Chapter 10 - Phagmodru Lineage (iv): gcung bcu gnyis pa

[Full title: Phagmodru lineage (iv): gcung bcu gnyis pa (rin chen rdo rje) (1218-1280, abbot in 1267)]

Gcung bcu gnyis pa was born to rgyal ba rin po che. Rdor rin pa was born to gter rgyal rin po che. Bcu gnyis pa^[1] was known as a reincarnation of the Precious ‘gro mgon (phag mo gru pa). He was born in the year Earth Male Tiger (sa pho stag 1218 A.D.) and was ordained by the ācārya nam 'gag pa, and received the name of rin chen rdo rje. At the age of 22, he proceeded towards dbus, and met the Lord spyan snga.

At the age of 25, he took up final monastic ordination from the upādhyāya zhang se gseb, the second, the ācārya yar khang pa and the Secret Preceptor stod lungs pa. After this he heard the complete doctrine of the bka' brgyud pa sect from the Lord (spyans snga). Till the age of 12, he made the vow not to place his head on a pillow, and practised meditation. He perceived that all things possessed one flavour. At the passing of the Lord (spyan snga ba), he received the latter’s blessing and his understanding became perfect. After that he heard from rgyal ba the remaining part of the hidden precepts.

At the age of 50, he came to the abbot’s chair in the year Fire Female Hare (me mo yos 1267 A.D.) and occupied it for 14 years. He was an expert in consecration and auspicious rites, and possessed an unimpeded prescience. After he had prayed before the image of dgra nag (Kālā-yamāri) erected by pu hrangs lo chung, he quelled the disturbance of the southern country (lho). Sman lung pa, rdor theg pa and dbon thung ri pa perceived the Precious One as Heruka, Hayagrīva, Maitreya and other deities. Immediately after his appointment as abbot, he himself erected the matchless caitya in the style of a sgo mangs in order to fulfill the will of rgyal ba rin po che. It was the first of the sgo mangs in this monastery. He passed away at the age of 63 on the first day of the 12th month of the year Iron Male Dragon (lcags pho 'brug 1280 A.D.). In the same year

'Gro mgon 'phags pa also passed away. On the cremation of his remains, images of Saṃvara, Hayagrīva, Tārā and Avalokiteśvara, as well as numerous other relics, were recovered (from the ashes).

Among his numerous disciples, the mahā-upādhyāya kun gsal ba called rin chen rgyal po who was said to have been similar in the presages of his meditation to the Venerable mid la, but because he had stayed a shorter time in a hermitage, (after the cremation of his remains) a handful of bones was left behind whereas the Venerable mid la left no remains (after the cremation of his body). Further, among his disciples were: the ācārya ston nag and others, also rin po che grags pa ye shes pa.

The four sons of khro bo 'ban, son of dpon mgron po rgyal were: rin chen shes rab, rin po che pa, gnyis mchod pa and dbon rin chen skyabs.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

R: so called after the month during which his memorial service was observed by the inmates