The Contributions of Marpa Chokyi Lodro to Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism

Abstract

It is not possible to present the detail contributions of Marpa in one paper. The purpose of writing this paper is to present the nucleus contributions of Marpa Chokyi Lodro to Buddhism in general and Tibetan Buddhism in particular. Tibetan Buddhism is playing a significant role in propagating the teachings of the Buddha. There are several savants who brought Buddhism to Tibet from India, China etc. Marpa Chokyi Lodro was one of the main figures among these masters. He was the key figure in propagating Buddha Dharma. Without him we would not be able to know about Milarepa and afterwards his stream of lineage. He had been a great inspiration for hundreds of people who searched for Buddhism and travelled thousands of miles. Despite immense hardships he travelled three times to India. He was not only a scholar but also a practical person. In the history of Tibetan literature, he is known as the ‘Great Translator’. Along with many translations of Sanskrit text into Tibetan, his contributions in translating ‘Kagyur’ and ‘Tengyur’ from Sanskrit to Tibetan are remarkable. He is also known as the preliminary founder of Kagyu tradition in Tibet. This great saint Marpa is remarkably known as the guru of the Great Yogi Milarepa. It will be also our effort to throw some light on how he travelled several times to India. To understand whom he met in India, the teachings of transmission and empowerment he brought to Tibet and how he led a sorcery practitioner (Milarepa) to enlightenment.