" He made a tarma
offering
and said, "Pour a handful of tsampa into each sack.
Dudjom Rinpoche - Fundamentals and History of the Nyingmapa
y rollIng them with his feet.
When the artisans saw this his patience In the face of their abuses, and other signs of his compassion
The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 623
624 History: The Distant Lineage ofTransmitted Precepts
Mother [Prajfiaparamita] and Dlparpkara, each surrounded by four 742
offering goddesses. In the protectors' shrine, he made relief images of Bhagavat, SrldevI, Brahma, and Sakra. Frescoes of the gurus of the lineage were painted in the eight-pillared upper court, and those
of twenty-three maIfQalas, such as the "Hundred-petalled Lotus", on its surrounding wall. In the lower court, which had twenty pillars, there were frescoes of the Thousand Buddhas; the Buddhas of the Ten
Directions; Amitayus surrounded by the [Eight] "Closest Sons"; the Seven Generations of Buddhas; the twelve deeds; the bodhisattva Dhar- modgata; Tara, who protects from the eight fears; the Lords of the Three Families; the Malaya Buddha-field; the wheel oflife; et cetera.
When the building had been completed in this way Zurpoche thought, "Now, I shall cover my temple with gold right up to the roof; and I shall extract the gold from Mount Drong-ri Chukpo. "
At midnight the local divinity, a Tsen spirit, came in the form of a black horseman. He bowed before Zurpoche and circumambulated him, saying, "If I were to cover the temple with gold right up to the
roof, my gold would be exhausted. I shall offer gold enough to cover
completely the images of the deities. " And so he did.
During the consecration both the conqueror Zurpoche and Zur- cungpa displayed an endless array of miraculous powers: They entered
743
via the crown, and the crown via the heart. As a result all the artisans developed sincere faith and said, "The guru's temple is like Mount Sumeru. Let us build a
stl1pa to accompany it. " In faith they offered a stl1pa modelled on the Blue Stl1pa at Samye, which they built to the north of the Trashi
Gomang Temple.
The guru's seat became universally renowned as glorious Ukpalung,
after his own name. It is said that it was founded in the time of Lharje Zurpoche; that its traditions were established by Zurcungpa; and that Zur Sakya Senge made them widespread. This describes the great servicetotheteachingofthevehicleofindestructiblerealityofthe Ancient Translation School that was effected by this abbatial succession.
By his teaching and other activities Zurpoche greatly benefitted the world. Once, when the master and all his disciples were performing, at Yang-en Sermo, a year-long retreat devoted to Yangdak Heruka, no
lamps could be offered owing to the shortage of butter. By his blessing
Zurpoche transformed the spring into a fountain of clarified butter for e
a week. Thus, they were able to obtain an unending supply of ghe . At first, the teacher and his students there mainly devoted themselves to study; so there were few who were adept at the rites ofenlightened activ-
ity. When discussions were held in the teaching court, those who did know the rites were seated among the ignorant, who did not participate in the discussions. [In retaliation] the ritualists would not alloW the others to chant when they assembled for the d3ily torma offerings. At this Lama
. " The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 625 Zurpoche saId, One may be liberated b "
the heart of the image of Sarvavid-Vairocana
So it was that when th h h
understandings 'the guru ree had also articulated their own
tion of view, In practising the true divine doctrine
The is view, and conduct That whIch IS labelled the "view" . Is no view when there is something to look for
Look meaning of freedom from things view' And bnng meffable reality on to your path! .
devotion, of his disciples to increase vastly. After- built great in Ukpalung and
. me ItatIOn centre.
was Heruka at Yang-en
standingerectin WIthonefaceandtwohands and told Lama Zurpo h at Shang. He left his retreat
Heru a. The aw h Id would construct 0
any subject. It is not right to scorn one at the ,culmination of
spiritual system among the nine vehI' 1 h Each phIlosophical and . d' ces asItSownscope Th .
tylme guru said to his four disciples who like summits . . ou our must artIculate what you understand
Important m experientially cultivating the path" Zurcungpa said, "If one does not medi 'h "
Because we must purif the h
pollution, here and now rt is ee: which are like
preJu Ice towards anyone vehicle" An
t
A . Y ecame umble
ex his meaning dawned in them all and' the b
d' . ere IS no mary
pensities of former desires will never end t mul. tlt. udmous. pro- be"decisive with respect to experiential It IS essenual to
and night. , s e n Ia to penorm acts of virtue, day "B
of merit until the abiding getically, however small. " , t IS essentIal to practise virtues ener-
cun a e w at a taken place. The guru said "Zur- gPk' you have achIeved the accomplishment of the Great Gl .
raor h understanding of
. ,
er Namkel Nymgpo prophesied that I
demons which and, having subdued the powerful Now I a m ' . e 1 etan people, would benefit the world
, gomg to achIeve this. " .
Then, he said to his att d "G
temple We '11 . en ants, ather materials for building a
. WI exorCIse the . t ,,, H
Skull Rock), arranged the e. e, sat on Trak Sengei YaW (Lion-
of the Great G l ' H a offenngs, entered the contemplation onous eruka and d h .
Those who had the good f t ' assume t e appropnate posture. guru in that form. ortune to behold a buddha really saw the
' to be most
onous
626 History: The Distant Lineage ofTransmitted Precepts
The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 627
While the foundation-stones were being laid, Zurcungpa was scorned by some because his body was lean and his appearance lustreless. They insulted him saying, "All the others have a large foundation-stone in place. Now, it is time for Zurcungpa to set a strongman's boulder in position! "
To which Zurcungpa replied, "The master and disciples should go for lunch. I will be coming presently. " But he did not leave.
When the others had eaten and returned they saw that eight enormous boulders, which no one could budge, even by heroic efforts, had been set up at the four sides and four corners of the foundation. Upon them were chalked the following words:
745 THESE ARE ZURCUNGP A'S STRONGMAN STONES
When they saw this, the monks were humbled; and those who were fair-minded became devoted to him. It is well known, too, that after Zurcungpa had set his "strongman stones" in position, the evil designs of the wild demons and spirits of darkness, who wished to obstruct the building of the temple, were pacified.
When the time came to join the wood, four pillars were crooked. The guru said, "You straighten them, Zurcungpa! " And in a single breath Zurcungpa twisted and bent them until they were as straight as arrows.
As the roof was approaching completion the guru said, "I have [spiritually] summoned the sculptors. They are on their way. " The very next day certain persons familiar with image-making arrived to ask for doctrinal instruction. Zurpoche feigned ignorance and said, "Are you skilled in any trades? "
To which they replied, "We are image-makers who have come to request doctrinal instruction from you. "
"That is an auspicious coincidence. You shall indeed receive the doctrine you desire. I am erecting an image of the Great Glorious One, for it will be of great benefit to the world in this degenerate age. I request that you make it. "
The sculptors displayed great devotion, so first of all the master gave them the vase empowerment of the glorious Yangdak Heruka. They Prepared a mixture which combined relics from the Tathagata's re-
. 746 mains; the flesh of one who had been born as a brahman seven umes;
earth, stone, water, and wood from the eight charnel grounds; a variety of precious gems; and sacramental medicine refined by the awareness- holders of India and Tibet.
