Chapter 8 - Second incarnation series (i): khol po dga'

[Full title: Second incarnation series (i): khol po dga' / Sarvavid (kun rig) / gzhon nu gsang chol / tshul khrims dpal (1098-1132) / nam mkha' ‘od (1133-1199) / bkra shis grags pa (1200-1282)]

On his death, khol po dga', a disciple of the Venerable Tillipa, was reborn at Jālandhara as a Brāhmaṇa named Sarvavid (kun rig), a disciple of Nāropa.

After that, he was again reborn as gzhon nu gsang chol in Nepāl. He heard many Tantric precepts.

Once a thought occured to him:

"It is said in the Tantras, that one is unable to attain Buddhahood without following the Tantra. Further, it is also said that (the practice of the Tantra) depends, solely on the Teacher."

While he was praying for a meeting with a holy teacher, he went to a forest to gather flowers, and saw a young maiden adorned with many ornaments who appeared inside a cloud, and said to him:

"O Son! To the Snow Country of the North, to a country known as Tibet, which had been indicated in a prophecy of the Buddha, go and your wish will be granted! There you will meet an incarnation of the Buddha himself!"

He related (the prophecy) to his own Teacher the Indian Vajrapāni (rgya gar phyag na) and with his permission he journeyed northwards.

He met numerous kalyāṇa-mitras and his faith increased. He told them of his many wishes. Then he met the Venerable mid la and several times prostrated himself in front of him. He shed tears and grasping (the Teacher’s) feet, expressed a solemn wish.

The Venerable mid la made a prophecy to him:

"You will be again and again reborn in this Country of Snows, and will practise religion. You will meet those who are above men and who lead men in a human form. Through the power of former virtues, a concentrated belief in them must be born in you, and its results are sure to ripen quickly. Your wish will be granted!"

While practising austerities on the border of Nepāl and Tibet, he transmigrated and was reborn in the year Fire Male Mouse (me pho byi ba 1096 A.D.) as son of father dge bsnyen (upāsaka) 'byung seng and mother sgrol ma 'bum in Upper dbu ru (dbus). He went to the Master sgam po pa, and his nephew, and at the age of 19 received both the noviciate and the final monastic ordination in the presence of the uncle and nephew. He was named tshul khrims dpal. He attended on many teachers, who included many bka' gdams pa kalyāna-mitras, the Master ras chung pa and others. He considered both the uncle and nephew (i.e. Sgam po pa and his nephew) as being real Buddhas and accepted them as his mūla gurus. When the Dharmasvāmin dus gsum mkhyen pa came on a visit to the Master dags po, uncle and nephew, faith was born in him also. He also obtained many doctrines from him. At the age of 37, in the year Water Male Mouse (chu pbo byi ba 1132 A.D.) he passed away.

His reincarnation was the monk nam mkha' ‘od, who was born in the year Water Female Ox (chu mo glang 1133 A.D.) as son of father dgon pa don grub bla ma and mother lha mo lam at ru mtshams. In his childhood he had a recollection of his former teacher and had faith (in him). At the age of 8, or 9, he was entrusted to the Dharmasvāmin dus gsum mkhyen pa. For 8 or 9 years he attended on him without interruption. (The teacher) bestowed on him numerous precepts and instructions. He attended on his Teacher with veneration and devotion, and did not behave as a child. He studied precepts and pleased the Master greatly.

After the departure of the Dharmasvāmin to khams, he practised meditation at several hermitages, including those of gangs dkar, se mo do, kha rag, thang lha and others. During the intervals of the period of his seclusion, he met many holy persons, including 'gro mgon zhang, lho pa, skyer sgang pa, gling and others, and heard precepts from them. In particular, he had great faith in bde gshegs stag lung thang pa and obtained instruction from him. He practised chiefly meditations. When the Dharmasvāmin came to dbus, he bestowed on him the remaining precepts and numerous instructions. Then for 17 years, he stayed in seclusion and received some signs of initiation. He died at the age of 67 in the year Earth Female Sheep (sa mo lug 1199 A,D.).

His next reincarnation (was) bkra shis grags pa who was born in Lower khams in the year Iron Male Ape (Icags pho spre'u 1200 A.D.) as son of father 'phags pa rta mchog gi rnal 'byor pa^[1] . Dbang phyug legs pa and mother sgrol ma 'tsho. Because of impression left on his mind by his former life, he proceeded to dbus and obtained precepts from sku yal ba of stag lung. He greatly pleased his Teacher, who bestowed on him the final instructions in the Doctrine. He was held in compassion by sangs rgyas yar byon and practised meditation for many years. During his seclusion he met the Dharmasvāmin kar ma pa and a strong faith was born in him.

The hierarch told him: "Formerly you had been a disciple of dus gsum mkhyen pa, in your next life you will be my disciple. Now follow the chief practice in this manner" (nyams len dngos gzhi) and saying so, he bestowed precepts on him. He died at the age of 83 in the year Water Male Horse (chu pho rta 1282 A.D.).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

a devotee of Hayagrīva.