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300px, Tibetan Portrait of Atiśa The Kadam school () of
Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
was an 11th century Buddhist tradition founded by the great
Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
master
Atiśa ( bn, অতীশ দীপংকর শ্রীজ্ঞান, ôtiś dīpôṅkôr śrigyen; 982–1054) was a Buddhist religious leader and master. He is generally associated with his work carried out at the Vikramashila monastery in Biha ...
(982-1054) and his students like
Dromtön Dromtön, Drom Tonpa or Dromtönpa Gyelwé Jungné (, 1004 or 1005–1064) was the chief disciple of the Buddhist master Atiśa, the initiator of the Kadam school of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of Reting Monastery. Early life and educatio ...
(1005–1064), a Tibetan Buddhist lay master.Silk, Jonathan A; von Hinüber, Oskar; Eltschinger, Vincent; Bowring, Richard; Radich, Michael (2015). ''Brill's Encyclopedia of Buddhism: Vol. II Lives'', pp. 1145-1158. Brill. The Kadampa stressed
compassion Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental or emotional pains of others and themselves. Compassion is often regarded as being sensitive to the emotional aspects of the suffering of others. When based on n ...
, pure discipline and study.Chokyi Dragpa (2015). ''Illuminating the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva'', Glossary. Simon and Schuster. The most evident teachings of that tradition were the graduated teachings on the
Mahayana ''Mahāyāna'' (; "Great Vehicle") is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices. Mahāyāna Buddhism developed in India (c. 1st century BCE onwards) and is considered one of the three main existing br ...
path. These special presentations became known as lojong (mind training) and lamrim (stages of the path). Kadam masters like Atiśa also promoted the study of
madhyamaka Mādhyamaka ("middle way" or "centrism"; ; Tibetan: དབུ་མ་པ ; ''dbu ma pa''), otherwise known as Śūnyavāda ("the emptiness doctrine") and Niḥsvabhāvavāda ("the no ''svabhāva'' doctrine"), refers to a tradition of Buddhis ...
philosophy. According to Ronald M. Davidson, "Atiśa's coming to Tibet in 1042 was the threshold moment in the efflorescence of Buddhism and provided a stable foundation for monastic scholarship for the next thousand years." With the rise of new Tibetan Buddhist schools like Sakya and
Gelug 240px, The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Bodhgaya (India).">Bodh_Gaya.html" ;"title="Kalachakra ceremony, Bodh Gaya">Bodhgaya (India). The Gelug (, also Geluk; "virtuou ...
, Kadam ceased to exist as an independent school, and its monasteries, lineages and traditions were absorbed into all major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Because of this, Kadampa lineages remained strong long after the school disappeared.


