Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)

by George N. Roerich | 1949 | 382,646 words | ISBN-10: 8120804716 | ISBN-13: 9788120804715

This page relates ‘Zur Geneology (xvi): Sangs rgyas rin chen [...]’ of the Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)—An important historical book from the 15th century dealing with Tibetan Buddhism and details the spiritual doctrine and lineages of religious teachers in Tibet. This chapter belongs to Book 3 (Early translations of Secret Mantra).

Chapter 1c - The Zur Geneology (xvi): Sangs rgyas rin chen [...]

[Full title: The Zur Geneology (xvi): Sangs rgyas rin chen rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po]

Our teacher, known as the Venerable sangs rgyas rin chen rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po was born in the year Iron-Male-Tiger (lcags pho stag—1350 A.D.) at rta nag gnas gsar, when his father (bsam grub rdo rje) was fifty-six (23a). This Iron-Tiger year is the 241st year since the birth of phag mo gru pa. Mkha' spyod pa and the precious mahāpaṇḍita rgyal bzangs pa were also born in this year.

People used to say to his father: "This son of yours is of no use! Why should you take so much care (with him)?" But the father prophecised, saying that his son will be of benefit to living beings.

At the age of six he learnt by heart the gsang snying gi rgyud. When he came into the presence of the Precious shAk ‘byung pa, the latter held him dear and called him: "My teacher’s son,” but because of it, he forgot (the Tantra).

At the age of eight, he again learnt it by heart. His father taught him ritual. When he was fourteen, he was able to act as teacher and bestow initiations on others. After having mastered well the doctrines of the system of Māyā (sgyu 'phrul), he requested his father: "Now, I shall take the monastic vows. I should also learn some sūtras, and some of the Tantras of the "New" (gsar ma) class."

—“This is very good,” replied the father, "but you are my only son. Take a wife and after getting one or two pairs of sons, you can then take the monastic vows."

At the age of twenty-four, he married this ma gcig. She bore six sons and two daughters. There was also one son from another mother. He used to say: "Many years had passed in bringing them up!"

When he was fifty-six, he took the monastic vows, both the noviciate and the final ordination at the same time at chos 'khor sgang. Being of a very strict character, he became very learned in the Māyā (sgyu 'phrul) system.

About the age of forty, he composed an extensive commentary on the gsang snying rgyud, and an analysis of the lam rnam par bkod pa. Among the eight phrin las shar ba, he composed the khro bo la mngon par rtogs pa rgyas pa, and a very extensive ritual text on gnas lung (funeral rite).

He studied much with his father and the latter’s spiritual son thub pa rdo rje, and practiced their precepts.

When he was seventy, in the year Earth-Female-Hog (sa mo phag—1419 A.D.) he bestowed the initiation of sgyu 'phrul zhi khro, the tshe dbang of (23b) sgyu 'phrul, the initiation of na ra gdong sprugs, the initiation of tshe bdag (Yamāntaka), the initiation of yang bdag me gcig, the rjes gnang of rta 'grin according to the method of rna bo pa, the rjes gnang of the system of zla rgyal ma, as well as the initiation into the Vajrakīla system according to the sa skya method, and the rig pa'i rtsal dbang belonging to the eighteeen works of the "Mental" Class (sems sde).

He taught the gsang snying rgyud together with its commentary, and preached extensively the Commentary on the lam rnam par bkod pa[1] composed by himself.

He also used to recite about forty lesser texts, such as the gsal sgron, the principal text of the Māyā (sgyu 'phrul) Class, and others, the mdo dgongs pa 'dus pa, its Mūla Tantra—the kun ‘dus,[2] the mun pa’i go cha, a commentary on the mdo,[3] composed by snubs sangs rgyas ye shes, the sgyu 'phrul brgyad bcu pa,[4] the bla ma gnyis,[5] and the yang dag rtsa ba’i lung.

He also bestowed the four initiations of the snying thig, such as the spros bcas and others, a commentary based on the "Explanatory Notes (khrid yig) composed by me long rdo rje, as well as gave instructions in the precepts of a ro, belonging to the "Great Perfection" (rdzogs chen).

'jam dbyangs bsam grub rdo rje heard the full explanation of the Avalokiteśvara Cycle from byang sems rgyal ba ye shes. The Venerable himself heard it from the former. He also bestowed it on me. With the help of the "Explanatory Notes" (khrid yig) of chos rje bla ma, I obtained an exceptional faith in the class of religious texts known as the "Old" Tantras (gsang sngags rnying ma), and was not affected by the defilement of abandoning religious vows (through their study).

At the age of seventy-two, in the year Iron-Female-Ox (lcags mo glang—1421 A.D.), he proceeded to dbus. In the year Water-Male-Tiger (chu pho stag—1422 A.D.) he was attended to by dbang grags pa rgyal mtshan at bsam gtan gling. He bestowed numerous initiations, such as the initiation of the mdo kun 'dus and other texts, and taught and recited (lung) the text of the gsang snying rgyud and other texts.

In the Dragon year ('brug lo—1424 A.D.) he proceeded to gtsang, and died at the age of eighty-two, in the year Iron-Female-Hog (lcags mo phag—1431 A.D.). From this Iron-Hog year to the Fire-Male-Ape year (me pho spre’u—1476 A.D.) 46 years have elapsed.

In general, from the birth of zur chung ba (in 1014 A.D.) to the year Fire-Male-Ape (me pho spre’u—1476 A.D.) 463 years have elapsed.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

a rnying ma treatise

[2]:

rnying ma'i rgyud 'bum, vol. X /tha/; rnying rgyud dkar chag, fol. 231b

[3]:

the dgongs pa 'dus pa, this is a famous commentary in Tibet

[4]:

the rnying rgyud dkar chag, fol. 232b, names a sgyu 'phrul brgyad pa

[5]:

rnying rgyud dkar chag, fol. 232b

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: