Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)

by George N. Roerich | 1949 | 382,646 words | ISBN-10: 8120804716 | ISBN-13: 9788120804715

This page relates ‘Phagmodru Lineage (ix): tshe bzhi gsar ma ba’ of the Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)—An important historical book from the 15th century dealing with Tibetan Buddhism and details the spiritual doctrine and lineages of religious teachers in Tibet. This chapter belongs to Book 8 (The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)).

Chapter 10 - Phagmodru Lineage (ix): tshe bzhi gsar ma ba

[Full title: Phagmodru lineage (ix): tshe bzhi gsar ma ba (grags pa byang chub) (1356-1386, becomes abbot around 1372)]

Tshe bzhi gsar ma ba: Two sons—rgyal sras grags rin pa and tshe bzhi pa were born to drung rin rdor ba and zi na bkra shis skyid. Of the two tshe bzhi pa was born in the year Fire Male Ape (me mo spre'u 1356 A.D.). (The parents) invited the mahā-upādhyāya san rin pa, who saw a beam of light from the inside of the palace of Bhaiṣajyaguru touching (the child’s) body, and delivered an auspicious prophecy. Since his fourth year, he learned reading and writing. After obtaining from rgyal sras grags rin pa the permission (lung) to read the brtag gnyis[1] , he studied it. At the age of 12, he took up the upāsaka vows and received the name of grags pa byang chub. He heard the exposition of the "Six Doctrines” of nA ro, and was initiated by the ācārya tshul rgyal ba with the help of the brda bzhi (the Four Symbols of the four initiation stages of Vajravārahī). After that he preached the Hevajra-Tantra (brtag gnyis) at rtses thang.

At the age of 15, he was ordained in the presence of dpal ldan bla ma dam pa and the mahā-upādhyāya gzhon dbang. Later he received the final monastic ordination from his former upādhyāya and ācārya, and the ācārya tshul rgyal ba acted as Secret Preceptor.

At the age of 16, he came to the chair (at gdan sa thel). From the age of 19, for eight years, he acted as Preceptor and official. While staying at rtse (name of a palace. This can also mean "at the Palace" /rtser/) he practised meditation and did not attend on worldly affairs. He occupied the office for sixteen years.

He heard many doctrines from rgyal sras thogs med pa[2], the lo chen byang rtsa and others. He had visions of Avalalokiteśvara and Saṃvara, and possessed the faculty of prescience. The bla ma snye thang pa and bkra shis seng ge ba saw Maitreya sitting on the crown of the Dharmasvāmin’s head, and the priest of the chapel saw him as Avalokiteśvara.

At the age of 31, he passed away on the fifth day of the second month of the year Fire Male Tiger (me pho stag 1386 A.D.). In this year the Twenty Second Dharmasvāmin (chos rje nyer gnyis pa) was born. At his death, a shower of flowers fell, and many relics were recovered (from the ashes). The Venerable tsong kha pa, the Great, also became a disciple of his, and heard from him the exposition of many secret doctrines, such as the "Six Doctrines" (of nA ro) and others. Pleased with him, tsong kha pa composed his life story,[3] entitled "rtogs brjod lhun po" (“The Mountain of Stories").

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

R: Hevajra-Tantrarāja, Kg. rgyud 'bum, Nos. 417-8

[2]:

R: rgyal sras thogs med pa, a disciple of bu ston, famous for his confession

[3]:

R: A famous poem included in his "Collection of Works”.

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