The Source of
Ancient Translation School Teaching-
Victorious lord of Dharma: Nyingmapa
Kathok Main Monastery
Manjushri
First
manifestation:
He was the
descendent of Rigdzin Longsel
Nyingpo’s uncle, and his name was
Longsen Chokni Gyatso (a name given by
Guru Rinpoche). His main practice was
the profound method of offering the
body (Prajna Chod). Through Chod he
attained Enlightenment.
Kathok-
biography of lives of H.H. Jamyang
Rinpoche
H.H.THE RIGZIN JAMPA DORJIE
H.H.THE Jamyang Rinpoch
Previous
lives of Rigzin H.H. Jamyang Rinpoch-
biography of Rigzin Jyamba Dorje.
Composed by Kathok Siitu Mahapandita.
Biography of the virtuous deed of
Rigzin Manjushrivajra
Virtuous lama who bestows teaching and
empowerment to sentient beings
He who renounces the eight worldly
activities, and erects the banner of
practice
Having met the principle deity and the
protector directly and who has
performed the activity
Homage to Rigzin Manjushirvajra
The brother of The Glorious Rigzin
Kathokpa Longsa Nyinpo Ternon Jyopa
Legu, or Jiana Zajo Jigpa, or Longseng
Chokne Gyatso Rinpoche, is a
pratictioner of Prajnapraramita Chod
practice. His first reincarnation was
born in the area called Jyaga as the
brother of Tashi Phontso. Due to the
auspicious connection of receiving a
statue of Manjushri during the
Enthronement in Jyaga Monastery, he
was named Jamyang Tulku.
The Second reincarnation was just as
Kathok Jigme Songjong prophesized. He
was born in the Oh Family in Yulung.
He was recognized and brought up by
Kathok Jogme Gonpo, and was given the
name Jigme Namkha Dorje (Fearless
Space Vajra), or Urgyn Jamyang Gyatso.
He was the holder of the extensive
sadhana for longevity on Mandarava. In
the previous life, he had had broken
Aja ghost’s legs in the region of
Niuong Bejhyo Gansan. He also had
subdued many evil spirits that
gathered in this region. His lineage
of reincarnation has been prophesized
by Ko Khyense. His line of
reincarnation was the follwing:
Mahasiddha Lawapa in India, Translator
Lodan Serao, Guru Choki Wangchuk, Yapa
Yesheben, Longshen Chokni Gyatso or
Jigpa Legu, Jigme Namkai Dorje. This
line of reincarnation belongs to the
Supreme Guru Rigzin Manjushrivajra.
Master’s previous life passed away
around the mountain in Letang Aja. The
third or the present reincarnation was
born in the Fourteenth cycle in the
Fire Horse year (1846) in the Chagung
village in the area of Letang Paniang
Aja. His fater was Geshe Tushi
Phontsok, and his mother was the
daughter of Momensi Dorje. Terton
Tsaosi prophesized the master’s
previous reincarnation was Jigme
Namkhai, and the Master took birth due
to the request of his brother from his
previous life. Both Dzogchen Menji
Namkai Dorje and Drupchen Chokyin
Rangjo also gave their prophecy. The
Mater was recognized and was under
Jigme Yongden Gonpo’s care. Letang
Dagoma, Master’s nephew from previous
life, gave Master the name Nyamgya
Gyatso. Mahassiddha Drupchin Chokyin
Rangjo bestowed Master monastic
ordination and gave him the dharma
name Jhampa Dorje. The master lived in
Chaopu for three years. During his
five year stay in Chakge, Kathok Jigme
Yongden Gonpo and Ningo Chawang Jigme
Gyatso performed the Enthronement
Ceremony at the Golden Throne in
Gathok Guru Rinpoche Hall.
He had received the instruction on the
preliminary practice of the Luminous
Vajra Essence from Mahasiddha Choyin
Randrol. From Situ Choyin Roju he
received the complete, Longsal Nyinpo
Terma collection, Nyinma Karma
collection, thirteen cannons on the
Lama’s mind, nine texts on Eight
Herukas, all the collection on Gyatso
Nyinpo and Ratna Linpa, method of
penetrating the mind, Northern
Treasure Eight Heruka, and the
empowerment and oral transmission on
the Eight Herukas: Perfection of the
Secrets. He also had perfected the
practice on the five preliminary
practice on the perfect Luminous Vajra
Essence (Vajragharba) Ngondro. He
received the instruction and the oral
transmission on Dzogchen Nyintig
Yabshi, and received detailed
experiential teaching on the practice
of Trechod and Togyal according to
Vajra Essence Lineage under Ridgzin
Sonam Bandan. He received the
commentaries on the three precepts
from Jigme Sanden, a disciple of
Sinpan Tayi of Dzogchen Lineage. He
received oral teaching on Entering the
Boddhisattva Path and the text on
Virute and Treasure from Patrul
Rinpoche. From the seat in Jiazang
Wandhi, he received from his disciple
from previous life Nyingma Termas,
Empowerment and oral transmission on
the Iron Hair Hayagriva, and the Five
Essences and the Five Planets of
astrology. He also is well versed in
the science of terminology.
