Chapter 6 - First incarnation series (x): mthong ba don ldan

[Full title: Incarnation series (x): mthong ba don ldan (the Sixth kar ma hierarch) (1416-1453)]

The Dharmasvāmin mthong ba don ldan (the Sixth kar ma hierarch) was born at a place called dom situated near kar ma, on the eighth day of the second month of the year Fire Male Ape (me pho spre'u 1416 A.D.) as son of a Tantric father and of a mother who was a kind of yoginī. While the child was in his mother’s womb, his parents had auspicious dreams. As soon as he was born, he sat upright, looked at his mother and laughed. When the umbilical cord was cut, a fragrance permeated the countryside. On the 12th day of the 3rd month of the Ape year (spre'u lo 1416 A.D.), his parents went on a begging round to the residence of ngom pa bya bral pa.

When the child saw ngom pa bya bral pa, he showed delight and uttered continuously "A! A!"

When ngom pa bya bral pa asked him in secret: "Who are you?"

The child grasped his finger with his hand and said:

"I am unborn, free from all names, I am placeless, I became the glory of all living beings to lead defenceless living beings of this World towards the goal of salvation. Unless my childhood comes to an end, I shall not change my abode."

After several days, the child again uttered: "a, a, i, i, u, u."

When the child was four months old, a rumour spread that ngom pa bya bral pa who had gone to dmar khams, had been killed by dar ma. To all those who were afflicted with sorrow, (the child) showed a happy countenance and danced about.

His mother asked (him): "What do you think has happened to bya bral pa?"

The child replied: "Nothing bad (has happened to him). We shall meet again."

The child used to make many similar statements about the Past and Future. When he was seven months old, he repeated the names of the Buddhas and recited the "Six Letters" formula^[1] . Seated on a seat, he used to dispense blessings.

When he was invited to nya khang, he looked at the images (rten rnams) and paid special attention to the image of the "Black Hat One" (zhwa nag can), and smiled.

When he was asked: "Who was it?"He replied: "This was I!"and pointed at himself with his hand.

Once when the child was sitting on his father’s lap, ngom pa bya bral pa touched him with his hand and asked: "Who are you?" and the child told him: "Don't you know I am the reincarnation of de bzhin gshegs pa!"

When a quarrel took place between ngom pa and ri bo che pa, the child said: "If you do so, you will have the upper hand." They acted according to his advice and the country regained peace.

When they proceeded towards lha khyim in the second month of the Hen year (bya lo 1417 A.D.), the nephew bla ma gcod pa asked him: "Why did you come here?" and the child, pointing his finger towards the monastery, replied, "For this!"

When he had reached the monastery, the child recognized the caitya of dus gsum mkhyen pa, and having grasped a black hat, the child exclaimed: "It is mine!" and took it away.

He also uttered many prophecies. Gcod pa was filled with faith. For three days a shower of flowers fell. Then gcod pa proclaimed him to all the quarters of the World to be the Dharmasvāmin (the hierarch of kar ma pa). A letter was sent to kar ma, and when the monastery’s superintendent (gnyer ba) came to offer him tea, the child called him by his name. After that he proceeded towards kar ma, dispensed blessings and quelled an epidemic of smallpox (thor nad). He recognized holy objects, and thus established his claim to be de bzhin gshegs pa. When he was performing the consecration ceremony of a painted image (thang sku), seven barley grains remained suspended in the air. During a draught, be played with water and rain fell.

On one occasion he imitated mkhan chen pa and said: "A witness is coming!"

When the mahā-upādhyāya mgo blon pa was given a prophecy by the Merciful One^[2] .

The child said:

"My Teacher has come to khams, gather the attendants!"

He then sent a square of silk, saying: "This is the scarf of my parents", and added:

"My Teacher may be disappointed. I had better go."

He went to khams and met the bla ma (mkhan chen pa) at kar ma'i yang dgon. When mkhan chen pa offered him presents, he recognised the rosary (which had belonged to him in his former life). At the time of (offering) wine and tea, kar ma kun

spangs pa said: "Please give a present to one who is dear to you", and (the child) uttered: "ston pa" and gave him a present. The latter’s face became covered with tears^[3] . All were filled with faith.

When his mother was dying, the child was asked to come, and the mother told him:

"May, Your Holiness, hold your mother in your compassion!"

The child said: "Mother, we shall again meet in Tuṣita!" and uttered good wishes (for her well being).

When he was invited to lha stengs at the time of the eclipse of the Moon, he related in detail about the personality of the Chinese Emperor and even mentioned the length of his beard, etc.

