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 (xii): spyan snga bsod nams bzang po 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 (xii): spyan snga bsod nams bzang po ba
[Full title: Phagmodru lineage (xii): spyan snga bsod nams bzang po ba (1380-1416, abbot in 1403)]
Spyan snga bsod nams bzang po ba: He was born in the year Iron Male Ape (lcags pho spre'u 1380 A.D.). He received the upāsaka vows in the presence of spyan snga grags byang ba. He also obtained many instructions in the Doctrine from spyan snga bsod grags pa. He received the noviciate in the presence of the mahā-upādhyāya grags rdor ba and the ācārya tshul rgyal ba. Chos sgo ba tshul khrims bzang po initiated him into the "Four Symbols" (brda bzhi)[1]. He studied the Hevajra-Tantra, and preached it at rtses thang. He heard many initiations, Tantras and precepts from several teachers, headed by the Precious Master blo bzang grags pa (tsong kha pa) and the mahā-upādhyāya bsod bzangs pa.
At the age of 29, he came to the chair (of gdan sa thel) in the year Earth MaIe Mouse (sa pho byi ba 1403 A.D.). From the bla chen[2] rin gzhon pa he obtained an exposition of the Doctrine of the bka' brgyud pa sect.
He received the final monastic ordination at bkra shis do kha in the year Earth Female Sheep (shing mo lug 1415 A.D.) in the presence of the Master blo bzang grags pa (tsong kha pa), the mahā-upādhyāya rgyal bzang pa and the paṇḍita kun dga' rgyal mtshan, who acted as Secret Preceptor (gsang ston).
He occupied the abbot’s chair for nine years, and died at the age of 37 on the 28th day of the 12th month of the year 946 Wood Male Ape (me pho spre'u) .
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
R: 16. pad ma dkar po’i gsun 'bum, vol. VII (ja), snyan rgyud las zab mo brda'i dbang gi cho ga, fol. 6b, line 2: The initiation of the "Four Symbols" /brda bzhi/, belongs to the lus med mkha’ ‘gro chos 'khor by ras chung pa, and expresses the hidden meaning of the passage: smin grol sems kyi rgya mdud bshig—"one must loosen the /sealed/ knot of the Mind through initiation and guidance."
The "Four Symbols" are:
[2]:
R: the text has ‘wood', this should be corrected to 'Fire'. See Re'u mig, JASB. II 1889, p. 64 1416 A. D.).