It is interesting that when Buddhism comes to mind in the mind of a Westerner, an association with Buddha Shakyamuni arises that is literally translated "Awakened Sage from the Shakya Family", who received the name Siddhatha Gotama (Pali) / Siddhartha Gautama (Sanskrit) at the birth, which is translated (descendant of Gotama , successful in achieving the goals). Siddhartha Gautama himself reached enlightenment under the Bodhi tree about 2000 years ago. The remaining 45 years of his life, Buddha traveled along the Ganges River valley in central India in the company of his disciples and taught his Teaching to a wide variety of people.

But the main hero of modern Tibetan Buddhism, spread on the territory of Ladak (Little Tibet), is the outstanding yogi, Naropa, who achieved enlightenment and full realization under the guidance of Tilopa's teacher, and then revealed to the world the six principles of yoga Naropa. It is these 6 principles of Yoga Naropa that constitute today practices of modern Tibetan Buddhism.

The line of Naropa continued with outstanding disciples, who later became Teachers: Marpa, Milarepa, etc. This line continues to this day.

One of the most outstanding yogis of Tibet is Milarepa, because he managed to achieve enlightenment, without merit in previous lives, for one incarnation.

So, about the biography and history of the Tibetan school of Buddhism Kagyu line, we will tell in this article.

• Tilopa (928-1009)
  
•  Naropa (956-1040)
•  Maytrip (1007-1077)
•  Kukkuripa
•  Marpa (1012-1097)
•  Milarepa (1052-1135)
• Rechung (1084-1161)
• Gampopa (1079-1153)

Tilopa (928-1009).

Indian Tantric, one of the 84 Buddhist mahasiddhas, revered as the founder of the Kagyu line of Tibetan Buddhism.

Biography

Biographical information about Tilop is contradictory and contains many fantastic elements.

Tilopa was born into a family of brahmanas, according to some sources - in the royal family, he threw a stay in the monastery, receiving instructions from the dakini, and began to lead a wandering way of life.

Tilopa settled in Bengal, and squeezed the oil from the sesame seed, from where he received his nickname - "Tilopa" ("sesame").

According to tradition, Buddha Vajradhara came to him during meditation, and he received a direct transmission of the teachings of Mahamudra.

After receiving the transfer, Tilopa stopped wandering and began to teach students. The most notable of his disciples, Naropa, became his follower, having learned the practice, which is called the Six Yogas of Naropa.

Tilopa is considered the author of the saying: "The problem is not in enjoyment, but in attachment."

Subsequent degenerations of Tilopa.

In the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism, it is believed that after reaching the Awakening, Tilopa did not cease to be reborn, and to this day there is in the world as a nirmanakai - Telo Tulku.

Naropa (956-1040)

Teacher of Buddhism, a monk, and later a yogi, a Tantric teacher, a disciple of Tilopa and brother of Niguma, the founding father of the Kagyu tradition.

One of his most remarkable disciples was Marpa.

Biography

Naropa is considered one of the founders of the Kagyu lineage, showed himself as an outstanding scholar and master of meditation. In accordance with the teaching that Tilopa gave him, he developed the practical system of the Six Yogas of Naropa, which gives students the opportunity to experience Enlightenment. Later the teachers of the Karmapa line especially appreciated and developed these practices.

Early years and youth

According to tradition, Naropa was born into a royal family. According to other sources, he was born in the family of a wine merchant. At the age of eight he asked permission to go to Kashmir to deepen his education there. He studied there with the most outstanding instructors of the arts, sciences, grammar, rhetoric and logic. Then he returned to his parents and married the young brahmanke Vimaladipi; they lived together for eight years, and during that time she became his pupil. However, he asked for divorce to be able to continue his studies in Kashmir. He was accepted as a novice, studied for three years and became known for his erudition and remarkable abilities.

Monasticism in Nalanda

At twenty-eight, Naropa left Kashmir for Pullahari. He entered the Nalanda University, which was then run by four great Buddhist teachers.

After the death of one of them, he was elected to a vacant post and, having received the name Abhayakirti, became one of the abbots of Nalanda - "The Guard of the North Gate". His fame spread widely and resulted in numerous appeals to Buddhism.

In Nalanda, he taught for eight years.

Once, when he was studying books, an old woman with thirty-seven unpleasant features appeared before him. Being the embodiment of Vajradakini, she revealed to him the futility of book knowledge and told that her "brother" Tilopa could give him a special true knowledge. Naropa left his high position at the university, abandoned the books and set out in search of Teacher.

Discipleship at Tilopa

Tilopa subjected him to twelve severe tests, each of which resulted in the transmission of an important teaching. In total, Naropa was under Tilopa's teaching for about twenty years.

To Naropa the pilgrim-translator Marpa came twice from Tibet, who received from him initiations into deep tantras and instructions on Mahamudra.

One of the few historical testimonies about the last period of Naropa's life belongs to the Tibetan translator Ngato, who, while waiting in the monastery of Vikramashila to meet Atisha, tried to visit Naropa in Pullahari:

Since I came to see Lord Atisha, just as a simple monk, and since he stayed for a year in Magadha, I thought, would not I go to see Naropa, since he is so glorious. I walked a month south of Magadha, and heard that the lord had stopped at a monastery called Pullahari. From the opportunity to see him the greatest merit arose. The day that I arrived there, I was informed that a certain tsarevich had come to him to give him honors. I went there, and I saw a huge throne erected by him. I sat directly in front of him. The crowd began to whisper: "Vladyka is coming!" I looked at him: the lord was rather well-nourished, his gray hair was dyed with henna and reddened with a turban, painted with cinnabar. Four people carried his palanquin, he himself chewed betel leaves. I touched his foot and thought: "It is necessary to listen, that he will announce." However, people, pushing harder and harder, pushed me from his feet and finally completely squeezed out of the crowd. So, although I saw the face of the lord, but his voice actually did not hear.

Naropa remained for the rest of his life in Pullahari, where he died at the age of 85.

To be continued…