The sculptors asked Zurpoche how large the image should be he replied, "Make it as high as the roof. " They made an appropnate image of the fruitional Heruka, who has three faces, awesome, wrathful, and laughing, and six arms, but the guru said, "It does not my vision. Make it again. "
Yangdak Heruka
He had repeat the work many times and eventually said, "Can you make an Image of me? "
"Yes, we can do that. "
"Perform supplications tonight, and come to see me tomorrow. " The next day, accompanied by Zurcungpa, the sculptors went to
meet. the master. He told his attendant Tanya Dorje to arrange torma offenngs and feast offerings. Then he propitiated Yangdak Heruka and performed the feast offerings. "Now look! " he said, and as he adopted the gaze [of the deity] he actually became Heruka, a fearsome and apparition, with one face, two arms, gnashing teeth, and
tWIsted tongue, his head resplendent among the clouds and mist his right foot resting upon the face of Heruka Rock in Ukpalung, hi; left fo. ot upon the summit of Mount Tsepo Purkang. His indestructible wmgs filled the sky. The sculptors could not endure his radiance and into unconsciousness. When they awoke, the guru eased his mtenuonand, with a brilliant smile, said, "Now, do you understand? "
"Now", they asked, "please show us a Heruka with three faces and six arms, so that we may recreate it. "
Zurpoche said, "That is too profound. Owing to the needs of those
628 History: The Distant Lineage afTransmitted Precepts
requiring training, it was the Heruka with one face and two arms that
appeared. "
While they were making the image according to his orders, they
were able to fashion it from the navel downwards just as they had seen it before. But Zurpoche said, "You will have to do the upper section once again. " He had them repeat it many times, but then said, "Your
obscurations have not been purified. Knead the clay well and leave it here. Bathe in yonder fountain; for it is the water of accomplishment that arose when I scattered a skull-cup full of nectar. Circumambulate the temple seven times and come in. Until then no one should enter.
I shall pray to the Great Glorious One. "
As they were doing this, a continual buzzing was heard coming from
within. When they had finished bathing and circumambulating they went inside; no one at all was near the master. He was absorbed in contemplation. But the clay had been used up and an image of the
Great Glorious One, from the navel upwards, had spontaneously ap- peared. All the disciples and sculptors were absolutely astonished. They bowed before Zurpoche and said, "If the guru himself knew how to
make it, then surely he was only testing us by not doing this earliert"
At that Zurpoche make this declaration, which foretold the future:
An image resembling me
Has come to a man like me.
It will guide the world in the degenerate age;
It will be a remedy for sickness and demons.
At first, by depending on Heruka, [this image of] Heruka
Himself arose. But noW that same Heruka Will be absorbed into this [image of] Heruka.
In the past, the great accomplished masters were completely mindful of preserving secrecy. Therefore, Zurpoche said that it was improper to make images according to the secret means for attainment in places
where many people would congregate. "You must make the images of the Eight Wrathful Goddesses according to the tradition of the tantras," he said. '47 And so they did. The frescoes painted to the right were of
the peaceful deities of the Magical Net, and those on the left were of the blazing wrathful deities. In front were frescoes of the deities of the entire Sutra which Gathers All Intentions. Painted above were three
manQalas; and in the vestibule the glorious Mahakala according to the tradition of wrathful Yamantaka, together with the eightfold group of
the M6npa, mounted on tigers.
Then the time came for the consecration. They made preparations
for the consecratory feast, saying, "Whom shaH we commission to make the ale? Whence shall we get the meat? " An attendant said, "There were great expenses in connection with the craftsmen, labourers, and
d The Lineage ofthe Zur Famity 629 an even take loans from our ben f:
guests, so our wealth is all but exhausted. Now we must await donations
secration. " e actors. Let us postpone the con-
But Zurcungpa said' "We WI·11 perform the owever there is no way we will fin .
. consecratIOn on time.
H
are not even enough clay jars
S I d for the ale; there
0 . et uds the nagas to make
ale. It is also difficult to find·
. meat, an even Ifw d fj d·
pay the pnce. So let us use Tram p. . d e 0 m Itwecannot . . . pa on rongpa' C'
petItIOnmg the spirits we . 11 s oxen lor meat. By WI get enough ts p [.
flour]. If we do this nothing at all rnh
1 en Lama Zurpoche said "W
·11 b 1 am. aLe. parched barley WI e ackmg"
·11 . .
loads of barley for the ale! 748 Y'
. ou are to fer .
Act as if there is more ale for th Zurcungpa, summon a naginI! "
who dwelt on the rock at Yaze SIster ofthe naga demon Zurcungpa turned into a fair lady b g. thI? snake appeared, which said, "I want you to make the ale ofhIS At that Zurpoche
But she replied "I f h e_consecratIOnofmytemple. " , am 0 t e pure naga r h· h C'
We abstain from alcohol At th . ace, w IC lears defilement.
radiance. So while t h e · . e same tIme, I cannot endure the guru's , re IS no way for me t0 d
you commission my elder brothe I ·11 pro uce ale, I beg that
Then the . guru said "N h r. ZWI 0 er all necessary help. " , ow t en urcung ·11
e consecratIon when At that, Zurcungpa intentionall sum .
. . you are m publIc.
transform her elder brother)'" "I will try to summon "
pa, WI you summon and
He adopted a gaze and a a
When overpowered by Z ' pp
C' urcungpa s contempI ( h lorm. Zurcungpa ordered h. a Ion
e WI reqUIre at least one thousand SIX measures of barley.
ear d .
e , the SIze of a young goat.
no time to make ale yet I am . brleqUIre many gIfts and favours. I have , una e to transg th '
Zurpoche took both their vital h ress e guru s command. " oaths of allegiance. The nagas said bound them under row. Make preparations! 0 _' e WI arnve the day after tomor- arrange a pure and safe· . ur naga race is above defilement. Please
At th· L enVIronment for our dwelling"
Imtomakeale buth
the race of gods and demons I . ' . e sal, belong to
IS ama Zurpoche said "I h 11 bl He h d h . , s a
.
ess the environment"
a tree clay Jars with sto er 749
and also collected things ds
ures of barley mash were . emon. s and nagas. The six meas-
white barley Then th t mto the Jars and topped with pure . ewonagademo bh .
placed inside. The mouths of h . ns, rot er and sIster, were ceremonial blouse and th fl t e Jars were fastened with the guru's its sleeves. Zurp;che be contr. olled through the nagas proceeded to h h Jars wIth an mdestructIble knot and that the ale was e essence of ale from all directions, so
Then an attendant said "Th .
do for tsampa? " , e r e IS now enough ale. But what will we
e revealed his true ·d "I
h·.
was ed fragrant water
630 History: The Distant Lineage ofTransmitted Precepts
The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 631
The guru replied, "Borrow many sacks.
" He made a tarma offering and said, "Pour a handful of tsampa into each sack. " The attendant did as he was told. The next day all the sacks were full of tsampa.
Again, the guru said, "Send a monk to Trampa pondrongpa. Tell him that we have disposed of this refuse mash from the ale for the consecration in the forest, and that he should send his oxen to eat it. "
When that was done many oxen were sent. The guru said, "Zur- cungpa, will you kill and resurrect them? "
Zurcungpa replied, "I shall obey my guru's command. "
Zurpoche adopted an enlightened intention and hurled enchanted objects750 at each of the oxen, whereby they all fell into a coma and died. "Flay the oxen," he said. "Do not break the bones. Keep the joints intact. Leave the internal organs in their proper positions and carve out the muscle meat. "
His attendants were terrified and thought, "This master and his disciple are in the sway of evil. They have ordered the oxen to be fed on the mash, and then they have killed them all. Now what will happen when the oxherds arrive? "
With their minds utterly confounded they prepared the meat-feast for the consecration. After the feast the oxherds did arrive. The guru commanded that they be served, too, which perplexed the attendants. Then he said, "Let Zurcungpa convey the oxen to their owner. "
At that, Zurcungpa folded the bones in their wrappings of hide. He inserted the internal organs as well, covered them with his robe, and, at the snap of a finger, the oxen trembled and stood up. It is said that [earlier], when an old woman had been carving the meat, she scraped a rib of one of the oxen. After [being revived] that ox had a deformed rib. The display of this miraculous ability to kill and to resurrect caused
all those assembled to develop great faith.
