangton Chobar with Sachen Kunga Nyingpo on the middle left, Sonam Tsemo on the right.

The style of this painting is known as tshal thang, a red background with fine gold lines forming the shapes of the subject deities. Only the eyes are filled with white and black pigments.

An early image of Padmasambhava with Nyangrel Nyima Ozer and masters of various traditions, including Padampa Sanggye.

Nineteenth century painting of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Bhutan.

An eighteenth century painting of the Indian master Śākyaśrībhadra.

The Tibetan Trade Delegation to the US and the UK stand outside 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Clement Atlee. The photo shows, from left to right, Khenchung Tubten Tsepel Taikhang (younger brother of Shakabpa), Finance Minister Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa, Yampel Pangdatsang, Prime Minister Clement Atlee, Surkhang Lhawang Topgyal and Kaludharma Ratna (interpreter). An Advanced Political History of Tibet misidentifies Surkhang Lhawang Topgyal as his father Dzasa Surkhang Surpa Wangchen Tseten, but in fact it was Surkhang Lhawang Topgyal who was part of the trade delegation as its interpreter. 

This eighteenth century painting features Padmasambhava surrounded by his consorts Yeshe Tsogyel and Mandarava. Below are Śāntarakṣita  and Trisong Detsen. 

The Demoness of Tibet is a close copy of a well-known image located in the Tibet Museum in Lhasa. The landscape of Tibet is shown as the mythical demoness of Tibetan legend. Important Buddhist temples and monasteries are located across her body, spanning from the Ngari region in the west to Kham in the east. 

This late eighteenth or early twentieth century Drigung Kagyu painting of Padmasambhava and the Drigung Kagyu refuge field is associated with a terma tradition of Rinchen Puntsok. Drigung Monastery is pictured along the bottom of the painting along with Terdrom on the left edge. A nearby treasure site is shown adjacent to Terdrom.

Tibetan government officials Rinchen Sadutshang, Tsipon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa and Gyalo Thondup, the Dalai Lama's older brother in front of the United Nations in September 1959. The delegation made three such trips to the UN, in the falls of 1959, 1960 and 1961, to seek support for Tibet.  

To the left, Khedrupje is depicted while thinking of his great teacher, Tsongkhapa, who appears above him on a cloud. On the middle right, Khedrubje is making an offering to Tsongkhapa. On the lower right, Khedrubje is seated while editing a manuscript.

An 18th century painting of Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab, the founder of Pelyul monastery, surrounded by deities and Nyingma masters.

The central figure of Shakyamuni Buddha is shown with Tsongkhapa and primary disciples in the upper left corner. Below are protector deities.

This nineteenth century painting depicts Machik Labdron with tantric deities and mahasiddhas. 

This 18th century painting depicts Padmasambhava as a monk surrounded by several disciples and Jigme Lingpa above his head.

A group of Tibetan army officers with Tsarong Dasang Damdul seated in the center. The photo was likely taken in Lhasa. Tsarong, a commoner who rose to become Commander-in-Chief, created the first modern Tibetan army. 

This eighteenth-century painting depicts Śākyamuni Buddha with primordial buddha Vajradhara, bodhisattvas Maitreya and Mañjuśrī, and multiple Geluk masters. 

A nineteenth century painting of Padmasambhava as Pema Jungne depicts his disciple Sokpo Pelgyi Yeshe in the lower left corner. 

This Nyingma painting of Padmasambhava as Sengge Dradok shows Yeshe Tsogyel in the lower right corner.

19th Century painting of Machig Labdron as a wisdom dakini.

Mid-20th century painting of Machik Labdron and the Chod refuge field displaying teachers and deities. 

This 20th century painting depicts Padmasambhava in wrathful form as Guru Dragpo, in the treasure tradition of Padmasambhava biographer Nyangrel Nyima Ozer.

This eighteenth century painting of a Bodhisattva depicts Atiśa and Kadam founder Dromton on the top (left and right). Tara and Jambala are pictured along the bottom. Dromton is considered an emanation of Padmapani Avalokiteśvara, who is the central figure in this image according to some sources. However, the presence of a sword and book suggests that the central figure is Mañjuśrī.

This letter from the Tibetan Government in Exile documents Lobsang Phuntsok Lhalungpa's role in cultural preservation activities of the early exile government. 

A letter certifying Lobsang Phunstok Lhalungpa's employment and exemplary service as a teacher at St. Joseph's College in Darjeeling.

A receipt dated September 9, 1965 documenting the dispersal of funds to the Sakya Trizin and the Sakya Settlement at Dehra Dun, by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa on behalf of the Tibet Society of United Kingdom.

A receipt dated from1965 documenting the dispersal of funds to the Tibet Bonpo Foundation by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa on behalf of the Tibet Society of United Kingdom. The Tibet Bonpo Foundation was registered at the Lhalungpa residence in Delhi.

Gyelrong Choktse Gyelpo, Tseten Zhabdrung and Meu Gyalpo photographed at the White Stupa in Beijing. 

Panchen Lama and Bakula Rinpoche photograped in Kathmandu, Nepal, 1986.

Lobzang Chokyi Gyeltsen, the first person to hold the title of Paṇchen Lama, is pictured in this eighteenth century painting, with Maitreya to the right enveloped in a rainbow. The upper left depicts Cakrasaṃvara and to the right is Paṇchen Lama's teacher Khedrub Sanggye Yeshe. The lower left shows Vaiśravaṇa, with Begtse Chen to the right.

An unidentified person, Tseten Zhabdrung, Sungrab Gyatso (left to right)

Nineteenth century (likely made after 1829) painting from Drumpa Monastery in southern Tibet near the border of Bhutan depicts the Mountain Dharma Trilogy transmission of Yanggonpa. The painting portrays Kagyu masters including lineages of the Barawa subsect of the Drukpa Kagyu. Annotations and analysis courtesy of Dr. Marlene Erschbamer.

Avalokiteśvara with one thousand hands and eleven faces in the nyungne tradition of Gelongma Pelmo with Geluk lineage teachers of Tashilhunpo Monastery. 

Rubin Museum of Art, acc.# F1997.1.6

1962 Tibetan Primer written by Lobsang Phuntsok Lhalungpa on behalf of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama in collaboration with Khendrung Tubten Norzang, Dzeme Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, Thartse Khen Rinpoche, Rato Kyongla Rinpoche, and published by Kundeling Woser Gyeltsen.