TheLifeoftheFirstKarmaThinleypa

byKarmaThinleyRinpoche

Preface
ThisisashortbiographyofthefirstKarma Thinleypa[14561540CE]. Hiscollectedworks arenolongeravailableintheirentirety,sothereis nocompleteanddetailedhistoryfromwhichto work. Icompiledthispresentessayfromhis shortbiographicalnoticeinSituTenpeNyinche andBeloLotsawashistoryoftheKarmaKagyu lineageandaccountselsewhere,includingPawo TsuklakTrengwasFeastfortheWise. Iwasinitially promptedtocompilethisHistory becauseH.H.thesixteenthGyalwaKarmapa [19231981CE]bestoweduponmethenameof thefourthKarmaThinleypaandnaturallymy studentshaveenquiredaboutthefirstofthisline. SecondlyIwishtodemonstratethemarvellous examplesetforthbyformermasterssuchasthe firstKarmaThinleypaintheirspiritualtraining andworkforsentientbeings. Whenyoureadtheaccountsofthelivesofthegreatmastersofthedharmalineages,you areinreceiptnotonlyofanexemplarymodelbutalsoofthetransmissionlineage. Itis thistransmissionwhichremovesobscurationsandincreasesdevotiontotheguru,sothat thestudentsownBuddhanaturemayripenswiftly. MythanksfortheassistanceofMaggieFruitmaninproducingthisbiography. KarmaThinleyRinpoche

Contents
1. EarlyTraining 2. TextualStudies 3. DrinkingtheOceanofKagyuTeachings 4. MeetingHisRootGuru 5. ObtainingVariousOtherTeachings 6. ReceivingthePathanditsFruitoftheSakyaTradition 7. MiraculousEvents 8. Activities 9. TeachingstoKarmapaMikyoDorje 10. HisStudents 11. PassingAwayafteraLongLife 12. ASongoftheFirstKarmaThinleypa ThefirstKarmaThinleypa,Cholay Namgyal,wasbornintothenobleclanofGyer,in thecentralTibetanregionofthesamename,intheyearoftheFireMouse(1456CE). DakpoTashiNamgyal[i],thefamoussavantoftheKagyuandSakyatraditions,washis maternaluncle.

EarlyTraining
Asayouth,CholayNamgyalstudiedmedicineinZurkharunderhisuncle,Dharma Swami,whowasfamedasanincarnationofYuthogYontenGonpo,thefoundingfather ofTibetanmedicalscience.[ii] DharmaSwamialsoinstructedhisnephewintheSix GroupsofPreceptsofthemalelineageofChod[iii] andcertainNyingmadoctrines. Whenhereachedtheageofseventeen,CholayNamgyalreceivedtheSramanera[iv] ordinationfromtheSthaviraLhundrupZangpo. Sometimelater,hewasordainedasa bhiksubyChenngaChokyiDrakpa.Theverydayfollowingthis,CholayNamgyal actuallyparticipatedinanotherordinationceremony,thistimeactingastheAcharya, assistingChokyiDrakpa.[v] Duringthecourseofhiseducation,CholayNamgyalstudiedundermanyofthemost eminentteachersincentralandwesternTibet. FromSharaRabjamhereceivedthemost significantpreceptsoftheShangpaKagyuschool,namelytheSixDoctrinesofNiguma, andtheSixDoctrinesofSukhasiddhi.[vi] Alsoatthistime,SharaRabjambestowed uponhimtheoralteachingsofNgandzodRepa,oneofMilarepasclosestdisciples. A littlelater,CholayNamgyalstudiedanumberofMahayanaphilosophicaltextswiththe SthaviraLhundrupZangpo. CholayNamgyalgavehisfirstmajorteachingsatSercheBumtosevenhundredmembers ofthesanghaoftheNyalarea,southofLhasa. Thesubjectofthecoursewasthe Prajnaparamita.Subsequently,CholayNamgyal,continuinghisowntraining,obtained thetextualtransmissionofaseriesofKadamworksfromtheGelugpascholarGendun Lhundrup. AtthefamedmonasteryofJampaLing,hereceivedinstructionfromthe

eruditeSonamNamgyal,theholderofthelineageoftheIndianpanditaVarnaratna.[vii] FromGangkarDorjeDenpa[viii] hereceivedtheSakyapameditationalcyclesofthedeity Vajrakilayaandthedharmapalas,PanjaranathaandCaturmukha. Whilstpursuinghisreligiousstudies,CholayNamgyaldidnotneglectthesecularaspects ofhisscholarship. HistutorinthisfieldwasthemahapanditaDebzang,whoinstructed himintheSanskritgrammarentitledKalapa[ix],theTibetangrammargSumbCu brTagspa[x]and,inaddition,otherartsandsciencessuchasmedicine,astrologyand poetics.