History of the Kadam tradition

The most important founding figure of the Kadam tradition is Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna (982–1054), an Indian Buddhist master who was known as a great teacher at Vikramaśīla and traveled to
Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...
in 1037 on the invitation of a princeling named Jangchub O.Van Schaik, Sam (2016). ''The Spirit of Tibetan Buddhism,'' pp. 30-31. Yale University Press. Atiśa's poem, the ''Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment'' ('' Bodhipathapradīpa; Tib. Byang chub lam sgron'') was an influential text which laid out the stages of the path to Buddhahood. He also helped translate some texts into Tibetan, taught Buddhism and wrote on Vajrayana practice. Atiśa's main teaching focus was on presenting a comprehensive Buddhist Mahayana system, and his numerous works explain basic topics such as
bodhicitta In Mahayana Buddhism, bodhicitta, ("enlightenment-mind" or "the thought of awakening"), is the mind (citta) that is aimed at awakening (bodhi), with wisdom and compassion for the benefit of all sentient beings. Bodhicitta is the defining quali ...
, the six perfections, the two truths, dependent origination,
karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively ...
, and
Madhyamaka Mādhyamaka ("middle way" or "centrism"; ; Tibetan: དབུ་མ་པ ; ''dbu ma pa''), otherwise known as Śūnyavāda ("the emptiness doctrine") and Niḥsvabhāvavāda ("the no ''svabhāva'' doctrine"), refers to a tradition of Buddhis ...
philosophy. Over time he drew several students around him, including the influential Dromtönpa Gyelwé Jungné, who convinced Atiśa to stay in Tibet indefinitely. This Buddhist circle was part of the "later diffusion" of Buddhism in Tibet. The tradition became known as Kadampa over time. The name means those who teach the Buddhist scriptures (''bka'') through personal instructions (''gdams''). After the death of Atiśa in 1054, his main disciple Dromtön was the main leader of the Kadam tradition. He founded Radreng Monastery in 1056.Van Schaik, Sam (2016). ''The Spirit of Tibetan Buddhism,'' p. 33. Yale University Press. Another important student was Ngog Legpai Sherab, he founded Sangpu Neutog in 1071. According to Sam Van Schaik, "both monasteries followed Atiśa's principle of combining tantric meditation practice with a firm adherence to the monastic code and with rigorous scholarship." Reting Monastery was located in Reting Tsangpo valley north of
Lhasa Lhasa (; Lhasa dialect: ; bo, text=ལྷ་ས, translation=Place of Gods) is the urban center of the prefecture-level Lhasa City and the administrative capital of Tibet Autonomous Region in Southwest China. The inner urban area of Lhasa ...
. The nearby Phenpo Chu and Gyama Valleys were also home to many large Kadampa monasteries. Dromtön's three main students were Po to ba Rin chen gsal (Potowa), Spyan mnga’ ba Tshul khrims ’bar (Chen Ngawa), and Bu chung ba Gzhon nu rgyal mtshan (Bu chungwa). From these three come the main teaching lineages of Kadam: (1) the authoritative treatises (gzhung) lineage, (2) the essential instruction (gdams ngag) lineage, and (3) the oral instruction (man ngag) lineage, respectively.Buswell Jr., Robert E.; Lopez Jr., Donald S. (2013). ''The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism,'' p. 123. Princeton University Press. These "three brothers" as they became known, traveled Central Tibet teaching and promoting the Kadampa order.Davidson, Ronald M. (2008). ''Tibetan Renaissance: Tantric Buddhism in the Rebirth of Tibetan Culture'', pp. 278-79 Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. During the 11th and 12th centuries especially, the monastery at Sangpu became the dominant Kadampa institution, known for its scholarship. According to Van Schaik, "Sangpu became the centre of the renaissance in Tibetan Buddhist scholasticism." It maintained a curriculum which covered '' Prajñāpāramita'',
pramāṇa ''Pramana'' (Sanskrit: प्रमाण, ) literally means " proof" and "means of knowledge".vinaya The Vinaya (Pali & Sanskrit: विनय) is the division of the Buddhist canon ('' Tripitaka'') containing the rules and procedures that govern the Buddhist Sangha (community of like-minded ''sramanas''). Three parallel Vinaya traditions rema ...
and
abhidharma The Abhidharma are ancient (third century BCE and later) Buddhist texts which contain detailed scholastic presentations of doctrinal material appearing in the Buddhist ''sutras''. It also refers to the scholastic method itself as well as the f ...
. Another influential Kadam monastery for Buddhist scholarship was Narthang Monastery, which was established in 1153 by Tumtön Lodrö Drak (ca. 1106-66). According to Thupten Jinpa, these two scholastic centers "came to dominate the study of classical Indian Buddhist learning, especially in epistemology, abhidharma psychology and phenomenology, the scholastic inquiry into the perfection of wisdom literature, and the Middle Way philosophy of emptiness." Due to influence and prominence of other Tibetan Buddhist schools like Sakya, Gelug and Kagyu, the Kadampa ceased to exist as an independent tradition by the end of the 16th century and their monasteries and lineages were absorbed into the other schools.


Teachings and Study


Authoritative Treatises Lineage

The Authoritative Treatises lineage of Putowa Rinchensél (1031–1106) emphasized the close study of six classic Indian Buddhist texts: #
Asaṅga Asaṅga (, ; Romaji: ''Mujaku'') (fl. 4th century C.E.) was "one of the most important spiritual figures" of Mahayana Buddhism and the "founder of the Yogachara school".Engle, Artemus (translator), Asanga, ''The Bodhisattva Path to Unsurpassed ...
's "''Bodhisattvabhūmi''", a section of his '' Yogācārabhūmi Śāstra'' # Maitreya-nātha's ''
Mahāyāna-sūtrālamkāra-kārikā ''Mahāyāna-sūtrālamkāra-kārikā'' (Verses on the Ornament of the Mahāyāna Sūtras) is a major work of Buddhist philosophy attributed to Maitreya-nātha which is said to have transmitted it to Asanga (ca. 320 to ca. 390 CE).Payne, Richard ...
'', a Yogacara work # Shantideva's '' Śikṣāsamuccaya'' #Shantideva's '' Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra'' #The '' Jātakamālā'' of Aryaśura #The '' Udānavarga'' Furthermore, according to Thupten Jinpa, "the studies of these treatises are complemented with further Indian Buddhist classics like Nagarjuna’s (second century) ''Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way'', his ''Seventy Stanzas on Emptiness'', and Atisa’s ''Entry into the Two Truths'' and ''An Instruction on the Middle Way''."