Lama Zurpoche, too, looked delightedly upon [the image of] the
Great Glorious One, and said, "I pray that you serve the world greatly. " "Hey, hey, need you even ask? " replied the image, rejoicing in the nine dramatic airs. 7SI At first the image had a wrathful countenance,
but thereafter its appearance became one of laughter.
The guru said, "Now, we should propitiate Yangdak Heruka for one year. "
The attendants replied, "The provisions are not sufficient. "
Zurcungpa countered, "If the ale is not enough, it will be all rig? t to return to the naga demon. There is also a little meat and tsampa III reserve. I f the commitments of yoga are not left to decline, the gods and demons will provide our sustenance. The local divinity wlll also make offerings. So it will be fine to practice for one year. "
About one hundred yogins and yoginIs assembled there. The master ordered each of the practitioners to be provided with a skull-cup full of ale, a duck's egg-sized ball of gruel, and a little meat to the commitments. Then the one-year retreat commenced.
During the retreat the guru said, "You, the four summits, are to hold a contest of [contemplative] intention. " It is said that when they all had entered a meditative equipoise, three of them attained an immov- able intention, one that was mountain-like, not to be destroyed by mere circumstances. But because Zurcungpa had arrived at the abode of supreme, unbiased equanimity, he ascended in the air to the height of a wagon to illustrate the superiority of his view. Then the guru said, "Now, go outside and listen while Zurcungpa recites the rulu mantra. " One yoginI went outside and listened, but the volume did not decrease. Having crossed over a ridge, she continued to listen, but still the volume did not decrease. At that, the guru praised Zurcungpa highly, saying, "You are all equally spiritual brethren, but you others should not even cross Zurcungpa's shadow. "
When they were released from the retreat, the master and his disciples wenttoTrokpoiSumdo. Thegurubecameexhilaratedandstampedouta dance to the rulu mantra on the rock called the "Vajra Bolt" (brag rda-rje gtan-pa). His foot penetrated the rock up to the ankle, as ifhe were treading on mud. Zurcungpa said, "My guru is a manifest buddha. I shall prostrate my head at his feet. " He touched the footprints with his head and left
behind a clear impression of his topknot and dangling ear-rings.
At that, Zangom Sherap Gyelpo said, "Wonderfully sublime are the signs of accomplishment which my two gurus, uncle and nephew, possess. It will be a sin for man or beast to tread upon this stone. " He transformed his five fingers into five powerful athletes, who raised the Vajra Bolt Rock and set it upright. Then Zhang Gocungwa and Menyak Khyungdra also said, "It is up to us to support it. " [They emanated] many powerful athletes who each raised an unshakable boulder to support the rock on each side, and so made its foundation secure. Even
today these stones can really be seen.
Then Lama Zurpoche decided to make an image of the fruitional
Great Glorious One in Ukpalung. 752 He told all of his disciples to go there. Zurcungpa flew into the sky, saying, "I shall go to serve my guru," and landed on Trak Gyawo. The other disciples travelled there in coracles. The two naga demons, brother and sister, said, "It is improper for us to be associated with the defiled persons in the coracle. Please take us over the river where it can be forded. ,,7S3
The guru assented to this and delivered the clay pot to his attendant, to whom it seemed to weigh less than a feather. When they reached the riverbank, the guru said to the attendant, "Hold onto me and come without hesitation. "
But the attendant's mind was unworthy and he thought, "I'll probably be thrown into the river. "
Knowing his anxiety, the guru said, "Now you cannot cross with me. Come via coracle. I am going on ahead. " And he went off without his feet touching the water.
632 History: The Distant Lineage a/Transmitted Precepts
The Lineage a/the Zur Family 633
The attendant went by coracle and reached the slope on the opposite bank. While waiting there for a long time he grew thirsty, so he drank all the ale he could strain from the pot. Then the thought occurred, "One year and four months have passed since making this ale. What did the guru put in the jar for so much to be produced? "
He broke the seal of the jar and two serpents, white and black, as large as yaks, uncoiled themselves and vanished into the sky. Scorpions, frogs, tadpoles and other creatures followed in their wake and also went snapping and croaking into the sky. At once the sediment became green and rotten and the liquid became pale and sour. The attendant disposed of the mash and carried the jar to the riverbank, where he poured out the liquid. Then he smashed the jar.
When this took place, the guru said, "The auspicious coincidence is lost. If you had not released the two naga demons of Wokdong, brother and sister, the monastery of Ukpalung would have become the greatest in Tibet; and the hermitage at Trampa, too, would have expanded without decline. None the less, since you poured the liquid towards the south, some centres and monasteries will arise [in that direction]. " He appointed the naga demons, brother and sister, to be the protectors of the transmitted precepts at the hermitage of Trampa. But, due to these circumstances, the image of the fruitional Great Glorious Heruka was never made.
Afterwards, the college and the hermitage became extensive. At that time, in Nyari, there lived a man named Mama Yungdrung Trashi and his wife. They were endowed with riches, but had no children or heirs. Wishing to build a religious centre, they assembled all the local people together and asked, "Who are the best teachers? "
Some claimed that the adepts of mantra were the best, others favoured the venerable monks [of the Buddhist saJ? 'lgha], while yet others sup- ported the followers of the Pon religion. Because they all disagreed, they advised the couple to follow their own inclinations. The wife said, "Since our resources are adequate, let us invite all three. "
The mantra adept of Ukpalung [Zurpoche], Laketsewa the Ponpo, and a venerable monk from Chumik Ringmo were invited. When the three recipients of worship had assembled, they considered building a temple together, but disagreed over which should be the central image. The mantrin insisted upon Vajrasattva, the monk upon Sakyamuni, and the Ponpo upon Shenrap Miwoche/54 so they decided to build separate temples. Lharje Ukpalungpa joined with the Ponpo to build a temple below Dropuk. The Ponpo said, "Even now, when we make the temple, our deity will have to be subservient if yours occupies the central position. And your deity will have to be subservient if ours occupies the central position. "
Zurpoche realised that no good would come of either so he gave the temple to the ponpo. Then, one DrotOnpa offered him
the place called Dropuk and Zurpoche built a temple there. At that time three related families who were patrons said, "We will take a collection for whoever covers his temple with an ornamental roof. " The mantrin and the Ponpo both accomplished the task, but the monk was unsuccessful. The patrons took up a collection for the mantrin and the Ponpo on alternative years, at which the monk said, "Please gather one for us too! " The monk was given one year's collection and thereafter the collection was made on behalf of the three orders during alternate years.
At the temple of Dropuk eight shrines, large and small, were built. Of these the foremost was that of the buddhas of the three times. The upper hall was supported by twenty pillars and the lower hall by sixty pillars. In this place a great seminary was established.
