vectar- lXlr (bd d ' ,
s or, w Ich three cycles togeth
p recepts, Kfla, and Elixir (bk er constItute] th n' .
s or, w Ich three cycles togeth
p recepts, Kfla, and Elixir (bk er constItute] th n' .
Dudjom Rinpoche - Fundamentals and History of the Nyingmapa
ne.
mg t the treasure protector Tsengo Chenpo actually presented
hIm WIth three paper scrolls. They contained an inventory oftre
Pro h ' d . . asures . p eCIes, an mstructIOns on the way to attain the treasures A d' mgly S L' , . CCor-
, angye mgpa s guru offered provisions so that he could perform the means to attam the treasures in the prescribed manner Th Padmasambhava of O<;i<;iiyana, along with a host of <;iakinls,
[567. 6-575. 3] The great treasure-finder Sangye Lingpa, who was the emanation of Lhase Tamdzin Rolpa Yeshetsel,1047 was born, attended by wondrous omens, in 1340 (iron male dragon year, sixth cycle) at Traksum Dorje Trak, above the cultivated valley of Kyingpu Yulung, one of Orgyen's places ofattainment, in the Nyangpo district ofKongpo. His father, Khamzhik Taklung Nyonpa, was an emanation of Haya- grlva, and his mother, A-Hu11l Gyen, had the marks of one who had been blessed by Vajravarahi. The boy was given the name of Rikdzin. In his fifth year he received the vows of a layman from the preceptor Zhonupel,1048 and had a pure vision of the Great Compassionate One. He learned to read and write the letters just by being shown the script and was quite clever; but his father passed away, his mother remarried, and, disliked by his stepfather, the boy experienced hardship.
During that time he received a prophetic declaration from a red woman, in compliance with which he went to meet the lord among conquerors, Rolpei Dorje [Karmapa IV], in the valley below Longpo Trongsar. At Cangcupling, a monastery near Tsari, he was ordained as a novice by the preceptor Cangcup Dorje and the master Sakya Yeshe. The name Sangye Zangpo was conferred upon him. Therefore, when later he had discovered profound treasures, he became universally known as Sangye Lingpa. From those two, preceptor and master, he received many transmitted doctrines. Then, when the venerable Rolpei Dorje returned from Central Tibet, he said to Lama Cangcup Dorje, "Give this nephew of yours to me. " He complied and the Karmapa, greatly delighted, prophesied that the boy would guide many living creatures.
When Sangye Lingpa arrived in Lhasa, he had visions of Avalokites- vara, and, above all, of the precious master Padmasambhava. Starting then, he had repeated visions and vowed to practise [in retreat] for three years. After the death of the lama Cangcup Dorje, Sangye Lingpa proceeded into the presence of the lama Choki Lodro, a learned and accomplished master at Tsari, and became his spiritual son. At that
Sangye Lingpa
and permission to fulfil the prophecies. On Friday 23
(twenty-fifth day, seventh month, wood male dragon
. from the great cavern ofPuri he extracted the texts and esoteric InstructIOnsoftheltd' G h .
G h . n enne late at erzng of Transmitted Precepts the 'dat erz)ng 0t. the . Guru's Intention (bka'-'dus bar-ba bla-ma
us-pa , whIch IS unique am 11 h b
Tib . ong a t e su terranean treasures of
o htoget? er WIth the Doctrinal Cycle of the Great Compassionate
t tugs-rye chen-po'i chos-skor). Sangye Lingpa showed these books
who ,,:as delighted. He then studied and and culti-
. em expenentlally, and so became the first master of these doctnnes.
786 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
Sangye Lingpa 787
Then, beginning that year, Sangye Lingpa gradually discovered treasures at Karzuk Trhang, Jeworong, Tsecen Trak, Longpo Cangde Bumpa, Longpo Kada Trhang, and Kyengi Karteng Trhang. In these locations he found the Heart Essence ofthe Attainment ofKfla (phur-sgrnb thugs-kyi nying-khu), the Black Tortoise Divination Chart (gtad-khram rns-sbal nag-po), Black Hayagrfva (rta-mgrin nag-po), and also the Great
Compassionate One, Utterly Secret and Unsurpassed (thugs-rje chen-po yang-gsang bla-med). Further, he discovered material treasures, includ- ing sacramental objects and pills, a mask of Orgyen, a gold-filled copper
vase, an iron kIla, and twenty-one multiplying remains ofthe Tathagata. When Sangye Lingpa discovered the treasures at Kongpo Chimytil, the treasure-finder Trime Lhtinpo was also summoned there by a prophetic declaration of the qakinls. Together, they extracted the Blue- robed Vajrapar;,i (phyag-rdor gos-sngon-can), the Wrathful Mantra which Halts All the Monpa Spirits (ngan-sngags mon-pa dgu-rdug), the En-
lightened Mind of Orgyen and His Consort (o-rgyan yab-yum-gyi byang- sems), et cetera. At Puri Rincen Barwa he discovered the Doctrinal Cycle of Sublime Avalokitesvara (,phags-pa spyan-ras-gzigs-kyi chos-skor); and at Cagoshong, the Great Compassionate One (thugs-chen), the Alchemy Cycle (bcud-len skor), and the Wind-Lasso oflsvara (dbang-phyug rlung- zhags). In this last treasure trove he also found the Prophecy ofCangcup
Lingpa Pelgi Gyeltsen (byang-chub gling-pa dpal-gyi rgyal-mtshan-gyi lung- bstan). A person who was sent to investigate in LaW, met the treasure- finder [prophesied therein], and became convinced. Moreover, from Tsari, Sangye Lingpa extracted the Means for the Attainment of the Naga King Sugriva (klu-rgyal mgrin-bzang sgrnb-thabs); and from Gyer Cemakarpo, the Means for the Attainment of Longevity which Conjoins the Sun and Moon (tshe-sgrnb nyi-zla kha-sbyor), among others. And from Gyala Shinjei Badong he brought forth the Yamantaka, Lord of
Life (gshin-rje tshe-bdag), the Charm which Overthrows when Hurled (thun-phog 'gyel), and the Ceremony for Brandishing the Ritual Kfla of Orgyen (o-rgyan-gyi las-phur gdengs-chog), and so forth, in co-operation with the treasure-finder Trime Lhtinpo.
Furthermore, in a retreat cave of Orgyen, Sangye Lingpa found the
Essential Epitome ofthe Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen snying-po bsdus-pa). At Kongpo Tamrtil he discovered the Six Root Tantras ofthe Gathering of Intentions (dgongs-'dus rtsa-ba'i rgyud-drng); in Samye Chimpu an especially sublime image of Orgyen; and in Orsho Lungdrom a called "Tiger-Meat God", a qakinI's body ornament, and so on. In way, Sangye Lingpa found eighteen great treasure troves hls twenty-fifth and thirty-second year. In addition, it is not posslble to
describe the countless minor treasures he discovered.
Those occasions were constantly marked by rains of flowers , canopies of rainbow light, sounds of music, or the appearance of qakinls. In accord with the prophetic declaration of Va;ravarahI and the twelve
qakinls [of her circle], Sangye Lingpa divided the Gathering ofIntentions precisely into thirteen volumes with the edges dyed red, a custom that has been maintained down to the present day. 1050
It says in a Prophetic Declaration (lung-bstan): .
One hundred billion will become firm in the stage of creation.
Eight hundred thousand will actually reveal signs of accomplishment.
Ninety thousand will be liberated in the incorruptible apparitional body.
Ten billion will obtain sundry accomplishments.
Those in whom the seed of liberation is planted will be
countless.
Not confined to one age, this will occur in a gradual
lineage.
Exactly so, it is well known that there were, above all, twenty great streams which continued the succession of the Gathering of Intentions alone. There were countless masters of the various other treasure doc- trines of Sangye Lingpa. The foremost among them were the lord among conquerors, Karmapa IV, Rolpei Dorje; Zhamarpa Khaco Wangpo; the great lord of Neudong [Ta'i Situ Cangcup [Gyeltsen]; the Sakyapa lama Tampa Sonam Gyeltsen; Yakde Pa1)cen; the great preceptor of Coten, Sonam Zangpo; and Drigung Choki Gyelpo. The other aristocrats, great gurus, and imp9rtant men who followed him were countless.
Particularly, when the Great Ming emperor ofChina invited Karmapa V, Tezhinshekpa,1051 he made the following written request: "Please bring with you an immaculate treasure doctrine of Padmakara, the accomplished master from Oqqiyana. " The doctrine master Tezhin- shekpa brought the profound doctrine of the Gathering of Intentions, a miraculous, dark-blue vase, and a golden vajra [emblematic] of the commitments, which he presented to the emperor, who rejoiced and, as is well known, offered the Karmapa a privy seal1052 and special robes.
Sangye Lingpa founded the monastery of Decen Samdrup in Nyipu
and made it his principle seat. When he performed the attainment of
nectar-elixir (bdud-rtsi sman-gyi sgrnb-pa), the signs and miracles which
actually appeared were more sublime than those of others. The catalyst
[which he compounded at that time] has remained potent to the present day. 1053
After infinitely benefitting the teaching and living creatures in these ways, on Saturday 8 April 1396 (thirtieth day, third month, fire male mouse),1054 during his fifty-seventh year, while he was residing at Cangcupling, Sangye Lingpa's intention dissolved into the expanse of reality.
788 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
The second incarnation of Sangye Lingpa took birth in Nelpa Meu, as the son of Tondrup Gyelpo, but passed away in childhood, The thIrd incarnation was born in Longpo Kying. Trtilku Pelden [as,he was known] returned to his predecessor's seat and IS known for havmg widely served the teaching and living , .
Afterwards, there was no clear lineage of but the of Sangye Lingpa's descendants continued until later times. From hIS son Yeshe Dorje and Cakyungpa Pelden Senge, was, foremost
h d' , les who were the masters of his doctnne, hneages of amongteISClP , dd
descendants and disciples, in which there were succeSSIve learne ,an accomplished masters, emerged. The lineage was transmItted through [the hierarchs of] the earlier and later Tsele,105 the elder and younger T abla,1056 et cetera. Th,us the profound treasures of San, gyIe L' d the Gathering of Intentions above all, were extensIve y
11 Dorje Lingpa
fD k
0 am
1057 At a later date, Zhapdrung Thucen Ngawang of B? utan,
became the master of the doctrine of the entire maturation and ,lIberation of the Gathering of the Guru's Intention, which he had receIved from KongRikdzinNyingpo,the generationdescendantof Lingpa, In the monastic commumtIes of the [of Bhutan] of whIch the foremost was his own seat of Dewachenpo m Punakha, he estab- lished the elaborate practice of worship on tenth day [of each month],1058 in connection with the great attamment of the Gatherzng of Intentions. This enlightened activity of the ceremony the fulfilment [of commitments, skong-chog] ,1059 and so forth, has c,ont,mued to spread throughout the southern districts [of Bhutan and Slkklm].
mgpa, an , d" propagated throughout Tibet in general, and m the lstncts 0
[575. 3-580. 3] Dorje Lingpa was the third kingly treasure-finder and the actual presence of the great translator Vairocana. He was born in 1346 (fire male dog year, sixth cycle) at a place called Tranang Entsa in Central Tibet. His father was KhutOn Sonam Gyeltsen, who came
from a line of mantrins who were holders of indestructible reality, and his mother was Karmogyen. They gave him the name Orgyen Zangpo. The signs and wonders associated with his awakening to the genuine enlightened family were inconceivable. In his seventh year he received the vows of a novice from one known as the all-knowing Trhapa Sakya
at Pangshong Lharika. Under that guru, and others as well, he com- pleted the study of sutra and mantra doctrines, ancient and new.
