Discover Tibetan literary treasures with Tib Shelf. An online library of expertly translated Tibetan primary texts spanning diverse genres, time periods, and wisdom—your gateway to the stories and culture of Tibet. Enjoy downloadable publications, immersive videos and engaging audio narrations. Tibetan literature brought to you through beautifully translated publications, engaging audio narrations & immersive videos. Song A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi Tsangnyon Heruka A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi, is a doha sung by Tsangnyön Heruka at the sacred hermitage of Labchi. Watch Today's Picks Biography The Hook Which Invokes Blessings: A Supplication to the Life and Liberation of Knowledge-Holder Jalu Dorje Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje A self-penned biographical prayer by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje, composed at the request of Trokyab's king Namkha Lhündrub, invoking blessings through life stories. Biography The Biography of Ḍākki Losal Drölma Tubten Chödar A realized female master, Ḍākki Losal Drölma served as custodian of her half-brother Do Khyentse's treasure teachings while deepening her own spiritual attainments in Tibet's sacred sites Biography The Biography of Dzogchen Khenchen Abu Lhagang Khenpo Tsöndru Khenpo Tsöndru chronicles his teacher Pema Tegchok Loden (1879–1955), from his studies with renowned masters to his role as Dzogchen Śrī Siṃha's abbot, culminating in solitary meditation practice. Buddhist A Prayer to Lord Atiśa and His Spiritual Sons Khenpo Ngawang Palzang Khenpo Ngawang Palzang's devotional prayer to Jowo Je Atiśa and his successors captures the essence of spiritual lineage while embodying profound Buddhist devotion. Supplication Prayer The Drop of Spring: A Spontaneous Vajra Song of Definitive Meaning That Supplicates the Great Charioteers of the Luminous Mahāmudrā Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo A vajra song supplicating the early Dagpo Kagyu masters while expressing aspirations for realization through the luminous Mahāmudrā path. Download Biography Namkechenma: A Dream of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Armed with the 'scroll of devastation' from his father, Guru Chöwang's first treasure excavation leads to a terrifying encounter with the Nine-Headed Nāga Demon, guardian of hidden teachings. Read LATEST PUBLICATIONS Sera Khandro Don’t Place Your Trust in… Nyagla Pema Dudul Five Aphoristic Couplets Tsangnyon Heruka Ocean, Waves, and Wind: A Song on the Nature of Mind Sera Khandro Song of the Vulture Khenpo Ngawang Palzang A Prayer to the Three Roots Tsangnyon Heruka A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi People 1452 –1507 Tsangnyön Heruka View 1745–1821 The First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Özer View 1585–1656 Jatsön Nyingpo View 1800–1866 Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje View WEEKLY QUOTES བྱང་བསྟན་ཕུག་པར་རྟ་ལྗང་ཅན་གྱི་ཟེར། ། Sun rays do not enter a northern facing cave; མི་འཇུག་དངོས་པོའི་གཤིས་ལ་བཅོས་མེད་ཀྱང་། ། The nature of such things cannot be changed. ཕྱོགས་གཞན་བུག་པར་ཤར་བའི་སྣང་བ་ཡིས། ། However, light shining through the other opening འཐིབས་པོའི་སྨག་རུམ་སེལ་བ་འབྱུང་སྙམ་བགྱིད། ། Dispels the thick darkness One can contemplate this The 5th Dalai Lama – Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (1617–1682) AUDIO NARRATION An Extraordinary Pure Vision at Kharchu's Nectar Cave: A Dream of Guru Chöwang Guru Chökyi Wangchuk After five days of Guru Pema practice, Chöwang's pure vision atop Mt Meru reveals worldly omens and a profound teaching: all phenomena, even demons, arise from mind itself. Listen CLICK PLAY TO LISTEN Publications for Download Download Download Download Download Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved. Menu Close Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate SUBSCRIBE Publications People Listen Watch