Moreover, one time, when it was well known that the conqueror Zurpoche was propitiating Yangdak Heruka at Gyawo, in Thak, and that his merits were most extensive, the translator Drokmi, who re- quired gold to offer as a parting gift to his paJ)<;iita [Gayadhara], said tohim,"Bringalotofgold. Ishallgiveyouprofoundinstructions. ,,755
In order to exemplify [the conduct of] a great person, whose vows to benefit others are firm, and whose conduct with respect to the four attractive qualities of a bodhisattva is flawless, the conqueror Zurpoche - like Karma Pakshi, who to test [his disciples ordered them to build] an ornamental roof for the temple at Tshurpu high enough to be seen from the Damcoktse Pass756 - said with a concealed intention, "I shall build two golden monuments to dominate the defiles of Lharidong in Dropuk and Thangi Yangdong; and I shall connect them in the middle with an iron chain. "
His students make a pledge. "Very well", they said, "we shall each contribute a copper dish, a bell, and a length of iron chain. "757
The great commotion which ensued alarmed two local divinities. They offered an ingot of gold, the size of a goat's liver, and asked the master not to build the golden monuments. Then they offered a gold mine and said, "You may enjoy it so long as no gold in the shape of a living creature is discovered. " After mining an abundance of gold from one pit, an ingot of gold shaped like a frog was discovered. Zurpoche halted the excavation and offered one hundred ounces of gold to the translator in Mugulung. 758 That autumn he even performed humble tasks for Drokmi like carrying briarwood on his back. When he had become consummately learned in the Three Continua and their ancillary texts, as well as in the Indestructible Tent, he said:
By the kindness of the great guru,
I have learned that our Mental Class is our wealth!
Thus, after savouring the doctrine of the new translation schools Zurpoche again maintained that our [Nyingmapa] Mental Class is
634 History: The Distant Lineage ofTransmitted Precepts
The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 635
wealth, like unto the wish-fulfilling gem. His statement is one giving rise to the highest certainty.
In his sixty-first year, when he had almost finished building the
temple at Dropuk that great man, an undeniable emanation who lived , 759
on the level of a holder of the awareness of spontaneous presence, having fully realised the attributes of the five paths, resolved to trans-
·· °Ib 760H°d"Su form his coarse body mto Its pure essentIa su stance. e S a l , m-
mon Zurcungpa from Trak Gyawo. "
When Zurcungpa arrived the master said, "I entrust this centre of
mine to you, Zurcungpa. You must benefit the host of disciples by means of the doctrine. Grant it to them according to their intellectual capacities. Protect them as I have done.
"You disciples, too, must attend carefully to whatever Zurcungpa does. Do not disobey his word. Do not even step on his shadow, footprints or robe; for this one has attained the accomplishment of the body, speech, and mind of the Great Glorious One. Therefore, he is even higher than 1. Because he will protect you as I have done, practise respectful devotion perfectly. "
Then Zurpoche went off to his hermitage at Trampa. One day he said to his attendant, "Prepare a meal this morning before the heat. " At sunrise, when the attendant came into his presence, the great guru was sitting on his bed, getting all dressed up. The attendant asked, "Now, where are you off to, that you are getting dressed up? "
I am going to SukhilvatI Buddha-field.
Address your prayers to the meditational deity, For the Great Glorious One and I are no different.
So saying, the master took up his vajra and rang his bell. As he did so his body was transformed into light; and he vanished into the heart of the image of the Great Glorious Heruka.
At exactly the same time, a Khampa, who was coming to make offerings to Zurpoche, met the guru on the road. The guru the Khampa's perception, and, accepting the offerings in an emanatIonal palace, distributed the merit. Then, just as if he had from a dream, the Khampa saw nothing at all. Proceeding onwards hesItantly, he heard along the way that the guru had vanished into the heart of the image of the Great Glorious One.
Because the blessing of this image of the Great Glorious ,:as
exceedingly great, sometime later the image itself told the
him perform three counter-clockwise circumambulations and vanish, in fact, into the image. Similarly, one Tshenden Zurmo Obumis reputed to have vanished into that same image.
ZURCUNG SHERAP-TRA
[339. 4-359. 6] Among the four "summits", Deshek Gyawopa, or Zur- cung Sherap-tra, like the bell-ringer among the bulls, was the prime successor of the mantra-holder Ukpalungpa. He was born in Yeru, Tsang in 1014 (wood male tiger year) to the accompaniment ofwonder- ful omens. His father was Thakpa Gomcen, who sometimes lived as a mendicant; and his mother was Majo Sherap-kyi. In his seventh year
he learnt to read and write, and in his ninth he learnt to chant the rite of the peaceful and wrathful deities.
Once, in his thirteenth year, while he was sitting in bed reading a book, his betrothed ran to him and said, "The field is flooded! How can you lie there? "
Wearing his new trousers, Zurcungpa crossed the flooding waters762 and he began to divert the water from the house. But she scolded him, saying, "You did not even change out of the clothes which were made by my labour. They're ruined! "
Zurcungpa replied, "If you care more about the cloth than about me, have it! " And he threw the trousers away.
She became angry and said, "This is an insult! " And she ran away to her native place.
Zurcungpa was utterly disillusioned with the world. He took her spindle down from a rafter and shouted after her. He remained sus- pended between hope and doubt, [not knowing] whether to call her back, but [in the end] he handed her the spindle saying, "It is said that a man must have the male wealth, and a woman the female wealth. 763
Take your spindle. " She returned to her own land in despair.
Then, without consulting his father, without taking provisions from his mother, and without seeking the approval of friends/64 Zurcungpa set out, carrying only his wolf-skin coat, to meet Zurpoche. On the he joined company with two nomads from Tanak, who were bring-
mg turquoise and copper, and a native of Shang, who bore armour.
When they arrived there, Zurcungpa had only the wolf-skin coat to
Priest to welcome one GyaWn Silk-yeo At the time of his receptIOnl . fkOh76
Let us see whether or not they are disgusted with the world. Bring each of them some ale-stew and vegetable soup. " The two nomads had no desire to eat, the Shangpa ate a little, but Zurcungpa ate the lot. At this the guru said, "Put aside the wolf-skin coat and the armour. But return the turquoise and copper to their owners! " The nomads went away displeased, saying, "The return of our presents is a sign that he
GyaWn appeared riding on a white cow and weanng awol -s m at.
In the presence of the image of the Great Glorious Heruka he was transformed into white light. The priest, Majo Tonden, actually saW
offer. While the other three offered their grand presents the guru said
",,
636 History: The Distant Lineage of Transmitted Precepts
Zurcung Sherap-tra
will not teach us the doctrine. " Consequently, they abused Zurpoche's
teaching. . I ) "
The master asked Zurcungpa, "What IS your can. f
Zurcungpa feared that it would be to say that he wllaZs0 h . d "I am Just a very sma ur
"I would defile the guru's property," he answered. So it was that he bore the burden of constant austerity.
One day the guru brought a rosewood bowl, which could hold nine handfuls, and said, "Do you have anything to drink? " When offered ale-stew, Zurpoche drank two bowls full.
"Bring more," he said, and continued to drink. Then he said, "Is there anymore? "
"There is about one quart," answered Zurcungpa.
"Now that is not enough. If it were enough, your merit would be the greatest in Tibet. None the less, because of your veneration of me, your merits will still be great. " He gave Zurcungpa three loads of barley and said, "When this barley is finished you will not be without neces- sities. "
Zurcungpa persevered day and night in all of his studies and in meditation. Because he was an emanation the expanse of his discrimin- ative awareness unfolded. But although he had inconceivable spiritual experiences and realisations, Zurcungpa could not even afford the supplies for copying books. At that point, Lharje Zurpoche said, "In the place called Phen-gi Khangon lives a wealthy lady meditator named Como Yumo and her daughter. You should stay with them.
