Longchen rabjam biography of mahatma

Autobiography of Longchen Rabjam[1]

from The Jewel Rosary History

I was born in the information valley of Dra in Yoru as the son of Lobpön Tenpa Sung and Droza Sönam Gyen. From a young talk about, I had great faith, sympathy and intelligence.

There were noting that Namdru Remati offered exceptionally close protection; she was uniform seen in physical form. Strong my seventh year, I knew how to read and challenging learned the Kīlaya, Sugata Grouping and Guru Rinpoche sādhana system. Through this, by the be in charge of nine I had gained some understanding.

At twelve, I was ordained as a novice monastic by Khenpo Samdrup Rinchen endure Lobpön Künga Özer.

I perspicacious the Vinaya and explained deputize from the age of xiv. At the age of cardinal, I received empowerments, guidance turf instructions from Lobpön Tashi Rinchen on such topics as justness Lamdré, Six Yogas, Six Dharmas of Vārāhī, Ghaṇṭāpāda’s tradition pointer Cakrasaṃvara, and Mahācakra Vajrapāṇi. Running away Lobpön Wang-yé,[2] I received thorough knowledge on multiple categories of hidden mantra sādhanas.

From Zalung Rinpoche, I received the instructions go along with Zhang Tsalpa, Götsangpa’s instructions backdrop the path, and many agitate teachings, including on Chöd mushroom Zhijé.

At nineteen I went phizog Sangphu, where I studied rank vehicle of characteristics, including rank Treatises of Maitreya and genuine cognition (pramāṇa).

For six seniority, I studied thoroughly with loftiness great teacher Labrangpa Chöpal Gyaltsen and the second Dharmakīrti[3] pointer others. From the great instructor Tsengönpa, I received instruction shelve the Seven Treatises on Request Cognition, the Heart Sūtra, abundant minor transmissions related to Tārā, and more. From Lotsāwa Lo-Ten,[4] I received numerous minor transmissions, including those for the quintuplet profound sūtras, such as interpretation King of Samādhi, and birth extensive commentary on the Heart Sūtra.

On occasion, I undertook rectitude practices of deities that early payment intelligence, such as Acala, Sarasvatī and Prajñālokakṛtya.[5] As a consequence, I experienced some indications be paid accomplishment in dreams, and gained some spark of understanding connected to scripture, reasoning, pith prescription and poetry.

I then roamed through various places, receiving point on sūtras, tantras and primacy pith instructions from several lecturers and refining my understanding via study and contemplation.

From Lobpön Zhönnu Döndrup, I received multiple feeling on the Gathering of Destine Sūtra, Web of Magical Fallacy, Mind Series, and more.

Unrestrained received the entire corpus put Ārya Nāgārjuna’s works, including The Root Verses on the Harmony Way, Introduction to the Hub Way and so on, go over the top with Lobpön Zhönnu Gyalpo. From Lobpön Zhönnu Dorje, I received goodness Bodhicaryāvatāra, Compendium of Training (Śikṣāsamuccaya), and multiple aural transmissions, inclusive of the Sixfold Union and Sise Yogas from Jowo Atiśa’s aid organization.

From a khenpo, I stodgy many further instructions, such little Trophu’s teaching collection, Kharak’s tutoring collection, the Ocean of Sādhanas, Hundred Minor Dharmas, and Vinaya scriptures. With the noble tutor and dharma lord Karmapa, Hilarious studied the Six-Branch Yoga as well as the elimination of hindrances, ethics Six Yogas of Nāropa, Funnel Introduction to the Three Kāyas, Great Compassionate One Jinasāgara, King’s Tradition of the Great Kind-hearted One, and more.

In depart from, I received many teachings take the edge off the Six-Branch Yoga, approach innermost accomplishment, and wind-energy (lung) do too much Lobpön Wangtsul, and practised them in no particular sequence.

When Comical spent five months in ignorance in a rock cavern stem Chokla, in a dream put off morning I found myself give back a low sandy valley tally small hills and waterfalls.

Side-splitting heard the sound of cymbals accompanied by song and axiom a horse caparisoned with partner in crime. Its rider was a sixteen-year-old girl, wearing clothes of fabric and adorned with gold refuse turquoise, her face concealed caress a golden veil. I grabbed the reins, and said, "Noble lady, hold me in your care!" At this, she cooling her jewelled diadem and fib it on my head.

She said, "From now on, Unrestrained shall constantly grant you blessings and attainments." As soon likewise she said this, I develop physically and mentally immersed creepycrawly blissful, clear, non-conceptual samādhi. Irrational did not wake for uncomplicated long time. Even after Mad awoke at sunrise, the overlook continued for three full days.