A rare collection of letters by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso, from the Water Pig year - now preserved in France, their recipients and original acquisition remain a mystery. Eleventh Day, Ninth Month, Water Pig Year LETTER ONE: These days, [I hope] your Mount Meru like body, which is produced as a result of the glorious and outstanding training of the past, is well and that the series of great benevolent waves of your four virtuous actions are continuously beautiful. Note that from Chabtru Khenpo, [ 1 ] who recently arrived in Lhasa on the 21st day of the 11th Tibetan lunar month of the Water Dog Year (1922), I have received, as offerings for advice, good khataks (offering scarfs) made of Mongolian silk, five zho of rin and tur , [ 2 ] one handkerchief [made of] a type of fine cloth, and a manaho snuff box with a lid and case. [ 3 ] On my side, my conditioned body is not tainted by any harm and is in a state of temporary comfort. I am continuously and happily, with the highest intentions, conducting religious and temporal matters for the benefit of beings and the doctrine, like that of the supreme one’s [ 4 ] life. In the future, too, please be sure to take good care of your health, which is the source of all the auspicious goodness and prosperity, and run [the country] as before to generate waves of benefit for the doctrine and all beings. Moreover, [please] continue to accumulate auspicious merit. Together with this letter, I enclose a blessed protective object, [ 5 ] a sealed pair of handprints, and three handmade, blessed circles of earth. [ 6 ] Sent on the auspicious 11th day of the 9th month of the Water Pig Year (1923). LETTER TWO: These days, [I hope] your body is as stable as conch, which comes from the glorious ocean of virtuous actions, and that you are enjoying the wealth, which competes with the gardens of heavenly paradise. Note that from Chabtru Khenpo, [ 7 ] who recently arrived in Lhasa on the 21st day of the 11th Tibetan lunar month of the Water Dog Year (1922), I have received, as offerings for advice, good khataks (offering scarfs) made of Mongolian silk, and five zho of rin and tur , one handkerchief [made of] a type of fine cloth, and a manaho snuff box with a lid and case. On my side, the conditioned constitution [of my body] is steady, and I endeavour to carry out virtuous actions to spread religious and temporal matters. In the future too, please spread happiness in accordance with local conditions. Moreover, like the good actions of the past, [please] continue to accumulate auspicious merit. Together with this letter, I enclose a blessed protective object, a sealed pair of handprints, and three handmade, blessed circles of earth. Sent on the auspicious 11th day of the 9th month of the Water Pig Year (1923). COLOPHON None NOTES [1] byab[s] khrus mkhan po [2] Zho is a measurement of currency. rin and mthur [3] Ma na ho is a type of precious stone. [4] Supreme one could be one of three things: the Manchu emperor, Russian royalty, or previous incarnations of the Dalai Lama. Given that the first two no longer existed in 1922, it is most likely that he was referring to his previous incarnations [5] For example, an amulet or protective thread [6] Dried soil. It is blessed with mantras and considered auspicious (many ingest it). [7] byabs khrus mkhan po BIBLIOGRAPHY Ta la'i bla ma 13 thub bstan rgya mtsho. 