The special Dharma Protector for the Shangpa Kagyu tradition is the Swift-Acting Six-Armed Awareness Protector. Commonly known as ‘Chakdrukpa’, he is a wrathful manifestation of the Great Compassionate One, Chenrezig. The transmissions for the Six-Armed Mahakala came from the Mahāsiddhas Maitrīpa, Rāhula and Shawaripa to Khyungpo Naljor, the source of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage. The great accomplished Tāranātha, a Shangpa Kagyu lineage holder, refined the various texts and practices and taught that the essence of this practice is to combine the Protector with the Yidam and the Guru Yoga practice.... read more →