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Three lineages of transmission (Wyl. bka'i brgyud pa gsum) — the three modes and stages of transmission of the three inner tantras of the Nyingma school, and in particular of the Dzogchen teachings.

1. the mind direct transmission of the buddhas (Tib. gyalwa gong gyü; Wyl. rgyal ba dgongs brgyud): from the dharmakaya Samantabhadra to the sambhogakaya buddhas in the Akanishtha heaven, such as the buddhas of the five families, and Vajrasattva, and then to nirmanakaya buddhas such as the twelve teachers.
2. the sign transmission of the vidyadharas (Tib. rigdzin da gyü; Wyl. rig 'dzin brda brgyud): from Vajrasattva to the first human Dzogchen master Garab Dorje, through to Padmasambhava. For the Dzogchen lineage, this includes masters such as Mañjushrimitra, Shri Singha, and Jñanasutra.
3. the oral transmission from special individuals (Tib. gangzak nyen gyü; Wyl. gang zag snyan brgyud)<ref>This lineage is also sometimes known as the oral transmission of the ascetics (Wyl. rnal 'byor snyan brgyud).</ref>. In Tibet, the oral transmission of the Dzogchen teachings started with Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra and Vairotsana, and has continued in an unbroken lineage to this day.

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