1923. Private Collection. London: Tib Shelf W002 Published: May 2021 Abstract These letters were purchased and are now conserved in a private collection in France. The means of the initial acquisition is unknown. The recipient(s) of the letters are currently unidentified, and their connection with the Thirteenth Dalai Lama is undetermined. We are happy to receive any information concerning these letters. TIB SHELF W002 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 00:27 TRADITION Geluk INCARNATION LINE Dalai Lama HISTORICAL PERIOD 19th Century 20th Century TEACHERS The Third Purchok, Jampa Gyatso The Fourth Amdo Zhamar, Gendun Tendzin Gyatso The Fifth Ling Rinpoche, Lobzang Lungtok Tenzin Trinle The Tenth Tatsak Jedrung, Ngawang Pelden Chokyi Gyeltsen Lobzang Rabsel The Eighty-Second Ganden Tripa, Yeshe Chopel Lerab Lingpa Agvan Dorjiev TRANSLATORS Rachael Griffiths Tib Shelf INSTITUTIONS Ganden Sera Monastery Drepung Monastery Tashilhunpo Kumbum Jampa Ling Tsel Gungtang Ralung Monastery Gyuto Dratsang Reting Monastery Drepung Gomang Dratsang Langdun Manor House Lhasa Tsuklakhang Shol Printery Namgyel Potala Norbulingkha Mentsikhang Ikh Khuree Tsari Bhutan House Wutai Shan Bodhgaya Lhamo Latso STUDENTS Tubten Namdrol The Fifth Reting Rinpoche, Tubten Jampel Yeshe Tenpai Gyeltsen The Ninth Panchen Lama, Tubten Chokyi Nyima Gedun Lungtok Rabgye The Ninth Dorje Drak Rigdzin, Tubten Chowang Nyamnyi Dorje The Sixteenth Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpai Dorje The Second Jamgon Kongtrul, Khyentse Ozer The Eleventh Tongkhor, Lobzang Jigme Tsultrim Gyatso The Fifth Kondor Tulku, Lobzang Namgyel Tendzin Lhundrub Jampa Taye The Sixth Ling Rinpoche, Thupten Lungtok Namgyal Trinle AUTHOR The Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso Eleventh Day, Ninth Month, Water Pig Year VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

Milarepa's poetic ode to Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong exalts nature itself as the source of this retreat site's blessing power, departing from traditional focus on Buddhist masters. A Song on the Merits of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong དེ་ནས་གྲོ་ཐང་གི་ཡོན་བདག ། རྗེ་བཙུན་གྱི་ཞལ་ལྟར་བྱུང་བ་རྣམས་ན་རེ། གནས་འདི་ལ་ཡོན་ཏན་ཅི་གདའ་ཞུ་བའི་ལན་དུ་མགུར་འདི་གསུངས་སོ།། Then, the patrons from Drotang received an audience with the Jetsun [ 1 ] and inquired, “What are the merits of this sacred place?” In response, he sang this meditative song: བླ་མ་རྗེ་ལ་གསོལ་བ་འདེབས། ། la ma jé la sölwa dep Precious lord guru, to you I supplicate! གནས་འདིའི་ཡོན་ཏན་ཤེས་མི་ཤེས། ། གནས་འདིའི་ཡོན་ཏན་མི་ཤེས་ན། ། né di yön ten shé mi shé: né di yön ten mi shé na Do you know the merits of this sacred place? If you do not know this hallowed place’s merits, དབེན་གནས་རྐྱང་ཕན་ནམ་མཁའི་རྫོང་། ། ནམ་མཁའི་རྫོང་གི་ཕོ་བྲང་ན། ། wen né kyang pen nam khé dzong: nam khé dzong gi po drang na this is the hermitage of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong. At the palace of Namkhe Dzong, སྟེང་ན་ལྷོ་སྤྲིན་སྨུག་པོ་འཐིབས། ། འོག་ན་གཙང་ཆབ་སྔོན་མོ་འབབ། ། teng na lho trin muk po tip: ok na tsang chap ngön mo bap above amass dark, warm southern clouds while below clean blue waters flow. རྒྱབ་ན་བྲག་དམར་ནམ་མཁའི་དབྱིངས། ། མདུན་ན་སྤང་པོ་མེ་ཏོག་བཀྲ། ། gyap na drak mar nam khé ying: dün na pang po mé tok tra Behind red rocks lie beneath the vast expanse of sky; in front the meadows are awash with flowers. ཟུར་ན་གཅན་གཟན་ངར་སྐད་འདོན། ། ལོགས་ལ་བྱ་རྒྱལ་རྒོད་པོ་ལྡིང་། ། zur na chen zen ngar ké dön: lok la ja gyel gö po ding On one side, wild beasts recite their roars, while on the other, vultures, king of birds, soar. མཁའ་ལ་སྦྲང་ཆར་ཟིམ་བུ་འབབ། ། རྒྱུན་དུ་བུང་བས་གླུ་དབྱངས་ལེན། ། kha la drang char zim bu bap: gyün du bungwé lu yang len: A fine, gentle rain falls from the sky. Continuously bees buzz their melodious songs. ཤཱ་རྐྱང་མ་བུ་རྩེ་བྲོ་བརྡུང་། ། སྤྲ་དང་སྤྲེའུ་ཡང་རྩལ་སྦྱོང་། ། sha kyang ma bu tsé dro dung: dra dang dreu yang tsel jong: Wild kyangs, [ 2 ] mares and foals, dance and frolic, and monkeys, big and small, act as acrobats. ལྕོ་ག་མ་བུ་འགྱུར་སྐད་མང་། ། ལྷ་བྱ་གོང་མོ་གླུ་དབྱངས་ལེན། ། cho ga ma bu gyur ké mang: lha ja gong mo lu yang len Mother larks and chicks warble a profusion of songs with divine mountain birds singing back in