The Buddhist lama Tashipel

As suggested by the iconography of its founder Milarepa — who, hand held to ear, preached through song — the Kagyu (literally, the “Oral”) order particularly emphasized the direct transmission of teachings from lama to student. In this portrait of the Kagyu lama Tashipel (1142–1210) the images in the top register depict the members of his Kagyu lineage in chronological order. It begins with the blue buddha Vajradhara, passes through the Indian mahasiddhas Tilopa and Naropa, goes down to the Tibetan translator Marpa and his student Milarepa, then the Kagyu lama Gampopa, and is finally received by Tashipel’s immediate teacher, Phagmodrupa. This last figure sits directly above Tashipel, as if pouring the lineage into him.

Smiling, facing forward, and making the teaching gesture (mudra), Tashipel projects his lineage’s wisdom into the future. His ability to do so also transcends space and time, as indicated by his appearance below his throne, where he gazes out of multiple buildings simultaneously.