TextualStudies
CholayNamgyalsprincipalphilosophicalmasterwasthefamedomniscientmaster SangayPhel,discipleofbothNgorchenKungaZangpo[xi] andRongtongSheja Kunzig[xii],twoofthemostillustriousnamesinthehistoryoftheSakyapaschool. SangayPhelhimselfhadfoundedamonasteryatTsangrongDeyulKyetshalin1449and numberedmanyinfluentialscholarsamongsthisownstudents,mostnotablythe philosopherGorampaSonamSengge.[xiii] CholayNamgyal,accompaniedbyoneofhisuncles,theDakpopanditaDondrup Gyaltsen,spentsometimeatthemonasteryinTsangrong. Initially,hereceivedthe bodhisattvaordination,derivedfromthelineageofNagarjuna,[xiv]fromSangayPhel. Subsequently,hisstudieswithhismasterrangedoveraveryextensivefieldofclassical Mahayanatexts,includingtheAbhisamayalankara,Pramanavarttika,Vinayaand Abhidharmatexts,theMulamadhyamakakarikaandtheMadhyamakavatara. Duringthis period,SangayPhelalsobestoweduponhimtheabhisekaofGuhyasamaja,derivedfrom thelineageofNagarjuna,[xv] aswellasanumberoftantras. CholayNamgyalthenwentontoreceiveextensivephilosophicaltrainingunderPanchen BumtakSumpa[xvi],astudentofSangayPhel. HisstudiesincludedtheFiveDharmas ofMaitreya[xvii],VasubhandusVimsikaandTrimsika,twokeytextsofYogacara metaphysicsandAryadevasCatuhsatika. UnderJeDhondrupGyaltsenherevivedhis studiesofthePrajnaparamitaandobtainedinstructiononSakyaPanditassDebsbyor MetoggiChunpo(AFloralBouquetofPoetics). FromPhagchogYontenGyamtsho hereceivedteachingsontheesotericyogasystemoftheVajraBody. Alittlewhilelater, CholayNamgyalobtainedthetextualtransmissionofthecollectedworksofDakpoTashi Namgyalfromhisownelderbrother,ChokyiGyaltsen,aswellastheabhisekaofthe twelvedeitiesofPanjaranatha. Thisperiodofintensivetextualstudyandresearchatanend,CholayNamgyalfearlessly proclaimedhismasteryofatotaloftwentyseventexts. Heconductedaseminaryfor studentsfromtheNgalareaatZangpoche,wherehedemonstratedthedepthofhis learningthroughdiscourseanddebate. ThusCholayNamgyalwonthepraiseandrespect ofalltheGesheswhoattendedtheseminary.

DrinkingtheOceanofKagyuTeachings
CholayNamgyalreceivedthecycleofthedharmapalaKtsetrapalafromRechenPaljor Zangpoandthenperformedintensivemeditationontheseteachingsinretreatinthe sacredTsariarea,southeastofLhasa. Suchwasthestrengthofhismeditationthat CholayNamgyalactuallybeheldKsetrapalaandgainedreliablepredictionsfromhim. Followingthisretreat,heattainedtheabhisekaofthefivedeitiesofVajravarahiand instructionsinthecycleofMahamudraknownastheSimultaneouslyArisingand Joining[xviii]fromtheKagyuasceticSangaySandrup. Throughhisendeavoursinthese quintessentialKagyuprecepts,CholayNamgyalachievedcompleteandunmistakable realisationofthetruenatureofreality. Sometimelater,CholayNamgyalobtainedthecycleofNigumasteachingfromthe AcharyaSangayChodrakandtheabhisekaofKalachakrawiththerelatedsixlimbed yogafromKungaPhuntsok. ItwasatthistimethatCholayNamgyalmetChokyi Drakpa,thefourthShamarpa,secondonlytotheKarmapahierarchwithintheKarma Kagyuschool. Gradually,ChokyiDrakpaintroducedhimtotherichnessofKarma Kagyutantrism. Initially,CholayNamgyalreceivedtheconciseguidetotheSix DoctrinesofNaropacomposedbythesecondShamarpa,KhachodWangpo[1350 1405]. ThenChokyiDrakpagavehimtheabhisekasofKalachakra,Hevajra, AvalokiteshvaraJinasagara,theBlackCloakedMahakala,andLuipasrecensionof Cakrasamvaratogetherwiththetextualtransmissionsoftheaccompanyingsadhanas. Alongsidethesemajorabhisekas,ChokyiDrakpagavehisstudentthepermissionsof MahakaliandVaisravana.

