Kagye, Kagyé, bka' brgyad: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Kagye means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
bka' brgyad (བཀའ་བརྒྱད) [=sgrub pa bka' brgyad] in Tibetan refers to the “Eight Transmitted Precepts” (in the triad lineage of Nyingma).
Kagye (bka' brgyad) refers to the “the Eight Great Sadhana Teachings”—The term Kagyé refers to the eight sets of Mahayoga teachings or transmissions entrusted to Padmasambhava and to the eight Vidyadharas of India. Among the eight principal deities of the Kagyé mandala, there are five wisdom deities who represent the enlightened body, speech, mind, qualities and activity of all the Buddhas and three semi-worldly or worldly deities.—Kagye or Drubpa Kagyé is known in Tibetan as sgrub pa bka' brgyad and in Sanskrit as: Aṣṭamahāsādhana.
The Deities of Kagyé are composed of the Five Wisdom Deities and the Three Worldly Deities:
- Yamantaka (enlightened body);
- Hayagriva (enlightened speech);
- Yangdak Heruka (enlightened mind);
- Chemchok (enlightened qualities);
- Vajrakilaya (enlightened activity);
- Mamo Bötong;
- Jikten Chötö;
- Möpa Drakngak;
Within the general Kagyé cycle, the central deity is Chemchok Heruka. He appears in the centre of the mandala, while the other Kagyé deities appear in the four cardinal and four intermediate directions. [...] Vajradharma, the “keeper of secrets”, compiled the Kagyé teachings and wrote them down. He then took them to the Shankarakuta (Tib. Deché Tsekpa) where they were buried in the presence of the great Dakini Lekyi Wangmo. In the Stupa together with the eight caskets, one for each of the Kagyé, there was one additional casket made from five different precious materials and studded with precious gems, within which were eight divisions corresponding to the eight Kagyé. Unlike the other teachings which were for the separate practice of each individual deity, these teachings were for the joint integrated practice of all eight simultaneously. This casket was put in the centre of the eight Vajra masters, without being given to any one in particular. The teachings that came from this chest were the Kagyé Deshek Düpa: “The Gathering of the Sugatas of Kagyé”.
bka' brgyad (བཀའ་བརྒྱད) refers to the “Eight Transmitted Precepts” which was bestowed upon Nyangrel Nyima Özer—an important Nyingma tertön (a revealer of terma treasure texts in Tibetan Buddhism).—According to Dudjom Rinpoche (1991, vol.1, p.757): “While experientially cultivating the ‘Guru as the Attainment of Mind’ at Mutik Shelgi Pagong, Yeshe Tshogyel actually arrived and bestowed on Nyangrel Nyima Özer the text of the ‘Hundredfold Dialogue of the Ḍākinī’. She led Nyang-rel to the Śītavana charnel ground, where the master Guru Rinpoche and the Eight Awareness-holders who were successors to the transmitted precepts gave him, separately, the empowerments of the ‘Eight Transmitted Precepts’ [bka' brgyad], in general and in particular. They also gave him the Tantras and the esoteric instructions in their entirety”.

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+37): Eight transmitted precepts, Drubpa Kagyé, Vajrakilaya, Hayagriva, Yamantaka, Mantrabhiru, Mopa drakngak, Mamo Botong, Jikten Choto, Lokastotrapuja, Mathara, Lokastotrapujanatha, yang dag thugs, Vishuddha, Vajramrita, pad ma gsung rta mgrin, 'jam dpal sku gshin rje shed, rdo rje bdud rtsi yon tan, rdo rje phur ba 'phrin las, Chemchok.
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Search found 9 books and stories containing Kagye, Kagyé, Bka' brgyad; (plurals include: Kagyes, Kagyés, Bka' brgyads). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
3. The texts of Mahāyoga < [Introduction]
14. The Treasure-Doctrines associated with the Guhyagarbha < [Introduction]
10b. The Zur Lineage in Central Tibet < [Introduction]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 1b - Detailed transmission history from dynastic period < [Book 3 - Early translations of Secret Mantra]
Chapter 8 - Later Lineages (vi): The three sons of dpyan snga dpal chen < [Book 12 - Peace-Making Lineages]
Chapter 1 - Female Cutting (mo gcod kyi skabs) < [Book 13 - Cutting and Kharakpa]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
Part 39 - Guide to Chemchok Heruka < [A Buddhist Guide to the Power Places of the Kathmandu Valley]
Miscellanea to a Recent Contribution on/to the Bsam-Yas Debate < [Volume 11, Number 3-4 (1984)]
Stag-Tshang Ras-Pa's Exceptional Life as a Pilgrim < [Volume 18, Number 1-2 (1996)]
History of Science in South Asia
Reflections on Rasāyana, Bcud Len and Related Practices in Nyingma (Rnying Ma) Tantric Ritual < [Special Issue]
Bodhisattvacharyavatara (by Andreas Kretschmar)
Interview With Khenpo Namdröl < [Introduction Text]
On the use of Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects (by Ayesha Fuentes)
Kāpālika implements in the formalization of Buddhist Mahāyoga Tantra < [Chapter 2 - The use of skulls and bone ornaments]

