Chapter 7 - The chapter on the abbots of Bya yul

[Full title: The chapter on the abbots (of bya yul) from spyan snga to bya yul pa.]

Spyan snga

spyan snga tshul khrims 'bar was son of dbas shAkya rdo rje and mother li mo ye shes sgron. In childhood he was called stag tshab 'bar. In 1057, he came to rwa sgrengand attended on 'brom. Later he attended on rnyal 'byor pa, dgon pa pa and the yogin shes rab rdo rje. From his childhood he believed in the doctrine of 亨 nyat and possessed great wisdom, as well as a sufficient knowledge of Sanskrit to enable him to translate (Sanskrit texts). He used to recite mantras, whatever were to be found inTibet. He erected many caityas made of jewels, similar in style to the Master. He exhibited many supernatural powers. He died at snug rum. It seems to me that this was due to lack of devotion on the part of the elder (sthavira) of lo(otherwise he would have passed away at lo). He passed away at the age of 66.

Among his disciples (were found) 'u yug pa a mi, rgya rtse sbre ba, sku bsrungs ston pa, klungs shod ral pa, 'dul 'dzin sal gur ston pa, 'tsher ston, thang 'dul, 'brom 'dul the four, thar pa'i phag sgom, ched cher bag ye sgom pa, rug pa'i rgya sgom and mang ra sgom pa –the four, zar pa jo btsun, g. Ye pa'i sgre pa, 'phan yul pa rgya, yul chos pa lha bzo, stod lungs pa chen po, khyun kham po che, lho brag pa pa wa ston, gtsang pa jo phad, bya yul pa chen po and others.

Stod lungs pa and zar pa phag sgom

Stod lungs pa chen po rin chen snying po (1032-1116) established the monastery of stod lungs btsan 'gro and gathered about a hundred disciples.

Zar pa phag sgom founded the monastery of zar at mal gro.

Bya yul pa

bya yul pa (1075 - 1138)was born at gol go lung in stod lungs in the year Wood Female Hare (sing mo yos–1075 A.D.). His father was g. Yung 'drung brtan 'bar and his mother gyi ljangs gza' lcam bu. In 1086, he took up the noviciate and was given the name of gzhon nu 'od. At the age of 12, he became a successful steward (gner ba) of gol go lung. In 1088, ye shes rgyal mtshan entrusted him to the great stod lungs pa and he became the latter’s attendant.

Once, when spyan snga was residing at cho rab, stod lungs pa sent him as spyan snga’s attendant by request of spyan snga. Stod lungs pa presented to spyan snga his attendant and with him the customary scarf. After the lapse of one year, spyan snga having dressed bya yul pa in woolen clothes, sent him to stod lungs pa.

He worked hard, and the possession of spyan snga was increased. Spyan snga was extremely liked his attitude, so that the old disciples became envious. Po to ba also praised him from afar, for his service to spyan snga and his courteous attitude cowards the other disciples.

Bya yul pa resided at phu chung, 'tshal chung and brul gyi ra ba dkar po, and was invited to gnyer by byang dar ma ratna and stayed there. During this period there were two Tantrics, husband and wife, at bya yul. They presented that place to zha ba who gave it to glang ri thang pa. However, because of refusal of glang ri thang pa, bya yul pa pleased to receive it. Bya yul subdue him by spreading his mat over him. Since he had been an intimate friend of shar ba pa, the latter’s disciples were also sent to help in the building of the vīhara. His attendant sher seng who made his effort to establish the monastery was poisoned by se chung ba, and bya yul pa guided sher seng to escape the Hell.

When spyan snga was about to die, he said: "Do not cake up final monastic ordination", so for a Iong time he abstained from taking up final ordination. Later, he saw a dream in which the second ordination was not necessary. Again he offered prayers and then saw in his dream that he was given by his Teacher an Indian monastic robe (cīvara). He thought that he was allowed to become a monk and took up ordination. He laboured extensively for the benefit of the Doctrine. At the age of 64, on the 18th day of the Kārtika month (smin drug) of the year Earth Male Horse (sa pho rta–1138A.D.)

