Longchenpa

In addition to the name Longchenpa he was also called:

• Longchen Rabjam (klong chen rab 'byams)
• Longchen Rabjampa (klong chen rab 'byams pa)
• Longchenpa Dream Lake (klong chen pa dri med 'od zer)
• Kunken Longchenpa (kun mkhyen klong chen pa)
• Kunken Longchenpa Rabjam (kun mkhyen klong chen rab 'byams)
• Kunkien Chenpo (kun mkhyen chen po)
• Kunkyen Chenpo Dream Lake (kun mkhyen chen po dri med 'od zer)
• Kunkien Chokyi (kun mkhyen chos kyi rgyal po)
• Gyalwa Longchen Rabjam (rgyal ba klong chen rab 'byams)
• Gyalwa Longchen Rabjam Dream Lake (rgyal ba klong chen rab 'byams dri med' od zer)
• Samiepa Tsultrim Lodro (bsam yas pa tshul khrims bl gros)
• Dorje Zigid (rdo rje gzi brjid)

Birth and childhood

Longchenpa was born on March 2, 1308 ^{[K 1]} in the village of Todrong, located in U-Tsang , the central region of Tibet . ^[3] Presumably, his family was aristocratic and had spiritual roots from both his father, Tenpasung, and his mother, Sonamgyen. The paternal line went back to Padmasambhava 's direct disciple Gjelva Chokyang. ^{[3] [4]}

In Tibetan and Buddhist traditions, the starting points for describing the lives of great teachers are past lives and prenatal prophecies. It is believed that the miracles accompanying pregnancy and birth indicate spiritual achievements and achievements. ^[4] So, according to legend, on the night when Longchenpa was conceived, his mother dreamed how the sun's rays shone from the forehead of a huge lion, illuminating the three worlds, and then disappeared into her body. ^{[3] The} previous incarnations of Longchenpa in the Buddhist tradition are Tsultrim Dorje (1291–1317), as well as the daughter of Trisong Dezen (742–797) and the direct student of Padmasambhava, Princess Lhakam. ^[4] Longchenpa is also considered an emanation of the bodhisattva of wisdom Manjushri , the patron of intellectual pursuits and monastic aspirations. ^[four]

From childhood, the training of Longchenpa consisted in mastering various rites, ceremonies, and such traditional disciplines as Tibetan medicine and astrology . ^[4] From the age of five he could read and write, and by the age of nine, having read one hundred times the texts of Prajnaparamita in eight and twenty-five thousand stanzas, he remembered them by heart ^[5] . He was interested in both ancient and modern tantric texts. ^[four]

Monastery Training

When Longchenpe was nine years old, his mother died, and his father died when he was eleven years old. At the age of 12, Longchenpa took a novice vow from the teachers Samdrub Rinchen and Kung Ozer in Samye Monastery, receiving the name Tsultrim Lodro ( Tshul khrims blos gros ). ^[2] Samye is the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, in which one of the first was ordained an ancestor of Longchenpa, the father of Gyelwa Chokyang. ^[four]

Longchenpa studied the basic monastic Buddhist disciplines, showing a bright intellect, and becoming known during training as Samye Lungmangva ("scholar from Samye", or "received many programs in Samye"). Here he demonstrated his poetic talent, which later manifested itself in his literary works. ^[2]

At the age of sixteen, Longchenpa received many tantric teachings from Tasha Rinchen, Wangye, Zalungpa and other teachers. ^[6] From nineteen to twenty-five, he studied logic and dialectics at Sangpu Newtog Monastery University, including studying the seven treatises of Dharmakirti , the texts of Maitrinatha Asanga and other teachings of Madhyamika and Prajnaparamita . ^[7] He also mastered subjects common for monastic instruction (grammar, versification, drama, and others) and received a number of internal (esoteric) teachings and programs. ^[7]

Thanks to his success in comprehending Buddhist teachings, Longchenpa became known as Longchen Rabjampa - "A great scientist, like a vast space." ^[7]

