Chapter 6 - First incarnation series (iv): chos 'dzin (Karmapa II)

His disciple the Precious kar ma pa was born as son of father rgya dbang tshur tsha sprang dar and mother seng gza' mang skyid, of the family of king u at 'bri lung dam pa chos phyug, in the year Wood-Male-Mouse (shing pho byi ba 1204 A.D.), the tenth year since the death of dus gsum mkhyen pa (some authors maintain that dus gsum mkhyen pa had been the first incarnated lama in Tibet to be installed after the death of this predecessor). In the same year the kha che paN chen came to Tibet. He was given the name of chos 'dzin. He mastered the alphabet at the age of five or six. At the age of nine or ten, he was able to understand the various scriptures of the Buddha after glancing them over. He understood the Mind to be of an unchangeable nature and meditate on it as an unmovable state like an ocean, but was unable to grasp it completely, and the Precious sbom brag pa explained it to him.

At the time of his meeting with sbom brag pa, the bla ma said to him:

"To day the heroes (vīras) and dākiṇīs appeared in the sky like a mass of clouds. You will be a man blessed by dākiṇīs."

The same night the Teacher initiated him, and said:

"You are fortunate! All the bka' brgyud pa teachers, including dus gsum mkhyen pa, have appeared. Now you should practise these doctrines of mine."

After that he was ordained by kha thog pa byams pa 'bum and lcang mang phu ba, and was given the name of chos kyi bla ma.

When he obtained instruction of the Precious One and offered him the cost of one recital of the Śatasāhasrikā-Prajñāpāramitā, the Precious One said:

"For me, an ascetic, who had perceived his own Mind, is better, than the offering of wealth, enough to fill this country of khra shod sbom rag sna."

He meditated properly and the Teacher became very pleased. He practised meditation for ten years without interruption, and he saw visions of himself attended by gods, worldly gods and demons. He gathered round himself about five hundred monks in khams, and preached the Doctrine to them. He exhibited his magic powers as far as the country of ljang%, and prohibited hunting. Having come to 'tshur phu, he spent six years there.

The great gods, including the goddess gangs dkar ma and the gods of thang lha, became his attendants. His fame having spread far, the Mongol Emperor sent an Imperial Envoy (gser yig pa) with a letter of invitation. He proceeded to China, and on his way performed extensive labours, such as assisting monastic communities and repairing ruined temples, etc. He bestowed on the Emperor and his retinue the cittotpāda rite, and introduced them to the Path of the Highest Enlightenment. He visited China and Mongolia (Hor). In particular, he built a large temple in the country of the mi nyag 'ga' (ning hsia). At the same time he exhibited numberless signs of supernatural powers and miracles in all these regions. He converted many followers of evil doctrines of heretics and those who abided in darkness. At the time of the War, he again came to China. (The Emperor) treated him in an improper manner, such as exiling him to the shores of the ocean, but he overcame all these attempts and curbed (the Emperor). The fame of kar ma pa became even greater.

In particular, when he was thrown into a fort, the door of which was locked with lead, and he was kept inside without food. He fearlessly exhibited his supernatural powers and the Emperor go pe la (Qubilai) became his disciple.

The Emperor then promulgated a gracious edict saying that

"in Tibet and other countries you may practise your own religion according to desire, and let you offer prayers for me."

It took him eight years to reach 'tshur phu from cong tu mkhar (<Chung tu). Having returned to 'tshur phu, he erected many images, such as the "great image" (lha chen). He was able to perform all this through the power of his mystic trance, similar to the Dharmarāja srong btsan sgam po.

His labours were extensive. The actions of a man named rgyal ba gangs pa having caused his slight displeasure, he passed away at the age of 80, in the year Water-Female-Sheep (chu mo lug 1283 A.D.) in the third month. The cremation rite was performed on the ninth day, his heart, tongue and eye were recovered (from the ashes). Also there appeared numerous relics of different colours, mostly white, in the form of three conches wound towards the right and interconnected, images, letters, symbolic signs, etc. Most of them were enshrined in the caityas of the "Upper" and "Lower" monasteries. Fragments of (his) garments, boots (phyags), etc. Filled the hands of the devotees. Thus the entire World was blessed.