Friends of Tamshing

This text was written by Lopen Tseten of Tamshing Monastery in 2010 on the occasion of the first visit of the Eleventh Reincarnation of Pema Lingpa, Jigdrel Kunzang Pema Dorje, the present Lhalung Sungtrul Rinpoche, to the United States

Biography of the Great Terton Padmalingpa (1450-1521AD)

Om Swasti! Oh, the peacefully Gone; the Buddha Rirab Mermai Gyaltshen,
(the victory Banner of Mount Sumeru-like illuminator)
Who, in this degenerated time, took rebirth and became the main-helm of the Buddha Dharma,
To the Dharma king, the Great Terton Padmalingpa,
Your spiritual sons and to your lineage; I offer my veneration!

He was inseparable from Guru Padmasambhava throughout all his rebirths and represented the guru's enlightened activity. Through his unsurpassable deeds, he justified himself to the multitude of being as the unmatched emanation of an enlightened being in human form by acclaiming an irrefutable fame as the Awareness Holder; the Great Terton Padmalingpa.

Long before, Padmalingpa attained the highest realization and became like the Buddha Samantabhadra (the ultimate form of realization according to vajrayana). Yet unmoving From this state, he set out his moon-on-pond-like manifestations according to the faith of the beings that are to be tamed by his teachings.

ln the past, Padmalingpa manifested as the Buddha Odnang Thaye (the Buddha of limitless Light); the lord of enlightened lotus family, at the present, he dwells in the northern world as Foe-destroyer Rirab Mermai Gyaltshen (the victory Banner of Mount Sumeru-like illuminator), and in the future, when the Buddha Maitreya starts his teaching in this world, he will manifest as the Dorji Nyingpo in the Buddha field of Arrayed Lotuses.

This proves that Padmalingpa was the architect and inspiration for many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and this alone is enough to say that he remained above the mirth of cylic rebirth. However, for the sake of the beings to the tamed, he manifested through several forms of high and low rebirths. And today, if I utter few of them; owing to the aspirations and prayers made before the Great Buddha Nath Temple (Chorten Jarung Khashor), Nepal, Padmalingpa was born as Lhacham Padmasel to Tibet’s King Thrisong Deutsen, the 3rd of the famed Khen Lop Cho Sum in Tibet’s history.

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Notes page 1
1. 1) Khen Lop Cho Sum. Khen: Khenchen Jangchubsempa (Shantar), 2) Lop: Lopen Padmasambhava, and 3) Choe: Chogyal (Dharma King) Trisong Duetsen
2. "The five king treasure-revealers". The emanation of king Thrisong Duetsen who were successively: 1) Nyangrel Nyima Ozer, 2) Guru Chowang , 3) Dorji Lingpa, 4) Padmalingpa, 5) Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

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During that time, Guru Padmasambhava granted her the complete cycle of liberating and ripening teaching of the dhakini’s Heart Drops (mkha’ 'gro snying thig) and was entrusted as the lord of the 108 teachings related to the ocean of jewels of the Guru's Mind Accomplishment (thugs sgrub blama nor bu rgya mtsho).

Following this she was reborn as the spiritual consort of Nyangrel Nyima Odzer, the first of the five king Treasure Revealers Known as Sangye Kyid she actualized the highest realization through the profound path of the vajrayana.

She then took the rebirth as the Jomo Padma Drolma, who attained the ultimate realization, and served as esoteric consort to the great Guru Chokyi Wangchuk, the second of the five king Treasure Revealers. She also assisted this great master in constructing the Temple of Layak Samdrup Dewachenpo.

After this, Padmalingpa reborn as the mantara adept Rinchen Dragpa. The Great master Ogen Lingpa guided him and granted the initiations of the Padmasambhava’s Heart Drops and the Iron-Haired Hayagriva. As he carried on his practice, the deities of this teachings appeared before him in his vision for seven times and there after he became the peerless lord of mantra power.