In his thirteenth year he had seven visions of the precious Orgyen. Then, following an inventory, which had been discovered in the treas- ures of Guru Chowang, he found his first treasure trove behind the image of Como [Tara] at Trhadruk. 1060 It included the Means for the
Attainment of the Three Roots (rtsa-gsum sgrub-thabs), minor means for attainment, inventories and their supplements, wrathful mantras, and instructions on alchemy, there being one hundred and eight of each, along with their particular prophecies. In his fifteenth year Dorje Lingpa opened the way to the treasures of Okar Rock in the lower valley of
Cing. Guru Rinpoche actually arrived inside that most spacious cave of attainment, constructed a maIf9ala and gave him empowerment. Preceding each separate scroll of yellow paper, he gave him the trans- mission and sacraments consecrated as treasures. Moreover, Dorje Lingpa also brought forth an image of Guru Rinpoche, four volumes
that had been the King's,1061 a hundred paper scrolls, four vases con- taining the water of life, amulets containing sacramental substances, et cetera. Among the treasures, he discovered such doctrinal works as the Biographical Injunction in Eight Chapters (rnam-thar thang-yig le'u brgyad-
pa), the Vast Expanse ofthe View, a Father Tantra ofthe Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen pha-rgyud lta-ba klong-yangs), the Sun which Illumines the Expanse, a Mother Tantra (ma-rgyud klong-gsal nyi-ma), the Further
in particular,
· softhe Treasures e
1L
790 History: C ose meag " d Moon
In the cave of Metsornyen at Zaplung, Dorje Lingpa received dona- tions from both Thangla and Kangkar Shame [two protective divinities]. He assembled the many great gods and demons of the Land of Snows and undertook the great attainment of the Eight Transmitted Precepts (bka'-brgyad sgrub-chen). To all of them he gave empowerment. He travelled emanationally to the eight great charnel grounds, where he met the eight awareness-holders, and received the Instructions of the Eight Confidences (gding-brgyad-kyi gdams-pa). When he discovered the treasure troves, Guru Rinpoche, Yeshe Tshogyel, Vairocana, and others actually appeared and bestowed empowerments and instructions upon him. By displaying a wonderful array of miraculous abilities he loosened all fetters of doubt and secured others in irreversible faith. He also left behind many impressions of his body, hands, and feet. In Zaplung, Kharcu, and ZhotO Tidro, respectively, he found one hundred and eight [rites for] empowerment, consecration, fulfilment [of commit- ments] and repentance, burnt offerings, and subjugation. Such are the examples of his extensive service on behalf of the happiness of Tibet.
The foremost among Dorje Lingpa's profound, vast and limitless doctrinal treasures was the Trio ofthe Guru, Great Perfection, and Great Compassionate One (bla-rdzogs-thugs-gsum). He found wonderful images such as that of Vajrasattva, which he discovered at Phungpo Riwoche, and the eleven-faced Avalokitesvara and the sandalwood image of Tara which he discovered in the "Vase Pillar" of Lhasa [i. e. in the Jo- khang]. 1062 He also discovered sacramental objects, such as [the flesh of one] born [as a brahman] seven times, and spiritual elixir; treasures of wealth, including the wish-fulfilling gem; such Pon works as the Golden Surgical Needle of the Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen gser-thur), and the Greater, Medium and Lesser Aural Lineages of Tavihrca (ta-bi-hri- tsa'i snyan-brgyud che-'bring-chung-gsum). In addition, he profusely dis- covered texts on medical science and astrology, and his enlightened activity was extensive.
The family lineage descended from his son Choyingpa, an emanation of Nupcen Sangye Yeshe, has existed up to the present day in the region of Mon. 1063 It is also said that Dorje Lingpa offered the Cycle of Yamantaka (gshed-skor) and the Cycle of the Jambhalas of the Five Families (Dzam-Iha rigs-Inga'i skor) to the lord among conquerors, Kar- mapa IV, ROlpei Dorje. He made his principle seat at Lingmokha. Also, he took charge of the monasteries of Lhodrak, Paro in Mon, Uke in Ze, and others, and so widely benefitted living beings. The name under which he is best known is Dorje Lingpa, but he is also called Perna Lingpa, Ktinkyong Lingpa, Yungdrung Lingpa, and Jampel Choki Shenyen. When he had completed his service to the teaching and to living creatures, in his sixtieth year [1405] he delivered his testament, the Great Prophetic Declaration (zhal-chems lung-bstan chen- mo) and, accompanied by wondrous omens, he passed away at Traklong.
h D -kinf the ConJunctwn of Sun an (mkha'-'gro yang-tig nyz-zla kha-s " ethig skor bcu) the Four Cycles
,
Innermost Spiritualay of t e . a b ' ) th Ten Father Tantra Cycles of
S " t the Innermost pzn ua
'b
, h Ei ht Appendices (zur-pa rgya ,
lity (pha-rgyu snymg- o f the Gathering ('dus-pa skor bzhz) , t e g
d)
_ _ _ _
. .
a discovered forty-three great treasure
Dorje Lingpa
Then, gradually, Done L l n g p , e hundred and eight al- , t've treasure SItes - on , . .
troves at theIr respec I b tions and the subdIVISIons together ifone c0. unts the. of the Ten of the ThIS beg -khrid skor bcu) and other texts at Muuk
ofExperientwl Guzdance to the time when Yeshe Tshogyel Shelgi Bamgong, and [conunuedl up C mpa Temple in Bumthang and actually arrived in l' air which had been at
gave him the water of hfe, splntua e IX, aments of the religIOUS , . g turqUOIse orn ,
Yanglesho, the hfe-supportm I h elf a wish-fulfillIng gem,
king Trhisong and of Yeshe Tshogye ers 'W hen he discovered wrathful mantras. . h
doctrinal cycles, and many h' teen times. At Chuwon e , h met Orgyen t lr
treasure at Chlmpu, e , bl' ly extracted treasure from twO b d' nd havmgpu lC . d
emanated two 0 les a, ' , ' f his feet one CUbIt eep. places at once, left behlnd lmpresslOns 0
DorJe Lingpa 791
792 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures . .
. h ee ears [without decay], dunng whIch His corpse td r bY fit beings by speaking and reciting
time contlllUe Dorje Lingpa's were four-lIne dedlcatlons of m · divine images and relIcs ap- finally on the funeral foot flew from the cre-
peared. WIth of the Trashi ungne , and his left to Thokme
matorium to hIS splntual sfon . J The relics from these multip- h· h es0 theremains.
Gyagarwa, as t elr s a: that they lasted until later times. lied many times, and It appears
. . 'descendants persisted until later with its
The lineage of DOfje B h ng The river of his profound Ch·T n Mon umt a .
seat at Orgyen . 0 lllg 1 d. ant lineage until the present day without doct:ine has contlllued as a teachings1 have been well preserved
12 Ratna Lingpa
declllle. Moreover, some IS h
by the blessing of a dose lllleage, t e s
venerable Khyentse Wangpo.
uccession of which fell to the
[580. 3-583. 4] The great emanational treasure-finder Ratna Lingpa was the reincarnation of Langdro Koncok Jungne. He was born on Thursday 2 August 1403 (fifteenth day, seventh month, water sheep year, seventh cycle)1064 at Trushtil in Lhodrak. His father was a wealthy man named Dode Tar, and his mother Sitar Men. From childhood he learned to read and write without difficulty. From about his tenth year onwards he had many pure visions. By the power of his training during past lives, he learned all the sciences easily and also studied the doctrine extensively.
When Ratna Lingpa was in his twenty-seventh year Guru Rinpoche emanated as an ascetic from Kham, wearing a yellow hat and robe. He actually gave him an inventory of treasures and instructed him. Accord- ingly, in his thirtieth year he extracted his first treasure trove from Khyungcen Rock. It consisted of the Cycle ofthe Meansfor the Attainment of the Three Roots (rtsa-gsum sgrub-skor), et cetera. From then on, he gradually discovered twenty-five treasure troves, of which the foremost were the Attainment ofHayagnva and Vajravarahf as Consorts in Coales- cent Union (rta-phag yab-yum zung- }ug-tu sgrub-pa), found at Dritang Koro Trak; and the Four Cycles of the Gathering ('dus-pa skor-bzhi), the Peaceful and Wrathful Guru (gu-ru zhi-drag), the Great Compassionate One as the Gathering ofSecrets (thugs-chen gsang-'dus), and the Sun which Illuminates the Expanse of the Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen klong-gsal nyi-ma), which were discovered at Namkecen in Lhodrak.
When Ratna Lingpa discovered the treasure at glorious Phukring in Kharcu he displayed inconceivable supernormal cognitive powers and miracles, including a wonderful array of magical feats. He met Orgyen Rinpoche [in visions] twenty-five times, visited the Copper-coloured Mountain in a vision, and so forth, as it is related in his Biography of the Thirteen Stores (mdzod-khang bcu-gsum-gyi mam-thar). He often per- formed the Attainment of Elixir [according to} the Attainment of Mind (thugs-sgrub sman-sgrub) and the Attainment ofMedicinal Pills [from the Flesh of One} Born [as a Brahman} Seven Times (skye-bdun ril-sgrub),
794
History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
to collect textual traditions from all quarters, including the abbreviated set of the Collected Tantras which was preserved at Ukpalung. Realising that the complete, continuous lineage of their transmission was not to be found anywhere in Kham or in Tibet, except with Megom Samten Zangpo of Tsang, his heart could not bear the approaching end of the continuous line of transmission. Although the venerable Megom was exceedingly aged, the master and disciple both made great efforts over a long period of time and thus he received it. Later, Ratna Lingpa arranged the Collected Tantras altogether at Lhlindrup Palace in Trushiil, and had new copies prepared, the earlier ones in ink, and the later ones in gold. In connection with this he propagated the continuous transmission many times. Therefore, it is certainly only by the compas- sion of this great treasure-finder that today we can still enjoy these secret tantras, which are like wish-fulfilling gems. Thus, he was uniquely most propitious to the teaching of the Ancient Translation School, in general.
After bringing such deeds to completion, Ratna Lingpa, then in his seventy-sixth year [1478], passed away into the Palace of Lotus Light, accompanied by the most wonderful miracles. Many fine lineages of his sons and disciples, including those of the four spiritual sons dear to his heart, have continued until the present day, and the enlightened activity of his profound doctrine has been preserved without decline.
.
of these occaSIOns was
thereevent esI . .
L' utterly perfect, Ratna mgpa
. .
Since the auspICIOUS co
. e .
d ' d treasures of three ll1etImes,
found in a single l1etIme
k
and hence became nown un
h
der tree na
Ratna Lingpa
owerments, guidance, and instruC-
and when he granted or emP . rainbow lights shone, rains of d
tion, there were inexpressIble fragrance of incense. On none
flowers fell, and all was perva e h l'ghtest kind of obstacle.
mCldence was (I'e' ] the estme
d"l meso Zhikpo Lingpa, Dro u . .
t Kailash to Gyelmorong m . d
liberation. ntras of the Nyingmapa, the AncIent Above all, during that era, tal d d in the Kangyur owing to the Translation School, were not mc . e the Denkanna Catalogue of the
following statement dWkhiChhiS floduann_d:r_ma, T 4364):
(bk "gyur ar-c ag Kangyur a -
M
L' a From oun
Lingpa, and Ratna bl living creatures in maturatIon an Kham he established mnumera e .