kind. རྫ་ཆབ་བསིལ་མས་སྙན་པ་བརྗོད། ། དུས་ཀྱི་སྐད་རིགས་ཉམས་ཀྱི་གྲོགས། ། dza chap sil mé nyen pa jö: dü kyi ké rik nyam kyi drok The cool mountain stream musically murmurs. Such language of the seasons is an aid to meditation! གནས་འདིའི་ཡོན་ཏན་བསམ་མི་ཁྱབ། ། ཉམས་དགའ་གླུ་རུ་བླངས་པ་ཡིན། ། né di yön ten sam mi khyap: nyam ga lu ru lang pa yin I sang this joyful song and offered advice describing the merits of this sacred place, which are utterly inconceivable. གདམས་ངག་ཁ་རུ་བཏོན་པ་ཡིན། ། འདིར་ཚོགས་ཡོན་བདག་ཕོ་མོ་རྣམས། ། dam ngak kha ru tön pa yin: dir tsok yön dak po mo nam All you assembled here, patrons, ladies and gentlemen, please follow in my footsteps and behave as I have— མི་ང་ཕྱིར་འབྲོངས་ལ་ང་བཞིན་མཛོད། ། ལས་སྡིག་པ་སྤོངས་ལ་དགེ་བ་སྒྲུབས།། ཅེས་གསུངས་པས། ། mi nga chir drong la nga zhin dzö: lé dik pa pong la gewa drup abandon all misdeeds and accomplish virtue! COLOPHON None NOTES [1] An honourific Tibetan term meaning “venerable lord,” reserved exclusively for great masters. Milarepa is among the most ubiquitous holders of the term in Tibetan literature. [2] The kyang ( Equus kiang ) is a species of wild donkey native to the Tibetan plateau and is one source of inspiration for the mythical unicorn. This meditative or spiritual song ( mgur ) was composed by Milarepa (1040–1123), Tibet’s most famous yogi and poet. Tibetan literature contains a vast corpus of such spiritual songs, particularly Milarepa’s own Kagyu school, which traces the practice of singing spontaneous songs of spiritual experience back to the Indian mahāsiddhas. Known as Dohā in medieval India, this art form was held in common by both Vajrayāna Buddhists and practitioners of Hindu tantra and generally centered on the heightened inner experiences brought about through spiritual practice. What is perhaps most striking about this particular song, and a departure from the conventions of the genre of mgur , is its emphasis on the natural beauty of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong. Tibetan descriptions of sacred places ( gnas ) almost always focus on the miraculous deeds performed on location by great Buddhist masters, who thus imbue the space with blessings and sacred energy. Milarepa, on the other hand, sings entirely about the special qualities of the natural world. With an almost Wordsworthian rhapsody, Mila attributes nature itself, rather than past Buddhist masters, as the wellspring of blessings in Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong. It is the sight of the meadow awash with flowers beneath the vast expanse of sky and the sounds of frolicking wild animals beside the flowing mountain stream that makes the place so favourable for meditative retreat, not the accomplishments of past sages. When, in the final lines of the poem, he exhorts his audience to abandon misdeeds and accomplish virtue, his tone is one of heartfelt invitation rather than didacticism. It is almost as if he is saying, “The world is too much with us”; be done with worldly toil and come meditate with me beside this stream! Photo credit: Himalayan Art Resources Edited: March 2022 BIBLIOGRAPHY Mi la ras pa. Edited by Gtsang smyon he ru ka rus pa'i rgyan can. [n.d.]. Rkyang phan nam mkha' rdzong gi skor . In Mi la ras pa'i mgur 'bum, 65–66. [s.l.]: [s.n.]. BDRC W1KG1252 Abstract This meditative or spiritual song was composed by Milarepa (1040–1123), Tibet’s most famous yogi and poet. With an almost Wordsworthian rhapsody, Mila describes the inconceivable qualities of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong and explains why it is so favorable for meditative retreat. Strikingly, he identifies the natural world itself, rather than past Buddhist masters, as the wellspring of blessings for this holy place. BDRC LINK W1KG1252 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 01:54 TRADITION Marpa Kagyu INCARNATION LINE N/A HISTORICAL PERIOD 11th Century 12th Century TEACHERS Marpa Chökyi Lodro TRANSLATOR Patrick Dowd INSTITUTIONS Sekhar Gutok Kailash Tsāri Drakar Taso STUDENTS Gampopa Sönam Rinchen Rechungpa Dorje Drakpa Ngendzong Repa AUTHOR Milarepa A Song on the Merits of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