Padmalingpa was then reborn as the lord of the eastern Treasure; Terton Padma Ledrel Tsal. He had his first crown-hair cut by the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorji and even received from him many teachings and oral transmission. Padma Ladrel Tsal revealed the teachings of Dakini's Heart Drops; an extremely profound teaching that can guide anybody to the state of realization in one life time, from Danglung Thramo Drag as treasure, and also revealed the profound treasure teachings of Vajrapani that Subdues the haughty spirits, and the three deities of the hayagriva, and many other
teachings.

He was then reborn as the Great Longchen Rabjam Zangpo who equaled the Great six Ornaments and two supreme ones of the Nalanda University fame, in realization and knowledge. He was regarded as actual manifestation of the pinnacle of pundits of the land of Arayas; Vimalamitra. His learning and realization was extremely outstanding that he even got the name as the second teacher of the Atiyoga teaching after Garab Dorji.

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Notes Page 2
3. " Six Ornaments Who Beautified Jambudvipa" - This six are particularly great master of the Buddhist tradition taken from among all of master who appeared while Buddhism flourished in India. The six are; Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Asaga, Vasubhandu, Dignaga and Dharmakirti.
4. The two supreme ones were Acharya Shakyaprabha and Acharya Gunaprabha: they were regarded as such because of their exceptional expertise in the Discipline (vinaya) teaching which is the root of the Buddha’s teaching.

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He mastered in all the teachings he received and achieved the victorious state of the primordial protector, And he exhibited an enormous enlightened activity by reaching the peerless teaching of Atiyoga far and wide and thereby benefiting countless beings.

Finally, leaving behind the following prophecy in his stainless light of last will, he passes away into the ultimate state of reality.

My self- endowment shall bring satisfaction in others,
My emanated rebirth will benefit the Tharpaling (the land of Iiberation)
At that time, you all, the great disciples
I pray that we meet again and be relished with the joy of the Dharma.

87 years after this prophecy Padmalingpa (Longchen Rabjam) was reborn but this time, he was to become the Fourth of the Five King Treasure revealers, Accompanied by wondrous signs and miracles, such as witnessing three sun rises, and pitching of rainbows, he was born to father Myoton Dondrub Zangpo and mother Drogmo Pema Dronma in 1450AD, corresponding to the 15th Day of First Month of Iron Horse Year in Bhutanese lunar calendar.

Even without learning he became proficient in the art of writing and other artistry skills at a very young age.

In 1476, when he was in his 25th year, corresponding to the 10th Day of the Seventh Month of Fire Monkey year, he had the actual vision of Guru Padmasambhava who entrusted him inventories of the profound treasure and accordingly on the same day he revealed the secret Heart Essence of the luminous expanse teachings (klong gsal gsang ba snying bcud) from near Drag in Mebartsho (the burning lake).

Circles of rainbows whirled across the sky and sprinkled the area with flower-drizzles (raining with sunshine) and several auspicious signs took place as he started to grant this just—discovered teaching to a gathering of fortunate disciple at Dungkha Bir (Dechen Pelri).

On the 24th Day of the Tenth Month of the same year, amidst a huge gathering of spectators at Mebartsho, he wished himself holding an offering lamp by his hand, “if`I’m the manifestation of the devil, I shall die in this water and if I’m spiritual son of Guru Padmasambhava of Odiyana, I shall interact with the desired wealth and emerge out of this water with this lamp still burning", Heaving wished, he jumped into the water and the crowds made a loud outcry of disbelief. Instantly, with water drops dripping from his body he emerged out of water holding the live lamp.

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But this time, he carried the treasure of the Buddha’s statue on his hand and a sealed skull-cup filled with samaya substance, which were held under his armpit. This occasion roused fervent faith in him even amongst the disbelievers!

From the cliff behind the Tselung Lhakhang, he revealed the Eight Heruka's Mirror of the mind.

The teaching such as the whirling of Fire and Wind of the miniature wrath of Guru, the condensed mind of the all purity; a teaching that was concealed by his former reincarnation (Longchen Rabjam) were invited from Tharpaling.

