Foundation of the Kadampa Tradition (1042-1054)

Teaching activities of the great Indian scholar Atisha Dipankara (982-1054) in Tibet. He and his foremost tibetan disciple Dromtönpa (Dromtön Gyelwé Jungné, 1005–1064) where the main founders of the Kadampa tradition, which subsequently influenced all schools of Tibetan Buddhism (e.g. the idea of a so-called ‚stepwise path‘ came into the Kagyü tradition via Atisha, Gampopa’s father and Gampopa). It especially emphasized compassion, discipline and study. More specific Tantric transmissions Atisha passed on only to a few selected students. More than 350 years later, the new Gelugpa School emerged from the Kadampa transmission.