Chapter 13 - Staglungpa (ix): Ratnākara

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

The Dharmasvāmin Ratnākara: The eldest son of the three sons of the alms-giver thugs rje skyabs and mother gzungs lcam, was the Dharmasvāmin Ratnāguru. The next son was Ratnākara who was born in the year Iron Male Mouse (lcags pho byi ba 1300 A.D.). He was ordained at the temple of thang skya in the presence of the mahā upādhyāya bsod nams ye shes and the ācārya sangs rgyas bzang po, and received the name of rin chen 'byung gnas. He took the final monastic ordination in the presence of the mahā upādhyāya sher mgon pa, who was a follower of the Vinaya Lineage of the mahā paṇḍita Śakyaśrī (bhadra), the ācārya bsod nams dbang phyug and others. He came to sa skya, and heard many doctrines from the bla ma bdag nyid chen po, bla chen kun blo, dpang lo tsā ba, 'jam dbyangs don yod pa, and the Dharmasvāmin bsod nams rgyal mtshan.

Then having gone to jo mo nang (gtsang), he heard the complete exposition of the sadaṅga (sbyor drug) and the Cycle of sems 'grel (i.e. The Vimalaprabhā, which is often called byang chub sems dpa'i 'grel pa, because its author was padma dkar po^[1] from byang sems rgyal ye and opened the gate of meditation. Then having gone to stag lung, he heard the complete teaching of the Lineage from Ratnaguru. He also heard the "Path and Fruit" (lam 'bras) doctrine and many others, and resided at ka drug.

At the age of 40, in the year Earth Female Hare (sa mo yos 1339 A. D.) he came to the abbot’s chair (of stag lung). Soon after that, Ratnaguru passed away. His labours were extensive, such as the erection of a large image having 21 spans (mtho) at the back, the erection of a golden caitya of 20 spans (in height), the copying of a bstan 'gyur, etc. He preached the Tantra Piṭaka (rgyud sde) and the (Sūtra) Piṭaka (sde snod). He also taught the exposition of the "Six Doctrines" of Nāro, the "Path and Fruit" Doctrine (lam 'bras), the Sadaṅga (of the Kālacakra), and other texts. He himself followed the example of his former teachers, as well as made others follow these rules. He passed away at the age of 62 in the year Iron Female Ox (lcags mo glang 1361 A. D.). Prior to him all the abbots have been natives of khams, but kun spangs nam mkha' dpal bzang po was born in Tibet.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Puṇḍarīka, a manifestation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.