. antras of the secret Because of their great strictness Inner t
mantras are n
ot set forth here.
d their transmis- Ratna Lingpa made great efforts
.
For this reason bneage
s of both the texts an sions had become exceedmgly rare.
Ratna Lingpa 795
13 Perna Lingpa
J
'
h e no OJ the Transmitted
[583. 4-588. 2] Orgyen Perna Lingpa,1066 who was hailed as the fourth
of the five kingly treasure-finders, was the last of the five pure incarna-
tions of the royal princess Pemasel. 1067 His birth at Mon Bumthang
in 1450 (iron male horse year, eighth cycle) was attended by many
omens. His father was Tondrup Zangpo of the Nyo clan, and his mother
Trongma Peldzom. Since, in his previous life, he had been the all-know- may ing Trime Ozer [Longcenpa], he awoke to the genuine enlightened
family during his childhood. He learned several scripts, the crafts, and so forth, without having been taught.
In particular, on Wednesday 31 July 1476 (tenth day, seventh month, monkey year),1068 in the place called Yige Trukma, Perna Lingpa actu- ally beheld the visage of Orgyen Rinpoche, who blessed him and placed in his hands an inventory of one hundred and eight great treasure troves. Accordingly, in his twenty-seventh year he brought forth the first of all his profound treasures, namely, the Cycles of the Luminous Expanse of the Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen klong-gsal-gyi skor-mams), from the famous Lake Mebar, where the Tang River meanders in the form of a knot near Naring Trak. Surrounded by a multitude of people he entered the lake without hesitation, holding a burning lamp in his hand. Then, when he re-emerged, the lamp in his hand was unextin- guished, and he carried under his arm a great treasure chest, about the size of a clay pot. Everyone was amazed and became established in the faith of conviction. Consequently, Perna Lingpa's indisputable reputa- tion covered the land like the sun and moon.
In the same way, he discovered the Great Perfection, the Gathering of SamantabhadraJs Intention (rdzogs-chen kun-bzang dgongs-Jdus) at Samye Chimpu. Moreover, from their respective treasure sites he brought forth the Cycle ofthe Small Son which is a Non-Dual Tantra of the Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen gnyis-med-rgyud bu-chung-gi skor); the Guru, an Ocean of Gems; the Great Compassionate One, the Lamp which Dispels Darkness (thugs-rie chen-po mun-sel sgron-me); the Eight Transmit- ted Precepts, the Mirror ofMind (bkaJ-hrgyad thugs-kyi me-long), the Kfla
which is the Utterly Secret TT. 't 1R Pema Lingpa 797 h C v1a azor(Phur-p
t e 0lcle of the Attainment oif I\T El' k ) [ h' J.
vectar- lXlr (bd d ' ,
s or, w Ich three cycles togeth
p recepts, Kfla, and Elixir (bk er constItute] th n' . f :7 Vajrapa7Ji as the Subduer of th -p ur-sman-gsum); [the teachings of]
dregs-Jdul dang gtum-chung)' th: Grrogant and as Slight Rage (phyag-rdor on the Wrathful [Guru] (drag- 0 andLesser[Teachings
on Longevity, the Vajra the Guidance ment of Longevity, Integrating n. hr phreng-ba); the Attain- lam-khyer); the Black Tnwgy ( skWlt t e Path (tshe-sgrub nor-bu
(las phran-gyi skor)' and rna nag-po s the Cycle ofMinor Rites 1 · ' ny others. Llkew' h .
menta objects, and of images b k Ise, t e profUsIOn of sacra- o
of one] born seven times [as 'b °h sand Stilpas, including [the flesh
a raman]whohl'b
representative images of Guru Pad IC 1 erates when tasted,
d
ered], the imagination. masambhava [that he discov-
an
In partIcular, in a ravine this t
of Lho Kyercu which had unearthed the temple . 'I ' not preVIOusly b . 'b
SImI ar to the temple of P I s
een VISI Ie, and which was umpa [at S ] 1069
b
" e tsap e VIsIted by everyone at th
PemaLingpa
amye . That temple e present day. Among the riches Perna
u -rtsl sman-sgrub-kl1i
798 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
Lingpa discovered as treasures were the life-supporting turquoise gems of the religious king Trhisong Detsen called "Blazing Light", "Blazing Light of a Thousand Mountains", and "Red House Snowpeak"; the seamless robes of the Princess; 1070 a clairvoyant mirror; and many other especially sublime riches of the royal dynasty.
Although an inventory of one hundred and eight treasure troves had come into Perna Lingpa's hands, he could not discover more than half of them. Later, when the treasure-finder was approaching death, his son asked for permission to find the others, but the master said, "It will be hard for you to find the treasure doctrines. But if you purely guard your commitments and pray to me, you may possibly find some minor ones. " Accordingly, his spiritual son Dawa is known to have
1071
brought forth some treasure troves, toO.
Moreover, the vastly wonderful deeds of Perna Lingpa were incon-
ceivable. He prophesied that in the future he would become the buddha named Vajragarbha in the Buddha-field of the Lotus Array, and said that all those presently associated with him, as well, would be reborn in that realm and become the disciples of that buddha.
Concerning the host of disciples who were his spiritual sons, there is a prophetic declaration among his treasures:
Ten thousand will be associated by [the force of] past deeds. One thousand and two will be associated by aspiration. Those associated through the profound essential point
will be eleven.
Seven will be maJ). Qala-holders.
And three will be spiritual sons, dear to his heart.
In conformity with this prophecy, an inconceivable number of dis- ciples appeared. Among them, the foremost were the six emanational treasure-finders; the six great accomplished masters; the six great sons who had manifestly disclosed the signs of accomplishment; Tshliltrim Peljor, the great preceptor of the Conangpa residence [Phlintsoling], Nangso Gyelwa Tondrup, and Triilku Chokden Gonpo, who were the three spiritual sons whose intention was the same as that of the treasure- finder himself; and his four physical sons, who were emanations of the Lords of the Three Families. Of these, his spiritual son Dawa, who was the emanation of Avalokitesvara, had inconceivable, expressive powers of blessing. He realised the intention of his father and as a result his enlightened activity became extensive. He was praised as a great, holy individual and revered as a guru by Sakya Dakcen, Drigung Rincen Phtintsok, Zhamarpa Koncok Yenlak, Pawo Chogyel Tondrup, and others. He was also supplicated by all sorts of important persons from Central Tibet, Tsang, and Mon in the south, and his enlightened
' . . b '
actIVIty In the service of oth
Perna Lingrl1a 799
1-'
bi
e. None the less,
h
ecame Incon
. ceIva
ers
e practised the way of yoga in secret
The transmission of Perna Lingpa's 'rofi
passed down and propagated by kdoctnnes was gradually Tondrup Pelbar, who were renowned atso. RangdrOl and Umdze
masters, as well as by his own
f h· "
o IS spIntua1 Son [Dawa] wh
h
.
he two Incomparable doctrine- emanation d h .
speec
. s an t e emanatIOns 0 occupIedtheseatatLh 1 .
'
ra. ptothepresentda th l' aungInLho-
dkU
the regions of Mon in the y the Icneage has. been spread throughout
Th .
e entIre stream of its em
.
contInues without decline.
sou , entral TIbet T '
powerments trans . .
d
sang an
, m I s S I O n s , and gUIdance
Dokam. .
14 Karma Lingpa
ment of unimpeded supernormal cognitive power and enlightened activity.
In his fifteenth year, the prophetic declaration and the auspicious coincidence came together. From Mount Gampodar, which resembles a dancing god, he extracted the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, the Natural Liberation ofIntention (zhi-khro dgongs-pa rang-grol); the Great Compas- sionate One, the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities ofPadma (thugs-rje chen-po padma zhi-khro); and other treasures. He gave the complete doctrinal cycle of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities of Padma (padma zhi-khro'i chos-skor) to fourteen great disciples, who were the masters of his doc- trine. But he gave the doctrinal cycles of the Natural Liberation of Intention to his son, Nyinda Choje alone; and he sealed the lineage with an injunction that for three generations it should be transmitted to only a single person. Because he did not form the auspicious connec- tion with the consort prophesied for him, Karma Lingpa passed into another realm after not very long.
The Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, the Natural Liberation of Intention was vastly propagated by Namka Choki Gyamtso, the third generation successor. The continuous lineage of its empowerment, transmission and guidance is found throughout Central Tibet, Tsang and Kham, and, in particular, in the southern and northern districts of Dokam. The enlightened activity of the Great Liberation by Hearing during the Intermediate State [bar-do thos-grol chen-po, i. e. the so-called "Tibetan
Book of the Dead"] continues to be extensively propagated in most
1072
[588. 3-589. 4] The treasure-finder Karbma ometime during the sixth k L. . ' Gyeltsen was orn s
translator Co ro U1 '1 3 8 7 ] at Khyerdrup, above Takpo. cycle [24 January 1327 to 20 January
He was the eldest son of the great ahcco
h ld of t e man
ra·
nd dwelt as the very embodl-
and he lived as an up 0 er 'b wasendowedwithinnumerableattn utesa
.
Karma Lingpa
Lingpa
an emanation of the
m lished master Nyinda Sangye, p t tradl'tl'on Karma Lingpa
places up to the present.
Karma Lingpa 801
15 Thangtong Gyelpo
covered many other pro[;ound t Thangtong Gyelpo 803 I reasures as well d ·
concea ed many treasure troves [at those site] ,an ,In exchange, he ? yelpo subdued an evil extr s. . .
! 'Camata In IndIa, and barbarian tribes on emIst kmg, wh? resided at
[589. 4-593. 1] The mighty lord among accomplished masters, Thang- tong Gyelpo,I073 was the combined emanation of Avalokitesvara and the glorious Hayagrlva, who came forth as if Guru Padmasambhava had taken birth from the womb. He incarnated at Olpa Lhartse in upper Tsang in 1385 (wood ox year, sixth cycle). Adhering to more than five hundred tutors, he pursued study and reflection without limit. Although he was a naturally arisen, mighty lord among accomplished masters, by virtue of necessity he received the Northern Treasures in their entirety from Ktinpang Tonyo Gyeltsen and the Shangpa doctrines from the lama Dorje Zhonu;1074 and he revealed the attainment of accomplishment in both of these traditions. Through the disciplined conduct [of an adherent of the secret mantra] he journeyed to all parts of Jambudvlpa and its subcontinents and, in particular, to such places as the Lotus Light Palace on Camaradvlpa, where he heard the doctrine from Guru Rinpoche and numberless accomplished masters; and the gakinls and doctrine protectors did him obeisance.