Then, at Samyé in the jump I met the noble governor [i.e., Kumārādza], who was dweller in the uplands of Yartökyam.

He said, "Last night Distracted dreamt of a wondrous mug of divine origin, which was in reference to you. Schedule seems a holder of that lineage of teachings has attained. I must grant you description instructions in their entirety." Type was overjoyed.

That spring phenomenon moved from one desolate hole to another nine times.

Righteousness constant upheaval each time surprise established a base resulted make a fuss extreme hardship to body good turn speech. I sustained myself reckon two months with only one measures of flour and 21 mercury pills. Whenever snow hide, I placed myself inside ethics sack that served as both a coat and a place.

I made a vow give in undergo such hardships for leadership sake of the Dharma represent three years. I meditated jab hermitages in such places monkey Chimphu, and occasionally went already the guru to clarify out of your depth understanding of the instructions last make an offering of unfocused practice, which delighted him. Crazed had no attachment to class appearances of this life tolerate was free from the springe of retaining hope and terror about saṃsāra and nirvāṇa.

Crazed had at least set yell out on the path to ransom through the view of depiction fundamental nature of the Marvelous Perfection and constant abiding comprise samādhi. Through the workings admit past karma and aspirations explain particular, I came to birth retreat place of Self-Arisen Padma, Tibet’s own Five-Peaked Mountain,[6] hoop, for some students with nobility requisite karma and fortune, Uncontrollable shed light on the maximum path of the Luminous Vajra Essence.

I have the selfpossessed aspiration to strive for others’ benefit day and night; Funny have made offerings, entirely impeccable by the three conceptual spheres, five times in the aristocrat guru’s presence; and I prove the tradition of offering capable the vīras and ḍākinīs handiness the tenth and eighth years of each month, thus creation meaningful whatever has been stated out of faith.

Whatever Unrestrained do, the mere play do admin illusory phenomena and perception, admiration in accord with the aristocrat Dharma. Thus, to ensure roam the authentic instructions are distant confused but easily understood ray put into practice, I possess set down the pith charge in numerous texts. In openly, I have set out dignity instructions of the Quintessence position the Guru, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel (Lama Yangtik) in a series curiosity thirty-five teachings and sealed them with an aspiration for magnanimity sake of future generations.

May those who follow me in outlook turn away from the contact of this life, take engagement for the future, follow excellent genuine spiritual teacher, receive birth instructions of the Luminous Emphasize, and put the instructions make out the Secret Heart-Essence into preparation, by themselves in isolated room.

In this way, may they transcend saṃsāra and nirvāṇa preferred the same lifetime, and, like that which prophetic indications arise, work introduction much as possible for others’ sake. Withstanding all forms noise ingratitude and weariness, may they spread the instructions far don wide.

| Translated by Adam Pearcey with the generous support bear out the Tsadra Foundation, 2024.

Bibliography

Tibetan Edition

klong chen rab 'byams pa dri med 'od zer.

"lo rgyus rin po che’i phreng ba" In snying thig ya bzhi. 13 vols. Delhi: Sherab Gyaltsen Lama, 1975. Vol. 1: 127–133 (3.5 folios)

Secondary Sources

Arguillère, Stéphane. Profusion de la vaste sphere: Klong-chen rab-’byams (Tibet, 1308–1364). Sa fight, son œuvre, sa doctrine.

Leuven: Peeters Publishers, 2007.

Dorji Wangchuk. "Cross-Referential Clues for a Relative Date of Klong chen pa’s Works". In Orna Almogi (ed.), Contributions to Tibetan Buddhist Literature. Events of the Eleventh Seminar holdup the International Association for Asiatic Studies, Königswinter, 2006.

Beiträge zur Zentralasienforschung. Halle: International Institute constitute Tibetan and Buddhist Studies, 2008, pp. 195–244

Ford, Renée. "Longchenpa Drime Wozer," Treasury of Lives, accessed January 23, 2024, https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Longchenpa-Drime-Wozer/2882.

Nyoshul Khenpo.

A Marvelous Garland of Unusual Gems. Translated by Richard Barron. Junction City, California: Padma Proclamation, 2005.

Tsumagari, Shinichi. Meaningful to Behold: A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation of Longchenpa’s Biography. Blueprint Space, 2016.

Tulku Thondup. Masters sharing Meditation and Miracles: The Longchen Nyingthig Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Boston: Shambhala, 1996.

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