Chapter 2b - Kyungpo Naljor disciples (iv): sangs rgyas ston pa

[Full title: Kyungpo Naljor disciples (iv): sangs rgyas ston pa (Reorich 733)]

The seventh successor known as sangs rgyas ston pa, who became the vicar of sangs rgyas gnyan ston: He was born in the year of the Hare (yos lo) in the family of the bon po yangal dkar po at sil ma. As soon as he began to act consciously, he showed devotion towards the Doctrine. At the age of eight, he mastered the alphabet. At the age of ten, he heard the unique tradition of gcod from ma gcig sprul sku at gan bzang. Since his childhood, his mind filled with sadness, he used to perform meritorious deeds by day and by night, such as the circumambulating (of holy objects), etc. At the age, of 13, he was ordained in the presence of the bla ma tsa ri ras pa who told him: You will benefit living beings, and because you will show diligence towards the Doctrine, receive the name of brtson grus seng ge!^[1] The Teacher’s death prevented him from attending on the Teacher for a considerable length of time.

He then heard many doctrines from the ācārya sregs. At the age of 17 he preached the Doctrine and manifested his ability in it. He then obtained an extensive exposition of the gcod system from sum ston ras pa, and pleased him with offerings. The latter gave him a prophecy: Thanks to you, this rite of gcod will spread widely. He also obtained the Cycle of Hevajra, etc. From the bla ma dbu ma pa.

Having heard that bzang yul pa was a siddha, he obtained from him the initiation of Amitayus during seven days, and the Teacher told him: You were to die in the autumn, but by this initiation your life has been prolonged. When the autumn crop will become yellow, you will think that you are fortunate not to die at this time. My blessing and that of Amitayus have prolonged your life. Now till you are thirty do not preach this Doctrine to men! After that, the initiation of Amitayus will benefit living beings. At the age of 19, be sure to take up the final monastic vows! From the bla ma spang po ba he obtained the Cycle of the doctrines of zhan 'tshal pa, etc. At the age of 19, he received the final monastic ordination in the presence of the upādhyāya chos rgyal. He listened to the exposition of the Doctrine at the feet of the bla ma glang phug pa, the ācārya tshogs ston shak, the bla ma khro phu ba, the bla ma sa skyapa, the ācārya gtsang pa, the ācārya jo stan, the ācārya Siddha, mkhar rgyab pa, the ācārya jo rgyal, and khams ston.

Then he decided that he should go in search of a siddha teacher and practice meditation. There was, a great scholar named bla ma rngog ston, who was said to be more learned and more virtuous than sa lo1192 and gro lo^[2] He accordingly went to visit him. He spent the night with him. At night there resounded a loud outcry: May the Venerable Tārā relieve him of the dangers of Hell!

He inquired What has happened? He (ngog ston) replied: (In my dream) I saw myself about to fall into three deep pits, filled with darkness. I asked: What was it? and the reply came that these pits represented three hells.^[3] Frightened, I cried out. Now it_. is necessary for me to proceed to a teacher siddha. It is said that at yol phu there is one named ri gong pa who is an expert in the practice of the apparitional body (sgyu lus), and dreams, possesses prescience, and had vision of many tutelary deities. He is said to be a secret yogin, a mahasiḍa. He decided to visit him at any, rate, but was prevented from doing so for three years. During that time the ācārya rngog ston passed away.

Then, when he was going to meet the siddha, the latter told his attendant named bla ma kong po ba at dawn Today an ascetic will be coming to see me from rab gron %. He will become the Master of my precepts. (Through him) my precepts will spread from u rgyan ^[4] and Jalandhara^[5] to the shore of the Outer Ocean (in the East). This morning dakinis and religious protectors went out to receive him. Now you should sweep the chapel, as he is fond of cleanliness.

Then, when the attendant had finished sweeping the chapel, and had aṛanged the offerings, the bla ma told him: Now he is taking his food at the marsh of gser gcig ma. Go quickly to receive him! When the bla ma kong po ba reached the beginning of the marsh, he saw him. When they reached yang dgon, the bla ma said: You intended coming to moṛow or the day after, but instead you did not leave for three years! During that time two teachers, the ācārya rngog ston and gzhu pa nag po, who had prophesied our meeting, have passed away! He thought that the Teacher must possess an unimpeded faculty of prescience.

Again the bla ma said: Why did you come here, having faith in me? He replied: I heard you were expert in the practice of the apparitional body (sgyu lus) and dreams, that you had realized the prabhasvara state, that you had visions of many tutelary deities and that you were attended by Religious Protectors. Having heard of this, I have come to see you. Pray bestow on me the precepts of the bla ma shangs pa! The Teacher then gradually bestowed on him the initiation and precepts, together with their respective methods, and there exist numerous accounts about the excellence of his meditation, and about his labours for the welfare of men and amanuṣyas. In his later life he delivered numerous prophecies. He especially prophesied that there would appear a hundred and eight disciples who would surely go to Paradise. At the age of 72, he showed signs of passing away at ri gong. On his cremation, many relics were recovered (from the ashes), and were kept in a golden caitya and a relic holder (nang rten) which became objects of worship by all living beings. With him the succession of the single Lineage came to an end.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Lion of Diligence {R} 1192 Sa skya paṇḍita {R}

[2]:

gro phu lo tsa ba {R}

[3]:

1. Naraka, 2. Pretaloka, 3. Tiryagloka {R}

[4]:

Oḍiyāna, Swat {R}

[5]:

Lower Kangra, in the West {R}