Chapter 10 - Phagmodru Lineage (x): bsod grags pa

[Full title: Phagmodru lineage (x): bsod grags pa (1359-1408, abbot in 1386)]

The Dharmasvāmin bsod grags pa was born in the year Earth Female Hog (sa mo phag 1359 A.D.) as son of dpon rin rdor ba and do brag pa dpon mo rin mtsho. At the age of nine, he took the upāsaka vows in the presence of bcu gnyis pa and heard the exposition of the Doctrine. After that at snye'u gdong, he received the noviciate in the presence of the Dharmasvāmin bla ma dam pa who acted as upādhyāya, and the mahā-upādhyāya gzhon dbang ba acting as ācārya. At the age of 10, he went to rtses thang, and for five years occupied the abbot’s chair. He preached the Doctrine in lha sa to an assembly of kalyāṇa-mitras.

He received the final monastic ordination in the presence of the Great Translator (lo chen) byang rtse (byang chub rtse mo), the mahā-upādhyāya gzhon dbang ba and the ācārya tshul rgyal. He spent five years at snye'u gdong as a high church official (rtse go sa).

He came to the abbot’s chair of thel (gdan sa thel) in the year Fire Male Tiger (me pho stag 1386 A.D.) at the age of 28, and occupied it for 20 years. He heard many expositions of the Mahāmudrā from mtsho dkar ba and an excellent concentrated trance was born in him. Then he was listening to the recitation of the rtes gnang (anujñā, authorization) of the Religious Protector at the feet of dpal ldan bla ma dam pa.

The latter said to him:

"This Junior Religious Protector will be attached to the ācārya bsod grags."

According to these words, the Religious Protector attended on him.

Once the men of the khyung po clan robbed the abbot’s messenger (gdan sa ba'i phrin las pa), and the bla ma manifested his miraculous powers to the men of khyung po. After a heavy fall of snow, the countryside became ruined, and many of his enemies also became destitute. After he had offered prayers before the image of thub pa chu khol ma, water began to boil in Upper stod lungs. In the north he pitched his camp at lhog tshang stengs ("place infested with plague"), but no harm resulted to men and cattle.

A man named snang sgom who had practised meditation on the Buddhist Doctrine, but who used to assume in his ordinary life the manner of a bon po, and was known to possess the faculty of prescience, saw the gods of gnyan thang lha receive His Holiness (spyan snga nas). He also saw numerous Religious protectors coming. Faith was born in him and he took up ordination. Glang lung pa saw him as a true Vajradhara. Many similar phenomena were known about him. He remained abbot (of gdan sa thel) for twenty years.

After entrusting the chair (to his successor), he lived for four years more, and passed away at the age of 50, in the year Earth Male Mouse (sa pho byi ba 1408 A.D.). Frequent showers of flowers fell till the 49th day (after his death).