Marpa: 1012-1097

Buddhadharma was transmitted from teacher to student and Marpa is the first teacher in Tibet.

Marpa Lotsawa brought Buddhism to Tibet. He became a disciple of Naropa, an Indian Buddhist teacher, and received the full transmission of the Buddha's teachings from him.

Milarepa: 1052-1135

Milarepa learned sorcery to commit an act of revenge, of murder. He was remorseful and sought absolution through the teachings of Buddhism as a disciple of Marpa. Milarepa is remembered as the first person to acheive complete enlightenment in a single lifetime, and for his poetic insight into the Dharma found in his Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa. Anyone who utters the name of this saint is blessed.

Padmasambhava

The first emperor of Tibet invited famed Indian Guru Padmasambhava to Tibet in 817 CE. Padmasmabhava helped to establish Samye, the first monastary in the country, after quelling the regional spirits who were impedding the spread of Buddhism. Padmasambhava ordained the first monks and taught Tantric principles of Buddhism.

Je Tsong Khapa: 1357-1413

Tsong Khapa was a philosopher and teacher who revived Buddhism in Tibet at a time when it was in decline. He established the Gelukpa Lineage, and was the teacher to the first Dalai Lama. He wrote "Great Exposition of the Secret Mantras," and "Fruit Clusters of Sidda." From his Three Principles of

Leisure and fortune are difficult to find

And life has no duration.

Through familiarity with this,

Emphasis on the appearances of this life is reversed.

Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche: 1910-1991

Rinpoche was born in Tibet into the family directly descended from King Trisong Detsen, and was recognized as a reincarnated lama in the Nyingma lineage. During the Chinese communist take-over of Lhasa he escaped into Bhutan where he became the predominant teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. He gave teachings to the HH the 14th Dalai Lama, and became the root teacher of foremonst rinpoches teaching today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b28EDHAimYA

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama: 1935-

At the age of two, Tenzin Gyatso was recognized to be the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, and as such, the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Boddhisattva of Compassion and the Patron Saint of Tibet.