Scholarship

Atiśa was a follower of the
Madhyamaka Mādhyamaka ("middle way" or "centrism"; ; Tibetan: དབུ་མ་པ ; ''dbu ma pa''), otherwise known as Śūnyavāda ("the emptiness doctrine") and Niḥsvabhāvavāda ("the no ''svabhāva'' doctrine"), refers to a tradition of Buddhis ...
school and he introduced the complementary study of the works of Candrakīrti and Bhāviveka. Atiśa’s Madhyamaka philosophy was a synthesis which drew on the works of Bhāviveka and Candrakīrti. Atiśa taught Madhyamaka by using Bhāviveka's ''Tarkajvālā'' and ''Madhyamakaratnapradīpa'' as an introduction and then taught advanced students Candrakīrti’s '' Madhyamakāvatāra''. Later Kadampas (especially at Sangpu) continued the scholastic study of Indian Buddhist philosophy. At Sangpu, Kadampas also studied Indian Buddhist pramāṇavāda philosophers like Dharmakirti. However, unlike Dharmakirti and other Tibetan Buddhists who followed the Yogacara-Madhyamaka of
Śāntarakṣita (Sanskrit; , 725–788),stanford.eduŚāntarakṣita (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)/ref> whose name translates into English as "protected by the One who is at peace" was an important and influential Indian Buddhist philosopher, particul ...
(725–788), the Kadampas (following Candrakirti) instead defended a form of realism regarding conventional truth. Thus they accepted the existence of external objects conventionally.Emmanuel, Steven M. (2015) ''A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy,'' p. 405. John Wiley & Sons. Kadam madhyamika philosopher-translators from Sangpu, like Ngog Loden Sherab (1059-1109) and Chaba Chokyi Senge (1109-1169) translated and produced works on madhyamaka and on epistemology (''pramāṇa''). These philosophical works were influential on later Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. Their work had a lasting impact on Tibetan Buddhist scholasticism and by the 12th century, their study curriculum had become part of mainstream Buddhist study in Central Tibet. It was also at Sangpu that
Sonam Tsemo Sonam Tsemo (; 1142–1182) (or Lobpon Rinpoche Sonam Tsemo), an important Tibetan sprititual leader and Buddhist scholar, was the second of the so-called Five Venerable Supreme Sakya Masters of Tibet, the founding fathers of the Sakya traditio ...
(1142–1182), one of the founders of the Sakya tradition, studied under Chapa Chokyi Senge. Another important commentator on madhyamaka, Patsab Nyima Drakpa (1055-1145?), was also a Sangpu monastery monk who had studied in
Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
as well.Davidson, Ronald M. (2008). ''Tibetan Renaissance: Tantric Buddhism in the Rebirth of Tibetan Culture'', p. 279. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. Patsab's commentary on Nagarjuna's '' Mulamadhyamakakarika'' seems to be the first Tibetan commentary on this work. His interpretation was based on Candrakirti's method (which Patsab labeled ''thal 'gyur ba'' i.e. ''prāsaṅgika'') and this differed from that of Ngog and Chaba's ''rang rgyud pa'' or ''svātantrika''. One of Patsab's students, Mabja Changchub Tsöndrü, became known for his influential commentary on Nagarjuna's ''Mulamadhyamakakarika''.