The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 623
624 History: The Distant Lineage ofTransmitted Precepts
Mother [Prajfiaparamita] and Dlparpkara, each surrounded by four 742
offering goddesses. In the protectors' shrine, he made relief images of Bhagavat, SrldevI, Brahma, and Sakra. Frescoes of the gurus of the lineage were painted in the eight-pillared upper court, and those
of twenty-three maIfQalas, such as the "Hundred-petalled Lotus", on its surrounding wall. In the lower court, which had twenty pillars, there were frescoes of the Thousand Buddhas; the Buddhas of the Ten
Directions; Amitayus surrounded by the [Eight] "Closest Sons"; the Seven Generations of Buddhas; the twelve deeds; the bodhisattva Dhar- modgata; Tara, who protects from the eight fears; the Lords of the Three Families; the Malaya Buddha-field; the wheel oflife; et cetera.
When the building had been completed in this way Zurpoche thought, "Now, I shall cover my temple with gold right up to the roof; and I shall extract the gold from Mount Drong-ri Chukpo. "
At midnight the local divinity, a Tsen spirit, came in the form of a black horseman. He bowed before Zurpoche and circumambulated him, saying, "If I were to cover the temple with gold right up to the
roof, my gold would be exhausted. I shall offer gold enough to cover
completely the images of the deities. " And so he did.
During the consecration both the conqueror Zurpoche and Zur- cungpa displayed an endless array of miraculous powers: They entered
743
via the crown, and the crown via the heart. As a result all the artisans developed sincere faith and said, "The guru's temple is like Mount Sumeru. Let us build a
stl1pa to accompany it. " In faith they offered a stl1pa modelled on the Blue Stl1pa at Samye, which they built to the north of the Trashi
Gomang Temple.
The guru's seat became universally renowned as glorious Ukpalung,
after his own name. It is said that it was founded in the time of Lharje Zurpoche; that its traditions were established by Zurcungpa; and that Zur Sakya Senge made them widespread. This describes the great servicetotheteachingofthevehicleofindestructiblerealityofthe Ancient Translation School that was effected by this abbatial succession.
By his teaching and other activities Zurpoche greatly benefitted the world. Once, when the master and all his disciples were performing, at Yang-en Sermo, a year-long retreat devoted to Yangdak Heruka, no
lamps could be offered owing to the shortage of butter. By his blessing
Zurpoche transformed the spring into a fountain of clarified butter for e
a week. Thus, they were able to obtain an unending supply of ghe . At first, the teacher and his students there mainly devoted themselves to study; so there were few who were adept at the rites ofenlightened activ-
ity. When discussions were held in the teaching court, those who did know the rites were seated among the ignorant, who did not participate in the discussions. [In retaliation] the ritualists would not alloW the others to chant when they assembled for the d3ily torma offerings. At this Lama
. " The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 625 Zurpoche saId, One may be liberated b "
the heart of the image of Sarvavid-Vairocana
So it was that when th h h
understandings 'the guru ree had also articulated their own
tion of view, In practising the true divine doctrine
The is view, and conduct That whIch IS labelled the "view" . Is no view when there is something to look for
Look meaning of freedom from things view' And bnng meffable reality on to your path! .
devotion, of his disciples to increase vastly. After- built great in Ukpalung and
. me ItatIOn centre.
was Heruka at Yang-en
standingerectin WIthonefaceandtwohands and told Lama Zurpo h at Shang. He left his retreat
Heru a. The aw h Id would construct 0
any subject. It is not right to scorn one at the ,culmination of
spiritual system among the nine vehI' 1 h Each phIlosophical and . d' ces asItSownscope Th .
tylme guru said to his four disciples who like summits . . ou our must artIculate what you understand
Important m experientially cultivating the path" Zurcungpa said, "If one does not medi 'h "
Because we must purif the h
pollution, here and now rt is ee: which are like
preJu Ice towards anyone vehicle" An
t
A . Y ecame umble
ex his meaning dawned in them all and' the b
d' . ere IS no mary
pensities of former desires will never end t mul. tlt. udmous. pro- be"decisive with respect to experiential It IS essenual to
and night. , s e n Ia to penorm acts of virtue, day "B
of merit until the abiding getically, however small. " , t IS essentIal to practise virtues ener-
cun a e w at a taken place. The guru said "Zur- gPk' you have achIeved the accomplishment of the Great Gl .
raor h understanding of
. ,
er Namkel Nymgpo prophesied that I
demons which and, having subdued the powerful Now I a m ' . e 1 etan people, would benefit the world
, gomg to achIeve this. " .
Then, he said to his att d "G
temple We '11 . en ants, ather materials for building a
. WI exorCIse the . t ,,, H
Skull Rock), arranged the e. e, sat on Trak Sengei YaW (Lion-
of the Great G l ' H a offenngs, entered the contemplation onous eruka and d h .
Those who had the good f t ' assume t e appropnate posture. guru in that form. ortune to behold a buddha really saw the
' to be most
onous
626 History: The Distant Lineage ofTransmitted Precepts
The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 627
While the foundation-stones were being laid, Zurcungpa was scorned by some because his body was lean and his appearance lustreless. They insulted him saying, "All the others have a large foundation-stone in place. Now, it is time for Zurcungpa to set a strongman's boulder in position! "
To which Zurcungpa replied, "The master and disciples should go for lunch. I will be coming presently. " But he did not leave.
When the others had eaten and returned they saw that eight enormous boulders, which no one could budge, even by heroic efforts, had been set up at the four sides and four corners of the foundation. Upon them were chalked the following words:
745 THESE ARE ZURCUNGP A'S STRONGMAN STONES
When they saw this, the monks were humbled; and those who were fair-minded became devoted to him. It is well known, too, that after Zurcungpa had set his "strongman stones" in position, the evil designs of the wild demons and spirits of darkness, who wished to obstruct the building of the temple, were pacified.
When the time came to join the wood, four pillars were crooked. The guru said, "You straighten them, Zurcungpa! " And in a single breath Zurcungpa twisted and bent them until they were as straight as arrows.
As the roof was approaching completion the guru said, "I have [spiritually] summoned the sculptors. They are on their way. " The very next day certain persons familiar with image-making arrived to ask for doctrinal instruction. Zurpoche feigned ignorance and said, "Are you skilled in any trades? "
To which they replied, "We are image-makers who have come to request doctrinal instruction from you. "
"That is an auspicious coincidence. You shall indeed receive the doctrine you desire. I am erecting an image of the Great Glorious One, for it will be of great benefit to the world in this degenerate age. I request that you make it. "
The sculptors displayed great devotion, so first of all the master gave them the vase empowerment of the glorious Yangdak Heruka. They Prepared a mixture which combined relics from the Tathagata's re-
. 746 mains; the flesh of one who had been born as a brahman seven umes;
earth, stone, water, and wood from the eight charnel grounds; a variety of precious gems; and sacramental medicine refined by the awareness- holders of India and Tibet.
