Tomorrow is the parinirvana anniversary of Pakmodrupa Dorje Gyelpo (1110–1170). Pakmodrupa Dorje Gyelpo , a trailblazer of many new Tibetan Buddhist traditions, is given a special status among Tibetan Buddhist masters for his political and spiritual influence. Pakmodrupa studied with the greatest masters of the time who belonged to different Tibetan traditions, including Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092–1158) of the Sakya tradition and Gampopa Sonam Rinchen (1070–1153) of the Kagyu tradition. His monastery seat, Densatil, became the political center under the Pakmodrupa dynasty, ruling Tibet from 1350–1481. The lineage of Pakmodrupa is commonly called the Pakdru Kagyu, a major school of the Kagyu tradition and the source of the eight sub-Kagyu schools. The four major Kagyu schools—Barom, Phagdru, Karma, and Tsalpa Kagyu—originated from Gampopa's four main disciples. The eight sub-schools derived from the Pakmodrupa lineage are: Drikung, Drukpa, Martsang, Shugseb, Yabzang, Yarlpa, Trophu, ...