Among the 2000 monks, there were 500 who attained a concentrated trance. Among the no learned kalyāṇa mitras, there were nine "Great Outsiders", eight "Great Middle Ones" (bar) and three "Inner" Spiritual Sons.

Gtsang pa and glang lung pa

He was born at snubs yul rong of gtsang in the year Fire Female Serpent (me mo sbrul–1077 A.D.) as son of a great Tantric (sngags pa chen po), named snubs a la la, and his wife, ral rgyags gza' lcam ma. He had a vision of a ḍākiṇī, filling the entire sky. In particular, he saw a ḍākiṇī, called 'bar ma. Among his teachers, to mention only the translators, were: rngog lo tsA ba, gnyan lo, ba ri lo tsA ba, rwa lo, btsan kha bo che, five in all.

He traveled India and he turned back and proceeded to skyi shod (lha sa). Though scholars used to speak disparagingly about the bka’ gdams pas, he thought that these bka’ gdams pas must also possess a complete Doctrine of their own. Despite of people’s blame, he requested to bya yul pa be his teacher of the Mahāyāna Tantras.

When bya yul pa taugh him, gtsang pa rin po che, he understood completely all the words of the four classes of the Tantras, so there can not be any doubt as to his understanding of their meaning.

The inmates of lo invited him and he became Abbot of lo. Later when bya yul pa was about to die, he sent a messenger, but the latter did not convey his message, and thus they did not contact each other at the time of death. After the death of bya yul pa, he cook over both lo and bya yul.

He passed away at the age of 85, in the year Iron Female Serpent (lcags mo sbrul–1161 A.D.).

His disciples: it is said that gtsang pa had four sons and other disciples, in all 14.

Glang lung pa

The Abbot rin po che glang lung pa (1123-1193): he was born as the eldest of the three sons of snubs rdo rje btsan grags and hor gza' mo in the year Water Female Hare (chu mo yos–1123 A.D.) at sgang ra of stod lungs 'tshur. In 1140, he went to see nyag mo ba, a disciple of bya yul pa, and took up the vows of an upāsaka. He took up the noviciate and was given the name of brtson 'grus gzhon nu.

In 1127, he received the final monastic ordination. Till 1134, he attended on the kalyāṇa mitra bkra shis sgang pa, a disciple of both nyag mo ba and bya yul pa.

According to the record of his dream, it seems true that the upāya mārga of the Master was handed down in the Lineage of spyan snga, but there were different opinions too.

When his meeting with gtsang pa rin po che, an extraordinary faith were born in him. Once again he went to meet him from bkra shis sgang. From 1162 to 1193, He acted as abbot for 32 years. He passed away at the age of 71 1193A.D. dbu se and bla ma zhang died in the same year.

Sangs rgyas sgom pa and zem rin po che

sangs rgyas sgom pa (1160 - 1229)who was a native of. His family name was zi tsha, a division of the 'be (clan). He was born in the year Iron Male Dragon (lcags pho 'brug–1160 A.D.). In 1177, the age of 18, he again proceeded to the residence of the Precious glang lung pa. There, after the lapse of one year, an excellent mystic trance was born in him. Till 1190, he received teachings from glang lung pa and obtained from him complete instructions. In 1197, he received final ordination. In 1201, he became abbot. He occupied for a long time the abbot’s chair and died at the age of 70 in the year Earth Ox (sa glang–1229 A.D.).

Zem rin po che (1201^[1] -1256)was born in the year Iron Female Hog (lcags mo phag–1101 A.D.) at nger gom of ham mdo', his father being sba yags me po and his mother the nun bkra shis skyid. In 1116, he met sangs rgyas sgom pa and requested him to bestow ordination on him. He received the name of grags pa seng ge. He studied the Vinaya. In 1119, he received the final ordinationHe then visited sangs rgyas sgom pa at bya yul. The latter accepted him in spirit, and bestowed on him the complete instructions. When he had reached the age of 39, sangs rgyas sgom pa passed away. Later on receiving the command of Śrī Devī, zem became abbot (of bya yul). He died at the age of 66 in the year Fire Male Dragon (me pho 'brug–1256 A.D.).

