The Kagyu Lineage

Karma Kagyu Refuge Tree

Kagyu Samye Dzong Glasgow is a part of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The Kagyu School is one of the four main traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. All three levels of Buddhism are included within it; Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana. This lineage is known for its emphasis on the practice instructions of The Great Seal (Mahamudra) method of meditation as well as the “Six Yogas of Naropa”. 

Often known as the “Oral Lineage”, the Kagyu lineage itself contains many profound sutric and tantric practices passed down in an unbroken line of realised masters; from Tilopa, to Naropa, to Marpa, to Milarepa, to Gampopa and then to the 1st Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa. Since then, the lineage has been preserved and maintained through a continual line of Karmapas, to our current day 17th Karmapa; His Holiness Ugyen Drodul Trinley Dorje. 

We are blessed at Lochside House to be connected to this unbroken lineage through the Samye Ling Mandala. Located in the Scottish Borders, Samye Ling was co-founded by Akong Tulku Rinpoche and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1967 becoming the first Tibetan centre in the western world. Since then, Samye Ling has grown to include centres not just in the UK, but also Ireland, South Africa, Spain, Belgium, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iceland, Germany and more.

As part of Samye Ling and the Kagyu lineage, we have the incredible opportunity to study with different precious teachers including: Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, Lama Katen, Drupon Khen Rinpoche Karma Lhabu and other visiting Khenpos. We hope at Lochside House to continue to embody the teachings of these Lamas, and assist practitioners with connecting to the lineage to which we hold so dear.

Teaching from Lama Zangpo

teachers

  • Dr. Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche

    Born in 1940 in Dharak Village, Kham, Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche was recognised in early childhood as the reincarnation of the 1st Akong, following instructions from HH the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. Enthroned at age four, he received extensive training in meditation, Tibetan medicine, and the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages under many great masters. After fleeing Tibet in 1959, he became a pioneering figure in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West, co-founding Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland. His life’s work integrated spiritual teaching, healing, and humanitarian aid through ROKPA International. He passed away in 2013.

  • Lama Yeshe Losal rinpoche

    Venerable Lama Yeshe Losal was born in 1943 in Kham, East Tibet. He spent his formative years in education at Dolma Lhakang Monastery where his brother Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche was Abbot. After escaping from Tibet in 1959, Lama Yeshe continued his education at the Young Lamas Home School in Dalhousie, India before leaving in 1967 to serve as Private Secretary to His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim. Despite his heartfelt wish to remain in retreat for twenty years, towards the end of 1991 Lama Yeshe was asked to take responsibility for the running of Kagyu Samye Ling and the Holy Island Project which he consented to do and took on with characteristic vigour and determination.

  • Drupon Khen Rinpoche Karma Lhabu

    Description goes hereDrupon Khen Rinpoche Karma Lhabu showed great compassion from childhood and entered monastic training at Tsabtsa Monastery at a young age. He undertook intensive retreat practice in his teens under renowned yogi masters, developing exceptional meditative realisation. Appointed as a retreat master while still young, he later received teachings from many of the greatest masters of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. Rinpoche has served as retreat master and teacher in Nepal, India, and the UK, including Kagyu Samye Ling. He founded the Marpa Translation Society in 2015 and now focuses on training long-term retreatants at Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre.

  • Lama Zangpo

    Lama Zangpo became the resident teacher at Kagyu Samye Dzong in Glasgow in October 2024. In the years prior to that, since leaving the Sekhar retreat in Nepal, he'd spent 2 years on the Holy Isle overseeing the Centre for World Peace and Health, and assisting with the womens and mens retreats, after which he spent 5 months in Congo helping with the Kagyu Samye Ling Centre and monastery project there. It had been Akong Rinpoche's wish that the Glasgow group find suitable premises to establish a residential community, and that has now become a reality with the purchase of Lochside House in Lochwinnoch. This newly established community is being spearheaded by Lama Zangpo, in which the focus is on regular practice, as well as weekend teachings and sessions.