Meeting with teacher Kumaraja. Becoming a teacher and writer

After completing his studies, Longchenpa left the monastery and began to lead the life of a wandering ascetic in the desert Tibetan area. Probably around 1336, Longchenpa met with his first main teacher, Kumaraja, from whom he received the teachings of the Great Perfection in the Wima Nyingthig tradition, coming from Vimalamitra . ^[8] After this meeting, and to the end of his life, Longchenpa devoted his thoughts and attention to the Nyingtig. Based on the teachings received from Kumaraja, he wrote a commentary on Wima Nyingtig (Bla ma yang thig). ^[eight]

In visions of Guru, Padmasambhava gave Longchen Rabjam the transmission of Khandro Nyingtig and called him Dream Odzer (Tib. Dri-med a 'od-zer), and the spiritual wife of Guru Padmasambhava , Yeshe Tsogyal gave him the name Dorje Zidjid (tib. )

Exile to Bhutan

Return to Tibet. Recent years

Leaving life

On December 25, 1363, Longchen Rabjam told several students: "Prepare an offering and leave the room." When the students expressed a desire to stay with him, Longchen Rabjam said: “So, I am going to leave my worn illusory body. Do not make noise, but remain in contemplation. ” Then his mind dissolved in its original state, and his body remained seated in the Dharmakaya position. Those present felt the earth tremble, and heard a noise. In the Scriptures, such phenomena at the time of death are considered signs of high spiritual achievement. The body was not touched for twenty-five days, and during this period the rainbow constantly illuminated the sky. In the coldest winter months in Tibet, the earth warmed up, the ice melted, and roses bloomed. During cremation, the earth trembled three times, and seven times a loud noise was heard. Longchen Rabjam's heart, tongue and eyes did not burn out - this is a sign of awakening in essence the three indestructible realities of the body, speech and mind. Five types of dung and many ringsels appeared from bones, which testified to the achievement of five bodies and five types of wisdom of the state of Buddha. Larger ringsels were then divided into hundreds and thousands of smaller ones. One of the reincarnations of Longchen Rabjam was the great Turton Pema Lingpa .

Longchen Rabjam's works

Longchen Rabjam wrote approximately two hundred and seventy treatises. When, at the request of Odzer Gocha, he recorded fifty-five treatises by Khandro Yangtig , the light of the rainbows constantly illuminated the sky, and all those present could see miraculous manifestations of the dakini. In pure visions, Longchen Rabjam met with Vimalamitra and received blessings, transmissions, and prophecies. Vimalamitra inspired him to write a work by Lama Yangtig , consisting of thirty-five treatises and explaining the Teachings of Wim Nyingtig . Longchen Rabjam is also the author of Zabmo Youngtig , a commentary on Khadro Nyingtig and Wima Nyingtig . In his room, the students saw many times the defenders of the Dharma Ekajati , Vajrasadhu ( Dorje Legpa ) and Rahulu , who prepared ink and paper for him. Listed below are some of the main works of Longchen Rabjam:

Seven Treasures

• Seven Great Treatises (Tib. Mdzod-chen bdun)

• • 1. The All-Performing Treasury (yid-bzhin rin-po-che 'i mdzod)
  • 2. Precious Treasury of Oral Instructions (man-ngag rin-po-che 'i mdzod)
  • 3. The Precious Treasury of Dharmadhatu (chos-dbyings rin-po-che 'i mdzod)
  • 4. The Precious Treasury of the Philosophical Systems (grub-mtha 'mdzod)
  • 5. Treasury of the High Chariot (thegs-mchog mdzod)
  • 6. Treasury of Precious Words and Meaning (tshig-don mdzod)
  • 7. Precious Treasury of the Natural State (gnas-lugs mdzod)

Other works

• Trilogy of Peace (Tib. Ngal-gso skor-gsum). It contains three root texts, and each of these texts has a more succinct exposition, called a “garland,” a comment called a “chariot,” and a commentary on instruction in practice. Root texts:

• • 1. sems-nyid ngal-gso, explains all the stages of the path of the teachings of the Sutras and Tantras .
  • 2. sgyu-ma ngal-gso, is an instruction to cut off the path of attachment to phenomena through teachings on eight examples of illusions.
  • 3. bsam-gtan ngal-gso, instruction on the deep path of self-existing natural wisdom.

