Chapter 13 - Staglungpa (vii): Maṅgala guru

[Full title: Staglungpa (vii) together with his disciples (stag lung pa slob ma dang bcas pa’i skabs)—Maṅgala guru (disciple of sangs rgyas yar byon)]

Background and birth

Mes ban glang 'bar po had four sons. The eldest of the four was stag lung thang pa, then the alms-giver mgo yags, mgo rgyal and the bla ma zla 'od. MGo yags, four sons: sku yal, the 'middle one' (bar pa), the alms-giver chos yags, a kun and chos skyabs. Chos yags' four sons: maṅgala guru, zhan skyabs, thub pa and long po. The blama zla 'od, having gone later to stag lung, passed away at stag lung in the time of sku yal ba. Maṅgala guru was born in the year Iron Female Hare (lcag mo yos, 1231 A.D.) as son of chos yags and zo zi gza' gzungs sgron. This Iron Hare year (lcags yos, 1231 A.D.) was the 29th year of sangs rgyas yar byon.

Youth and Education

At the age of 16, he took up ordination in the presence of the upādhyāya thang skya pa and the ācārya the scholar grags pa bzang po. He heard at the feet of the upādhyāya and ācārya the Vinaya, the Bodhipathapradīpa and many other teachings belonging to the Spiritual Lineage of Atīśa. From the bla ma mkhas grub chen po he obtained the Hevajra Tantra, the Kālacakra Tantra, the Pradīpodyotananāma ṭīkā^[1] , the gDan bzhi^[2] , the Mahāmāya system^[3] , the Cycle of Vajravārahī, the Six Doctrines of dpyal (dpyal lo tsa ba), the gur^[4] , the Sampuṭa^[5] , the Hidden Doctrine (zhab chos) of stag lung thang pa, the Great, the phag mo brda bzhi^[6] , the bzhi chos rtsa 'grel of Nāropa, the "Oral Tradition" of Saṃvara (bde mchog snyan brgyud), the sems bskyed sum sbrel (the Threefold Mental Creative Effort), the rin chen them skas, the dbang gi lag len (practice of initiation), the zab mo bla ma'i rjes gnang, the lam Inga'i bshad pa (The exposition of the five stages of the Path), and many classes of precepts, numerous Ākhya Tantras (bshad brgyud), numerous oral precepts and many instructions on initiation ceremonies. When he was going to dbus, aged 25, the bla ma mkhas grub chen po accompanied him for a short distance, and as a farewell (rdzongs) sang a psalm (in his,honour). This bla ma (mkhas gru chen po) seems to have possessed great knowledge and a great concentration of Mind.

Meeting Gurus

On the next day after his coming to stag lung, he met sangs rgyas yar byon at yang dgon (a branch of stag lung). He met him in the company of many (priests) who had come from khams to pursue their studies.

"Who are they?" inquired the Teacher, and he replied:

"They are sons of good families from mdo khams who had come to study".

Addressing the khams pas, the Teacher said:

"If you desire to study, go to gsang phu! But you, dgon po, do not ask for alms in the streets of the monastery, but take from the steward (of the bla brang) some barley to the value of five zhos. From tomorrow enter seclusion. What you had done in khams is enough as far as studies are concerned. This Spiritual Lineage of ours is the Lineage of Meditative Practice, therefore meditation (for us) is more important, (than study). Hold meditation in high esteem and show diligence!"

In the morning, he presented a ceremonial scarf to the bla ma gling pa. The steward of the bla brang sent through gling pa tea to the value of two zhos, one wooden tray (sgo) of brown sugar and a fur coat (ber thul) made of silk (ta hum).

Sangs rgyas yar byon sent also a message through him, saying:

"Tomorrow morning your younger brother will be coming to meet you. You should manifest a little pride in the eight dharmas (chos brgyad, the eight Worldly Dharmas).”

He met bkra shis bla ma.

Receiving Ordination and the Monastic Legacy of stag lung

In the same year, he received the final monastic ordination in the presence of the upādhyāya thang dkar ba 'od zer 'byung gnas, the ācārya mkhan dbon pa rin chen bkra shis and others. After that he obtained many precepts from sangs rgyas yar byon, such as the "Six Doctrines" of Nāro, the Cycle of Mahāmudrā, and others. For sixteen years he stayed in seclusion without seeing anybody. He dwelt continuously plunged in meditation, and attained an inconceivable mystic trance. The ekarasa samādhi (ro gcig gi sgom) was produced in his Mind. He offered to sangs rgyas yar byon his understanding of the ekarasa ("one flavour" doctrine), as well as eleven golden srangs and thirteen paintings (thang sku).