During the seventeen years of being
the abbot in Garshe Dechen Monastery,
he also did the Nongdro, and received
Terma teaching form Terton Yesirwa.
From the great accomplisher in Kanzhe
Padma Duldul, or Ranzha Druchin, he
received the empowerment on the
profound practice of Self Liberation
in the Pervasive Space, and the
instruction on Great Perfection. Also,
first time when he offered his
recognition of experiential
experience, he began the retreat on
Wrathful Guru for six months, and then
preformed many hundred day retreats.
He received the entire collection on
Gezhe Panchen from Kathok Situ Chokji
Lorgyur. He received the entire Jigme
Shongong Collection, Mahakala, and
Lion Face Dakini of Master Marde from
Chewang Rinchen Gyatso. From Jigme
Joden Gonpo, he received the Monastic
Ordination, the whole collection on
Duldul Terma, and some of the writing
from Tukje Zairuo. In the sacred place
Dachin Shenlha, he taught the entire
collection on Duldul Rinpoche’s Terma,
which was requested by Mahasiddha
Chungyawa Chianchu. Mahassidha
Chungyawa also taught him during this
time. He had learned many practices
under Duldul Sangah Lingpa. He then
went to areas around Golok and
bestowed the entire collection of
Longsel Nyinpo. Garlwa Terton Longyang
recognized him as the Lord of Terma.
Later, he went to Gongning Meditation
Ling, and Tangyur teacher Badan of
Chaopu bestowed the entire oral
transmission of Tangyur. He received
the empowerment and teaching of
Longchen Nyingtig and Golden Single
Syllable of Black Yangdak from
Singlong Khentse in Tsundhi. From
Dzongsar Auspicious Peak, the
auspicious Manjugosha, Vajradhara
Jamyang Khentse Wangpo bestowed him
long life empowerment from Ridzin
Drupa cycle. Jamyang Khentse Wangpo
gave him a statue of Padmasambhava in
the Jambhala aspect, which brought His
Holiness limitless prosperity. From
the Temple of Tsongsho Gathering of
Tagathatas, Manjugosha Guru Jamkong
Kontrul the great Vajradhara gave the
oral transmission of the one hundred
thousand sutras, Mahamudra teachings,
commentaries on Padmasambhava’s Lam
Rim, empowerments and teaching on the
Gathering of Three Jewels, oral
transmission on the seven chapters of
Profound Path, and the pith
instruction on how to both clear the
obstacles during practice, and further
one’s attainment. From the sacred land
Kathok Dachang, great scholar Mipham
Gyatso, one of the great scholars,
gave him the oral transmission on the
practice of Manjushri in the tantra
tradition, and the practice on
Manjushri Great Perfection. He then
did the practice on Longsel Nyinpo
Vajrapani for one year, the practice
of Extreme Secretive Unsurpassable
Accomplisment in Ka Ninggong Luminous
Meditation Monastery. Later he was in
retreat for seven more years.
During the period when the Kathok
Lineage was very weak, His Holiness
took on the responsibility to oversea
the monastery for three years. He knew
performing secular activity in the
name of Buddha Dharma was contrary to
Dharma, and His Holiness sees the
eight worldly activities as dream and
illusion. He relied in the pure yoga
of Three Vajra (body of the deity,
mantra, and Dharmakaya) and abandoned
all the activities that were not in
accord with Dharma. He did not spend
money in wrong places. In Kathok
Monastery, there were statues of The
Three Roots, a symbol of the
enlightened body. Some were as big as
the length of one arrow, and some were
as small as the height of one index
finger to twelve finger width. There
were one hundred forty-eight gold
plated copper statues, and one hundred
twenty texts, a symbol of enlightened
speech. As for the symbol of
enlightened mind, he constructed one
stupa as tall as a person, two sets of
8 liberation stupas, and commissioned
many thangas to be made. He rebuilt
the Sangi Tashi Protector Hall in
Ningong Monastery, built a brand new
retreat center, and lama’s bedrooms.
He invited sanghas to perform one
hundred thousand tsok of the 100
peaceful and wrathful deities. After
he gave all his worldly possessions to
the sanghas, he used the 300 pieces of
silver left from the offering to
commission the carving of the Mani
rock pile. Except for the money used
for food and water, he wouldn’t take
any money from his followers or
possessions from the dead. He turned
down every invitation from public
figures and woman, and resided in a
secluded area away from worldly
affairs. His only activity was the
performing yoga of the hidden three
doors, the game of deity form, mantra,
and Dharmakaya. He hoisted the banner
of Dharma by engaging in 25 years of
retreat.
