There are many ways to enumerate the various Tibetan Buddhist traditions or schools: the four main schools, the Eight Chariots, and others. The list of links below represent a high-level but inclusive map to explore the richness of the wider Tibetan religious milieu. Here you will find tradition-specific books, articles, videos, audio, online courses, and more including the Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelug, Bon, Jonang, and more. For a quick overview of each school, you can also visit the Treasury of Lives.
The Tibetan Buddhist Traditions
Nyingma
The Ancient School
The school which forms an umbrella for a host of lineages that come from the original transmission of Buddhism to Tibet from Padmasambhava and Shantarakshita in the 8th century. The teachings culminate in the teachings of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection.
Some of its many branches include the Longchen Nyintik, Palyul & Namcho, and Dudjom Tersar, as well as the interweaving traditions related to the main Nyingma instirutions in Tibet: Katok, Dorje Drak, Mindroling, Palyul, Dzogchen, and Shechen.
Some of the notable masters include Rongzom Mahapandita, Longchenpa, Jigme Lingpa, Mipham Rinpoche, Shechen Gyaltsap, Sera Khandro, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Dudjom Rinpoche.
The 11th century tradition forged by Atisha and his disciple Dromtonpa, focusing on a special set of teachings on generating bodhicitta through the practices of lojong and the stages of the path that came to be known as the Lam Rim. It was absorbed into all the other tradtions, in particular the Gelug.
The 11th century school founded by Drogmi, specializing in the Lam Dre or Path and Its Fruit.
Some of the other key figures include Khön Könchok Gyalpo (1034–1102), Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092–1158), Sonam Tsemo (1142–1182), Sonam Tsemo (1142–1182), Sakya Pandita, Drogön Chögyal Phagpa (1235–1280), and Sakyashribhadra.
Kagyu
The Whispered Lineage
The school, translated as the Whispered Lineage, hosts a wide set of sub-lineages but most trace their roots to the teachings of Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, and Milarepa and culminate in the teachings of Mahamudra.
Some of its many branches include the Karma Kagyu, Drukpa Kagyu, and Drikung Kagyu.
Gelug
The Virtuous School
The school established by Tsongkhapa in the 14th century and main heir to the Kadam teachings. It became the largest due to its political hegemony across Tibetan but in particular central and western Tibet.
The Gelug is headed by the Ganden Tripa and is the tradition to which the Dalai Lamas belong including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The 12th century school historically connected to Sakya butwith a distinct set of teachings. It was popularized by Dolpopa. Philosophical differences – often masking political ones – resulted in the suppression of this school by the Gelug.
Sometimes considered as the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet but in the course of history evolved very much hand in hand with Buddhism and its teachings and practices often align.
Considered one of the Eight Chariots, or traditions, this is largely been absorbed into the other schools.
Considered one of the Eight Chariots, or traditions, this is largely been absorbed into the other schools.
We have many works on Chöd and one main work on Zhije.
In her introduction to her translation of Kongtrul's volume on Zhije, Sarah Harding relates,
"These profound methods...involve the kinds of creative techniques one finds in the Mantra vehicle (vajrayāna), while still informed by the view and conduct of the perfection of wisdom. To reconcile that, it is often said, and sometimes argued, that these teachings are the perfection of wisdom that is in common, or consistent, with Secret Mantra. For the less discerning eye, the teachings found here and in other sources are every bit esoteric vajrayāna."
