NYINGMA (Old School; School of the Ancient Ones)
• FOUNDER: Padmasambhava 9th century
• LINEAGES: Mindroling, Palyul, Dorje Trak, Shechen, Dzogchen, Kathok
• CENTRAL TEACHINGS: Kama and Terma; Nyin-Thig
• MAIN TANTRIC PRACTICE: 3 Innermost Tantras = Mahayoga/Anuyoga/Atiyoga (Dzogchen)
• HEAD OF NYINGMA: H.H. Penor Rinpoche
• LITERARY WORKS: Tibetan Book of the Dead, Rin-chen Ter-dzod
• LAMAS: Sogyal Rinpoche (Rigpa), Chagdud Tulku and Chagdud Khandro, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche

SAR (New Translation Schools)
KAGYU
• FOUNDERS: Marpa & Gampopa 1077-1152; Naropa 1016-1100
• LINEAGES: Karma / Tsalpa / Baram/ Phagmo
• CENTRAL TEACHING: Mahamudra (Anuttarayogatantra)
• MAIN TANTRIC PRACTICE: Six Yogas of Naropa/Cakrasambhava/Mahakala
• HEAD OF KAGYU: H.H. XV11 Karmapa
• LITERARY WORKS: Jewel Ornament of Liberation
• LAMAS : HE Tai Situ, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche
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SAKYA (School that came from the monastery with grey earth walls)
• FOUNDER: Khon Konchok Gyelpo 1034-1102
• LINEAGES: Ngor, Tsarpa, Ngorpa
• CENTRAL TEACHING: Lamdre
• MAIN TANTRIC PRACTICE: (Anuttarayogatantra) Hevajra/Mahakala/Chakrasambhava
• HEADS OF SAKYA TRADITION: Ngawang Kunga / Sakya Trizin
• LAMAS: H.E. Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche
• LITERARY WORKS: Discrimination of the 3 vows/Treasury of Logic on Valid Cognition
and works of Gorampa Sonam Sengey and others.

GELUGPA (School that came from Gaden Monastery)
• FOUNDERS: Atisha 982-1054, Tsongkhapa 1355-1417
• LINEAGES: Gaden, Gyume, Drepung, Sera, Tashi Lhunpo and Gyuto
• CENTRAL TEACHINGS: Chakrasamvara, Vajrayogini, Kalachakra
• MAIN TANTRIC PRACTICE: Lam-Rim, Tong-Len
• HEAD: Ven. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche
• LAMAS: HH the Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama/ Ven Yeshi Dhondup, Lama Zopa.
• LITERARY WORKS: Lam Rim / Works by Tsongkhapa