Chapter 13 - Staglungpa (vi): sangs rgyas yar byon

[Full title: Staglungpa (vi) together with his disciples (stag lung pa slob ma dang bcas pa’i skabs)—sangs rgyas yar byon (rin chen mgon’s disciple)]

Birth and Childhood

His successor was sangs rgyas yar byon shes rab bla ma. He was born in the year Water Female Hog (chu mo phag, 1203 A.D.) as son of yan chen mgon rgyal and mother lha ma dpal at gdong sna of bong ra stengs. This Water Hog year (chu phag, 1203 A. D.) was the 62nd year of stag lung thang pa, the 61st year of 'bri khung pa and the 13th year of sku yal ba. This was the year of the birth of rong pa rgwa lo. From his childhood, he possessed great faith, diligence and compassion. He prevented children of the same age from committing sins, and established them in virtue. He enjoyed solitude.

At the age of 16, he was ordained in the presence of the mahā upādhyāya ga ston bla ma and ācārya lha khang Itag pa, and received the name of shes rab bla ma. He listened to the exposition of the minutiae of the Vinaya, as well as heard many precepts at the feet of the ācārya nags pa. He practised meditation at the monastery of sa phu. Crows used to sweep the snow on the roof of his hut^[1] .

Adulthood

At the age of 19, he proceeded towards dbus. At stag lung thang he met sku yal ba, and heard from him the complete exposition of the Doctrine. He took up the final monastic ordination in the presence of gtsang pa who acted as upādhyāya, khu ston acting as ācārya, and the ācārya don mo ri pa acting as Secret Preceptor. He practised meditation for 15 years, and was endowed with great prescience.

When he was 34 in the year Fire Male Ape (me pho spre, 1236 A. D.), sku yal rin po che passed away, and he occupied the abbot’s chair. He erected a golden caitya (gser 'bum), a silver relic-holder (gdung khang), the tower (thigs khang) of the Great Shrine (mchod khang chen mo) and many paintings on cloth (ras bris). He also made a large silver image and many small ones. He established many rules, such as the permanent recitation of sūtras, and the rule of annual recitation. He also made numberless votive offerings (sa tsa) and numberless images. 3600 monks were satisfied in their wishes by his preaching of the Doctrine and presents. He held in high esteem the three kinds of sikṣās^[2] . In the monastery he laid down the strict rule not to admit women inside the precincts.

When ‘gro mgon chos rgyal 'phags pa was returning from the Imperial Palace, Maṅgala guru came to phong mdo to invite him. ‘phags pa said to him:

"If your teacher sangs rgyas yar byon will attend the assembly, I shall come. If not, I shall proceed to klung shod."

When sangs rgyas yar byon was asked to attend the assembly, he said: "It was my intention not to cross the threshold of yang dgon until my death, but now I cannot disobey the bla ma’s command", saying so, he proceeded towards bla ye thang, and they greeted each other by touching their foreheads.

‘Phags pa said to the assembly:

"No one had seen sangs rgyas yar byon and (his) nephew. Today you have seen them. This was a present (to you) on my part!"

Sangs rgyas yar byon pa said to 'phags pa:

"I beg you to take charge and protect the monastery of stag lung and its branches, headed by my nephew bkra shis bla ma."

Death

(Sangs rgyas yar byon) died in the year Water Male Ape (chu pho spre'u, 1272 A.D.) at the age of 70. When he was dying, his attendants asked him to tell them about the place he was going to.

He replied:

"In the Viraja kṣetra^[3] of the eastern quarter reside the Dharmasvāmin, father and son. You can address your prayers to me over there."

At the time of the cremation of his remains, the sky was filled with rainbows, and flowers and relics came down as a shower of rain. (His) heart, tongue and numerous relics were recovered (from the ashes).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

In Tibet offerings or gtor ma are thrown on the roofs of houses, and frequently after a snowfall during the night, one sees crows digging in the snow in search of grain.

[2]:

bslab pa rin po che rnam pa gsum ni tshul khrims, ting 'dzin, shes rab, or śīla, samādhi and prajñā.

[3]:

Shar phyogs rdul dang bral ba'i zhin khams, Mhvtpt, No. 616.