Tib., bKa'-gdams-pa: Bound by Command
Inspired by Atisha (982-1054), one of the heads of Nalanda University, and founded by his pupil Bromston (1008-1064), the Kadampa were the first organized Tibetan school to place high emphasis on monastic life and discipline. Bromston founded the school's head monastery in 1057 at Reting (Rva-sgreng). They regarded the wandering, independent Nyingmapa adepts as more or less degenerate leftovers from the so-called first diffusion (before 836) of Buddhism into Tibet.
After first having spawned three subdivisions known as Lamrimpa, Mengapa, and Shungpa, the school more or less disappeared and merged - through the reformation by Tsongkapa - into the Gelugpa; at first known as New Kadampa.
Gampopa, founder of the Dagpo Kagyud, comes from a Kadampa background.
The Kadampa are one of the so-called eight practice lineages.
Note:
Today, especially in the West, the school has resurfaced.