The Shangpa Sect was founded in the 10th century by Khyungpo (Chungpo) Naijor (990-1139 or 978-1127). He went to India to receive the dharma and studied there with many masters. The two he credited with being the most helpful were the female masters, Lady Sukhasiddhi and Lady Niguma. Both of these two female mahasiddhas reached a level of realization to be able to received tantra directly from Dorje Chang Buddha. The most famous master in this lineage was Dharma King Tangtong Gyalpo who also lived for a very long time in the 14th and 15th centuries. He received direct transmissions from Lady Niguma as well as Guru Padmasambhava. The lineage almost died out but was revived by the great first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche (1813-1899) and others. The most well known holder of the Shangpa lineage in modern times was Kalu Rinpoche. When Kalu Rinpoche left this world, Bokar Rinpoche (1940-2004) became his successor as the supreme head of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage and teacher of Kalu Rinpoche’s reincarnation, Kalu Yangsi Rinpoche (1990- ). The young tulku Kalu Rinpoche recently openly revealed his mistreatment and sexual abuse at the monastery where he trained in India after his father’s death. He has also encountered misuse of the legacy and institutions established in his former life and has vowed to reform the lineage and modernize the ways in which monks are trained.
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