Oral transmissions and essential instructions

Two other important early Kadampa lineages were the Kadam oral transmissions (''man ngag'') lineage entrusted to Phu-chungwa Shönu Gyaltsen (1031-1106) and the Kadam essential instructions (''gdams ngag'') lineage obtained by Chengawa Tsültrim Bar (1033-1103). According to Jinpa "Chengawa’s Kadam lineage of essential instructions emphasizes an approach whereby Atisa's essential instructions, rather than classical treatises, are the key basis for practice. These instructions include the guide on the four truths as transmitted through Chengawa, the guide on the two truths as transmitted through Naljorpa, and the guide on dependent origination as transmitted through Phuchungwa."Jinpa, Thupten (2014) ''The Book of Kadam: The Core Texts,'' p. 9. Simon and Schuster. Phu-chungwa's oral transmission lineage focused on studying the teachings found in ''The Book of Kadam''. These instructions were passed down only to one student in each generation in a single transmission until the secrecy was lifted at the time of Narthang Shönu Lodrö. Later these teachings were incorporated into the Karma Kamtsang Kagyu lineage by Pal Tsuglak Trengwa and into the
Gelug 240px, The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Bodhgaya (India).">Bodh_Gaya.html" ;"title="Kalachakra ceremony, Bodh Gaya">Bodhgaya (India). The Gelug (, also Geluk; "virtuou ...
lineage by the 1st Dalai Lama.


Lamrim

The Kadam school was also known for their gradual step by step schema to the Mahayana Buddhist path, which are recorded in texts known as “steps of the path” (''lam rim'') or “stages of the doctrine” (''bstan rim''). They typically divided Buddhist practitioners into three types, culminating with
tantra Tantra (; sa, तन्त्र, lit=loom, weave, warp) are the esoteric traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism that developed on the Indian subcontinent from the middle of the 1st millennium CE onwards. The term ''tantra'', in the India ...
and
Buddhahood In Buddhism, Buddha (; Pali, Sanskrit: 𑀩𑀼𑀤𑁆𑀥, बुद्ध), "awakened one", is a title for those who are awake, and have attained nirvana and Buddhahood through their own efforts and insight, without a teacher to point o ...
. Atiśa’s '' Bodhipathapradīpa'' is the locus classicus for this genre, other works include the “Short Treatises of Atiśa” (''Jo bo’i chos chung''). Many later Kadampas composed various works on the graduated path.Roesler, Ulrike (2019). ''The Kadampa: A Formative Movement of Tibetan Buddhism.'' University of Oxford. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.568. These works usually begin with contemplations on the rarity of a human rebirth, impermanence, and karma. This genre was extremely influential in Tibet, and all schools of Tibetan Buddhism eventually developed their own ''Lamrim'' texts based on Atiśa’s '' Bodhipathapradīpa,'' such as
Gampopa Gampopa Sönam Rinchen (, 1079–1153) was the main student of Milarepa, and a Tibetan Buddhist master who codified his own master's ascetic teachings, which form the foundation of the Kagyu educational tradition. Gampopa was also a doctor and ...
's '' Jewel Ornament of Liberation'' and Tsongkhapa's three Lamrim works.


Lojong lineage

The Kadampa lineage was also known for an oral tradition called lojong ("mind training") which focused on developing bodhicitta through various contemplations and mental techniques, such as contemplatively taking all beings' suffering and giving them all of one's happiness (a meditation known as '' Tonglen''). One of the earliest examples of a lojong text is Atiśa's ''Bodhisattva’s Jewel Garland.'' Lojong teachings are also known as ''The Instructions for Training the Mind in the Mahayana Tradition'' (). According to Gendun Druppa, Atiśa had received three lines of Lojong transmission, but there are conflicting accounts of from whom. It is agreed that he received teachings in
Sumatra Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the sixth-largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 (182,812 mi.2), not including adjacent i ...
from
Dharmakīrtiśrī Dharmakīrtiśrī (Tibetan: ''Serlingpa''; ; , literally "from ''Suvarnadvīpa''"), also known as ''Kulānta'' and ''Suvarṇadvipi Dharmakīrti'', was a renowned 10th century Buddhist teacher remembered as a key teacher of Atiśa. His name refe ...
(), and sometimes as Dharmarakṣita. In the former case, Dharmarakṣita is identified as a scholar at the monastic university of
Odantapuri Odantapuri (also called Odantapura or Uddandapura) was a prominent Buddhist Mahavihara in what is now Bihar Sharif in Bihar, India. It is believed to have been established by the Pala ruler Gopala I in the 8th century. It is considered the secon ...
. He is also known as the author of the ''Wheel of Sharp Weapons'' (Tib. ''blo-sbyong mtshon-cha 'khor-lo''), another one of the earliest lojong works. The final main Lojong teacher was the Indian master Maitriyogi. Atiśa secretly transmitted them to his main disciple, Dromtön, who passed them on to figures like Potowa, who in turn transmitted the lineage to Sharawa (1070–1141). During the time of the Three Noble Kadampa Brothers (Dromtön's main students), many of these oral teachings were collected together and compiled into the Lamrim. Yet at the time the lineages from Suvarṇadvipi Dharmakīrti were still kept secret. When the time was sufficiently mature, the Lojong Teachings were publicly revealed. Kadam Lojong texts include Kham Lungpa's ''Eight Sessions for Training the Mind'' (), Langri Tangpa's (1054–1123) ''Eight Verses for Training the Mind'' (), Sangye Gompa's ''A Public Explanation'' () and Chekawa Yeshe Dorje's (1102–1176) ''Seven Points for Training the Mind'' (). From Khamlungpa, Langri Tangpa and Chekawa Yeshe Dorje onwards they became public and later they were integrated into all four Tibetan Buddhist Schools. (These Kadampa-Lojong texts were brought together into the anthology ''A Hundred Texts on Training the Mind'' ().