MeetingHisRootGuru
CholayNamgyalmetChodragGyamtsho,theseventhKarmapa[14541506],atthe monasteryChokhorLhunpoduringthelatterstourofSouthernTibet. Immediatelyupon meeting,CholayNamgyalperceivedthehierarchtobeintruthaBuddha,andrecognised himashisrootguru. Thusinspired,CholayNamgyalrequestedKarmapaforteachings onthenondualityofpranaandmind,andtheSixDoctrinesofNaropa. Chodrag Gyamtshoreplied,Ifyoupromisetoactasholderofthelineage,Iwillgivethemto you. CholayNamgyalreadilyagreedtothis. Consequently,everydayforthenextfive months,hereceiveddetailedtuitioninMahamudraandtheSixDoctrinesofNaropa fromKarmapa. Ashemeditatedontheseteachings,CholayNamgyalachievedthe sequentialexperiencesdelineatedintheinstructions. ChodragGyamtshothengavehima furtherseriesofteachings,includingthecompletecyclesofthedeitiesVajrayoginiand Jinasagara,instructioninthephilosophicalviewpointofMadhyamakaandatextdealing withtheputativeharmonisationoftheRangtongandZhentongviews[xix]. Following this,Karmapabestoweduponhisstudentthetextualtransmissionofthecollectedworks ofthethirdKarmapa,RangjungDorje[12841339]. Threeoftheseworksbecamethe objectsofCholayNamgyalsparticularattention,namelytheZabmoNanggiDon (ProfoundInnerMeaning),sNyingpobsTanpa(ShowingtheEssence)andsNam

shesYeshesbyedpa(DiscriminatingBetweenConsciousnessandPrimordial Wisdom). Duringthisperiod,CholayNamgyalalsoreceivedfromhisgurutheinstructionofthe mKhagrosNyingthig(InnermostEssenceoftheDakini),aninfluentialcycleof Nyingmaprecepts,aswellassevenabhisekasfromthelineageofNgokChokuDorje [10361102],discipleofMarpaLotsawa[10111099]andtheabhisekasofthefivemain meditationaldeitiesofthefirstKarmapa,DusumKhyenpa[11101193]. Indeed,so numerousweretheteachingsthatCholayNamgyalreceivedfromhisrootguru,Karmapa ChodragGyamtsho,thattheyfelllikeashowerofrain.

ObtainingVariousOtherTeachings
CholayNamgyalsstudiesextendedtoalmosteveryfacetofcontemporaryreligious teachinginTibet,includingthevariousminorlineagesstillcurrentinhisday. Thushe receivedtheChodteachingknownasNammkhasGobyed(OpeningtheDoorofthe Sky)andtheabhisekaofJinasagarafromKhyabcheJampalGyamtsho,amasterofthe lineageofMachikLabdron[xx]. FromtheteacherDondrupGyaltsen,heobtainedthe textualtransmissionofthecollectedworksofZhangYudrakpaTsondruDrakpa[1123 1193],founderoftheTshalbranchoftheDakpoKagyutradition. Subsequently,thethird Situincarnation,TashiPajor,gaveCholayNamgyaltheabhisekasofGuhyasamajaand thesiddhaNaropasrecensionofCakrasamvara. Alittlelater,TulkuTashiDondrup NamgyalbestoweduponhimtheNaroChosdruggiKadpe(IntroductiontotheSix DoctrinesofNaropa).[xxi] FromthereveredKadammasterNyuklaPanchen[xxii],CholayNamgyalreceivedthe WhiteTaracycleintroducedintoTibetbyAtisaintheeleventhcentury. Fromthe AcharyaTenpaGyamtshoheobtainedtheSixDharmasofTilopa[xxiii]andthefive stageyogateachingoftheGuhyasamajatantra. UnderZhaluLotsawaChokyong ZangpohestudiedvariouscommentariesontheKalachakratantra. ReceivingthePathanditsFruit[xxiv]oftheSakyaTradition AtNalendra[xxv],thegreatmonasteryfoundedbyRongtonShejaKunzig,Cholay NamgyalreceivedthePathanditsFruitandtheaccompanyingtextsoftheCycleofthe PathfromtheabbotSangayRinchen. ThenheacquiredthepreceptsoftheBlackText ofthePathanditsFruitfromtheabbotLodroNamgyalandtheeminentmasterJetsun KungaTashi. Inaddition,ShakyaChogden[xxvi],oneoftheforemostscholarsofthe Sakyapaschool,bestoweduponhimfurtherteachingsonthePathanditsFruit. Thus CholayNamgyalachievedmasteryofthisprincipaldoctrinalandmeditationalsystemof theSakyapatradition. Insummation,itmaybesaidthatCholayNamgyalreceivedatotallycomprehensive education,whichincludedalmosteveryabhiseka,textualtransmissionandoralteaching availableinTibetatthattime.

MiraculousEvents
AnumberofmiraculouseventsarenotedinaccountsofCholayNamgyalslife. Onone occasion,whilstperformingaretreatdedicatedtothemeditationonWhiteManjusri,the specialbeanplacedinhismouthduringtherecitationoftheMashamantram[xxvii] sproutedtoalengthequaltothebreadthoffourfingersandradiatedfivecolouredlights. Atanothertime,CholayNamgyalbeheldthesecondKarmapa,KarmaPakshi,inavision. OneofthemostsignificantofthemiraculouseventsinthelifeofCholayNamgyaltook placewhilehewascomposingacommentaryonVasubandhusAbhidharmakosa. He hadencounteredanumberofabstrusephilosophicalpointsinthetextwhenVasubandhu himselfappearedtohiminadreamandclarifiedthesedifficulties. CholayNamgyalspremierstudent,theeighthKarmapaMikyoDorje[15071554],hada completesetofhisgurushairclippings. Thesewerelatertransformedintogolden evolvedcrystals[xxviii]. Similarly,whenCholayNamgyalsoldhorsedied,almostallof thebodyturnedintoevolvedcrystals.