Thangtong Gyelpo built many temples at geomantic focal points,
1075
He bound all the venomous gods and demons under oaths of allegiance. From Samye Chimpu he extracted five paper scrolls, including the Attainment of Longevity, the Giver of the Glory of Immortality (tshe-sgrub 'chi-med dpal- ster). From Trampagyang he brought forth the Attainment of Mind, Utterly Secret and Unsurpassed (thugs-sgrub yang-gsang bla-med); from Druptso Pemaling, the Jewel Hoard of Esoteric Instruction (man-ngag tin-chen gter-spungs); from Taktsang (the "tiger den") at Paro in Mon, a ten-span-Iong paper scroll which combined the profound, essential points of all the SlUras and tantras; from the Palace of Secret Mantra in Tsari, the Cycle of Profound Doctrines which are Mind Treasures (zab- chos thugs-gter skor); and from Zilcen Phuk in Tsari, the Illuminating Lamp which Contains the Prophecy of the Great Accomplished Master Himself (grub-chen-nyid-kyi lung-bstan gsal-ba'i sgron-me) and the Means for the Attainment of K:jetrapala (zhing-skyong-gi sgrub-thabs). He dis-
- ce uncount bl [.
stupas] representing the buddha-bod a e books, and
the range of the intellect. He built fil' and mmd, surpassing and established one hundred d Iron sUspension bridges and other inconceivable elg. teen ferry-crossings. I076 These beyond that, on these occasions . re renowned. Above and
? e depicted the lives of the past er to virtuous conduct, m dramatic performances. This h satt. vas, kings, and others known as Ace Lhamo, originated :atncal tradItIOn, which today is
which repelled invading armies from Tibet.
mtroduced them to the d · the borders of TIbet· and h . octnne. The arra f h · '
e was Immeasurable. He produ d yo suc mIraculous abilities
perfectly wonderful, enlighten d e
. [. n aspect of. Thangtong Gyelpo's] actIvIty, so meanIngful to behold. IOn
Thangtong Gyelpo
Finally, when the master reach d h·
he passed away bod. t . IS one hundred and twenty-fifth tIme hIS spiritual son Nyima Z 1 y, In the way of a sky-farer. At that
angpo sang a lament, at which he returned
804 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures .
. t Then he passed away at glonous and conferred his extenS1ve testamen .
. h 1078 R1WOC e.
. , . a reat accomplished master from
There was one Tshultnm Z;ngpoh and thirty and whose body,
Ngari who lived to the 0 one ht 1079 He and the accomplished 1g
16 Ngari Pa1Jcen Perna Wangyel
in the end, passed away m a mafssDo k m' seem to have been physical dCh Thti1cen0 0 a
master calle . ar r h d master Thangtong Gyelpo. projections of th1S great accomp 1S persons have been favoured by
Until the . day, Yhost of his disciples was infinite,
the body of his pnstlne cogmtlhon. e. C1'ous circumstance of this great . . I ing to t e ausp1
and, m ar, 0;" . ment of the state of a deathless awareness- accomphshed master s duration of his own life, there were
holder, who control t e . ned the accomplishment of longev1ty.
holders of h1S lineage who atta1 . . of the profound doctrine, h f uous transm1ssiOn
It appears that t. e con m zab-chos thang-stong snyan-brgyud
the Great Aural Lmeage of ( t o. f Longevity the Giver of the . d dthe ttammen ') ,
chen-mo) has an d 11 hools ancient and new. Later on, Glory of Immortalzty a was repeatedly favoured by the venerable Perna se ognition and blessed by him.
the body of Thangtong sdPnstme c l'ng group of doctrines, the . h hestabhsheanamaz .
Relymg on t. . e . f h Accomplished Master (grub-thob Innermost OJ t e d f h f m the expanse of his intentlon a mind treasure wh1ch Vast Creation and Perfection of
and which includes: the proJo;n . an t ifthe Guru which is the root the Cycle of the for the 'and, as branches, (rtsa-ba bla-sgrub-kYl skor . g t which are in harmony with the Five Cycles of Means for ;he class of tantras (rgyud-sde
the path of Maglcal Net, gb-thabs skor-Inga); and the
[593. 1-598. 3] The great pal). 9ita of Ngari, Perna Wangyel Dorje, was a mind emanation of the religious king Trhisong, and the ninth reincarnation of Gyelse Lharje. He was born in 1487 (fire female sheep' year, eighth cycle) in the district ofLowo Matang [present-day Mustang, Nepal]. 1080 His father, Jamyang Rincen Gyeltsen, a great learned and accomplished master, hailed from a divine clan and was a later incarna- tion of lord Marpa, and his mother was Drocam Trhompagyen. He was named Perna Wangyel.
In his eighth year Perna Wangyel became a layman. 1081 From his father he obtained [the vow of] the cultivation of the enlightened attitude and studied fully, and trained himself in, the cycles of the transmitted precepts of the Ancient Translation School, the foremost being the trilogy of the SiUra which Gathers All Intentions, the Magical Net, and the Mental Class. He practised many rites of service and attainment to the point of realising the signs [of success]. From master Norten Zangpo he received the Vinaya, sutras, Kadampa cycles (bka'-gdams-pa'i skor), and so forth. Starting in his twentieth year, Perna Wangyel thoroughly mastered a hundred great textual traditions, of which the for. emost were those of the Madhyamaka, logic, and Transcendental Perfection. Thus, he became meaningfully well known as a "spiritual benefactor" .
In his twenty-first year he received the [empowerments which bring about] maturation and [the guidance which brings about] liberation for the Red Yamiiri and so on, from Jamyang Chokyong, Tshtiltrim Pel, and others. Performing the rites of service and attainment, he actually beheld the visage of the wrathful MafijusrI. In particular, in his twenty- second year, he thoroughly resolved his doubts regarding the transmit- ted precepts and treasures of the Ancient Translation School under the tutelage of his holy, venerable father. 1082 When he performed the at- tainment of the Eight Transmitted Precepts, his father was inspired by extraordinary pure visions, and so praised him. Later, [the attributes praised by his father] became manifest.
sgyu-'phrul-gyllam dang mthun p . . . fthe Tantras
T gru . . ·ons and Esoteric Instructwns ransmlSSl ,
tial Summarzsatwn OJ • t the Eight Transmitted Precepts 0+ the Class of Means for Attammen , . p dril-ba) These
'} , dk' dlungman-ngagsnymg- or . (sgrub-sde bka Precious Treasure (rin-chen gter-mdzod).
are preserved 1n
'}
806
History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
attainment for most of the extant traditions of the empowerments, tantras, and esoteric instructions of secret mantra belonging to the new and ancient traditions. He also travelled to the Kathmandu Valley, where he attended on many Newari and Tibetan gurus. Due to his connection with the places of pilgrimage and his practice of contempla- tion, pure visions arose without limit.
Starting from his thirty-eighth year, Perna Wangyel brought down
a great shower of doctrine, ancient and new, without bias: He decided
to restore the doctrinal lineages of the ancient and new traditions which
had deteriorated in Central Tibet and Tsang. Having obtained the
permission of his father and all the lords of Lowo, he proceeded to
Central Tibet via Zangzang Lhadrak, together with his younger brother,
1085
Ngari Par;,cen Perna Wangyel
During the early and later part dOfFhis . . d the Path an rult ro f
gyel tWlCe recelve , I d'nation at the seminary 0 twenty-fifth year he recelved ete or receptor of Lowo,1083
Samdrupling from S? nam gPandha, and who officiated who was the emanatlon of Jamyang then on Perna Wan- as both preceptor and master of ceremonles. ciate who remained on
gyel adhered to the discipline of adtotthael applications of the
one seat. 1084 He properly mastere I he became foremost Vinaya of the true doctrine, age Moreover, under among all those who held the u the great of Kuge, and
that great preceptor, e zang, 1 ' and 'many empower- " I h studled grammar, OglC,
At Zhungtrezhing, Perna Wangyel received the Ma. Q. cjalas of Ngok (rngog-dkyil) and the cycle of Red Yarnari from Ngokt6n Sonam Tendzin and Zhalu Locen of Tratang. Then he went to Samye and the pro- pensities of [his previous life as] the religious king Trhisong were mani- festly aroused. He performed the great attainment of the Gathering of the Sugatas of the Eight Transmitted Precepts in the middle shrine, and was favoured by Lhodrak Guru and others. From Trhengso Orgyen Chozang and Kongcen N amka Pelden he received the Gathering of the Guru's Intention. When he practised contemplation at Dra Yangdzong and Chimpu he had visions of many deities. Perna Wangyel was invited to Lhodrak by an eighth generation descendant of Guru Chowang. He restored the deteriorating doctrinal tradition there and performed other acts of great kindness.
This master studied the Gathering ofthe Sugatas ofthe Eight Transmit- ted Precepts alone twenty-five times, of which the last, which he received at Lhodrak Gonkar from the peerless, great, accomplished master Nam- kei Neljor of the Jeu clan, had a genuine and reliable origin. In this way his intention was totally fulfilled.
In particular, concerning his discovery of profound treasures: In his forty-sixth year, from a secret chest lodged in the back of the image of Vairocana with four bodies [facing in four directions, rnam-snang mi- bzhi] in the upper hall at Samye, Perna Wangyel brought forth the Final Gathering ofthe Transmitted Precepts which is the Doctrinal Cycle ofthe Entire Gathering ofAwareness-holders, the Meansfor the Attainment ofthe Seven-Chapter Supplication (bka'-'dus phyi-ma rig-'dzinyongs-'dus- kyi chos-skor gsol-'debs le'u-bdun-ma'i sgrub-thabs). He established most of it and it remains widely propagated even today.
He invited Drigung Rincen Phtintsok - Rikdzin Lekdenje having brought them together - and the three of them, master and disciples, reconsecrated Samye. This greatly aided the temporal and spiritual well-being of Tibet and Kham. After Perna Wangyel had thus limitlessly
(
Jamyang L0 drope e
I '
ew trans atlOn sc
hools of the secret mantra. ,
oured with the crowmng
f h ments and tantras 0 t e n
b
h
Training himself in these, he came to
e
on
title of Mahapa1JeJita. . d of the Northern Treasures under
Perna Wangyel also studle manyf Tran o. In short, as illustrated
Sakya Zangpo, the treasure-fidnder to the rites of service and above, he made efforts to stu yan
Ngari Pancen Perna Wangyel 807
On reaching the Emanational Temple of Lhasa [i. e.
Lekden Dorje.
the Jokhang], he obtained a prophetic declaration.
808 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
, g d livin creatures in Central Tibet, he de- benefitted the teach,m an f g b Montang for the great, glorious
parted, in his fifty-slxth rom n
Copper-colIloured individual's inconceivably learned,
Genera y spea {mg, ' I 'dated l'n his own verse autoblO- , d r hed career lS e UCl ,
mfied an accomp lS d the terse but profusely meamngful graph! ', compos; Vows (sdom-gsum rnam-par nges-pa'i Treatlse whIch Ascertams the Thre " ble Up to the
bstan-bcos),The,kindnesshof hold the present day thls work as een,
teachings of the Ancient Translauon School.
el became well known as a great promulgator
So it was that I 'fi d the teachings of the transmitted
who directly and mdlrect y, c an ,le I ' S hool In the life- , f the Anclent Trans atlOn c .
