The Life Of Tilopa And The Ganges — Mahamudra

: 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).

: 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 Life of Tilopa and the Ganges Mahamudra

: While he studied under several human gurus like Nagarjuna and Saryapa, Tilopa claimed his ultimate realization came directly from the primordial buddha Vajradhara . : After a vision from a dakini (female

: Born into a high-caste Brahmin family in Bengal, he was initially a highly trained scholar in both Vedic and Buddhist traditions. His teachings were passed to Naropa, then to