Activities
CholayNamgyalsprincipalbenefactorwasJaTashiThargay,myriarchoftheJa provinceofsouthernTibet[xxix]. TashiThargayssfamilyhadextensiveconnections withboththeDrukpaandKarmaKagyusectsandhadpreviouslyestablishedthe aforementionedmonastery,ChokhorLhunpo. ThereCholayNamgyaldesignedagreat stupaandastatueofSakyamuniBuddha,twentyfivehandspansinheightwitha decoratedthronebackrest,aswellasashrineandatemple. Ashasalreadybeennoted,itwasatChokorLhunpothatCholayNamgyalmethisguru, KarmapaChodragGyamtsho. WhenKarmapawaspresentedwiththemonastery, togetherwithallitssubjectsandlands,asanofferingbythemyriarchTashiThargay,he installedCholayNamgyalasabbot. ItwasatthistimethatChodragGyamtshobestowed uponhimthenameKarmaThinley. UnderthedirectionofKarmaThinleyCholayNamgyal,ChokhorLhunpobecameavery largeandwelldevelopedmonasticestablishment. Duringhisabbacyheconstructeda stupatheheightofahousetoenshrinetheevolvedcrystalandbonerelicsofthefirst Gyaltshabincarnation,PaljorDondrup,whohadpassedawayin1489. Aftersometime, theKarmapaempoweredKarmaThinleyasateacherofauthorityatKarmaCollegeand markedtheappointmentbygivinghimtheceremonialparasolandotherappurtenancesof highmonasticstatus. KarmaThinleyCholayNamgyallabouredunceasinglyinamultitudeofwaysforthe advancementofdharma. InadditiontohisabbacyofChokhorLunpo,heestablisheda newmonasterynamedThubtenChokhorintheshortspaceoftwoyears. Therehe developedasizeableandwellorderedmonasticcommunity. Inthemainshrinehall,a goldplatedstatueofSakyamuni,threestoriesinheightwasinstalled. OneofKarma

Thinleypasactivitiesaroundthistimewasthecommissioningofprintingblocksfora numberofbooks,mostnotably DebthersNgonpo(TheBlueAnnals),thefamous historyofBuddhisminTibetwrittenbyGoLotsaswa. In1504KarmaThinleypaestablishedtheLegshayLingseminary,wherehearrangedfor theprintingoftheentirecollectedworksofthefirsteightKarmapasaswellasseveral otherKagyumasters. Healsoorderedthemanufactureofgoldplatedstatuesoftwenty fivegurusofthelineage. In1532KarmaThinleypabuilttheChimeGyalwePalacein JangchubLingasaresidenceforthespiritualheadofthemonastery. Whilstthere,he establishedaseminarydedicatedtothestudyoftheHevajratantra,TwoExaminations. KarmaThinleypaalsocarriedoutextensiveactivitiesatSakyaNalendra. Thesealso includedtheprintingofthecollectedworksofhisuncle,DakpoTashiNamgyal,aswell astheorderingoftheconstructionofalifesizedgoldplatedstatueofhim. Healso commissionedastatueofJetsunKungaTashiandtheprintingofthecollectedworksof Sakyapapatriarchs. AtTsanmonasteryheconstructedastupathreestoriesinheight.

TeachingstoKarmapaMikyoDorje
ThemostillustriousofallKarmaThinleypasstudentswastheeighthKarmapa,Mikyo Dorje,incarnationofhisownrootguru. Theyfirstmetin1527,whenKarmaThinleypa bestoweduponMikyoDorjetwoversionsoftheSixDoctrinesofNaropa,namelythe ChosdruggSerzhunmaandtheChosdrugChenmo. Then,attheLegshayLing Seminary,KarmaThinleypatutoredhiseminentdiscipleinthePrajnaparamita. In1528 MikyoDorjewasordainedasabhiksubytheabbotChodrupSengge,holderofthe VinayalineageintroducedbytheKashmiripanditaSakyasri. OnthisoccasionKarma ThinleypaactedasAcharya. Subsequently,KarmaThinleypainstructedMikyoDorjeinfurtherPrajnaparamita teachings,Vinaya,theAbhidharmakosaandAbhidharmasamuccayaandthe Madhyamakavatara. Alongwiththesesutralevelteachings,KarmaThinleypagave MikyoDorjeguidanceintheHevajratantraTwoExaminationsandbestoweduponhim theabhisekaofHevajrafromthelineageofNgokChokuDorje. Notsurprisingly,MikyoDorjeprovedhimselfanassiduousandbrilliantstudent,taking detailednotesofalltheseteachings. Hecomposedaprayerforthelonglifeofhisguru, inwhichhedeclaredthatKarmaThinleypa,havingreachedthelevelofspiritual developmentknownastheHighestWorldlyDharma,wasclosetothefirstbodhisattva level.[xxx]HealsodepictedKarmaThinleypaascontinuallyturningthewheelofdharma forthosewhoapproachhim. FollowingthisperiodspenttutoringMikyoDorje,KarmaThinleypatravelledtoNyukla , whereheappointedSherabNamgyalasabbot. Hislifestylebecameveryascetic,thus earninghimthenameof Kunspangspa(Onewhohasrenouncedalltheconcernsof thisworld). SubsequentlyatThegchenTseMonastery,inadditiontohismeditation practice,histimewasdividedbetweenteaching,compositionanddebate,theclassical

