Chapter 13 - Staglungpa (viii): Ratna guru

[Full title: Staglungpa (viii) together with his disciples (stag lung pa slob ma dang bcas pa’i skabs)—ratna guru (disciple of kun spangs pa)]

The Dharmasvāmin ratna guru: he was born in the year Earth Male Mouse (sa pho byi ba, 1288 A.D.) at gyan shod bong ra stengs. His mother’s name was gzungs lcam. He was ordained by the mahā upādhyāya bsod nams ye shes pa and the ācārya sang bzangs pa. At the age of 16, he heard many doctrines from 'jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan. At the age of 19, he proceeded towards dbus. He heard from the rin po che sangs rgyas dpal bzang pa all the doctrines the latter possessed, including the Hevajra, the Saṃvara, the gshin rje dgra nag^[1] , the gdong drug^[2] , the "Six Doctrines"of Nāro, and other texts.

At the age of 22, in the year Earth Female Hen (sa mo bya, 1309 A.D.) he invited the Precious sangs rgyas dpal bzang po to perform the consecration ceremony of the large image, which had been erected, and at the same time he requested him to become abbot (of the monastery, stag lung). In the same year he visited sa skya and attended on ‘jam dbyangs pa, bdag nyid chen po, grags pa rgyal mtshan and kun dga' seng ge, and heard (the exposition) of many doctrines. Then at jo mo nang he met kun spangs pa and received the final monastic ordination, kun spangs pa acting as upādhyāya, bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan acting as ācārya, and kun mkhyen yon tan rgya mtsho as Secret Preceptor. He heard many precepts from kun spangs pa, such as the "Great Initiation" (dbang mo che) of the Kālacakra, the Sadaṅga (sbyor drug) of the Kālacakra and others. A wonderful faculty was born in him. Kun spangs pa was also very pleased. Then in the year of the Dog (khyi lo, 1310 A.D.) he returned. In that year, the Precious sangs rgyas dpal bzangs pa passed away. His labours were extensive, and included the erection of a golden caitya (gser 'bum), etc. He passed away at the age of 52 in the year Earth Female Hare (sa mo yos, 1339 A.D.).