Tantric Practice

The Kadam practiced
Vajrayana Vajrayāna ( sa, वज्रयान, "thunderbolt vehicle", "diamond vehicle", or "indestructible vehicle"), along with Mantrayāna, Guhyamantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, are names referring t ...
Buddhism and thus included tantric practices in their tradition, which were considered as an advanced practice for those of higher aptitude. The Kadampa's higher yoga tantra practice was based on Guhyasamaja and Chakrasamvara. Meanwhile, Tibetan sources mention that Atiśa’s main meditation deities were Śākyamuni,
Avalokiteśvara In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara (Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर, IPA: ) is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He has 108 avatars, one notable avatar being Padmapāṇi (lotus bearer). He is variably depicted, ...
,
Acala or Achala ( sa, अचल, "The Immovable", ), also known as (, "Immovable Lord") or (, "Noble Immovable Lord"), is a wrathful deity and ''dharmapala'' (protector of the Dharma) prominent in Vajrayana Buddhism and East Asian Buddhism., Jp. r ...
, and Tārā. The Kadam school also seems to have created their own tantric system called the “sixteen spheres” (thig le bcu drug), based on thousand-armed Avalokiteśvara as the central deity. This system is still practiced at Reting monastery.


Popular Buddhism

Potowa Rinchen Sel According to Ronald M. Davidson, the Kadampa masters pioneered popular strategies for integrating the Tibetan laity into daily Buddhist activities. These included
the promotion of popular teaching methods, the development of the cults featuring loving Buddhist divinities (especially Avalokitesvara and Tara), the spread of artistic representations teaching these ideals at sites available to all, and the generation of easily memorized verses set to song.
Davidson further adds that the Kadampas promoted a more egalitarian ideal to counter "the elite bias of most forms of Buddhism spread throughout Tibet at the time". According to Davidson:
In their literature, they retain a teaching attributed to Atisa, that monks “from this day forward, pay no attention to names, pay no attention to clans, but with compassion and loving kindness always meditate on the thought of awakening (bodhicitta).” This ideal was widespread throughout Indian Buddhism and given lip service in eleventh-century Tibet, but its implementation meant a fundamental change of pedagogical method, for monks would have to deliver Buddhist ideas to the populace. Eventually the change was effected by Chennga and Potoba, who devised a style of teaching that included popular images and anecdotes in their presentations.Davidson, Ronald M. (2008). ''Tibetan Renaissance: Tantric Buddhism in the Rebirth of Tibetan Culture'', p. 251. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
Potoba (Putowa) in particular was known for being attentive to popular expressions and made use of stories and illustrative examples in his teaching which appealed to a mass audience. Several hundred stories and anecdotes were collected in Potoba's ''Teaching by Examples. A Profusion of Gems'' (''dPe chos rin chen spungs pa''). Many of these examples remain in use today by Tibetan teachers.Davidson, Ronald M. (2008). ''Tibetan Renaissance: Tantric Buddhism in the Rebirth of Tibetan Culture'', p. 252. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. Popular fasting programs (''smyung gnas'') based on Avalokitesvara was also introduced by Kadampas.


