Tilopa was born to Brahmin Royals in East Bengal.  His parents prayed to the yidam Chakrasamvara for a child, and hence Tilopa was born. 

A dakini, in the form of an hideous old woman, appeared to Tilopa when he was young and inquired about his status, origin and family.  She replied to him: “Your country is Udiyana, your father is Chakrasamvara, your mother is Vajrayogini.” 

Tilopa was then instructed to go to Udiyana, the pure realm of Guru Padmasambhava, in order to receive teachings from the dakinis.  Tilopa faced numerous obstacles and the dakinis appeared in many fearsome forms.  However, after they realized Tilopa was the prophesied master to receive the transmission, the blessed mother, the Dakini Queen, bestowed the transmissions of various tantras. Afterward, Tilopa went to the Crest Ornament Monastery.  From there, under the name of monk Prajnabhadra, he studied Buddhist philosophy.

The two lineages Tilopa received from transcendental enlightened beings were from Vajrayogini and Vajrapani.  The lineages which he received from humans that were enlightened were as follows.

Nagarjuna transmitted the Guhyasamaja Tantra, Clear Light and Illusory Body yogas to Tilopa.  Afterward, He instructed Tilopa to return to His Kingdom and assume the throne.  Even when the Persians attacked, Tilopa as the King was so powerful that he stopped them without any bloodshed; he miraculously caused the entire army to become blinded by the power of blazing light and caused a forest of trees to become a huge army of soldiers. 

Tilopa received the Hevajra Tantra, Clear Light Dream and Bardo Yogas from Rolpe Dorje, the disciple of Lawapa.  Nampar Gyalwa transmitted the Chakrasamvara lineage of Luipa to Tilopa. From Shavari, disciple of Nagarjuna and Saraha, Tilopa received the complete Mahamudra instructions.  From the Argya Saryapa, Tilopa received the Tummo, or inner heart, yoga transmission.  From Sukhasiddhi, a great female master, Tilopa received the consciousness-transference practice (phowa) and from Matangi he was instructed on how to resurrect a dead person. From Indrabhuti, Tilopa received the teachings on supreme wisdom (prajna).

Afterward, Tilopa meditated for twelve years in a cave with his feet chained, gaining great realizations.  After the twelve years, the chains spontaneously broke by themselves.  That is when Nagarjuna sent a dakini to teach Tilopa.  The dakini, in order to rid Tilopa of his pride as a King, ordered him to grind sesame seeds for a prostitute. 

Tilopa gained his final realizations as the prostitute’s worker.  The great siddha flew into the sky, and through his power caused the prostitute to likewise experience realization.  The local ruler and the community witnessed the astounding event, and all became filled with devotion.  Tilopa taught them that just as one must diligently pound the sesame seeds in order to extract oil, one must diligently practice in order to arrive at Buddhahood.  Tilopa’s fame spread throughout India.

Tilopa continued to change the hearts of many beings without any bias. He could manifest in many ways and performed numerous extraordinary wonders.  He converted a Yogi through his miracles which included turning his body inside out, manifesting mandalas from every pore, and galloping over the sun and moon, after bringing them down to earth. 

In order to convert a barmaid, Tilopa drank over seven cellars of beer but miraculously replaced it all, while, manifesting in numerous forms. Likewise Tilopa often manifested as hunters and butchers in order to cause other hunters and butchers to lose their means of wrong livelihood.  Tilopa converted sorcerers and scholars with atheistic views.  He once converted a ruthless butcher by turning the meat in the pot into the meat of the butcher’s own son, causing the butcher to realize the horror of the sins he had been committing.

On certain rare occasions, Tilopa manifested as Chakrasamvara and as the embodiment of numerous other enlightened beings.

The short transmission lineage begins with Tilopa, as he saw face-to-face the true nature of reality as represented by the Buddha Dorje Chang.