The elder lineages stem from direct disciples of Gampopa:
- Barom Kagyu, established by Barom Darma Wangchuk
- Tsalpa Kagyu, established by Shang Tsalpa Tsöndu Drukpa (a.k.a. Zhang Yudakpa Tsondru Dakpa)
- Karma Kagyu (a.k.a. Karma Kamtsang or Tolung Kagyu), founded by the 1st Gyalwang Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa
- Phagdru Kagyu, founded by Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo
Whereas the younger lineages stem mainly from the disciples of Phagmo Drupa:
- Taklung Kagyu, founded by Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal
- Drukpa Kagyu, established by Lingrepa Pema Dorje and the 1st Drukchen, Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje
- Drikung Kagyu, founded by Drikung Kyobpa JIgten Gönpo (a.k.a. Jigten Sumgön, Lord Ratnashri)
- Martsang Kagyu, established by the 1st Martsang Rinpoche, Chöje Marpa Sherab Yeshe
- Trophu Kagyu, founded by Gyeltsa Rinchen Gön and Künden Repa
- Yerpa Kagyu, established by Drubthob Yeshe Tsekpa (a.k.a. Yelpa Yeshe Tsek)
- Yabzang Kagyu, founded by Sharawa Kalden Yeshe Sengé and Yabzang Chöje Chökyi Mönlam
- Shugseb (or Shuksep) Kagyu, established by Gyergom Chenpo Zhönnu Drakpa
Additionally, there are sub-lineages of the Karma Kagyu with their own distinct practices which not included in the traditional list:
- Neydo Kagyu, founded by the 1st Karma Chagme, Raga Asya (sometimes Raga Asye)
- Surmang (or zurmang) Kagyu, founded by the 1st Surmang Gharwang Rinpoche, Trungmasé
- Gyaltön Kagyu, on which there is no extant information
However, it is said that only a few of these lineages are still extant. Karma Kagyu, Drukpa Kagyu, and Drikung Kagyu are said to comprise approximately 90% of the Kagyupas in the Western world. Barom Kagyu is being propagated by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche---a reincarnation Tertön Barway Dorje---in Redhook, NY, and by Sönam Tenzin Rinpoche in Australia. The Taklung lineage of Riwoche is held by the 7th Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche, a grandson of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche who teaches worldwide, and is being established in Canada by Khenpo Lophel. Neydo Kagyu is being taught mainly in Nepal by the sons of the late 7th Karma Chagme Rinpoche, though they have many affiliated centers around Asia and the Neydo Foundation is represented in New York. Surmang Kagyu was transported to the US by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and has since morphed in Shambhala Buddhism, while retaining its more traditional form elsewhere. And despite claims to the contrary, the 12th Gangri Karma Rinpoche says that the Martsang Kagyu lineage is unbroken. He is propagating it mainly in the UK.
My question is, what happened to the other Dakpo Kagyu lineages which are said to have died out? Were there catastrophic occurrences in the histories of the Trophu, Yelpa, Yabzang, and Shuksep lineages, or did they simply get absorbed into the others, much like the distinct Shangpa Kagyu lineage became held largely by the Karma Kagyupas at Palpung? Up until the recent revelation that the Martsang Kagyu was still alive, I had been taught that it had been mainly been subsumed into the Palyul lineage of Nyingma.
For that matter, what became of the Rechung Kagyu lineage? Are there yogis currently practicing it, or has it disappeared as well? Perhaps some of these lesser known lineages haven't actually died out, but like the Jonang, have been limited to a local area of Tibet and are merely hidden? I'd love to here more about the histories of these lineages if you know about them. Please post links to resources you know of!
Barom in Exile: http://www.kunzang.org/ (US) and http://baromkagyu.org/ (Australia)
Taklung in Exile: http://www.phakchokrinpoche.org and http://www.mangalashrifoundation.org/ (Canada)
Taklung in Tibet: http://www.taklungkagyu.org/
Martsang in Exile: http://www.martsangkagyuofficial.org/en/ and http://www.martsangkagyu.co.uk/ (UK)
Rechung in Exile: http://www.lotusspeech.ca/lineages/rech ... u-lineage/ (Canada)