The sculptors asked Zurpoche how large the image should be he replied, "Make it as high as the roof. " They made an appropnate image of the fruitional Heruka, who has three faces, awesome, wrathful, and laughing, and six arms, but the guru said, "It does not my vision. Make it again. "
Yangdak Heruka
He had repeat the work many times and eventually said, "Can you make an Image of me? "
"Yes, we can do that. "
"Perform supplications tonight, and come to see me tomorrow. " The next day, accompanied by Zurcungpa, the sculptors went to
meet. the master. He told his attendant Tanya Dorje to arrange torma offenngs and feast offerings. Then he propitiated Yangdak Heruka and performed the feast offerings. "Now look! " he said, and as he adopted the gaze [of the deity] he actually became Heruka, a fearsome and apparition, with one face, two arms, gnashing teeth, and
tWIsted tongue, his head resplendent among the clouds and mist his right foot resting upon the face of Heruka Rock in Ukpalung, hi; left fo. ot upon the summit of Mount Tsepo Purkang. His indestructible wmgs filled the sky. The sculptors could not endure his radiance and into unconsciousness. When they awoke, the guru eased his mtenuonand, with a brilliant smile, said, "Now, do you understand? "
"Now", they asked, "please show us a Heruka with three faces and six arms, so that we may recreate it. "
Zurpoche said, "That is too profound. Owing to the needs of those
628 History: The Distant Lineage afTransmitted Precepts
requiring training, it was the Heruka with one face and two arms that
appeared. "
While they were making the image according to his orders, they
were able to fashion it from the navel downwards just as they had seen it before. But Zurpoche said, "You will have to do the upper section once again. " He had them repeat it many times, but then said, "Your
obscurations have not been purified. Knead the clay well and leave it here. Bathe in yonder fountain; for it is the water of accomplishment that arose when I scattered a skull-cup full of nectar. Circumambulate the temple seven times and come in. Until then no one should enter.
I shall pray to the Great Glorious One. "
As they were doing this, a continual buzzing was heard coming from
within. When they had finished bathing and circumambulating they went inside; no one at all was near the master. He was absorbed in contemplation. But the clay had been used up and an image of the
Great Glorious One, from the navel upwards, had spontaneously ap- peared. All the disciples and sculptors were absolutely astonished. They bowed before Zurpoche and said, "If the guru himself knew how to
make it, then surely he was only testing us by not doing this earliert"
At that Zurpoche make this declaration, which foretold the future:
An image resembling me
Has come to a man like me.
It will guide the world in the degenerate age;
It will be a remedy for sickness and demons.
At first, by depending on Heruka, [this image of] Heruka
Himself arose. But noW that same Heruka Will be absorbed into this [image of] Heruka.
In the past, the great accomplished masters were completely mindful of preserving secrecy. Therefore, Zurpoche said that it was improper to make images according to the secret means for attainment in places
where many people would congregate. "You must make the images of the Eight Wrathful Goddesses according to the tradition of the tantras," he said. '47 And so they did. The frescoes painted to the right were of
the peaceful deities of the Magical Net, and those on the left were of the blazing wrathful deities. In front were frescoes of the deities of the entire Sutra which Gathers All Intentions. Painted above were three
manQalas; and in the vestibule the glorious Mahakala according to the tradition of wrathful Yamantaka, together with the eightfold group of
the M6npa, mounted on tigers.
Then the time came for the consecration. They made preparations
for the consecratory feast, saying, "Whom shaH we commission to make the ale? Whence shall we get the meat? " An attendant said, "There were great expenses in connection with the craftsmen, labourers, and
d The Lineage ofthe Zur Famity 629 an even take loans from our ben f:
guests, so our wealth is all but exhausted. Now we must await donations
secration. " e actors. Let us postpone the con-
But Zurcungpa said' "We WI·11 perform the owever there is no way we will fin .
. consecratIOn on time.
H
are not even enough clay jars
S I d for the ale; there
0 . et uds the nagas to make
ale. It is also difficult to find·
. meat, an even Ifw d fj d·
pay the pnce. So let us use Tram p. . d e 0 m Itwecannot . . . pa on rongpa' C'
petItIOnmg the spirits we . 11 s oxen lor meat. By WI get enough ts p [.
flour]. If we do this nothing at all rnh
1 en Lama Zurpoche said "W
·11 b 1 am. aLe. parched barley WI e ackmg"
·11 . .
loads of barley for the ale! 748 Y'
. ou are to fer .
Act as if there is more ale for th Zurcungpa, summon a naginI! "
who dwelt on the rock at Yaze SIster ofthe naga demon Zurcungpa turned into a fair lady b g. thI? snake appeared, which said, "I want you to make the ale ofhIS At that Zurpoche
But she replied "I f h e_consecratIOnofmytemple. " , am 0 t e pure naga r h· h C'
We abstain from alcohol At th . ace, w IC lears defilement.
radiance. So while t h e · . e same tIme, I cannot endure the guru's , re IS no way for me t0 d
you commission my elder brothe I ·11 pro uce ale, I beg that
Then the . guru said "N h r. ZWI 0 er all necessary help. " , ow t en urcung ·11
e consecratIon when At that, Zurcungpa intentionall sum .
. . you are m publIc.
transform her elder brother)'" "I will try to summon "
pa, WI you summon and
He adopted a gaze and a a
When overpowered by Z ' pp
C' urcungpa s contempI ( h lorm. Zurcungpa ordered h. a Ion
e WI reqUIre at least one thousand SIX measures of barley.
ear d .
e , the SIze of a young goat.
no time to make ale yet I am . brleqUIre many gIfts and favours. I have , una e to transg th '
Zurpoche took both their vital h ress e guru s command. " oaths of allegiance. The nagas said bound them under row. Make preparations! 0 _' e WI arnve the day after tomor- arrange a pure and safe· . ur naga race is above defilement. Please
At th· L enVIronment for our dwelling"
Imtomakeale buth
the race of gods and demons I . ' . e sal, belong to
IS ama Zurpoche said "I h 11 bl He h d h . , s a
.
ess the environment"
a tree clay Jars with sto er 749
and also collected things ds
ures of barley mash were . emon. s and nagas. The six meas-
white barley Then th t mto the Jars and topped with pure . ewonagademo bh .
placed inside. The mouths of h . ns, rot er and sIster, were ceremonial blouse and th fl t e Jars were fastened with the guru's its sleeves. Zurp;che be contr. olled through the nagas proceeded to h h Jars wIth an mdestructIble knot and that the ale was e essence of ale from all directions, so
Then an attendant said "Th .
do for tsampa? " , e r e IS now enough ale. But what will we
e revealed his true ·d "I
h·.
was ed fragrant water
630 History: The Distant Lineage ofTransmitted Precepts
The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 631
The guru replied, "Borrow many sacks.
" He made a tarma offering and said, "Pour a handful of tsampa into each sack. " The attendant did as he was told. The next day all the sacks were full of tsampa.
Again, the guru said, "Send a monk to Trampa pondrongpa. Tell him that we have disposed of this refuse mash from the ale for the consecration in the forest, and that he should send his oxen to eat it. "
When that was done many oxen were sent. The guru said, "Zur- cungpa, will you kill and resurrect them? "
Zurcungpa replied, "I shall obey my guru's command. "
Zurpoche adopted an enlightened intention and hurled enchanted objects750 at each of the oxen, whereby they all fell into a coma and died. "Flay the oxen," he said. "Do not break the bones. Keep the joints intact. Leave the internal organs in their proper positions and carve out the muscle meat. "
His attendants were terrified and thought, "This master and his disciple are in the sway of evil. They have ordered the oxen to be fed on the mash, and then they have killed them all. Now what will happen when the oxherds arrive? "
With their minds utterly confounded they prepared the meat-feast for the consecration. After the feast the oxherds did arrive. The guru commanded that they be served, too, which perplexed the attendants. Then he said, "Let Zurcungpa convey the oxen to their owner. "
At that, Zurcungpa folded the bones in their wrappings of hide. He inserted the internal organs as well, covered them with his robe, and, at the snap of a finger, the oxen trembled and stood up. It is said that [earlier], when an old woman had been carving the meat, she scraped a rib of one of the oxen. After [being revived] that ox had a deformed rib. The display of this miraculous ability to kill and to resurrect caused
all those assembled to develop great faith.