17 Rikdzin Jatsiin Nyingpo
d
Treasures, Trashi Topgyel, or Chogye :nation 1086 The
precepts and treasures 0,
, ' d' I! ' llowmg he returne
I Wan oide whose career
ume lmme late y 10 . .
as an has transmlsslOn 0
without decline.
s the master of the Northern a
[598. 3-604. 3] The great holder of indestructible reality, a monk re- nowned in one body under three names - those of the treasure-finder Letro Lingpa, the awareness-holder Jatson Nyingpo, and the mantra adept Hurpnak Mebar - appeared as an emanation from above of the compassion of Nyangben Tingdzin Zangpo. Nyangben had completely realised the fruit and was supreme among the one hundred and eight disciples of the great master Orgyen who had attained the incorruptible body of light. 1087
Jatson Nyingpo was born in 1585 (wood female bird year, tenth cycle) as the sun entered into the constellation 1088 at Waru Namtstil in Kongpo. His father was Chokyong Gonpo, and his mother Namlung Putri.
hIm WIth three paper scrolls. They contained an inventory oftre
Pro h ' d . . asures . p eCIes, an mstructIOns on the way to attain the treasures A d' mgly S L' , . CCor-
, angye mgpa s guru offered provisions so that he could perform the means to attam the treasures in the prescribed manner Th Padmasambhava of O<;i<;iiyana, along with a host of <;iakinls,
[567. 6-575. 3] The great treasure-finder Sangye Lingpa, who was the emanation of Lhase Tamdzin Rolpa Yeshetsel,1047 was born, attended by wondrous omens, in 1340 (iron male dragon year, sixth cycle) at Traksum Dorje Trak, above the cultivated valley of Kyingpu Yulung, one of Orgyen's places ofattainment, in the Nyangpo district ofKongpo. His father, Khamzhik Taklung Nyonpa, was an emanation of Haya- grlva, and his mother, A-Hu11l Gyen, had the marks of one who had been blessed by Vajravarahi. The boy was given the name of Rikdzin. In his fifth year he received the vows of a layman from the preceptor Zhonupel,1048 and had a pure vision of the Great Compassionate One. He learned to read and write the letters just by being shown the script and was quite clever; but his father passed away, his mother remarried, and, disliked by his stepfather, the boy experienced hardship.
During that time he received a prophetic declaration from a red woman, in compliance with which he went to meet the lord among conquerors, Rolpei Dorje [Karmapa IV], in the valley below Longpo Trongsar. At Cangcupling, a monastery near Tsari, he was ordained as a novice by the preceptor Cangcup Dorje and the master Sakya Yeshe. The name Sangye Zangpo was conferred upon him. Therefore, when later he had discovered profound treasures, he became universally known as Sangye Lingpa. From those two, preceptor and master, he received many transmitted doctrines. Then, when the venerable Rolpei Dorje returned from Central Tibet, he said to Lama Cangcup Dorje, "Give this nephew of yours to me. " He complied and the Karmapa, greatly delighted, prophesied that the boy would guide many living creatures.
When Sangye Lingpa arrived in Lhasa, he had visions of Avalokites- vara, and, above all, of the precious master Padmasambhava. Starting then, he had repeated visions and vowed to practise [in retreat] for three years. After the death of the lama Cangcup Dorje, Sangye Lingpa proceeded into the presence of the lama Choki Lodro, a learned and accomplished master at Tsari, and became his spiritual son. At that
Sangye Lingpa
and permission to fulfil the prophecies. On Friday 23
(twenty-fifth day, seventh month, wood male dragon
. from the great cavern ofPuri he extracted the texts and esoteric InstructIOnsoftheltd' G h .
G h . n enne late at erzng of Transmitted Precepts the 'dat erz)ng 0t. the . Guru's Intention (bka'-'dus bar-ba bla-ma
us-pa , whIch IS unique am 11 h b
Tib . ong a t e su terranean treasures of
o htoget? er WIth the Doctrinal Cycle of the Great Compassionate
t tugs-rye chen-po'i chos-skor). Sangye Lingpa showed these books
who ,,:as delighted. He then studied and and culti-
. em expenentlally, and so became the first master of these doctnnes.
786 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
Sangye Lingpa 787
Then, beginning that year, Sangye Lingpa gradually discovered treasures at Karzuk Trhang, Jeworong, Tsecen Trak, Longpo Cangde Bumpa, Longpo Kada Trhang, and Kyengi Karteng Trhang. In these locations he found the Heart Essence ofthe Attainment ofKfla (phur-sgrnb thugs-kyi nying-khu), the Black Tortoise Divination Chart (gtad-khram rns-sbal nag-po), Black Hayagrfva (rta-mgrin nag-po), and also the Great
Compassionate One, Utterly Secret and Unsurpassed (thugs-rje chen-po yang-gsang bla-med). Further, he discovered material treasures, includ- ing sacramental objects and pills, a mask of Orgyen, a gold-filled copper
vase, an iron kIla, and twenty-one multiplying remains ofthe Tathagata. When Sangye Lingpa discovered the treasures at Kongpo Chimytil, the treasure-finder Trime Lhtinpo was also summoned there by a prophetic declaration of the qakinls. Together, they extracted the Blue- robed Vajrapar;,i (phyag-rdor gos-sngon-can), the Wrathful Mantra which Halts All the Monpa Spirits (ngan-sngags mon-pa dgu-rdug), the En-
lightened Mind of Orgyen and His Consort (o-rgyan yab-yum-gyi byang- sems), et cetera. At Puri Rincen Barwa he discovered the Doctrinal Cycle of Sublime Avalokitesvara (,phags-pa spyan-ras-gzigs-kyi chos-skor); and at Cagoshong, the Great Compassionate One (thugs-chen), the Alchemy Cycle (bcud-len skor), and the Wind-Lasso oflsvara (dbang-phyug rlung- zhags). In this last treasure trove he also found the Prophecy ofCangcup
Lingpa Pelgi Gyeltsen (byang-chub gling-pa dpal-gyi rgyal-mtshan-gyi lung- bstan). A person who was sent to investigate in LaW, met the treasure- finder [prophesied therein], and became convinced. Moreover, from Tsari, Sangye Lingpa extracted the Means for the Attainment of the Naga King Sugriva (klu-rgyal mgrin-bzang sgrnb-thabs); and from Gyer Cemakarpo, the Means for the Attainment of Longevity which Conjoins the Sun and Moon (tshe-sgrnb nyi-zla kha-sbyor), among others. And from Gyala Shinjei Badong he brought forth the Yamantaka, Lord of
Life (gshin-rje tshe-bdag), the Charm which Overthrows when Hurled (thun-phog 'gyel), and the Ceremony for Brandishing the Ritual Kfla of Orgyen (o-rgyan-gyi las-phur gdengs-chog), and so forth, in co-operation with the treasure-finder Trime Lhtinpo.
Furthermore, in a retreat cave of Orgyen, Sangye Lingpa found the
Essential Epitome ofthe Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen snying-po bsdus-pa). At Kongpo Tamrtil he discovered the Six Root Tantras ofthe Gathering of Intentions (dgongs-'dus rtsa-ba'i rgyud-drng); in Samye Chimpu an especially sublime image of Orgyen; and in Orsho Lungdrom a called "Tiger-Meat God", a qakinI's body ornament, and so on. In way, Sangye Lingpa found eighteen great treasure troves hls twenty-fifth and thirty-second year. In addition, it is not posslble to
describe the countless minor treasures he discovered.
Those occasions were constantly marked by rains of flowers , canopies of rainbow light, sounds of music, or the appearance of qakinls. In accord with the prophetic declaration of Va;ravarahI and the twelve
qakinls [of her circle], Sangye Lingpa divided the Gathering ofIntentions precisely into thirteen volumes with the edges dyed red, a custom that has been maintained down to the present day. 1050
It says in a Prophetic Declaration (lung-bstan): .
One hundred billion will become firm in the stage of creation.
Eight hundred thousand will actually reveal signs of accomplishment.
Ninety thousand will be liberated in the incorruptible apparitional body.
Ten billion will obtain sundry accomplishments.
Those in whom the seed of liberation is planted will be
countless.
Not confined to one age, this will occur in a gradual
lineage.
Exactly so, it is well known that there were, above all, twenty great streams which continued the succession of the Gathering of Intentions alone. There were countless masters of the various other treasure doc- trines of Sangye Lingpa. The foremost among them were the lord among conquerors, Karmapa IV, Rolpei Dorje; Zhamarpa Khaco Wangpo; the great lord of Neudong [Ta'i Situ Cangcup [Gyeltsen]; the Sakyapa lama Tampa Sonam Gyeltsen; Yakde Pa1)cen; the great preceptor of Coten, Sonam Zangpo; and Drigung Choki Gyelpo. The other aristocrats, great gurus, and imp9rtant men who followed him were countless.
Particularly, when the Great Ming emperor ofChina invited Karmapa V, Tezhinshekpa,1051 he made the following written request: "Please bring with you an immaculate treasure doctrine of Padmakara, the accomplished master from Oqqiyana. " The doctrine master Tezhin- shekpa brought the profound doctrine of the Gathering of Intentions, a miraculous, dark-blue vase, and a golden vajra [emblematic] of the commitments, which he presented to the emperor, who rejoiced and, as is well known, offered the Karmapa a privy seal1052 and special robes.
Sangye Lingpa founded the monastery of Decen Samdrup in Nyipu
and made it his principle seat. When he performed the attainment of
nectar-elixir (bdud-rtsi sman-gyi sgrnb-pa), the signs and miracles which
actually appeared were more sublime than those of others. The catalyst
[which he compounded at that time] has remained potent to the present day. 1053
After infinitely benefitting the teaching and living creatures in these ways, on Saturday 8 April 1396 (thirtieth day, third month, fire male mouse),1054 during his fifty-seventh year, while he was residing at Cangcupling, Sangye Lingpa's intention dissolved into the expanse of reality.
788 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
The second incarnation of Sangye Lingpa took birth in Nelpa Meu, as the son of Tondrup Gyelpo, but passed away in childhood, The thIrd incarnation was born in Longpo Kying. Trtilku Pelden [as,he was known] returned to his predecessor's seat and IS known for havmg widely served the teaching and living , .
Afterwards, there was no clear lineage of but the of Sangye Lingpa's descendants continued until later times. From hIS son Yeshe Dorje and Cakyungpa Pelden Senge, was, foremost
h d' , les who were the masters of his doctnne, hneages of amongteISClP , dd
descendants and disciples, in which there were succeSSIve learne ,an accomplished masters, emerged. The lineage was transmItted through [the hierarchs of] the earlier and later Tsele,105 the elder and younger T abla,1056 et cetera. Th,us the profound treasures of San, gyIe L' d the Gathering of Intentions above all, were extensIve y
11 Dorje Lingpa
fD k
0 am
1057 At a later date, Zhapdrung Thucen Ngawang of B? utan,
became the master of the doctrine of the entire maturation and ,lIberation of the Gathering of the Guru's Intention, which he had receIved from KongRikdzinNyingpo,the generationdescendantof Lingpa, In the monastic commumtIes of the [of Bhutan] of whIch the foremost was his own seat of Dewachenpo m Punakha, he estab- lished the elaborate practice of worship on tenth day [of each month],1058 in connection with the great attamment of the Gatherzng of Intentions. This enlightened activity of the ceremony the fulfilment [of commitments, skong-chog] ,1059 and so forth, has c,ont,mued to spread throughout the southern districts [of Bhutan and Slkklm].
mgpa, an , d" propagated throughout Tibet in general, and m the lstncts 0
[575. 3-580. 3] Dorje Lingpa was the third kingly treasure-finder and the actual presence of the great translator Vairocana. He was born in 1346 (fire male dog year, sixth cycle) at a place called Tranang Entsa in Central Tibet. His father was KhutOn Sonam Gyeltsen, who came
from a line of mantrins who were holders of indestructible reality, and his mother was Karmogyen. They gave him the name Orgyen Zangpo. The signs and wonders associated with his awakening to the genuine enlightened family were inconceivable. In his seventh year he received the vows of a novice from one known as the all-knowing Trhapa Sakya
at Pangshong Lharika. Under that guru, and others as well, he com- pleted the study of sutra and mantra doctrines, ancient and new.
