Chapter 10 - Phagmodru lineage: Introduction

An account of (his) chief disciples will be given later. A general account of them was given above. Now the story of abbots: The precious image which was found in his grass hut ('jag spyil) after his death, was erected by his disciples who had mixed into the clay medical substances, precious stones, silks, etc., as well as his ashes. Great was its blessing. The image on several occasions uttered words.

After mice had carried away some clay from one of the corners of the image’s seat, the image drew the attention of the sacristan (dkon gnyer), who repaired the damage done by mice. They made many images from the clay taken away by mice. These became known as byi sa ma (“mouse-clay"). Many images were also made from the clay that remained after the erection of the image, and these became known as dras sa ma ("cut-clay"). The image which was placed on the preacher’s seat (chos khri) was built by a man named mar pa lha snying at man 'gar sgang.

When the work had been roughly completed, a nun who was unknown in the locality, came there and said:

"My Teacher was just like (this image)! Do not touch it!"

All felt surprised at her words. They placed the image on the preacher’s seat and kept it there.

After the death of ‘gro mgon, bla ma zhang occupied the seat at the head of the congregation, but he merely recited blessings (bsngo ba).

From the end of the Iron Male Tiger year (lcags pho stag 1170 A.D.) to the Fire Male Ape year (me pho spre'u 1176 A.D.) for seven years there was no abbot.

For three years, from the Fire Female Hen year (me mo bya 1177 A.D.) to the year Earth Female Hog (sa mo phag 1179 A.D.), the Dharmasvāmin of 'bri khung acted as abbot, but because of his extreme penury, the monks, including the upādhyāya and others, had little trust in him and showed great greed.

While praying to ‘gro mgon, the latter appeared before him, and delivered a prophecy:

"There is an old gold brocade rug, give it to them. You, yourself, should proceed northward towards dbu ru."

He therefore left the place at about midnight accompanied by four attendants. They took some tea at the residence of gnas po rdo pa, who attended on them, and offered the Dharmasvāmin a new mantle (phyam tshe). In the year Earth Female Hog (sa mo phag 1179 A.D.) he reached ‘bri khung via gsang phu.

Thus from the end of the Earth Female Hog year (sa mo phag 1179 A.D.) to the year Fire Female Hare (me mo yos 1207 A.D.) there was no abbot (at gdan sa thel).

When the Dharmasvāmin of stag lung was fifty seven, and the Dharmasvāmin of ‘bri khung fifty six; in the year Earth Male Horse (sa pho rta 1198 A.D.), the great vihāra was built (at gdan sa thel).

'Bri khung pa said:

"If you erect the vihāra at mang 'gar sgang, then the priests will flock here (from all directions), as far as Vajrāsana."

But stag lung pa replied:

"It is improper to leave behind the image of my Teacher without a roof! Let us build a vihāra over the grass but (of phag mo gru pa).”

Then the two cut rocks, and built a vihāra. In it numerous images and books were placed^[1].

Later, during a feud between the two kings of ngams shod, country women used to say:

"Let us destroy the monastery and let the place of our weaving loons be covered with fragments of brass (from broken images)."

The Dharmasvāmin of ‘bri khung took away with himself much wealth, and kept it apart for the rebuilding of bsam yas. He also distributed wealth^[2] to the two kings, and made an attempt at mediation in the dispute, but failed to bring about an agreement. Thanks to his labours, there was no disturbance for 18 years.

Further, the Dharmasvāmin of ‘bri khung took as his attendants numerous monks, and transferred the books (from gdan sa mthil) to the monastery of sgam po. This displeased the laymen, and the yogin byang seng of gro sa spoke evil of him, and said that the Dharmasvāmin was destroying the Teacher’s monastery.

The Dharmasvāmin of stag lung also felt disappointed, and said to him:

"Why did you not leave the books in the monastery of my Teacher?"

It was even said that the Dharmasvāmin of stag lung had died from heart failure caused by this.

To this, the Dharmasvāmin of ‘bri khung, knowing the doctrine of Dependent Origination, used to reply:

"Actions that are contrary to those of the worldly^[3] people are excellent!"

In general, though both ‘bri khung pa and stag lung pa had accepted a great burden on behalf of this monastery during that period, they were unable to stop the decline of the monastery. Then, in the year Earth Male Dragon (sa pho 'brug 1208 A. D.), when the Dharmasvāmin of ‘bri khung was 66, the Master spyan snga, aged 34, came to the abbot’s chair. One day having placed a costly carpet on a high seat, he made the Master spyan snga sit on it, and prostrated himself in front of him, saying: "Till several days ago, you were my son (my disciple). From now on you will be my Teacher, my Father", and sent him to phag mo gru.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

R: ‘bri khung or gdan sa thil is famous for its book collection

[2]:

DD: The text says “meditation.”

[3]:

DD: The text says “wordly.”