After the lapse of 16 years, he went to meet the Dharmarāja 'phags pa who was returning from the Imperial Palace, and had arrived at phon mdo, and invited him to stag lung. In the meanwhile ‘gro mgon 'phags pa accompanied by his nephew and five attendants, had gone to ka drug. He obtained from him blessings, some sādhanas and many instructions (bka' lung). Sans rgyas yar byon requested 'phags pa to take charge and protect the monastery (stag lung), and 'phags pa promised to do so.

Then at the time of the death of sangs rgyas yar byon, he said to Maṅgala guru "to look after stag lung, its supporters and monks, in the same manner as had been done by me." "You will follow my example in the matter of monastic rules and practice^[7] ,” saying so, he placed, his foot on Maṅgala guru’s head. This latter became abbot at the age of 43 in the year Water Female Hen (chu mo bya 1273 A.D.). Maṅgala guru followed his predecessor in all his works.

Signs of Accomplishment

Many stories about his great prescience were current. For example, when he was erecting a statue of the Buddha, called stong gsum zil gnon (“Conquering the 3000 Worlds"), his advisers told him: "We are unable to spend so much gold! You had better erect a brass statue of the size of the Lord of Lhasa."

He replied: "I have no gold, but the Emperor has it!" Later, the Emperor se chen (Secen, Qubilai) sent him six measures of gold.

Many similar stories were told about him. After his coming to the abbot’s chair, he laid the foundation of the relic holder bkra shis dpal 'bar, and completed the caityas.

While he was engaged in the erection of the lha chen stong gsum zil gnon^[8] , he was advised by do pa dar sa who said to him:

"The intentions of the Precious One will be realized! I shall also assist you according to my ability."

He offered him two hundred and ninety eight horses. At the time of the erection of the wooden frame of the image (rus shing), many wonderful signs, such as earth tremours, etc., were observed. When the image had been completed, the consecration ceremony was conducted by the Dharmasvāmin dpal bzang po, gcung bya bral ba, the upādhyāya gtsanpa, the ācārya rgyal ba, kong pa dar she, and gnyan thog nam ye. He also performed numerous other works, such as the drawing of frescoes (gyang ris) inside the Eastern Gate, the preparation of clay images (lder sku), and others. He occupied the abbot’s chair for 25 years.

Death

When he reached the age of 67, on the 16th day of the middle summer month of the year Fire Female Hen (me mo bya, 1297 A.D.), he invited a large congregation of upādhyāyas, ācāryas and monks, headed by the Precious dpal bzang po and his brother, and said to them:

"Nephew dpal bzang po should look after the monastery in the same manner as it was done by me! All of you, headed by his younger brother, should follow him!"

He also gave other detailed instructions, and then passed away into Peace. After the cremation of his remains, his heart, tongue and eye were recovered (unburnt), as well as numerous relics.

The Dharmasvāmin dpal bzang po: Zhang skyabs had four sons: rin po che dpal bzang po, the supporter thugs rje skyabs, the alms-giver gyung sdrung 'bum and gcung bya bral ba. He was born in the year Fire Female Serpent (me mo sbrul, 1257 A.D.) as son of mother chos lcam. He became a disciple of the Dharmarāja 'phags pa, and heard many doctrines from him. He stayed at sa skya and other monasteries. He heard the complete precepts of the Lineage from Maṅgala guru. At the age of 41, he came to the abbot’s chair in the year Fire Female Hen (me mo bya, 1297 A.D.). When he was 53, in the year Earth Female Hen (sa mo bya, 1309 A. D.), he requested ratna guru to occupy the chair, and himself became a hermit. He passed away at the age of 54, in the year Iron Male Dog (lcags pho kyi 1310 A.D.).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Tg. r Gyud, No. 1785, gsang 'dus sgron gsal.

[2]:

Kg. r Gyud. No. 428

[3]:

Śrī Mahāmāya tantrarāja, Kg. r Gyud, No.425.

[4]:

Ārya Ḍakinīvajrapañjarā mahātantrarājakalpa, Kg. r Gyud, No 419.

[5]:

Kg. r Gyud, No. 381, Sampuṭa nāma mahātantra

[6]:

The Four Symbols of Vajravārahī: 1. thod pa, kapāla, 2. 'phreng ba, mālā, 3. sna tshogs rdo rje, Viśvavajra, 4. dbu rgyan, mauli.

[7]:

r Nam thar, here means 'behaviour, custom'.

[8]:

This image still stands in the main temple of stag lung.