Lama Zurpoche, too, looked delightedly upon [the image of] the
Great Glorious One, and said, "I pray that you serve the world greatly. " "Hey, hey, need you even ask? " replied the image, rejoicing in the nine dramatic airs. 7SI At first the image had a wrathful countenance,
but thereafter its appearance became one of laughter.
The guru said, "Now, we should propitiate Yangdak Heruka for one year. "
The attendants replied, "The provisions are not sufficient. "
Zurcungpa countered, "If the ale is not enough, it will be all rig? t to return to the naga demon. There is also a little meat and tsampa III reserve. I f the commitments of yoga are not left to decline, the gods and demons will provide our sustenance. The local divinity wlll also make offerings. So it will be fine to practice for one year. "
About one hundred yogins and yoginIs assembled there. The master ordered each of the practitioners to be provided with a skull-cup full of ale, a duck's egg-sized ball of gruel, and a little meat to the commitments. Then the one-year retreat commenced.
During the retreat the guru said, "You, the four summits, are to hold a contest of [contemplative] intention. " It is said that when they all had entered a meditative equipoise, three of them attained an immov- able intention, one that was mountain-like, not to be destroyed by mere circumstances. But because Zurcungpa had arrived at the abode of supreme, unbiased equanimity, he ascended in the air to the height of a wagon to illustrate the superiority of his view. Then the guru said, "Now, go outside and listen while Zurcungpa recites the rulu mantra. " One yoginI went outside and listened, but the volume did not decrease. Having crossed over a ridge, she continued to listen, but still the volume did not decrease. At that, the guru praised Zurcungpa highly, saying, "You are all equally spiritual brethren, but you others should not even cross Zurcungpa's shadow. "
When they were released from the retreat, the master and his disciples wenttoTrokpoiSumdo. Thegurubecameexhilaratedandstampedouta dance to the rulu mantra on the rock called the "Vajra Bolt" (brag rda-rje gtan-pa). His foot penetrated the rock up to the ankle, as ifhe were treading on mud. Zurcungpa said, "My guru is a manifest buddha. I shall prostrate my head at his feet. " He touched the footprints with his head and left
behind a clear impression of his topknot and dangling ear-rings.
At that, Zangom Sherap Gyelpo said, "Wonderfully sublime are the signs of accomplishment which my two gurus, uncle and nephew, possess. It will be a sin for man or beast to tread upon this stone. " He transformed his five fingers into five powerful athletes, who raised the Vajra Bolt Rock and set it upright. Then Zhang Gocungwa and Menyak Khyungdra also said, "It is up to us to support it. " [They emanated] many powerful athletes who each raised an unshakable boulder to support the rock on each side, and so made its foundation secure. Even
today these stones can really be seen.
Then Lama Zurpoche decided to make an image of the fruitional
Great Glorious One in Ukpalung. 752 He told all of his disciples to go there. Zurcungpa flew into the sky, saying, "I shall go to serve my guru," and landed on Trak Gyawo. The other disciples travelled there in coracles. The two naga demons, brother and sister, said, "It is improper for us to be associated with the defiled persons in the coracle. Please take us over the river where it can be forded. ,,7S3
The guru assented to this and delivered the clay pot to his attendant, to whom it seemed to weigh less than a feather. When they reached the riverbank, the guru said to the attendant, "Hold onto me and come without hesitation. "
But the attendant's mind was unworthy and he thought, "I'll probably be thrown into the river. "
Knowing his anxiety, the guru said, "Now you cannot cross with me. Come via coracle. I am going on ahead. " And he went off without his feet touching the water.
632 History: The Distant Lineage a/Transmitted Precepts
The Lineage a/the Zur Family 633
The attendant went by coracle and reached the slope on the opposite bank. While waiting there for a long time he grew thirsty, so he drank all the ale he could strain from the pot. Then the thought occurred, "One year and four months have passed since making this ale. What did the guru put in the jar for so much to be produced? "
He broke the seal of the jar and two serpents, white and black, as large as yaks, uncoiled themselves and vanished into the sky. Scorpions, frogs, tadpoles and other creatures followed in their wake and also went snapping and croaking into the sky. At once the sediment became green and rotten and the liquid became pale and sour. The attendant disposed of the mash and carried the jar to the riverbank, where he poured out the liquid. Then he smashed the jar.
When this took place, the guru said, "The auspicious coincidence is lost. If you had not released the two naga demons of Wokdong, brother and sister, the monastery of Ukpalung would have become the greatest in Tibet; and the hermitage at Trampa, too, would have expanded without decline. None the less, since you poured the liquid towards the south, some centres and monasteries will arise [in that direction]. " He appointed the naga demons, brother and sister, to be the protectors of the transmitted precepts at the hermitage of Trampa. But, due to these circumstances, the image of the fruitional Great Glorious Heruka was never made.
Afterwards, the college and the hermitage became extensive. At that time, in Nyari, there lived a man named Mama Yungdrung Trashi and his wife. They were endowed with riches, but had no children or heirs. Wishing to build a religious centre, they assembled all the local people together and asked, "Who are the best teachers? "
Some claimed that the adepts of mantra were the best, others favoured the venerable monks [of the Buddhist saJ? 'lgha], while yet others sup- ported the followers of the Pon religion. Because they all disagreed, they advised the couple to follow their own inclinations. The wife said, "Since our resources are adequate, let us invite all three. "
The mantra adept of Ukpalung [Zurpoche], Laketsewa the Ponpo, and a venerable monk from Chumik Ringmo were invited. When the three recipients of worship had assembled, they considered building a temple together, but disagreed over which should be the central image. The mantrin insisted upon Vajrasattva, the monk upon Sakyamuni, and the Ponpo upon Shenrap Miwoche/54 so they decided to build separate temples. Lharje Ukpalungpa joined with the Ponpo to build a temple below Dropuk. The Ponpo said, "Even now, when we make the temple, our deity will have to be subservient if yours occupies the central position. And your deity will have to be subservient if ours occupies the central position. "
Zurpoche realised that no good would come of either so he gave the temple to the ponpo. Then, one DrotOnpa offered him
the place called Dropuk and Zurpoche built a temple there. At that time three related families who were patrons said, "We will take a collection for whoever covers his temple with an ornamental roof. " The mantrin and the Ponpo both accomplished the task, but the monk was unsuccessful. The patrons took up a collection for the mantrin and the Ponpo on alternative years, at which the monk said, "Please gather one for us too! " The monk was given one year's collection and thereafter the collection was made on behalf of the three orders during alternate years.
At the temple of Dropuk eight shrines, large and small, were built. Of these the foremost was that of the buddhas of the three times. The upper hall was supported by twenty pillars and the lower hall by sixty pillars. In this place a great seminary was established.