The Gelug school, the "New Kadampa"

Je Tsongkhapa Tsongkhapa ('','' meaning: "the man from Tsongkha" or "the Man from Onion Valley", c. 1357–1419) was an influential Tibetan Buddhist monk, philosopher and tantric yogi, whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Bud ...
, a Tibetan reformer, collected all the three Kadam lineages and integrated them, along with Sakya,
Kagyu The ''Kagyu'' school, also transliterated as ''Kagyü'', or ''Kagyud'' (), which translates to "Oral Lineage" or "Whispered Transmission" school, is one of the main schools (''chos lugs'') of Tibetan (or Himalayan) Buddhism. The Kagyu lineag ...
and other teachings into a new synthesis. The Kadampas that followed him were known as "New Kadampas" or, more commonly, as Gandenpas or "
Gelug 240px, The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Bodhgaya (India).">Bodh_Gaya.html" ;"title="Kalachakra ceremony, Bodh Gaya">Bodhgaya (India). The Gelug (, also Geluk; "virtuou ...
pas". The three other Tibetan Buddhist schools (
Nyingma Nyingma (literally 'old school') is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as ''Ngangyur'' (, ), "order of the ancient translations". The Nyingma school is founded on the first lineages and trans ...
, Sakya,
Kagyu The ''Kagyu'' school, also transliterated as ''Kagyü'', or ''Kagyud'' (), which translates to "Oral Lineage" or "Whispered Transmission" school, is one of the main schools (''chos lugs'') of Tibetan (or Himalayan) Buddhism. The Kagyu lineag ...
) also integrated the Lojong () teachings into their lineages.
Gampopa Gampopa Sönam Rinchen (, 1079–1153) was the main student of Milarepa, and a Tibetan Buddhist master who codified his own master's ascetic teachings, which form the foundation of the Kagyu educational tradition. Gampopa was also a doctor and ...
(), who studied for six years within the Kadam Tradition and became later the main disciple of
Milarepa Jetsun Milarepa (, 1028/40–1111/23) was a Tibetan siddha, who was famously known as a murderer when he was a young man, before turning to Buddhism and becoming a highly accomplished Buddhist disciple. He is generally considered one of Tibet's ...
(), included the Lojong and Lamrim teachings in his lineage, the Karma Kagyu (). Nowadays the
Gelug 240px, The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Bodhgaya (India).">Bodh_Gaya.html" ;"title="Kalachakra ceremony, Bodh Gaya">Bodhgaya (India). The Gelug (, also Geluk; "virtuou ...
tradition keeps and transmits the Kadam lineage of the ''Scriptural Traditions of the Six Canonical Texts''. Together with Dagpo Kagyu Tradition they keep and transmit ''The Pith Instructions of the Sixteen Essences'', and the Dagpo Kagyu Tradition keeps and transmits the ''Key Instructions of the Four Noble Truths''. One of the most important sayings of the Kadam masters is said to be


The modern "New Kadampa Tradition"

In 1991, Kelsang Gyatso founded the "controversial"
new religious movement A new religious movement (NRM), also known as alternative spirituality or a new religion, is a religious or Spirituality, spiritual group that has modern origins and is peripheral to its society's dominant religious culture. NRMs can be novel in ...
he named the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). Je Tsongkhapa referred to his monastic order as "the New Kadam." The term Gelug came into use only after his death.Lopez, Donald S. (1998). ''Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West''. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 193 The NKT-IKBU explains that they are independent of other contemporary Tibetan Buddhist centers and Tibetan politics although they claim they are in the 'same tradition' as the Gelug. According to the NKT's own publicist, the purpose of using the term "New Kadampa Buddhism" to refer to their teachings is not to introduce confusion about their origins but to encourage students to emulate the purity and sincerity of the original Kadam school.


See also

*
Schools of Buddhism The schools of Buddhism are the various institutional and doctrinal divisions of Buddhism that have existed from ancient times up to the present. The classification and nature of various doctrinal, philosophical or cultural facets of the schoo ...


References


Further reading

* * * * * *


External links


Lojong and Tonglen community website
{{Authority control Schools of Tibetan Buddhism