A unique genealogy of Tibet's Barchung and Ju clans tracing their Genghis Khan lineage, offering rare insights into Mongolian Buddhism during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Ruby Garland: A Genealogy of the Emperor Uhu Wang Genghis Khan Mangalam Shining with a plethora of virtues and good qualities, Endowed with an uninterrupted stream of magnificent activities, A treasury of attainments that fulfils all wishes and desires, Auspiciously protect me through the supreme refuge, the three precious jewels. Displays of the vajra come in various compassionate expressions: Primordial wisdom and radiant intelligence of knowledge and love, Like an ocean of inexhaustible auspicious glory, Oh, glorious Guru, simultaneously bestow all these upon me! By the blessings and power of Manjughosha, During the waning moon whilst atop a mountain The young prince of Brahma descended the stairway of heaven Relying upon the sky cord—a divine lineage. I will briefly pen the source of Genghis Khan’s lineage. Well then, concerning the subject that I will discuss: The great scholar Lang [ 1 ] said, “Human ancestry is derived from the gods, and a stream comes from the snowy mountains.” Accordingly, I will arrange a condensed history of the royal lineage of the Divine Ruler and Manifestation of Manjughosha, Genghis Khan (1162–1227). Additionally, I will present those who have a connection with that history. This includes the royal lineage of the Great Ming (1368–1644) [ 2 ] and the many gurus and spiritual masters born for the benefit of all sentient beings. A long time ago, a young, beautiful, and handsome son of the resplendent gods descended the nine stages of the divine mu cord. [ 3 ] He came to rest upon a mountain peak adjacent to the Five-peaked Mountain in China (Wu Tai Shan). He was (1) Borta Ching, [ 4 ] the son of gods of heaven. His son was (2) Tachi Gen, and his son was (3) Tamcha Ga. [ 5 ] According to the oral tradition of that locale, Tamcha Ga’s son, (4) Chingji Mergen, [ 6 ] has the same basis of emanation as the great teacher Padmasambhava. Even in these times, it is said that Padmasambhava resides in the southwestern [continent], subduing demons. Chingji Mergen’s son was (5) Laudza Bera Ol, and his son was (6) Sikin Dun. [ 7 ] Sikin Dun’s son was (7) Semdza Odzi, and his son was (8) Laju. [ 8 ] His son was (9) Nunmer Gen. [ 9 ] After his death, when the queen called Alankho, or Lenlun Mo'o Ma [ 10 ] was widowed. It was at this time that a ray of light descended either from the sky or the sun and moon, striking her. Bliss enveloped her and she was impregnated. Consequently, she gave birth to a son named (10) Boton Char, or Charmer Gen. [ 11 ] Charmer Gen’s son was (11) Gachi Tei Hou, and his son was (12) Bikhir. [ 12 ] His son was (13) Manto Don, and his son was (14) Gaitu Gen. [ 13 ] Gaitu Gen’s son was (15) Bai Shing, and his son was (16) Khora Togshing. [ 14 ] His son was (17) Dumbi Hai Khen, and his son was (18) Gabu Lagen. [ 15 ] Gabu Lagen’s son was (19) Barten Badur, and his son (20) Yepur Gaba Dur, [ 16 ] the twentieth of the royal genealogy. It was at this point that Emperor Genghis Khan [ 17 ] was born to Yesugei (1134–1171) and his queen Hoelun [ 18 ] in the Water Horse Year (1162). [ 19 ] His actual name was Temunjen, also known as (21) Emperor Taitsu Zhin Uhu, [ 20 ] and he was a great emperor akin to the glorious and meritorious autumn and a manifestation of Manjughosha’s Wheel of Stability. When he turned fifty-seven in the Earth Female Rabbit Year (1219), [ 21 ] he captured the Chinese Emperor Hu Wang's