At that time, 219 years had elapsed from the birth of spyan snga. From among his numerous disciples, 'od gsal ba, the Great, founded the monastery of 'od gsal in Upper zhogs. Ri mer ba, the Great, founded the monastery of ri mer in Eastern lho brag.

Mkham pa lung pa

The kalyāṇa mitra mkham pa lung pa (1232 - 1282) was born in the year Water Dragon (chu 'brug–1232 A.D.) to sbas rnal 'byor mgon po and mother zhang lcam dkar yal. He studied the Vinaya, and obtained instruction from rin po che (glang lung pa), and practised meditation. At the age of 25, in 1256 A.D. he succeeded the chair of abbot from zem. Till the Water Male Horse (chu pho rta–1282 A.D.), for 27 years, he acted as abbot and passed away.

Sang rgyas jo bo and doom of bya yul

sangs rgyas jo bo (1232 - 1312): He proclaimed himself to be an incarnation of sangs rgyas sgom pa. He was born in the year Water Dragon (chu 'brug–1232 A.D.). In 1256, he took up the final ordination (upasampadā). At 51, he became abbot of btsang gro and came to bya yul in the year Iron Hare (Icags yos–1291 A.D.) at the age of 60. He passed away at the age of 81, in the year Water Male Mouse (chu pho byi ba–1312 A.D.).

After having obtained the power of a Religious Protector he buried inside the wall of the temple four images of dharmapālas together with their offerings,while he was repairing the vīhara of bya yul. When the 'bri khung pa killed nine monks at lo. The inmates of lo, having discovered gtor ma, so killed the uncle and his disciples.

After mkham lung pa, gtsang ston acted as abbot from 1283 to 1285. He was murdered by the 'bri khung pas. (The monastery) of bya yul was burnt down, and from the year Fire Dog (me khyi–1286 A.D.) till the year Iron Tiger (lcags stag–1290 A.D.) the chair seems to have remained empty. In this Iron Tiger (lcags stag–1290 A.D.) the rebellion of 'bri khung took place.

The next Iron Hare year (Icags yos–1291 A.D.) is the year of the coming of sangs rgyas jo bo to the abbot’s chair (of bya yul). The Emperor se chen (quibilai) presented many measures of gold to sangs rgyas jo bo to cover the expenses of rebuilding (of bya yul). Within one year they had rebuilt the vīhara of bya yul bya yul was rebuilt in 1292.

Sangs rgyas ston pa the first and the second and other abbots

The Precious sangs rgyas ston pa: His native place was gru shul sgo. He was the eldest of the four sons of bkra shis 'bum and Śrī thar skyid. About the age of 14, he met mkham lung pa. He died in the year Wood Female Ox (sing mo glang–1325 A.D.)..

Sangs rgyas sgom pa, "the second" (1284-1326): he was born in the year Wood Male Ape (sing pho spre–1284 A.D.). He came to bya yul to (interview) sangs rgyas jo bo and there obtained final monastic ordination. He obtained from sangs rgyas ston pa the complete religious system (chos skor) of bya yul pa. At that time the precepts of Vajrayāna were not extant, because of the extinction of the teaching after mkham pa lung pa. He went to mon lug mgo stens and obtained the teaching (of the Vajrayana) from sgom pa byang skyabs. At the age of 43, in 1326 A.D., he became abbot of bya yul. He passed away at the age of 55 in the year Earth Tiger (sa stag–1338 A.D.). Sangs rgyas dbon po of rgyal stengs occupied the chair (of bya yul) for 18 months.

Tshul khrims mgon po of btsan gro. His native place was. He was ordained by sangs rgyas jo bo and received instructions from sangs rgyas ston pa. He acted as abbot (of bya yul) from the year Iron Serpent (lcags sbrul–1341 A.D.) till the year Water Female Hare (chu mo yos–1363 A.D.).

Spyan snga blo gros rnam dag pa, spyan snga chos kyi rdo rje of rgyal stengs. The chapter on the abbots (of bya yul) from spyan snga to bya yul pa.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

BA: 1101. However, counting his date of death, 1201 may be correct.