Chapter 17 - Phyogs las rnam rgyal

Now the Dharmasvāmin phyogs las rnam rgyal (bo dong phyogs las rnam rgyal): He was a native of mnga' ris and was born in the year Fire-Male-Horse (me pho rta 1306 A.D.). In his youth he proceeded to dbus and studied at chos 'khor gling the Sūtra piṭaka, such as the Prajñapāramitā, the Nyāya, and other branches of knowledge. He became a great scholar. He also took part in debates in both dbus and gtsang. Once when he was taking part in a debate, he met the Dharmasvāmin kun mkhyen chen po shes rab rgyal mtshan, and was filled with faith. He took up residence at jo nang proper, and obtained from kun mkhyen chen po the exposition of the Tantra and the initiation rite of the Kālacakra, together with the hidden precepts, as well as many other doctrines. He practised the precepts, and an excellent mystic trance was produced in him. He regarded kun mkhyen chen po as the chief among his teachers.

Kun mkhyen chen po’s disciple byang pa ta'i dban pa after consulting kun mkhyen chen po, and his disciple, founded the monastery (chos sde) of ngam rings.^[1] kun mkhyen chen po spent some time there. Then he entrusted (the monastery) to phyogs las rnam rgyal, and himself proceeded to jo mo nang proper.

Phyogs las rnam rgyal taught the Piṭakas for a considerable time, in particular the Prajñapāramitā class and Logic. He gathered round himself many clever disciples. Later he handed over the chair to bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, and at the age of 49 became abbot of jo mo nang.^[2] After five years he handed over this monastery also, and proceeded to dbus.

At 'tshal dbus gling (%) he preached to a large congregation of disciples the initiation rite of the Kālacakra-Tantra and the hidden precepts. After that he journeyed towards yar klungs.

When he was residing at rngor, the lo tsā ba byang chub rtse mo heard from him the higher initiation (mchog dbang) of the Kālacakra. Having come to yar klungs, he stayed at khra 'brug (%) and other places, and established numerous disciples on the virtuous path. After that he proceeded to gtsang and took up residence at se mkhar chung. (%)

His life: he was born in the year Fire-Male-Horse (me pho rta 1306 A.D.) and lived to the age of 81, in the year Fire-Male-Tiger (me pho stag 1386 A.D.).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

lha rtse; at present the monastery belongs to the dge lugs pa sect

[2]:

fol. 12a: The words 'zhe dgu pa la..." refer to this passage.