From the cliff of stacked vajra in Kurje, he extracted the garland of flames of the Great Red, (the wrathful Guru), and the Long life accomplishment manual (sadhana); “carrying the jewel as the provision of the path”.

From the Senge Khetshug cliff in the lower part of Bumthang, he invited the teachings of the Guru's Medium Wrath that tames all beings.

At Rimochen in Tang, Bumthang, he discovered Avalokitesvara's Lamp that Dispels Darkness, Little Offspring of the Atiyoga Tantra, and the cycle of nectar and Medicine Pill Sadhana. The Three Black Cycles were revealed from the state of Gate Keeper's armpit in Tselung Temple.

At Senge Dongcen, in the Lhodak Kharchu region of Tibet, he revealed the Nine Cycle of Innermost Secret-as subsection of ocean of jewels of the Guru’s Mind Accomplishment, Life force Dragger of the Kilaya, the long life sadhana of vajra-garland, the Red-Horse that subdues Haughty Spirits, and the cycle of protector Mahakala.

At Samye Chemphu, he revealed the condensed intentions of the all purity of the Great Perfection, and at Dobo in Dragmar, he discovered the aggressive Vajrapani and the Iron-Haired Dark Hayagriva.

At the Thraring cliff of Tshal Do region, he revealed the Vajrapani that subdues the Haughty spirits and so forth. These are just to name a few of the countless treasures which included replicas of the enlightened bodies. Dharma wealth, samaya substance and so on, that he revealed from the sacred places across Bhutan and Tibet.

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At the age of 32, on the 15th Day of the Fourth Month of the Iron-Ox year, through his pure vision in his sleep, he saw himself being invited on a white horse back by three fairies and arrived at the Celestial Mansion of the copper colored mountain where he had an audience with the Guru Padmasambhava in the form of Raksha Thod Threng Tsal. There, with Dakini Yeshe Tshogyal and Mutig Tsenpo as the ritual assistants, they opened up the mandala of the deities and did a Drubchen (accomplishment
ceremony) for seven days. In the process, Guru Padmasambhava granted him the four empowerment of the ocean of jewels of the lama's Mind and Vajra King’s Empowerment of limitless injunctions and also the secret name, "Padmalingpa”.

Heaving received from the Guru Padmasambhava many profound teachings and prophecies, he returned to his own place accompanied by the same three fairies. Then only he woke up from his sleep. Thereafter, through each night, Guru Padmasambhava and Dakini Yeshe Tshogyal would guide him about the manner of granting empowerments, presenting exegesis of initiations, the steps of dances, the turning of rituals for the tomorrow’s programs and accordingly he performed his deeds through
the days that followed.

Extraordinary events such as overflowing of the nectar from the skull-cup, the sky pouring in with flower-drizzles, rainbows pitching across the sky and many more, would take place, each time he granted Wang and Lung (empowerment and oral transmissions).

Displaying his enlightened insight, he would even sing melodious spiritual songs which really captured the hearts of the fortunate people and clarified the doubtful ones with his unobstructed clairvoyance. Even the for unfortunate ones who disbelieved him, he said immense prayers to tame them in their latter generations and ensured with the blessing that they reach their last rebirth in the cyclic existence.

He constructed the temple of Lhundrub Choling in Tamzhing, Kunzangling in Kurtoe, Kunzang Drag, Dchen Ling, Dekyid Ling, in Bamrin and so forth.

He renovated and re-consecrated the monasteries of the Samye, Lhodrag and Lhalung in Tibet, Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang, and the Tselung Lhakhang. Such were his four enlightened activities that reverted wars and ensured the safe flourishing of the Buddha Dharma!

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Note Page 5
5. Empowerments 1) Vase, 2) Secret, 3) Wisdom and 4) Precious Word.

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Specifically, Bhutan owes a heavy gratitude to Padmalingpa for he not only spread the profound teachings of the Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava but also left a responsible legacy of the ancestral lineage which is still massively benefiting the people of Bhutan.