threefoldpatternofadharmamastersactivities. Withregardtothislastpoint,itshould benotedthatKarmaThinleypacomposedatotaloftenvolumesonvarioustopicsof sutraandtantra.

PassingAwayafteraLongLife
SeveraleventsoccurringatdifferenttimesinhislifeindicatedthatKarmaThinleypa wouldenjoyalonglife. Inhisthirtiethyearheperformedaretreatdedicatedtothe AmitayuslongevitypracticefromthelineageofthedakiniDrubpeGyalmo,ateacherof thegreatRechungpa[10831161]. Duringthecourseofthisretreat,bothAmitayusand DrubpeGyalmoappearedtoKarmaThinleypa,predictingthathewouldlivetotheageof seventytwo.[xxxi] AttheageofsixtyfourKarmaThinleypafellill,hissicknessbeingaccompaniedby numerousinternalandexternalomensindicativeofseveredangertolife. Duringthis periodhesawTaraherself. Itwasrevealedtohiminadreamthathewouldnotpass awayatthattime. Subsequentlyhissicknessdisappearedandhereturnedtofullhealth. In1528KarmaThinleypabestoweduponKarmapaMikyoDorjeonehundredlongevity abhisekas. Inthecourseofthelastabhiseka,whenhethrewbarleygrain,fiveofthe grainsadheredtothecrownoftheAmitayusstatue,threemorestucktotheritualvase andmanytovariousother ritualobjects. MikyoDorjewasthefirsttonoticethis remarkableevent,whichwasseenbyeveryonepresent. Sometimelater,PawoTsuglakThrengwa,theKagyuhistorianwhoauthoredthemKhas paidGaston,wasinspiredbyapropheticdream[xxxii]toofferalongevityceremony toKarmaThinleypa. Acertainomen[xxxiii]atthetimesignifiedthatKarmaThinleypa wouldlivetotheageofeightyfour. Thus,inaccordwiththelastprophecy,CholayNamgyal,thefirstKarmaThinleypa, passedawayin1540attheageofeightyfour.

HisStudents
KarmaThinleypasstudentswerenumerous. HisprincipaldiscipleswereMikyoDorje thehighincarnationGampoChennga,headoftheDaklhaGampomonastery,andalarge numberofincaranateteachersfromtheKarmaKagyudharmacentresofUpperand LowerTibettheabbotoftheTshurphumonasterytheheadteacheratPadmaKod NgotoKhyenrabandmanyotherscholarspossessingtheRabbyamspaandbKabcu sMrabadegrees.[xxxiv]AmongtheothernotablestudentsofKarmaThinleypawere severalofhisownnephews,whoatonetimeoranotherheldtheabbatialseatofthe ZimokhouseofNalendramonasterymostoftheteachersatYardrok themeditators fromtheDoworetreatcentreNyuklaPanchentheabbotof Chushulmonasteryand ZimponKunpanga.

DuringhistimeasholderofTashiNamgyalsseatatNalendraZimok,KarmaThinleypa hadmanySakyapastudents,includingTrangpoChojeSerdokpa,theabbotofDrakthog, andnumerousGeshes. HetaughtthePathanditsFruitwithinboththeNgorandDzong subsectsoftheSakyapatradition. AmongstmorethantwentytextsofthePathandits Fruitwhichhetaught,therewerethegLegsbamma , dKarma, gNyagma,dMarma, BodnagmaanddPemzodma. Inaddition,KarmaThinleypagavevariousabhisekas associatedwiththePathanditsFruit. ThusKarmaThinleypaCholayNamgyalsdharmaactivitywasextensiveinboththe KagyuandSakyatraditions. Alsonoteworthyinthisrespectisthefactthathehadlinks withtheDrukpaKagyuschool,particularlythroughthegreatMahakalasiddha,Jampa Dorje,sonofhisniece,GyermoPaldon. Itisevidentthatherespectedandboregreat affectiontowardsallsectsofBuddhism. Thus,inasongcomposedforoneSonam Lhundrup,KarmaThinleypasays,Respectallschoolsandabandonsectarianbias.

ASongoftheFirstKarmaThinleypa
[xxxv] NamoSriVijaya!

