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The motor of Diamond Way Buddhism is transmission, the passing on from teacher to student of teachings and methods - as well as the experience of their result. As such, there are numerous authentic lineages alive today - unbroken lines of descent from the Buddha himself. The Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism is an example of one such lineage. Being heavily practice oriented, the Kagyu is called the school of oral transmission. It was brought to Tibet from India by the hero Marpa around year 1050. Its specialty is the view of the Great Seal (Mahamudra) and its power derives from the close bond between teacher and student. The Karmapa, who first incarnated in the 12th century and is now in his 17th incarnation, is the main teacher today.
A teacher's authenticity rests upon having received the lineage teachings; having realised them; having kept a pure connection with their own teachers; and having been authorised by their own teachers to pass these teachings on.
