Long ago, in 10th century India, lived two extraordinary women who perfectly realized the state of Buddha: the Jnana dakinis Niguma and Sukhasiddhi. The learned and accomplished Khyungpo Naljor, who left Tibet seeking India’s most precious teachings, met them and received their teachings. The Palden Shangpa Kagyu lineage was born!

Since then, thanks to the wisdom and compassion of all the masters who have been its holders, the lineage has been handed down to us today in all of its richness and vitality.

The Palden Shangpa Kagyu, a yogic lineage

The Palden Shangpa Kagyu is less known that the Dagpo Kagyu. It is one of the eight great traditions of the Land of Snow, with a pure yogic lineage, according to the Vajrayana transmission, transmitted from masters to disciples through the initiation and the sacred bounds (samaya) associated to it.

The lineage recent history : the "Dashang Kagyu"

From Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thayé...
The Palden Shangpa Kagyu was revived by Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thayé (1801-1899), in his Tsadra Rinchen Drak (Eastern Tibet, Kham) retreat center.

to Vajradhara Kalu Rangjung Künchab
The transmission then came to Vajradhara Kalu Rangjung Künchab (Kalu Rinpoche, 1904-1989) who founded worldwide many three-year retreat centers dedicated to its practice.

Vajradhara Kalu Rangjung Künchab was an holder of both Shangpa and Dagpo Kagyu lineages and thus gave the patronym "dashang" to the Dharma centers he founded.

...and his spiritual heirs
After the passing away of Kalu Rangjung Kûnchab, the complete transmission of the lineage, the Shangpa Chatsang, continued to be transmitted by different spiritual heirs of Kalu Rangjung Künchab, mainly in the context of three-year retreat centers.

Click here to see the history of these transmissions.

The Shangpa Network and the Kagyu Lama International Association

The Shangpa Network is the network of the Shangpa lamas and practionners. This aspiration of networking was initiated in 2008 by some of the elders disciples of Vajradhara Kalu Rangjung Künchab (see the Foundation Act and the list of members).

At the heart of the Shangpa Network is the Kagyü Lama International Association. Founded in 1978 by Kalu Ranjung Künchab, Kagyu Lama gathers the Dashang Kagyu lamas linked to his transmission. Its aim is to bring cooperation, friendship and harmonization among the Dashang Kagyü congregations and dharma centers. It is managed by a council of elders, consisting of the main spiritual heirs of Kalu Rangjung Künchab.

Why this website?

This website has three purposes:

1. to present the history, teachings and continuing value of the Palden Shangpa Kagyu lineage;
   
   
2. to inform about the Dashang Kagyu lineage and the Kagyu Lama International Association
   
   
3. to encourage meetings, sharing and cooperation among Dashang Kagyu lamas, communities and practionners .