Lord,nirmanakayaoftheBuddhaintheguiseofaman, Whogainedpowerbyrealisationofthetruenature, Father,asceticSangaySamdrup, Isupplicateyouwithdevotioninbody,speechandmind. Formerly,Istudiedwithnumerousgurus, Ilookedatcountlesstextsofsutraandtantra, Iaffirmedandnegatedaccordingtoscriptureandlogic, Andfollowedthepathofanalysis. Now,innermisconceptionsaresevered. Thebasis,unbornmind,isunderstood. Theunbornisseenasdharmakaya. Thedharmakayaiscomprehendedasbeyondspeech. Thoughtsareliberatedinselfawareness. Subjectandobjectdisappearinthespaceoftheunborn. Appearanceandsoundmeltawayinthevastnessofdharmata. Hopeandfeardissolveintheskyofselfsameness. Endlesslinguisticconventions Andthedefinitionsofphilosophy, AreabsorbedinMahamudraatrealisation.

Theobjectiverealmisemptybutapparent,likearainbowinthesky, Thekingdomofunionfreefrombias, Themusicanddanceofselfsameness alala! Thisunobstructed,naturallyclearawareness, Primordiallyuninterruptedrealm, Isthegenuinespontaneouslyarisingview. Mindfreefromextremesisthegreatentertainment. Therelaxation,undefiledbygraspingatmindfulness, Continuityofsittingpracticeandthesubsequentstage, Likeariverunruffledbywaves, Thisisthewondrousunwaveringmeditation. Energyarisingunaffectedbyartifice, Behaviourunlimitedinitsvariety, Actionislikeillusionandmagic Unceasingselflustreemaho! Withoutdispellingattachmenttoconcepts Intheimmediatenaturalbrillianceofawareness, Thenaturallyliberatedblissfuldharmakayaisrealised. Freefromhopeandfear,itismarvellous. Thevajrawordsofview,meditationandactionandfruit Areunobscuredbydivision. Inthenaturalharmonyofunbornselfawareness, Isingthesongofintuitiverealisation. Throughthekindnessofthefather,thegreatascetic, Theknotofdoubtsisnowuntied. Thebasisofdelusionisdestroyed. Theheadofconfusionistrampled. TheonethousandBuddhasofthefortunateaeonhaveappeared Andshownthewaytodefiniteinnerrealisation. Theauthenticnatureneedsnoanalysis Andreflectionontheinauthenticisdestroyed. Inacceptingthismelodyoftheprofound, Maythedharmamasternothavethetiniestunhappiness. WhenIofferthisrealisationtothefatherguru Andcontendwiththedharmabrothersinexperience, Maythedakinisnotdisdainme Forproclaimingthesecretmeaning,

10

Butmayrealisationcontinuetoincrease Andmaywebeprotectedfromhinderingobstacles. ThusthiswasutteredontheeighthdayofthetenthmonthintheYearoftheMouse. TranslatedintoEnglishinJuly1984byLamaJampaThaye.

NotesbyKarmaThinleyRinpoche&LamaJampaThaye

[i]DakpoTashiNamgyal(DwagspobKrashisrNamrgyal)wasameditationmasterand scholaroftheSakyaandKagyuschools. Hewastheauthorofanumberofbooks,oneof which, PhyagrgyaChenpobsGomrimZlabaiodzer,hasrecentlybeentranslatedby DezhungRinpocheandLobsangP.LhalungpaandpublishedbytheInstitutefor AdvancedStudiesofWorldReligions. [ii]SeethehagiographyofYuthogcontainedinTibetanMedicinebyRechungRinpoche, WellcomeInstitute,London,1973. [iii]TheSixGroupsofPrecepts,(brultshodrug )wereoriginallytransmittedbyDampa Sangay(died1117),theIndianprimogenitoroftheChodteaching,totheTibetanMara Serpo. Subsequently,KyoSonamLamamadethemtheessentialpreceptsofhis recensionofChod,laterknownasMaleChod(PhogCod). SeeG.Roerich, TheBlue Annals,p.996ff.,AsiaticSociety,Calcutta,1953,foranaccountofthisbranchofChod. [iv]Sramanera(dgetshul)andbhiksu(dgeslong)arethenovitiateandfullyordained gradesrespectivelyofthemonasticcareer. [v]Usuallyabhiksumusthavebeenordainedforaminimumoftenyearsandhavefully maintainedhisvowsbeforeheisentitledtoactasanAcharyainanordinationceremony. [vi]NigumaandSukhasiddhiwereIndianfemaletantricteachersduringthemedieval periodwhobothtransmittedrecensionsoftheSixDoctrines,vizheat,illusorybody, dream,luminosity,transferenceandintermediatestatetotheTibetanmaster KhyungpoNaljor[9901140]. Nigumawaseitherthesisterorexwifeofthesiddha Naropa,andSukhasiddhiwasthediscipleofthesiddhaVirupa. Theirhagiographiesare containedintheShangspabKabrgyudgSerphreng,vols.2and3respectively. [vii]Varnaratna[13831468]wasoneofthelastIndianBuddhistpanditastoteachin Tibet,whichhereachedin1426. HewasfamedasamasteroftheKalachakratantra. ForanaccountofhiscareerseeTheBlueAnnals,p.797ff.

