Tai Situpa appeared in the past as Marpa the Translator. In this life, he was the spiritual heart son of the eminent Naropa and Maitripa; he was the yidam Hevajra appearing in human form. Marpa is renowned as the founding father of the Kagyu Lineage in Tibet, which became the source of an infinite number of accomplished masters.

Marpa incarnated in Lhodrak, southern Tibet. As a child, just the sight of him created a sense of fear and awe, few could even look at him.  So, his father sent young Marpa to study under a Sakya teacher named Drogmi Lotsawa.  From this teacher, Marpa became advanced in both the Tibetan arts and literature, and in Sanskrit. Drogmi Lotsawa was one of the main masters who the Sakya family received their transmissions (of Virupa's lineage) from.

Over a decade later, Marpa set out on his first pilgrimage to acquire teachings in India. Marpa’s friend Ngo, who accompanied him, became jealous and had all of Marpa’s precious texts thrown into a river. Unlike Ngo, Marpa contained the essence and completely understand all the texts he had with him, and therefore their material loss was only an obstacle to Marpa gaining initial credibility. But it was not a loss to Marpa's realization.

Marpa became the disciple of Naropa, whom he spent over sixteen years practicing under. He also studied with over one hundred other gurus including Maitripa, Kukuripa and Jnanagarbha. 

Marpa received the complete transmission of the Six Yogas, the Tantras, Mahamudra, the Sutras, the Calm Abiding and Insight practices, and he became adept in the singing of dohas. Jnanagarbha transmitted the father tantras to him. Kukuripa, who resided on an island in the middle of a poisonous lake, transmitted the mother tantras to him.

Marpa was not a monk, but instead a layman. He married Dagmema and had seven sons.  He visited India two more times in order to receive transmissions and practice.  Naropa predicted that the Kagyu lineage would flourish after Marpa's student Milarepa, but also revealed that Marpa’s family line would not continue.

Marpa underwent numerous obstacles when traveling to India so many times, whether it be due to the climate or robbers. Likewise when Naropa neared giving Marpa the complete lineage transmission, Marpa endured illness and suffering. All these cleared the way for Marpa to bring the lineage to Tibet.

Without the brave and steadfast resolution of Marpa, and his selfless act to preserve the teachings of the Buddha, the Kagyu tradition would not have been preserved. Without the appearance of the Tai Situpa as Marpa Lotsawa, the Kagyu lineage would never have flourished as it did in Tibet.

Marpa became known as a Lotsawa, or translator, because through his realization he accurately translated the Sanskrit transmissions into Tibetan.  He became the teacher to Milarepa, whom the lineage was passed onto.

It was after Marpa’s death that he finally was given the praise he deserved.  During his life, Marpa was often feared.  At the time of his death, Marpa revealed himself to be inseparable from the Buddha and demonstrated how a phowa is performed, stunning all those present. He then entered parinirvana at eight-six years old.