capital, becoming the emperor of the empire of astrological science and the great eastern land of the world—China. Hence, he brought all territories under [the Emperor of China] and most other areas under his domain. He governed the empire for twenty-three years, passing into the heavens at the age of sixty-six (1227). From that time on, China's (Mongolia) political dominion had spread and flourished more than ever. Therefore, fortified castles were built in the borderlands and in each direction to sustain this power. Subsequently, the tradition of the hereditary princes [ 22 ] governing these fortified castles was established. The eldest prince, Jochi Khan (1182–1227), was appointed as the king of Tokmok. [ 23 ] The second prince, Chagatai Khan (1183–1241), was given the rank of prince and was appointed as the ruler of the northern lands, principally Tokar, [ 24 ] belonging to the lower northern area of the Five-Peak Mountain, and all the areas to the north-east. He governed the Yerkhen Fortress [ 25 ] and was the actual ancestor of Kalkha Dondrub Wang, the Ju clan, and the six tribes of the Barchung clan, all of which are known in Tibet. [ 26 ] Chagatai Khan had five princes, of which the eldest, Abo La, [ 27 ] succeeded as regent. The second son, I Mama Huli, became the king of Kha Che (Islamic world) and resided at the Red Soil Fort. [ 28 ] The third son, Atira Maha Mari, became the king of India and resided at the Balasha Fort. [ 29 ] The fourth son, Kongkha Ratolo, became the king of Rom and resided at Domala Fort. [ 30 ] The fifth and youngest son, Temur, became the king of Oru Kho and was said to have resided at Bhuha Fort. [ 31 ] The aforementioned great Emperor Genghis Khan’s third son, Ogedei Khan (1185–1241), or (22) Emperor Taitsung Ingwen Hu, [ 32 ] ruled the empire for thirteen years. His son, Guyuk Khan (1206–1248), also known as (23) Emperor Tingtsung Stiyan Pinghu, [ 33 ] ruled the empire for six months. The fourth son of Genghis Khan was Tongkha Tolo. [ 34 ] His eldest son ruled the empire under the names of Mongke Khan (1209–1259), Emperor Shiyen Tsunghu Bansuhu, and Monggol Gengya. [ 35 ] All the Tibetan areas, including Utsang, Ngari, and upper and lower Do Kham, were gradually subdued by military forces during the [reign of] Prince Godan Khan (1206–1251), [ 36 ] Guyuk Khan, and Mongke Khan. Mongke Khan’s son, (24) Kublai Khan (1215–1294), widely known to Tibetans and Mongols as Sechen Gengyar, [ 37 ] ruled the kingdom for thirty-five years. Under his rule, the sacred doctrine spread and prospered, making significant contributions in service of the Buddhis teachings. He honoured great beings and gurus from the Sakya, Nyingma, and Kagyu orders, living until the age of eighty. Thereafter, the son of Kublai Khan [ 38 ] had already passed away. His name was Prince Bahu Wang, [ 39 ] or the Regent of Jing Gin. His son was Temur, or Emperor Chingtsung Kuwang Shio Uhu (26), [ 40 ] who became the king of Uljoi Tu, or Olja Du (Temur Khan; 1265–1307). [ 41 ] During his reign, he received the Great Unchangeable Precious Royal Seal, made of white jade and engraved with [the title] Kwi Zhiu Yungtang. [ 42 ] He ruled the empire for thirteen years. There were five or six royal generations from the time of Genghis Khan until these emperors. They conquered almost everyone on the planet: from the subjects of Khincha [ 43 ] in the north to all those in the other three directions up to the islands in the sea, including Zhison, Hpusang, and Siyang. [ 44 ] By bringing many of these under their control, their empire was twice the size of both the Han (206 BCE–220 CE) and Tang (618–907) dynasties. The empire was called the Great Yuan, or the Great Hor. [ 45 ] After some time had passed, Emperor Olja Du’s eldest brother’s son, Emperor Utsung Shan Shoihu (27), otherwise known as Emperor Khuluk or Goyuk (Kulug Khan; 