Chapter 18b - Spyan snga rin chen ldan (Rgyal ba yang dgon pa’s Disciple)

Birth and Childhood

His disciple spyan snga rin chen ldan: he was born in the year Water Male Dog (chu pho khyi, 1202 A.D.), as son of fortunate parents at ding ri. He was older than yang dgon pa by eleven years. When he was six, he visited the ka ru caitya of gla 'khor and other places. Since then he developed a strong disgust towards the World, and a desire to follow the religious path was born in him by itself.

Once he was told by some hillmen (ri pa) that an extraordinary incarnation was living at lha gdong and faith was born in him. Later, at, the age of five, he met lha gdong pa who was residing at ding ri, and a strong reverence (towards him) was born in him. An effortless mind concentration was also produced, in him. He requested that he might be given an introduction to the Doctrine, and heard the exposition of the bLa ma’i rnal 'byor and the phyag rgya chen po yi ge bzhi pa. He studied writing and reading with father jo ston pa, and, studied extensively.

At the age of eleven, he came, to lha gdong pa chos rje ko brag pa, met him, and a great reverence was produced in him. The Dharmasvāmin told him: "If, you want to follow me, you may do so!"

Education, Apprenticeship and Meditation

He attended on the Dharmasvāmin without missing even a single day for thirty-five years until the latter’s death, and became known as spyan sna ba (the "attendant"):, He also heard from him the "Old'' and" New" initiations, whatever were known to him. He also obtained many instructions in the Doctrine from ko brag pa.

He also heard, the complete 'brug system from rgod tshang pa. He obtained the sa skya doctrine from sa paṇ (sa skya paṇ̣ḍita, kun dga' rgyal mtshan), and the system of 'bri khun pa from the Lord spyan snga. He further heard hidden precepts from every good bla ma he happened to meet. He hoisted the banner of meditation, and the yogic insight of the Ultimate State shone in him.

Later, he took up residence at ding ri, and preached to numerous students. He had many disciples possessing yogic insight, such as zur phag pa, the siddha nyi ma mgon, and others.