• The self-liberation trilogy (Tib. Rang-grol skor-gsum), gives instructions on the Semde section:

• • 1. The sems-nyid rang-grol-treatise of three chapters and instruction in the practice of Lamrim Nyingpo.
  • 2. chos-nyid rang-grol — a three-chapter treatise and Rinchen Nyingpo practice manual.
  • 3. The mnyam-nyid rang-grol is a three-part treatise on the practice of Yijin Nyingpo.

• Trilogy of the inner essence (Tib. Yang-tig rnam-gsum) - in these treatises the most important points of the Mengagde teachings are explained, and special attention is paid to the practice of Thogel :

• • 1. bla-ma yang-tig, or yang-zab uid-bzhin nor-bu, is a collection of thirty-five treatises explaining various aspects of many teachings.
  • 2. mkha '-' gro yang-tig - commentary from fifty-five treatises on Khadro Nyingtig .
  • 3. zab-mo yang-tig - a very detailed and in-depth commentary on the Teachings of Wim Nyingtig and Khadro Nyingtig.

• The Scattering of Darkness Trilogy (Tib. Mun-sel skor-gsum) - three comments on the Guhyamayyajal Tantra from the perspective of the Nyingtig Teachings:

• • 1.spyi-don yid-kyi mun-sel
  • 2.bsdus-don ma-rig mun-sel
  • 3. 'grel-ba phyogs-bchu mun-sel

Pupils and lineage

The main students of Longchen Rabjam were:

• three illustrious scholars who have achieved realization - Khedrub Delek Gyamtso , Khedrub Choki Trakpa and Khedrub Khyapdel Lhundrub ;
• five spiritual sons - Deng Choki Trakpa , Gyalse Zopa , Lama Pelchokpa , Guru Yeshe Rabjam and Sean Sanje ;
• four spiritual benefactors who spread the Doctrine - Tulku Peljor Gyamtso , Sanje Kung , Lodro Zangpo and Tago Chadrel Choje ;
• the four yogis who have achieved realization are Phago Tokden Gyalpo , Naljorpa Odzer Gocha , Rigzin Osel Rangdrol and Chatang Sonam Odzer .

The line of continuity of the full cycle of the Nyingtig , relating to the section of the Secret Instructions ( Mengagde ) of Great Perfection, includes the Masters:

• Khedrub Khyapdel Lhundrub ,
• Trakpa Odzer ,
• Sanje Onpo
• Dawa Trakpa
• Kunzang Dorje
• Gyalsen Pelzang ,
• Natsok Rangdrol ,
• Tenjin Trakpa ,
• Dongak Tenjin ,
• Rigzin Trinle Lhundrub

and the king of Teaching Terdag Lingpa .

Impact

• Turton
• Dzogchen
• Seven Treasures

1. ↑ In the Tibetan calendar, this date corresponds to the tenth day of the eleventh month of the year of the Earth Monkey.

• Dalton, JP, Klong Chen Pa (Longchenpa) // Encyclopedia of Buddhism / edited by Robert E. Buswell, Jr. .. - Macmillan Reference USA, 2004 .-- S. 425-426. - ISBN 0-02-865718-7 .
• Germano D., Hillis GA Klong Chen Rab 'Byams Pa (Longchenpa) // Encyclopedia of religion, 2nd ed., Vol. 8 / Lindsay Jones, editor in chief. - Thomson Gale, 2005 .-- S. 5191-5195. - ISBN 0-02-865741-1 (v. 8).
• Dudjom Rinpoche , Jikdrel Yeshe Dorje. Longcen Rapjampa // The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism: Its Fundamentals and History. - Wisdom Publications, 1991 .-- S. 575-596. - ISBN 0-86171-199-9 .