1281–1311), [ 46 ] governed the empire for years. His younger brother, Emperor Ayu Parsata Zhin Shiuhu (28), or Emperor Buyantu (Ayubarwada Buyantu Khan; 1285–1320) [ 47 ] ruled for nine years. His son, Emperor Shubho Pala Yingtsung Wenshi Uhu (29), or Emperor Kokon (Gegeen Khan; 1302–1323) [ 48 ] ruled for three years. Up until him, all the previous emperors maintained the tradition of wearing the hats and attire of the Hor. However, it appears that Yingtsung changed them all to Chinese attire. Then Jing Gin’s grandson, Emperor Yisun Temur Jing Wang Titing (30), [ 49 ] ruled for five years. After him, some sources also assert that his eldest son Rakyi Pak, or Asukiba (31), [ 50 ] ruled the government for forty years. However, some sources say that after three months on the throne, Emperor Utsung’s youngest son, Tuktomur, [ 51 ] seized power from him and pretended to give it to his older brother, Emperor Kushala Mingtsung (32). [ 52 ] Although, Emperor Kushala Mingtsung also passed away after approximately eight months [of ruling]. The majority of sources say Kula Gotu, or Kushala Mingtsung, stayed on the throne for one month. In any case, it is also said that in the end, Emperor Temur Wentshung Jayatu (33) [ 53 ] ruled for five years while some other sources say three years. When he was about to die, his final testament was to appoint Mingtsung’s younger son, Rinchen Pel (34), [ 54 ] to sit on the throne. Following his final demands, Rinchen Pel was enthroned, but he died about a month later. At that time, the throne was vacant for six months, with Minister Emtamur Tashi [ 55 ] ruling the empire. The eldest son of Mingtsung, named Emperor Togan Temur Huitsung Zhunhu (35), or Emperor Uha (Toghon Temur; 1320–1370), [ 56 ] ruled for thirty-six years. After that point, he had to abdicate and leave for lower Hor. Concerning the reason for his abdication, he appeared to be a great religious scholar. However, he lacked knowledge in temporal and state matters, causing multiple disagreements and creating countless conflicts leading to an upheaval in the empire. For instance: there were twenty-three great bandit leaders and many less significant leaders who brought bouts of significant suffering to China, Hor, Mongolia, and Tibet. A short while after this, the Great Ming Emperor Taitsung [ 57 ] took the land under his dominion and pacified it, conquering the capital of China (Beijing) and becoming emperor. It is said the Mongol emperors descendent from Genghis Khan until to Togar Temur [ 58 ] occupied the capital of China for one hundred and forty-seven years, nine months, and ten days. After Genghis Khan had ruled over China, Togen Temur was the fifteenth emperor in the royal succession. From his time onwards, they only ruled their own territory, the land of the Hor. Some two hundred and sixty-six years later, the twentieth emperor, Hor Lekden Zhutok, allied with Karma Tenkyong Wangpo, [ 59 ] the regent of Tsang, Tibet. The emperor marched to Tibet in support of the Kagyu doctrine but died on the journey. It is said that this empire [of Northern Yuan] fell apart due to these unsuccessful conditions. In that way, the narrative on the royal lineage of the Great and Divine Ruler Genghis Khan of Hor is complete. Here, I will explain the lineage of the Great Ming emperors, who, like the Hor of the past, were benevolent to us, the heavenly descendants of Genghis Khan, our kings, ministers, and populace, as well as all the monks, principally the state preceptors, [ 60 ] in all possible ways. This includes bestowing appointments and being graciously protective, respectful, and resourceful. It is not easy to find this family lineage's origin, but the first ruler was Emperor Taitsung (Taizu; 1368–1398). [ 61 ] Taitsung was a monk in the Huang Kyou Zi Temple [ 62 ] during Togan Temur’s time. It was a period marked by banditry, an