When he was staying in seclusion in the monastery of tshur sgang, he had several visions of rgyal ba rgya mtsho^[4] , of Tārā, of the dharmapāla phyag bzhi pa^[5] , ber nag can^[6] , etc. When he was being initiated by bka' bzhi pa into the Cycle of Acala, he saw lha mo lcags phur ma. He had numberless visions, and also uttered many prophecies. At times he stayed plunged in a mystic trance, and the ascetics, who were residing at the monastery, also observed an improvement in their meditation. After that he proceeded to rnam rgyal sgang without breaking his seclusion (i.e. Without seeing people on the way). Then on his return, during the feast794 of the tenth day^[7] , he had a vision of Vajravārahī (rje btsun ma).

When the master of kon gyo was looking at a black hat, the child remarked:

"This belongs to the Mongol period, it is not Chinese."

He had many visions of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and of the sixteen Sthaviras. He bestowed the mantra and the initiation of the Great Merciful One^[8] on about 20,000 laymen and priests, as well as the practice of meditation on his own Teacher.

Though he had not reached even the age of three, he used to tell continuously jests on religious subjects in order to amuse others. When a draught happened, ngom pa bya bral pa came into his presence and requested him to send rain. The child cried out: "O great upāsaka 'ga' ya^[9] , my host, give rain at once! If you fail to give rain, I shall inflict a strict punishment on you!" and immediately a heavy shower of rain fell. He used to describe Tuṣita and perform many similar wonderful deeds.

He then journeyed gradually towards kong po and laboured extensively for the benefit of others. After that he visited 'ol kha bkra shis thang (tsa ri) via dags po. The mahā-upādhyāya bsod bzangs pa sent a sedan-chair (do li ^[10] ) to receive him, and he manifested the manner of proceeding there. Dbang grags pa rgyal mtshan offered him tea. He (the Dharmasvāmin) attended on the sprul sku chos dpal ye shes, the Dharmasvāmin rong po (rong chen pa) and others, and manifested the manner of studying with them. In short, he visited the regions of khams, kong po, dags po, various places in Tibet, and various localities of Central khams, and numberless were his labours for the salvation of living beings.

In the year Water Male Ape (chu pho spre'u 1452 A.D.) when he was staying at rtse lha sgang, a soothsayer (mo ma) told him that the signs of dreams were of a very apprehensive nature. Thereupon the ācārya sangs rgyas seng ge offered prayers for the prolongation (of his) life.

The (hierarch) said:

"This year misfortune will not befall me! For nine months I shall be responsible (for my life)."

He then proceeded to the hermitage of gsa' phur. During his seclusion, he offered to all the images (at the hermitage) offerings and vestments. He also made offerings to his religious protector and issued instructions.

Having placed the images inside boxes, and having sealed them, he said to the Dharmasvāmin snye bo pa:

"Don't break the seal until my coming!"

The latter inquired: "What is the reason?”

The hierarch said: "Because of a dispute between Śambhala and ma kha (Mecca)^[11], I must go and help Kulika (rigs ldan)."

Though they begged him to stay, numerous signs of his passing were observed, such as earthquakes, the obscuration of the day, flower showers, etc.

One day, the hierarch said: "I also belong to the Lineage of the bka' brgyud pas", and composed a prayer (for himself), saying: "You also should say it!"

About that time also, he handed over his garments and black hat, as well as books containing precepts on the bsre pho (according to mar pa), etc. To gu shrI ba. He also made prophecies which were to be kept secret (lung bstan bka' rgya). He passed away at the age of 38, in the year Water Female Hen (chu mo bya 1453 A.D.). His chief disciples were very numerous: ban kar ba 'jam dpal bzang po ba and gu shrI dpal 'byor don grub pa were both prominent.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

R: yi ge drug pa / Oṃ Maṇi padme hūṃ /.

[2]:

R: Avalokiteśvara

[3]:

R: ston pa was the name of a scholar, whom the Dharmasvāmin had held dear in his previous incarnation.

[4]:

R: a form of Avalokiteśvara

[5]:

R: a form of Mahākāla, mgon po phyag bzhi pa. See “Sbornik izobrazheniy 300 burkhanov", Bibl. Buddhica, V, No. 243.

[6]:

R: a form of Mahākāla riding a black horse and wearing a black coat. 794 R: gaṇacakra.

[7]:

R: in the Tantras the tenth and 25th day / the tenth of the second half of the month / of the lunar month were held sacred.

[8]:

R: Avalokiteśvara

[9]:

R: name of a local deity.

[10]:

R: do li dolā, dolikā.

[11]:

DD: Roerich has this, “Mecca”, in a footnote. I thought it was important enough to reincorporate into the text.