mahamudra is defined by gampopa as "the realization of the natural state as awareness-emptiness, absolutely clear and transparent, without root". gampopa also states that mahamudra is "the paramita of wisdom, beyond thought and expression." gampopa taught mahamudra in a five part system to his disciples, one of his most well known disciples, phagmo drupa (1110-1170) became a very successful teacher who continued to teach this five part system and eight "junior" kagyu lineages are traced to him. this “five-part mahāmudrā” system became one of the main ways that mahāmudrā was transmitted in kagyu lineages after gampopa.