Tertons like Trulku Chogden Gonpo, Lethro Lingpa, Drupthops (accomplished masters) like Choeje Kunga Legpa, Karchen Kundrag, the lamas and highly designated leaders like the seventh Karmapa Choedrag Gyatsho, the king of Donga in India, and particularly the master who were prophesized by Guru Padmasambhava, like the manifestation of the protector of three families; Konchog Zangpo, Dawa Gyaltshen, and Drakpa Gyalpo, his sons like Khedrup Kunga Wangpo, Sangdag, so forth, his seven mandala-holding students like Trulku Natshog Rangdrol, Khenchen Tshulthrim Paljor, Gyalwa Dondrup of Nangso, so on were his some of the outstanding students.

Furthermore, he had eleven students connected to him through the profound key-instructions of the Great perfection, eleven thousand fortunate students across Tibet, Bhutan, eastern and western parts of India, and countless students who were fortunate enough to have received his blessings. He filled the heart of these students with rains of empowerments, transmissions and profound teachings. In fact, whoever got connected to him, their human lives never went in vain as each of them eventually made their way towards the ultimate realization and fulfilled the two purposes of one and others.

Not deviating from his enlightened activity of benefiting the beings even for a moment, at Lhundrup Choeling Temple, in Tamshing, granting his last word to the gathered students, at the age of 72, in 1521 AD corresponding to the 3rd Day of the First Month of Iron Snake year of the 9th Rabjung Cycle, he passed away into Nirvana.

During his death, wondrous sign also took place- Every person of Choekhor village heard the melodious sound of Jaling (religious flute) and cymbals that reverberated across the sky. Rainbow pitch tents through the sky with flower-drizzles and even the world shook for awhile.

Just as it happens to anybody who has achieved the highest state of realization, even the sizes of the Padmalingpa’s deceased body shrunk to an elbow length.

In one of his prophetic teachings, Guru Padmasambhava instructs the preservation of the Padmalingpa's deceased body in the following lines;

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Note Page 6
6. Rigsum Gonpo- "The Proctor of the three families-” 1) Manjushri, 2) Vajrapani, 3) Avalokiteshvara

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For the flourishing of his (Padmalingpa) teachings
And if his descendents were to exist through the future generations
His body should be concealed behind the wall of hundred Thousand statues....

Accordingly Padmalingpa's deceased body was inserted at the vase section of the stupa which was made from an alloy of gold and sliver and placed on the top floor of the Tamzhing temple but this was later, for the sake of wider benefit of the sentient beings and Buddhadharma, it was shifted to Kheng Tagma.

Today this precious body is preserved at the temple of Yungdrung Choeling, at Langthil in Mangde. It was moved from Kheng Tagma in keeping with the Khari's question and answer interpreted by the seven Sungtrul Rinpoche: Ngawang Choeki Lode. The interpretation suggested the further rise of Buddhadharma and stable government of Bhutan if Pemalingpa's body was invited to Yungdrung Choeling Temple.

The temple of Yungdrung Choeling was constructed by Choeje Ogen Phuntsho of Tamshing and furnished with new religious replicas and artifices in 1839, during the Earth Hog Year of 14th Rabjung.

Endlessly caring the sufferings-trodden being like us Padmalingpa still continues to benefit us through his successive reincarnations which are today known as the line of Sungtrul Rinpoche. His immediate reincarnation or Padmalingpa II was Gyalwang Tenzin Drakpa, Padmalingpa III was Kunkhen Tshultrim Dorje, Padmalingpa IV was Ngawang Kunzang Dorje, Padmalingpa V was Tenzin Drubchog Dorje, Padmalingpa VI was Kunzang Tenpai Gyaltshen, Padmalingpa VII was Ngawang Choeki Lodoe,
Padmalingpa VIII was Kunzang Tenpai Nyima, Padmalingpa IX was Tenzin Chokyi Gyeltshen, Padmalingpa X was Padma Odsel Gyurme Dorje, and the present reincarnation Jigdrel Kunzang Pema Dorje who is relentlessly performing enlightened deeds at this time of degenerated age is the Padmalingpa XI.

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