Moreover, one time, when it was well known that the conqueror Zurpoche was propitiating Yangdak Heruka at Gyawo, in Thak, and that his merits were most extensive, the translator Drokmi, who re- quired gold to offer as a parting gift to his paJ)<;iita [Gayadhara], said tohim,"Bringalotofgold. Ishallgiveyouprofoundinstructions. ,,755
In order to exemplify [the conduct of] a great person, whose vows to benefit others are firm, and whose conduct with respect to the four attractive qualities of a bodhisattva is flawless, the conqueror Zurpoche - like Karma Pakshi, who to test [his disciples ordered them to build] an ornamental roof for the temple at Tshurpu high enough to be seen from the Damcoktse Pass756 - said with a concealed intention, "I shall build two golden monuments to dominate the defiles of Lharidong in Dropuk and Thangi Yangdong; and I shall connect them in the middle with an iron chain. "
His students make a pledge. "Very well", they said, "we shall each contribute a copper dish, a bell, and a length of iron chain. "757
The great commotion which ensued alarmed two local divinities. They offered an ingot of gold, the size of a goat's liver, and asked the master not to build the golden monuments. Then they offered a gold mine and said, "You may enjoy it so long as no gold in the shape of a living creature is discovered. " After mining an abundance of gold from one pit, an ingot of gold shaped like a frog was discovered. Zurpoche halted the excavation and offered one hundred ounces of gold to the translator in Mugulung. 758 That autumn he even performed humble tasks for Drokmi like carrying briarwood on his back. When he had become consummately learned in the Three Continua and their ancillary texts, as well as in the Indestructible Tent, he said:
By the kindness of the great guru,
I have learned that our Mental Class is our wealth!
Thus, after savouring the doctrine of the new translation schools Zurpoche again maintained that our [Nyingmapa] Mental Class is
634 History: The Distant Lineage ofTransmitted Precepts
The Lineage ofthe Zur Family 635
wealth, like unto the wish-fulfilling gem. His statement is one giving rise to the highest certainty.
In his sixty-first year, when he had almost finished building the
temple at Dropuk that great man, an undeniable emanation who lived , 759
on the level of a holder of the awareness of spontaneous presence, having fully realised the attributes of the five paths, resolved to trans-
·· °Ib 760H°d"Su form his coarse body mto Its pure essentIa su stance. e S a l , m-
mon Zurcungpa from Trak Gyawo. "
When Zurcungpa arrived the master said, "I entrust this centre of
mine to you, Zurcungpa. You must benefit the host of disciples by means of the doctrine. Grant it to them according to their intellectual capacities. Protect them as I have done.
"You disciples, too, must attend carefully to whatever Zurcungpa does. Do not disobey his word. Do not even step on his shadow, footprints or robe; for this one has attained the accomplishment of the body, speech, and mind of the Great Glorious One. Therefore, he is even higher than 1. Because he will protect you as I have done, practise respectful devotion perfectly. "
Then Zurpoche went off to his hermitage at Trampa. One day he said to his attendant, "Prepare a meal this morning before the heat. " At sunrise, when the attendant came into his presence, the great guru was sitting on his bed, getting all dressed up. The attendant asked, "Now, where are you off to, that you are getting dressed up? "
I am going to SukhilvatI Buddha-field.
Address your prayers to the meditational deity, For the Great Glorious One and I are no different.
So saying, the master took up his vajra and rang his bell. As he did so his body was transformed into light; and he vanished into the heart of the image of the Great Glorious Heruka.
At exactly the same time, a Khampa, who was coming to make offerings to Zurpoche, met the guru on the road. The guru the Khampa's perception, and, accepting the offerings in an emanatIonal palace, distributed the merit. Then, just as if he had from a dream, the Khampa saw nothing at all. Proceeding onwards hesItantly, he heard along the way that the guru had vanished into the heart of the image of the Great Glorious One.
Because the blessing of this image of the Great Glorious ,:as
exceedingly great, sometime later the image itself told the
him perform three counter-clockwise circumambulations and vanish, in fact, into the image. Similarly, one Tshenden Zurmo Obumis reputed to have vanished into that same image.
ZURCUNG SHERAP-TRA
[339. 4-359. 6] Among the four "summits", Deshek Gyawopa, or Zur- cung Sherap-tra, like the bell-ringer among the bulls, was the prime successor of the mantra-holder Ukpalungpa. He was born in Yeru, Tsang in 1014 (wood male tiger year) to the accompaniment ofwonder- ful omens. His father was Thakpa Gomcen, who sometimes lived as a mendicant; and his mother was Majo Sherap-kyi. In his seventh year
he learnt to read and write, and in his ninth he learnt to chant the rite of the peaceful and wrathful deities.
Once, in his thirteenth year, while he was sitting in bed reading a book, his betrothed ran to him and said, "The field is flooded! How can you lie there? "
Wearing his new trousers, Zurcungpa crossed the flooding waters762 and he began to divert the water from the house. But she scolded him, saying, "You did not even change out of the clothes which were made by my labour. They're ruined! "
Zurcungpa replied, "If you care more about the cloth than about me, have it! " And he threw the trousers away.
She became angry and said, "This is an insult! " And she ran away to her native place.
Zurcungpa was utterly disillusioned with the world. He took her spindle down from a rafter and shouted after her. He remained sus- pended between hope and doubt, [not knowing] whether to call her back, but [in the end] he handed her the spindle saying, "It is said that a man must have the male wealth, and a woman the female wealth. 763
Take your spindle. " She returned to her own land in despair.
Then, without consulting his father, without taking provisions from his mother, and without seeking the approval of friends/64 Zurcungpa set out, carrying only his wolf-skin coat, to meet Zurpoche. On the he joined company with two nomads from Tanak, who were bring-
mg turquoise and copper, and a native of Shang, who bore armour.
When they arrived there, Zurcungpa had only the wolf-skin coat to
Priest to welcome one GyaWn Silk-yeo At the time of his receptIOnl . fkOh76
Let us see whether or not they are disgusted with the world. Bring each of them some ale-stew and vegetable soup. " The two nomads had no desire to eat, the Shangpa ate a little, but Zurcungpa ate the lot. At this the guru said, "Put aside the wolf-skin coat and the armour. But return the turquoise and copper to their owners! " The nomads went away displeased, saying, "The return of our presents is a sign that he
GyaWn appeared riding on a white cow and weanng awol -s m at.
In the presence of the image of the Great Glorious Heruka he was transformed into white light. The priest, Majo Tonden, actually saW
offer. While the other three offered their grand presents the guru said
",,
636 History: The Distant Lineage of Transmitted Precepts
Zurcung Sherap-tra
will not teach us the doctrine. " Consequently, they abused Zurpoche's
teaching. . I ) "
The master asked Zurcungpa, "What IS your can. f
Zurcungpa feared that it would be to say that he wllaZs0 h . d "I am Just a very sma ur
"I would defile the guru's property," he answered. So it was that he bore the burden of constant austerity.
One day the guru brought a rosewood bowl, which could hold nine handfuls, and said, "Do you have anything to drink? " When offered ale-stew, Zurpoche drank two bowls full.
"Bring more," he said, and continued to drink. Then he said, "Is there anymore? "
"There is about one quart," answered Zurcungpa.
"Now that is not enough. If it were enough, your merit would be the greatest in Tibet. None the less, because of your veneration of me, your merits will still be great. " He gave Zurcungpa three loads of barley and said, "When this barley is finished you will not be without neces- sities. "
Zurcungpa persevered day and night in all of his studies and in meditation. Because he was an emanation the expanse of his discrimin- ative awareness unfolded. But although he had inconceivable spiritual experiences and realisations, Zurcungpa could not even afford the supplies for copying books. At that point, Lharje Zurpoche said, "In the place called Phen-gi Khangon lives a wealthy lady meditator named Como Yumo and her daughter. You should stay with them.