11

[viii]GangkarDorjeDenpa,(GangsdKarrDorjegDanpa )a.k.a.KungaNamgyal,was oneofthetwoforemostSakyamastersoftantra. Heestablishedthemonasteryof GangkarDorjedenintheprovincein1464andisthusthefirstmasterintheGangkar DorjedenbranchoftheSakyatradition. [ix]KalapaiscontainedinbsTangyur,sgrasectionno.4282. [x]gSumbCubrTagspaisthebasictextbookofTibetangrammarcomposedbyThonmi SambhotaintheseventhcenturyCE. [xi]NgorchenKungaZangpo(NgorchenKundgabZangpo,[13821457]),holderofall themostimportantteachingstransmittedintheSakyatraditions,foundedthegreat monasteryofNgorEwamChosldanintheTsangprovincein1429. Hewasthusthe founderoftheNgorsubsectoftheSakyaschool. [xii]RongtongShejaKunzig(RongstonShesbyaKungzigs,[13671449])wasavery eminentSakyapamaster. HiscommentariesonthePrajnaparamitawereparticularly influential. RongtonpafoundedthemonasteryofNalendrainthePhenyularea. [xiii]GorampaSonamSengge(GoramspabSodnamsSengge ,[14281490])wasa studentofbothRongtonpaandNgorchenKungaZangpo. Inadditiontohis establishmentoftheTanagThubtenNamgyalLingmonastery,heisparticularlyfamedas oneofthegreatestphilosophersevertoappearwithintheSakyapatradition. [xiv]ForanextensiveaccountofthebodhisattvaordinationderivedfromNagarjuna,see H.V.GuentherstranslationofGampopasJewelOrnamentofLiberation, pp.118129, Rider &Co.,London,1970. [xv]OntheGuhyasamajalineagederivedfromNagarjuna,seeAlexWaymansArcane LoreoftheGuhyasamaja,MotilalBanarsidass,NewDelhi,1975. [xvi]PanchenBumtakSumpa(PanchenbumphraggSumpa ) wasastudentofSangay Phel. Hewasespeciallyrenownedforhismemory,beingabletomemorisetwelve volumesofthePrajnaparamitainjustonemonth. HefoundedtheSakyamonasteryof NyanyodJagoShong. [xvii]TheFiveDharmasofMaitreya(ByamschoslDelnga)comprisethe Mahayanasutralankara,theUttaratantra,theAbhisamayalankara,theDharma dharmatavibhangaandtheMadhyantavibhanga. Theywerecomposedbythe3rd/4th centurymasterAsangaundertheinspirationofMaitreya. [xviii]TheSimultaneouslyArisingandJoiningMahamudra(phyagrgyachenpolhan gcigskyesbyor)isthepreeminentsystemofMahamudrameditationtransmittedwithin theKarmaKagyuschool. SeeKarmapaWangchukDorjesthreeworksNgesdonrGya mtsho, MarigMunbsalandChosskumDzubtshugforadetailedexplanationofthis system.

12

[xix]RangtongandZhentongarethetwodifferinginterpretationsofthedoctrineof emptiness(Skt. sunyataTib. stongpanyid )developedprimarilyinTibetbuthaving theirrootsinearliercontributionstothistopicinIndia. ForaKarmaKagyutreatmentof thissubject,seeKarmapaMikyoDorjesdbUmaigZhanstongsMrabaiLegspar dbyebaisGronme(CorrectAnalysisoftheMadhyamakaEmptyofOther System). [xx]MachikLabdron(MagcigsLabssgron ,[10551149])wasthestudentofDampa SangayandtheoriginatorofthefemaleChodlineage,whichhaditsprimarymonastery atZangriKharmarintheTsangprovince. SeethebiographicalnotesinTheBlueAnnals, pp.983984. [xxi]NaroChosdruggiKadpe:translatedasAnEpitomeofanIntroductiontotheSix YogasofNaropainG.C.ChangsTeachingofTibetanYoga,CitadelPress,NewYork, 1974. [xxii]NyuklaPanchen(sMyuglaPanchen)heldthelineageofKadamTeachings. Itis recordedabouthimthateachyearduringhisteachingofvariousKadamtexts,flowers wouldfallfromthesky. [xxiii]TheSixDharmasofTilopaare:Donotimagine,think,deliberate,meditatenor act,butbeatrest. TheyarementionedbrieflyinthesiddhasDohamDzodandhave beencommenteduponbylatermastersoftheKagyutraditioninTibet. Onthisviewsee H.V.GuenthersLifeandTeachingofNaropa,p.95,note1,OxfordUniversityPress, 1963. [xxiv]ThePathanditsFruit(lambras)istheprincipalmeditationalsystemofthe Sakyaschool. ElaboratedoriginallybytheninthcenturyIndiansiddhaVirupa,it representsaunifiedsystemofsutraandtantrateachings,largelybasedupontheHevajra tantra. [xxv]NalendrasubsequentlybecamethemainseatoftheTsharpasubsectoftheSakya school,foundedbyTsharchenLosalGyamtsho[14941560]. Thetwoprincipalmasters ofNalendra,andthusoftheTsharsubsect,havebeenthesuccessiveincarnationsof ChogyayTrichenandZimokTulku. Atthepresenttime,theeighteenthChogyayTrichen andthefifthZimokTulkuareinexileatLumbini,justinsideNepal(thesiteofLord Buddhasbirth),whereChogyayTrichenhasestablishedanewmonasticseat. On NalendraandotherSakyatopics,seeChogyayTrichenshistoryoftheSakyatradition entitleddPalldanSaskyapaiChosbyungmDorbsdussKalbzangYidkyidGaston. [xxvi]AlongwithGorampaSonamSengge(seeaboven.13),ShakyaChogden(Shakya mChogldan)wasregardedasoneofthetwogreatestmastersofsutraandtantrainthe Sakyatradition. Hecomposedovertwentyfivevolumesofphilosophy,whichhave recentlybeenrepublishedinIndia. HeisnotedastheonlySakyaphilosophertohave upheldtheZhentongview.