In his thirteenth year he had seven visions of the precious Orgyen. Then, following an inventory, which had been discovered in the treas- ures of Guru Chowang, he found his first treasure trove behind the image of Como [Tara] at Trhadruk. 1060 It included the Means for the
Attainment of the Three Roots (rtsa-gsum sgrub-thabs), minor means for attainment, inventories and their supplements, wrathful mantras, and instructions on alchemy, there being one hundred and eight of each, along with their particular prophecies. In his fifteenth year Dorje Lingpa opened the way to the treasures of Okar Rock in the lower valley of
Cing. Guru Rinpoche actually arrived inside that most spacious cave of attainment, constructed a maIf9ala and gave him empowerment. Preceding each separate scroll of yellow paper, he gave him the trans- mission and sacraments consecrated as treasures. Moreover, Dorje Lingpa also brought forth an image of Guru Rinpoche, four volumes
that had been the King's,1061 a hundred paper scrolls, four vases con- taining the water of life, amulets containing sacramental substances, et cetera. Among the treasures, he discovered such doctrinal works as the Biographical Injunction in Eight Chapters (rnam-thar thang-yig le'u brgyad-
pa), the Vast Expanse ofthe View, a Father Tantra ofthe Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen pha-rgyud lta-ba klong-yangs), the Sun which Illumines the Expanse, a Mother Tantra (ma-rgyud klong-gsal nyi-ma), the Further
in particular,
· softhe Treasures e
1L
790 History: C ose meag " d Moon
In the cave of Metsornyen at Zaplung, Dorje Lingpa received dona- tions from both Thangla and Kangkar Shame [two protective divinities]. He assembled the many great gods and demons of the Land of Snows and undertook the great attainment of the Eight Transmitted Precepts (bka'-brgyad sgrub-chen). To all of them he gave empowerment. He travelled emanationally to the eight great charnel grounds, where he met the eight awareness-holders, and received the Instructions of the Eight Confidences (gding-brgyad-kyi gdams-pa). When he discovered the treasure troves, Guru Rinpoche, Yeshe Tshogyel, Vairocana, and others actually appeared and bestowed empowerments and instructions upon him. By displaying a wonderful array of miraculous abilities he loosened all fetters of doubt and secured others in irreversible faith. He also left behind many impressions of his body, hands, and feet. In Zaplung, Kharcu, and ZhotO Tidro, respectively, he found one hundred and eight [rites for] empowerment, consecration, fulfilment [of commit- ments] and repentance, burnt offerings, and subjugation. Such are the examples of his extensive service on behalf of the happiness of Tibet.
The foremost among Dorje Lingpa's profound, vast and limitless doctrinal treasures was the Trio ofthe Guru, Great Perfection, and Great Compassionate One (bla-rdzogs-thugs-gsum). He found wonderful images such as that of Vajrasattva, which he discovered at Phungpo Riwoche, and the eleven-faced Avalokitesvara and the sandalwood image of Tara which he discovered in the "Vase Pillar" of Lhasa [i. e. in the Jo- khang]. 1062 He also discovered sacramental objects, such as [the flesh of one] born [as a brahman] seven times, and spiritual elixir; treasures of wealth, including the wish-fulfilling gem; such Pon works as the Golden Surgical Needle of the Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen gser-thur), and the Greater, Medium and Lesser Aural Lineages of Tavihrca (ta-bi-hri- tsa'i snyan-brgyud che-'bring-chung-gsum). In addition, he profusely dis- covered texts on medical science and astrology, and his enlightened activity was extensive.
The family lineage descended from his son Choyingpa, an emanation of Nupcen Sangye Yeshe, has existed up to the present day in the region of Mon. 1063 It is also said that Dorje Lingpa offered the Cycle of Yamantaka (gshed-skor) and the Cycle of the Jambhalas of the Five Families (Dzam-Iha rigs-Inga'i skor) to the lord among conquerors, Kar- mapa IV, ROlpei Dorje. He made his principle seat at Lingmokha. Also, he took charge of the monasteries of Lhodrak, Paro in Mon, Uke in Ze, and others, and so widely benefitted living beings. The name under which he is best known is Dorje Lingpa, but he is also called Perna Lingpa, Ktinkyong Lingpa, Yungdrung Lingpa, and Jampel Choki Shenyen. When he had completed his service to the teaching and to living creatures, in his sixtieth year [1405] he delivered his testament, the Great Prophetic Declaration (zhal-chems lung-bstan chen- mo) and, accompanied by wondrous omens, he passed away at Traklong.
h D -kinf the ConJunctwn of Sun an (mkha'-'gro yang-tig nyz-zla kha-s " ethig skor bcu) the Four Cycles
,
Innermost Spiritualay of t e . a b ' ) th Ten Father Tantra Cycles of
S " t the Innermost pzn ua
'b
, h Ei ht Appendices (zur-pa rgya ,
lity (pha-rgyu snymg- o f the Gathering ('dus-pa skor bzhz) , t e g
d)
_ _ _ _
. .
a discovered forty-three great treasure
Dorje Lingpa
Then, gradually, Done L l n g p , e hundred and eight al- , t've treasure SItes - on , . .
troves at theIr respec I b tions and the subdIVISIons together ifone c0. unts the. of the Ten of the ThIS beg -khrid skor bcu) and other texts at Muuk
ofExperientwl Guzdance to the time when Yeshe Tshogyel Shelgi Bamgong, and [conunuedl up C mpa Temple in Bumthang and actually arrived in l' air which had been at
gave him the water of hfe, splntua e IX, aments of the religIOUS , . g turqUOIse orn ,
Yanglesho, the hfe-supportm I h elf a wish-fulfillIng gem,
king Trhisong and of Yeshe Tshogye ers 'W hen he discovered wrathful mantras. . h
doctrinal cycles, and many h' teen times. At Chuwon e , h met Orgyen t lr
treasure at Chlmpu, e , bl' ly extracted treasure from twO b d' nd havmgpu lC . d
emanated two 0 les a, ' , ' f his feet one CUbIt eep. places at once, left behlnd lmpresslOns 0
DorJe Lingpa 791
792 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures . .
. h ee ears [without decay], dunng whIch His corpse td r bY fit beings by speaking and reciting
time contlllUe Dorje Lingpa's were four-lIne dedlcatlons of m · divine images and relIcs ap- finally on the funeral foot flew from the cre-
peared. WIth of the Trashi ungne , and his left to Thokme
matorium to hIS splntual sfon . J The relics from these multip- h· h es0 theremains.
Gyagarwa, as t elr s a: that they lasted until later times. lied many times, and It appears
. . 'descendants persisted until later with its
The lineage of DOfje B h ng The river of his profound Ch·T n Mon umt a .
seat at Orgyen . 0 lllg 1 d. ant lineage until the present day without doct:ine has contlllued as a teachings1 have been well preserved
12 Ratna Lingpa
declllle. Moreover, some IS h
by the blessing of a dose lllleage, t e s
venerable Khyentse Wangpo.
uccession of which fell to the
[580. 3-583. 4] The great emanational treasure-finder Ratna Lingpa was the reincarnation of Langdro Koncok Jungne. He was born on Thursday 2 August 1403 (fifteenth day, seventh month, water sheep year, seventh cycle)1064 at Trushtil in Lhodrak. His father was a wealthy man named Dode Tar, and his mother Sitar Men. From childhood he learned to read and write without difficulty. From about his tenth year onwards he had many pure visions. By the power of his training during past lives, he learned all the sciences easily and also studied the doctrine extensively.
When Ratna Lingpa was in his twenty-seventh year Guru Rinpoche emanated as an ascetic from Kham, wearing a yellow hat and robe. He actually gave him an inventory of treasures and instructed him. Accord- ingly, in his thirtieth year he extracted his first treasure trove from Khyungcen Rock. It consisted of the Cycle ofthe Meansfor the Attainment of the Three Roots (rtsa-gsum sgrub-skor), et cetera. From then on, he gradually discovered twenty-five treasure troves, of which the foremost were the Attainment ofHayagnva and Vajravarahf as Consorts in Coales- cent Union (rta-phag yab-yum zung- }ug-tu sgrub-pa), found at Dritang Koro Trak; and the Four Cycles of the Gathering ('dus-pa skor-bzhi), the Peaceful and Wrathful Guru (gu-ru zhi-drag), the Great Compassionate One as the Gathering ofSecrets (thugs-chen gsang-'dus), and the Sun which Illuminates the Expanse of the Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen klong-gsal nyi-ma), which were discovered at Namkecen in Lhodrak.
When Ratna Lingpa discovered the treasure at glorious Phukring in Kharcu he displayed inconceivable supernormal cognitive powers and miracles, including a wonderful array of magical feats. He met Orgyen Rinpoche [in visions] twenty-five times, visited the Copper-coloured Mountain in a vision, and so forth, as it is related in his Biography of the Thirteen Stores (mdzod-khang bcu-gsum-gyi mam-thar). He often per- formed the Attainment of Elixir [according to} the Attainment of Mind (thugs-sgrub sman-sgrub) and the Attainment ofMedicinal Pills [from the Flesh of One} Born [as a Brahman} Seven Times (skye-bdun ril-sgrub),
794
History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
to collect textual traditions from all quarters, including the abbreviated set of the Collected Tantras which was preserved at Ukpalung. Realising that the complete, continuous lineage of their transmission was not to be found anywhere in Kham or in Tibet, except with Megom Samten Zangpo of Tsang, his heart could not bear the approaching end of the continuous line of transmission. Although the venerable Megom was exceedingly aged, the master and disciple both made great efforts over a long period of time and thus he received it. Later, Ratna Lingpa arranged the Collected Tantras altogether at Lhlindrup Palace in Trushiil, and had new copies prepared, the earlier ones in ink, and the later ones in gold. In connection with this he propagated the continuous transmission many times. Therefore, it is certainly only by the compas- sion of this great treasure-finder that today we can still enjoy these secret tantras, which are like wish-fulfilling gems. Thus, he was uniquely most propitious to the teaching of the Ancient Translation School, in general.
After bringing such deeds to completion, Ratna Lingpa, then in his seventy-sixth year [1478], passed away into the Palace of Lotus Light, accompanied by the most wonderful miracles. Many fine lineages of his sons and disciples, including those of the four spiritual sons dear to his heart, have continued until the present day, and the enlightened activity of his profound doctrine has been preserved without decline.
.
of these occaSIOns was
thereevent esI . .
L' utterly perfect, Ratna mgpa
. .
Since the auspICIOUS co
. e .
d ' d treasures of three ll1etImes,
found in a single l1etIme
k
and hence became nown un
h
der tree na
Ratna Lingpa
owerments, guidance, and instruC-
and when he granted or emP . rainbow lights shone, rains of d
tion, there were inexpressIble fragrance of incense. On none
flowers fell, and all was perva e h l'ghtest kind of obstacle.
mCldence was (I'e' ] the estme
d"l meso Zhikpo Lingpa, Dro u . .
t Kailash to Gyelmorong m . d
liberation. ntras of the Nyingmapa, the AncIent Above all, during that era, tal d d in the Kangyur owing to the Translation School, were not mc . e the Denkanna Catalogue of the
following statement dWkhiChhiS floduann_d:r_ma, T 4364):
(bk "gyur ar-c ag Kangyur a -
M
L' a From oun
Lingpa, and Ratna bl living creatures in maturatIon an Kham he established mnumera e .
