: He is revered as the "grandfather" of the Kagyu school. His teachings were passed to Naropa, then to the Tibetan translator Marpa Lotsawa , and eventually to Milarepa. Core Teachings of the Ganges Mahamudra
The is a seminal "song of realization" composed by the 10th-century Indian mahasiddha Tilopa . It consists of 28 pithy verses delivered to his disciple Naropa on the banks of the Ganges River, encapsulating the direct, non-conceptual path to enlightenment that founded the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The Life of Tilopa (988–1069 CE) The Life of Tilopa and the Ganges Mahamudra
Tilopa's life is characterized by "transgressive" or unconventional behavior designed to break through religious dogma and intellectual pride. : He is revered as the "grandfather" of the Kagyu school
: After a vision from a dakini (female wisdom being), he left the monastery and spent years in menial labor. His name, "Tilopa," comes from his work as a sesame seed grinder ( Tila = sesame; pa = one who works). It consists of 28 pithy verses delivered to
: While he studied under several human gurus like Nagarjuna and Saryapa, Tilopa claimed his ultimate realization came directly from the primordial buddha Vajradhara .
: Born into a high-caste Brahmin family in Bengal, he was initially a highly trained scholar in both Vedic and Buddhist traditions.