13

[xxvii]TheMashamantramisaspecialWhiteManjusrimantrampractisedduringan eclipseofthemoon. Duringthispracticeaspecialbeanisplaceduponthetongue. [xxviii]Evolvedcrystals(ringbsrel)areboundbeadsthesizeofsesameseeds,usually whiteincolour,whichremainafterthecremationofthebodyofanadvancedspiritual practitioner. [xxix]ForabriefnoticeontheJa(Bya )family,towhichJaTashiThargaybelonged,and theirroleinreligionandpoliticsintheperiodunderdiscussion,seeTheBlueAnnals p.1087. [xxx]SupremeWorldlyDharma(jigrtenchosmchog )isthefourthandfinalphasein thePathofApplication(sbyorlam),thesecondofthefivepathsofspiritualrealisation. SeeGampopasJewelOrnamentofLiberationp.233. Onthefirstbhumiseeop.cit. p.239256. [xxxi]ThemKhaspaidGastonexplainsthatatthistimeKarmaThinleypadreamedof animageofAmitayus(Tshedpagmed)emittingmanylights. Avoiceinthedreamtold KarmaThinleypathattherewereseventytwolightsinall. Thelightsthemselves radiatedseventytwotimesinsuccession. Inthisdreamhealsosaw MachikDrubpe Gyalmointheguiseofaveryoldwomanwearingsilkenclothing. Shewasholdinga ritualvaseandshakinganimagefromwhichtinyformsofAmitayus,eachthesizeofa grainofbarley,showereddown. Machikthenorderedhimtocountthese,uponwhichhe discoveredthattherewereseventytwo. [xxxii]ThemKhaspaidGastondescribesadreamofPawoTsuklakTrengwa,the authorofthetext,whichoccurredinthecourseofanintensivemeditationretreatin MarpashomevillageofDrowolung. Hedreamedofaflockofgeeseflyingfromsouth tonorth,thelargest ofwhichdescended. ItimmediatelytransformedintoKarma Thinleypa,wearingreligiousrobesandridingaredlionwitharedmane. Hedismounted andapproachedPawoRinpoche. Severalpeoplehadbroughtredsaddledhorsestohis side,explainingthattheyhadbroughtthemwiththeintentionofinvitingKarma Thinleypatoaccompanythem. ThenPawoRinpocheaskedforablessing,towhich KarmaThinleyparespondedbyplacingbothhandsuponhishead. PawoRinpochethen requestedhimtoremainforonehundredyears. KarmaThinleypaacceptedandsignalled fortheotherstogo,whereupontheydeparted. [xxxiii]Followingthedream,PawoRinpoche,realisingitssignificance,decidedto performaceremonyoflonglifeforKarmaThinleypa. HesentalettertohiminNyukla informinghimofthisintention. ThatverydayKarmaThinleypahadbegunapreparation foralongliferetreat. Hewasveryhappyuponreceivingthegiftandletter,declaring thatitwasanauspiciousomensignifyingpuresamaya. Hethenorderedacountofallthe vajracushions,whichhadbeenofferedtohimassymbolsoflonglife. Therewere eightyfour,indicatingthatthiswastheageatwhichhewouldpassaway.

14

[xxxiv]Rabjampa(rabbyampa)isascholarlydegreewithintheSakyatradition, indicatingmasteryoftheentirecurriculumofthemonasticcollege. Kachumrawa(bKa bcusMraba)isalesserdegree,indicatingmasteryoftenofthetreatisestaughtaspartof thescholarlycurriculum. [xxxv]Karmaphrinlapa, SongsofEsotericPracticeandRepliestoDoctrinalQuestions, pub.NgawangTopgay,NewDelhi,1975,pp78.

GaneshaPress2005.Allrightsreserved.Noreproductionwithoutpermission.

15