. antras of the secret Because of their great strictness Inner t
mantras are n
ot set forth here.
d their transmis- Ratna Lingpa made great efforts
.
For this reason bneage
s of both the texts an sions had become exceedmgly rare.
Ratna Lingpa 795
13 Perna Lingpa
J
'
h e no OJ the Transmitted
[583. 4-588. 2] Orgyen Perna Lingpa,1066 who was hailed as the fourth
of the five kingly treasure-finders, was the last of the five pure incarna-
tions of the royal princess Pemasel. 1067 His birth at Mon Bumthang
in 1450 (iron male horse year, eighth cycle) was attended by many
omens. His father was Tondrup Zangpo of the Nyo clan, and his mother
Trongma Peldzom. Since, in his previous life, he had been the all-know- may ing Trime Ozer [Longcenpa], he awoke to the genuine enlightened
family during his childhood. He learned several scripts, the crafts, and so forth, without having been taught.
In particular, on Wednesday 31 July 1476 (tenth day, seventh month, monkey year),1068 in the place called Yige Trukma, Perna Lingpa actu- ally beheld the visage of Orgyen Rinpoche, who blessed him and placed in his hands an inventory of one hundred and eight great treasure troves. Accordingly, in his twenty-seventh year he brought forth the first of all his profound treasures, namely, the Cycles of the Luminous Expanse of the Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen klong-gsal-gyi skor-mams), from the famous Lake Mebar, where the Tang River meanders in the form of a knot near Naring Trak. Surrounded by a multitude of people he entered the lake without hesitation, holding a burning lamp in his hand. Then, when he re-emerged, the lamp in his hand was unextin- guished, and he carried under his arm a great treasure chest, about the size of a clay pot. Everyone was amazed and became established in the faith of conviction. Consequently, Perna Lingpa's indisputable reputa- tion covered the land like the sun and moon.
In the same way, he discovered the Great Perfection, the Gathering of SamantabhadraJs Intention (rdzogs-chen kun-bzang dgongs-Jdus) at Samye Chimpu. Moreover, from their respective treasure sites he brought forth the Cycle ofthe Small Son which is a Non-Dual Tantra of the Great Perfection (rdzogs-chen gnyis-med-rgyud bu-chung-gi skor); the Guru, an Ocean of Gems; the Great Compassionate One, the Lamp which Dispels Darkness (thugs-rie chen-po mun-sel sgron-me); the Eight Transmit- ted Precepts, the Mirror ofMind (bkaJ-hrgyad thugs-kyi me-long), the Kfla
which is the Utterly Secret TT. 't 1R Pema Lingpa 797 h C v1a azor(Phur-p
t e 0lcle of the Attainment oif I\T El' k ) [ h' J.
vectar- lXlr (bd d ' ,
s or, w Ich three cycles togeth
p recepts, Kfla, and Elixir (bk er constItute] th n' . f :7 Vajrapa7Ji as the Subduer of th -p ur-sman-gsum); [the teachings of]
dregs-Jdul dang gtum-chung)' th: Grrogant and as Slight Rage (phyag-rdor on the Wrathful [Guru] (drag- 0 andLesser[Teachings
on Longevity, the Vajra the Guidance ment of Longevity, Integrating n. hr phreng-ba); the Attain- lam-khyer); the Black Tnwgy ( skWlt t e Path (tshe-sgrub nor-bu
(las phran-gyi skor)' and rna nag-po s the Cycle ofMinor Rites 1 · ' ny others. Llkew' h .
menta objects, and of images b k Ise, t e profUsIOn of sacra- o
of one] born seven times [as 'b °h sand Stilpas, including [the flesh
a raman]whohl'b
representative images of Guru Pad IC 1 erates when tasted,
d
ered], the imagination. masambhava [that he discov-
an
In partIcular, in a ravine this t
of Lho Kyercu which had unearthed the temple . 'I ' not preVIOusly b . 'b
SImI ar to the temple of P I s
een VISI Ie, and which was umpa [at S ] 1069
b
" e tsap e VIsIted by everyone at th
PemaLingpa
amye . That temple e present day. Among the riches Perna
u -rtsl sman-sgrub-kl1i
798 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
Lingpa discovered as treasures were the life-supporting turquoise gems of the religious king Trhisong Detsen called "Blazing Light", "Blazing Light of a Thousand Mountains", and "Red House Snowpeak"; the seamless robes of the Princess; 1070 a clairvoyant mirror; and many other especially sublime riches of the royal dynasty.
Although an inventory of one hundred and eight treasure troves had come into Perna Lingpa's hands, he could not discover more than half of them. Later, when the treasure-finder was approaching death, his son asked for permission to find the others, but the master said, "It will be hard for you to find the treasure doctrines. But if you purely guard your commitments and pray to me, you may possibly find some minor ones. " Accordingly, his spiritual son Dawa is known to have
1071
brought forth some treasure troves, toO.
Moreover, the vastly wonderful deeds of Perna Lingpa were incon-
ceivable. He prophesied that in the future he would become the buddha named Vajragarbha in the Buddha-field of the Lotus Array, and said that all those presently associated with him, as well, would be reborn in that realm and become the disciples of that buddha.
Concerning the host of disciples who were his spiritual sons, there is a prophetic declaration among his treasures:
Ten thousand will be associated by [the force of] past deeds. One thousand and two will be associated by aspiration. Those associated through the profound essential point
will be eleven.
Seven will be maJ). Qala-holders.
And three will be spiritual sons, dear to his heart.
In conformity with this prophecy, an inconceivable number of dis- ciples appeared. Among them, the foremost were the six emanational treasure-finders; the six great accomplished masters; the six great sons who had manifestly disclosed the signs of accomplishment; Tshliltrim Peljor, the great preceptor of the Conangpa residence [Phlintsoling], Nangso Gyelwa Tondrup, and Triilku Chokden Gonpo, who were the three spiritual sons whose intention was the same as that of the treasure- finder himself; and his four physical sons, who were emanations of the Lords of the Three Families. Of these, his spiritual son Dawa, who was the emanation of Avalokitesvara, had inconceivable, expressive powers of blessing. He realised the intention of his father and as a result his enlightened activity became extensive. He was praised as a great, holy individual and revered as a guru by Sakya Dakcen, Drigung Rincen Phtintsok, Zhamarpa Koncok Yenlak, Pawo Chogyel Tondrup, and others. He was also supplicated by all sorts of important persons from Central Tibet, Tsang, and Mon in the south, and his enlightened
' . . b '
actIVIty In the service of oth
Perna Lingrl1a 799
1-'
bi
e. None the less,
h
ecame Incon
. ceIva
ers
e practised the way of yoga in secret
The transmission of Perna Lingpa's 'rofi
passed down and propagated by kdoctnnes was gradually Tondrup Pelbar, who were renowned atso. RangdrOl and Umdze
masters, as well as by his own
f h· "
o IS spIntua1 Son [Dawa] wh
h
.
he two Incomparable doctrine- emanation d h .
speec
. s an t e emanatIOns 0 occupIedtheseatatLh 1 .
'
ra. ptothepresentda th l' aungInLho-
dkU
the regions of Mon in the y the Icneage has. been spread throughout
Th .
e entIre stream of its em
.
contInues without decline.
sou , entral TIbet T '
powerments trans . .
d
sang an
, m I s S I O n s , and gUIdance
Dokam. .
14 Karma Lingpa
ment of unimpeded supernormal cognitive power and enlightened activity.
In his fifteenth year, the prophetic declaration and the auspicious coincidence came together. From Mount Gampodar, which resembles a dancing god, he extracted the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, the Natural Liberation ofIntention (zhi-khro dgongs-pa rang-grol); the Great Compas- sionate One, the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities ofPadma (thugs-rje chen-po padma zhi-khro); and other treasures. He gave the complete doctrinal cycle of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities of Padma (padma zhi-khro'i chos-skor) to fourteen great disciples, who were the masters of his doc- trine. But he gave the doctrinal cycles of the Natural Liberation of Intention to his son, Nyinda Choje alone; and he sealed the lineage with an injunction that for three generations it should be transmitted to only a single person. Because he did not form the auspicious connec- tion with the consort prophesied for him, Karma Lingpa passed into another realm after not very long.
The Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, the Natural Liberation of Intention was vastly propagated by Namka Choki Gyamtso, the third generation successor. The continuous lineage of its empowerment, transmission and guidance is found throughout Central Tibet, Tsang and Kham, and, in particular, in the southern and northern districts of Dokam. The enlightened activity of the Great Liberation by Hearing during the Intermediate State [bar-do thos-grol chen-po, i. e. the so-called "Tibetan
Book of the Dead"] continues to be extensively propagated in most
1072
[588. 3-589. 4] The treasure-finder Karbma ometime during the sixth k L. . ' Gyeltsen was orn s
translator Co ro U1 '1 3 8 7 ] at Khyerdrup, above Takpo. cycle [24 January 1327 to 20 January
He was the eldest son of the great ahcco
h ld of t e man
ra·
nd dwelt as the very embodl-
and he lived as an up 0 er 'b wasendowedwithinnumerableattn utesa
.
Karma Lingpa
Lingpa
an emanation of the
m lished master Nyinda Sangye, p t tradl'tl'on Karma Lingpa
places up to the present.
Karma Lingpa 801
15 Thangtong Gyelpo
covered many other pro[;ound t Thangtong Gyelpo 803 I reasures as well d ·
concea ed many treasure troves [at those site] ,an ,In exchange, he ? yelpo subdued an evil extr s. . .
! 'Camata In IndIa, and barbarian tribes on emIst kmg, wh? resided at
[589. 4-593. 1] The mighty lord among accomplished masters, Thang- tong Gyelpo,I073 was the combined emanation of Avalokitesvara and the glorious Hayagrlva, who came forth as if Guru Padmasambhava had taken birth from the womb. He incarnated at Olpa Lhartse in upper Tsang in 1385 (wood ox year, sixth cycle). Adhering to more than five hundred tutors, he pursued study and reflection without limit. Although he was a naturally arisen, mighty lord among accomplished masters, by virtue of necessity he received the Northern Treasures in their entirety from Ktinpang Tonyo Gyeltsen and the Shangpa doctrines from the lama Dorje Zhonu;1074 and he revealed the attainment of accomplishment in both of these traditions. Through the disciplined conduct [of an adherent of the secret mantra] he journeyed to all parts of Jambudvlpa and its subcontinents and, in particular, to such places as the Lotus Light Palace on Camaradvlpa, where he heard the doctrine from Guru Rinpoche and numberless accomplished masters; and the gakinls and doctrine protectors did him obeisance.