This was a part on the mantra
recitation counts on Guru Yoga, the
door of blessing. During the retreat
he did: 100 million recitation on
Longsel Nyingpo’s Padmasambhava,
Essence of Blazing Lotus Light, 100
million recitation on
Avaloketeshvara’s Mani mantra and its
associated unsurpassable essence
mantra, Guru Drakpo Blazing Wisdom
Mantra 100 million times, several tens
of million times of mantra recitation
on The Gathering of Eight Herukas,
Terton Duldul Dorje’s Vajrakilaya,
Ning Black Hayagriva, Hung Hayagriva
of Longsel Nyinpo’s tradition, Dechen
Karmo of Longchen Nyingtig,
Mandarava’s long life mantra from His
Holiness’ previous life, Terton Duldul
Dorje’s Tara, the wish-fulfilling
wheel, Terton Longsel Nyinpo’s
Ucchusma, Vajradharani, Red Kurukule,
Duldul Dorje’s Parnashavari, The
Gathering of the Three Roots from the
cycle of the Gathering of Lama’s Mind,
Red Lion-face Dakini from Longsel
Nyinpo, and the cycle of Majushri’s
Body.. He recited the Sutra on The
True Name of Manjushri 30 thousand
times, the Tantra of Stainless Regret
20 thousand times, and Praises to Tara
100 thousand times. He never mentioned
these counts in the public due to
secrecy, but (we know these numbers)
from the record he kept for counting
mantras. Due to his continuous
practices four sessions a day, he had
accumulated at lest hundred of million
times of mantra counts for other
practices.
This was the part on his visions of
deities. His attendant Chairang Norbu,
a man with great devotion that served
His Holiness for 39 years said: His
Holiness had witness Warthful Guru
Blazing Wisdom in the holy place of
Choma several times. He also had
visions of The Eight Herukas, The
Great Gathering Palden Heruka, and
Black Hayagriva. In terms of dharma
protectors, he had visions of Mahakala,
Palden Lhamo, and Dorje Lekpa many
times. The local protector of Land of
Luminous Kathok Ningong is Dorje
Tsoerpa, who served His Holiness like
a servant. If the protector did not
follow Lama’s command, the protector
would manifest even without
invocation. Many stories were told
about people who wore the Vajra Knots
that was given by His Holiness did not
receive any injuries. It was widely
known the accuracy of his divination
according to the Tradition of the Five
Dakinis. When he was young, he was
well know for his power in calling
rain and preventing hails. The Vajra
Knots, soil, and incenses blessed by
him could stop attacks by evil
spirits. There were accounts of people
who were once poor became rich, and
people who gained a son when they
wanted a son by performing wealth
ceremony and burying treasure vases
according to Feng-Shui placements.
Through his power, he was able to
understand incidents that were hidden.
When the worldly gods obstructed him
by hitting his head and shoulder with
lightening, he did not receive any
injuries. These are his outer common
accomplishments.
The following were his uncommon
accomplishments. His Holiness was very
honest. To the people full of
deceptions that were hard to tame in
the degenerative age, he would
externally manifest signs of wrath in
his talks, but in reality the words
were important and true. He possessed
great compassions towards sentient
beings. In his songs of realization,
he stated it was very hard to give
rise to Bodhhicitta during the
beginning, but eventually he began to
develop great compassion towards
sentient beings. His vows and actions
were pure, and he was the same inside
and out. Because of his pure precept,
he didn’t age much before he entered
Nirvana when he was in his Eighty. He
was not attached to enjoyment for
clothes and food, abandoned name and
fame, and became the great Yogi that
renounciated Samsara. In the Song of
Realization it said “by relying on the
mind of profound meaning, I attained
the perfect Vajra Body”. From this we
definitely know the master had
attained the Self-Pure Dzogchen
Realization and the truth of the
Dharma. His wore long hair and had no
lice. According to Prajnaparamita
Sutra, this is an accomplishment sign
of a Bodhisattava of the Preparatory
Path. When his attendant asked him
“why is this so”? The master replied “
This maybe the virtue of the
path….just joking! I am going to die
soon so don’t talk about this!”.
During the 15th cycle, in the Water
Dog Year (1922), in the Twelve month,
the 17th day, he walked out of his
room not having any pain or sickness
said: the wind has already entered my
central channel. I have absolute no
doubt about death!”. He then lie down
in the Lion Posture, and entered the
Samadhi of Luminosity. In the morning
of the seventh day, the sign of
exiting meditation and signs of
attainment manifested. The weather
turned warm, and rainbows appeared in
the sky. People around his body
spontaneously entered in the excellent
meditation of the original clarity.
The above description was a direct
account of what happened, and nothing
was added to exaggerate the claim.
By the blessing of Urgen, where the
Three Jewels unite
May the manifestation of Guru appear
swiftly.
Due to the circumstance of pure
precept and the saints of longevity
May the activity of teaching and
attainment increase.
May you, protector, accept me in all
the lifetimes.
In the virtuous mountain, the Palace
of Lotus Light,
Walking in the path of the Lord of
Secret, Vajrayana
May I swiftly attain the uncommon
Siddhi.
This is written by
Kathok
Situ Mahapanjida Choki Gyatso.
Maglam!