Thangtong Gyelpo built many temples at geomantic focal points,
1075
He bound all the venomous gods and demons under oaths of allegiance. From Samye Chimpu he extracted five paper scrolls, including the Attainment of Longevity, the Giver of the Glory of Immortality (tshe-sgrub 'chi-med dpal- ster). From Trampagyang he brought forth the Attainment of Mind, Utterly Secret and Unsurpassed (thugs-sgrub yang-gsang bla-med); from Druptso Pemaling, the Jewel Hoard of Esoteric Instruction (man-ngag tin-chen gter-spungs); from Taktsang (the "tiger den") at Paro in Mon, a ten-span-Iong paper scroll which combined the profound, essential points of all the SlUras and tantras; from the Palace of Secret Mantra in Tsari, the Cycle of Profound Doctrines which are Mind Treasures (zab- chos thugs-gter skor); and from Zilcen Phuk in Tsari, the Illuminating Lamp which Contains the Prophecy of the Great Accomplished Master Himself (grub-chen-nyid-kyi lung-bstan gsal-ba'i sgron-me) and the Means for the Attainment of K:jetrapala (zhing-skyong-gi sgrub-thabs). He dis-
- ce uncount bl [.
stupas] representing the buddha-bod a e books, and
the range of the intellect. He built fil' and mmd, surpassing and established one hundred d Iron sUspension bridges and other inconceivable elg. teen ferry-crossings. I076 These beyond that, on these occasions . re renowned. Above and
? e depicted the lives of the past er to virtuous conduct, m dramatic performances. This h satt. vas, kings, and others known as Ace Lhamo, originated :atncal tradItIOn, which today is
which repelled invading armies from Tibet.
mtroduced them to the d · the borders of TIbet· and h . octnne. The arra f h · '
e was Immeasurable. He produ d yo suc mIraculous abilities
perfectly wonderful, enlighten d e
. [. n aspect of. Thangtong Gyelpo's] actIvIty, so meanIngful to behold. IOn
Thangtong Gyelpo
Finally, when the master reach d h·
he passed away bod. t . IS one hundred and twenty-fifth tIme hIS spiritual son Nyima Z 1 y, In the way of a sky-farer. At that
angpo sang a lament, at which he returned
804 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures .
. t Then he passed away at glonous and conferred his extenS1ve testamen .
. h 1078 R1WOC e.
. , . a reat accomplished master from
There was one Tshultnm Z;ngpoh and thirty and whose body,
Ngari who lived to the 0 one ht 1079 He and the accomplished 1g
16 Ngari Pa1Jcen Perna Wangyel
in the end, passed away m a mafssDo k m' seem to have been physical dCh Thti1cen0 0 a
master calle . ar r h d master Thangtong Gyelpo. projections of th1S great accomp 1S persons have been favoured by
Until the . day, Yhost of his disciples was infinite,
the body of his pnstlne cogmtlhon. e. C1'ous circumstance of this great . . I ing to t e ausp1
and, m ar, 0;" . ment of the state of a deathless awareness- accomphshed master s duration of his own life, there were
holder, who control t e . ned the accomplishment of longev1ty.
holders of h1S lineage who atta1 . . of the profound doctrine, h f uous transm1ssiOn
It appears that t. e con m zab-chos thang-stong snyan-brgyud
the Great Aural Lmeage of ( t o. f Longevity the Giver of the . d dthe ttammen ') ,
chen-mo) has an d 11 hools ancient and new. Later on, Glory of Immortalzty a was repeatedly favoured by the venerable Perna se ognition and blessed by him.
the body of Thangtong sdPnstme c l'ng group of doctrines, the . h hestabhsheanamaz .
Relymg on t. . e . f h Accomplished Master (grub-thob Innermost OJ t e d f h f m the expanse of his intentlon a mind treasure wh1ch Vast Creation and Perfection of
and which includes: the proJo;n . an t ifthe Guru which is the root the Cycle of the for the 'and, as branches, (rtsa-ba bla-sgrub-kYl skor . g t which are in harmony with the Five Cycles of Means for ;he class of tantras (rgyud-sde
the path of Maglcal Net, gb-thabs skor-Inga); and the
[593. 1-598. 3] The great pal). 9ita of Ngari, Perna Wangyel Dorje, was a mind emanation of the religious king Trhisong, and the ninth reincarnation of Gyelse Lharje. He was born in 1487 (fire female sheep' year, eighth cycle) in the district ofLowo Matang [present-day Mustang, Nepal]. 1080 His father, Jamyang Rincen Gyeltsen, a great learned and accomplished master, hailed from a divine clan and was a later incarna- tion of lord Marpa, and his mother was Drocam Trhompagyen. He was named Perna Wangyel.
In his eighth year Perna Wangyel became a layman. 1081 From his father he obtained [the vow of] the cultivation of the enlightened attitude and studied fully, and trained himself in, the cycles of the transmitted precepts of the Ancient Translation School, the foremost being the trilogy of the SiUra which Gathers All Intentions, the Magical Net, and the Mental Class. He practised many rites of service and attainment to the point of realising the signs [of success]. From master Norten Zangpo he received the Vinaya, sutras, Kadampa cycles (bka'-gdams-pa'i skor), and so forth. Starting in his twentieth year, Perna Wangyel thoroughly mastered a hundred great textual traditions, of which the for. emost were those of the Madhyamaka, logic, and Transcendental Perfection. Thus, he became meaningfully well known as a "spiritual benefactor" .
In his twenty-first year he received the [empowerments which bring about] maturation and [the guidance which brings about] liberation for the Red Yamiiri and so on, from Jamyang Chokyong, Tshtiltrim Pel, and others. Performing the rites of service and attainment, he actually beheld the visage of the wrathful MafijusrI. In particular, in his twenty- second year, he thoroughly resolved his doubts regarding the transmit- ted precepts and treasures of the Ancient Translation School under the tutelage of his holy, venerable father. 1082 When he performed the at- tainment of the Eight Transmitted Precepts, his father was inspired by extraordinary pure visions, and so praised him. Later, [the attributes praised by his father] became manifest.
sgyu-'phrul-gyllam dang mthun p . . . fthe Tantras
T gru . . ·ons and Esoteric Instructwns ransmlSSl ,
tial Summarzsatwn OJ • t the Eight Transmitted Precepts 0+ the Class of Means for Attammen , . p dril-ba) These
'} , dk' dlungman-ngagsnymg- or . (sgrub-sde bka Precious Treasure (rin-chen gter-mdzod).
are preserved 1n
'}
806
History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
attainment for most of the extant traditions of the empowerments, tantras, and esoteric instructions of secret mantra belonging to the new and ancient traditions. He also travelled to the Kathmandu Valley, where he attended on many Newari and Tibetan gurus. Due to his connection with the places of pilgrimage and his practice of contempla- tion, pure visions arose without limit.
Starting from his thirty-eighth year, Perna Wangyel brought down
a great shower of doctrine, ancient and new, without bias: He decided
to restore the doctrinal lineages of the ancient and new traditions which
had deteriorated in Central Tibet and Tsang. Having obtained the
permission of his father and all the lords of Lowo, he proceeded to
Central Tibet via Zangzang Lhadrak, together with his younger brother,
1085
Ngari Par;,cen Perna Wangyel
During the early and later part dOfFhis . . d the Path an rult ro f
gyel tWlCe recelve , I d'nation at the seminary 0 twenty-fifth year he recelved ete or receptor of Lowo,1083
Samdrupling from S? nam gPandha, and who officiated who was the emanatlon of Jamyang then on Perna Wan- as both preceptor and master of ceremonles. ciate who remained on
gyel adhered to the discipline of adtotthael applications of the
one seat. 1084 He properly mastere I he became foremost Vinaya of the true doctrine, age Moreover, under among all those who held the u the great of Kuge, and
that great preceptor, e zang, 1 ' and 'many empower- " I h studled grammar, OglC,
At Zhungtrezhing, Perna Wangyel received the Ma. Q. cjalas of Ngok (rngog-dkyil) and the cycle of Red Yarnari from Ngokt6n Sonam Tendzin and Zhalu Locen of Tratang. Then he went to Samye and the pro- pensities of [his previous life as] the religious king Trhisong were mani- festly aroused. He performed the great attainment of the Gathering of the Sugatas of the Eight Transmitted Precepts in the middle shrine, and was favoured by Lhodrak Guru and others. From Trhengso Orgyen Chozang and Kongcen N amka Pelden he received the Gathering of the Guru's Intention. When he practised contemplation at Dra Yangdzong and Chimpu he had visions of many deities. Perna Wangyel was invited to Lhodrak by an eighth generation descendant of Guru Chowang. He restored the deteriorating doctrinal tradition there and performed other acts of great kindness.
This master studied the Gathering ofthe Sugatas ofthe Eight Transmit- ted Precepts alone twenty-five times, of which the last, which he received at Lhodrak Gonkar from the peerless, great, accomplished master Nam- kei Neljor of the Jeu clan, had a genuine and reliable origin. In this way his intention was totally fulfilled.
In particular, concerning his discovery of profound treasures: In his forty-sixth year, from a secret chest lodged in the back of the image of Vairocana with four bodies [facing in four directions, rnam-snang mi- bzhi] in the upper hall at Samye, Perna Wangyel brought forth the Final Gathering ofthe Transmitted Precepts which is the Doctrinal Cycle ofthe Entire Gathering ofAwareness-holders, the Meansfor the Attainment ofthe Seven-Chapter Supplication (bka'-'dus phyi-ma rig-'dzinyongs-'dus- kyi chos-skor gsol-'debs le'u-bdun-ma'i sgrub-thabs). He established most of it and it remains widely propagated even today.
He invited Drigung Rincen Phtintsok - Rikdzin Lekdenje having brought them together - and the three of them, master and disciples, reconsecrated Samye. This greatly aided the temporal and spiritual well-being of Tibet and Kham. After Perna Wangyel had thus limitlessly
(
Jamyang L0 drope e
I '
ew trans atlOn sc
hools of the secret mantra. ,
oured with the crowmng
f h ments and tantras 0 t e n
b
h
Training himself in these, he came to
e
on
title of Mahapa1JeJita. . d of the Northern Treasures under
Perna Wangyel also studle manyf Tran o. In short, as illustrated
Sakya Zangpo, the treasure-fidnder to the rites of service and above, he made efforts to stu yan
Ngari Pancen Perna Wangyel 807
On reaching the Emanational Temple of Lhasa [i. e.
Lekden Dorje.
the Jokhang], he obtained a prophetic declaration.
808 History: Close Lineages ofthe Treasures
, g d livin creatures in Central Tibet, he de- benefitted the teach,m an f g b Montang for the great, glorious
parted, in his fifty-slxth rom n
Copper-colIloured individual's inconceivably learned,
Genera y spea {mg, ' I 'dated l'n his own verse autoblO- , d r hed career lS e UCl ,
mfied an accomp lS d the terse but profusely meamngful graph! ', compos; Vows (sdom-gsum rnam-par nges-pa'i Treatlse whIch Ascertams the Thre " ble Up to the
bstan-bcos),The,kindnesshof hold the present day thls work as een,
teachings of the Ancient Translauon School.
el became well known as a great promulgator
So it was that I 'fi d the teachings of the transmitted
who directly and mdlrect y, c an ,le I ' S hool In the life- , f the Anclent Trans atlOn c .
17 Rikdzin Jatsiin Nyingpo
d
Treasures, Trashi Topgyel, or Chogye :nation 1086 The
precepts and treasures 0,
, ' d' I! ' llowmg he returne
I Wan oide whose career
ume lmme late y 10 . .
as an has transmlsslOn 0
without decline.
s the master of the Northern a
[598. 3-604. 3] The great holder of indestructible reality, a monk re- nowned in one body under three names - those of the treasure-finder Letro Lingpa, the awareness-holder Jatson Nyingpo, and the mantra adept Hurpnak Mebar - appeared as an emanation from above of the compassion of Nyangben Tingdzin Zangpo. Nyangben had completely realised the fruit and was supreme among the one hundred and eight disciples of the great master Orgyen who had attained the incorruptible body of light. 1087
Jatson Nyingpo was born in 1585 (wood female bird year, tenth cycle) as the sun entered into the constellation 1088 at Waru Namtstil in Kongpo. His father was Chokyong Gonpo, and his mother Namlung Putri.