era where gangs robbed and ransacked. After hearing a great bandit leader arrived in the vicinity of the monastery, Taitsung’s friends fled. Finding himself in such a predicament, he thought, “If I run away, then the sacred objects will be ruined—they will set the temple ablaze and other such calamities. Even if I do not flee but stay and fight, I will surely not be able to protect them. Yet, if I do surrender, I fear I might become one of the bandits. What should I do?” Subsequently, he performed a divination in front of a [Buddhist] statue, which indicated that it would be better to surrender, so he waited for the bandit leader. In the process of surrendering, they conversed in Chinese, and the bandits realized that he was extraordinary and unlike others. Therefore, the people raised him up upon their shoulders, and he was given a great and powerful position through which he gradually accrued power. Thereafter, when the bandit leader died, Taitsung took the position as the head leader of the bandits. He continued to grow in prestige from then on, spreading his influence and bringing all his people under his power. After that, in the Male Earth Monkey Year (1368) he even conquered the capital city of the Great Hor. Since the empire’s control did not extend to the north and west, it was weaker than the time of the Hor (Yuan Dynasty). However, it was highly prestigious and not too dissimilar from the time of the Han and Tang dynasties when it came to other matters. The name of the empire was Great Ming. In general, its administration had good connections with Bon, Buddhist, and Vedic [traditions]. It also maintained a priest-patron relationship [ 63 ] with the early translation Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya. In that way, he ruled the kingdom for thirty-three years. His son Kyihun (Emperor Jianwan; 1398–1402), [ 64 ] the second royal successor, ruled for two years. His son Yewang Yung Lochenpo (Yongle Emperor; r. 1402–1424), [ 65 ] the third royal successor, paid excellent service to the Buddhist teachings, ruling the empire for twenty-two years. His son and the fourth successor, Zhinzung, [ 66 ] ruled for four years. His son and the fifth successor, Zonde, [ 67 ] ruled for eight years. His son and the sixth successor, Chi Tung, [ 68 ] ruled for thirteen years. His son and the seventh successor, Kyinta, [ 69 ] ruled for seven years. His son and the eighth successor, Tenshun, [ 70 ] ruled for eight years. Thus, it is said from the first Great Ming Emperor, Taitsung, to the last [emperor], Tenshun, [ 71 ] the Great Ming Emperors occupied the capital of China for ninety-seven human years. Apart from the first Great Ming emperor and the third [emperor called] Yewang, [ 72 ] the majority of the other emperors were too weak. It is said their reigns shortened due to such things as losing control of the eunuchs and corrupted ministers. It is also said that after Emperor Teshun, [ 73 ] there were four people: [Emperor] Utsung, the Bon favouring [Emperor] Zhitsung, the ugly [Emperor] Shontsung, and [Emperor] Krungtsun. [ 74 ] These four caused conflicts to ripen, triggering the loss of the empire to the hands of a bandit leader called Litsi Ching. [ 75 ] In the legendary narratives and writings of our ancestral chieftains, it says: “In the Water Bird Year (1633), the eighth year of the eighth successor the Great Ming Emperor Tenshun’s reign, King Taitsung Bokto conquered the capital city of China with his army. Taitsung Bokto’s actual name was Emperor Zhitsuhu and was also known as Mukton. More recently, Tibetans refer to him as Manju Sokpo Chinhwa. [ 76 ] Subsequently, the Great Ming Emperor Tenshun took control of the four cardinal borderlands of greater China where his royal descendants still reside. It is said that in two hundred years, the royal descendants will return and claim the throne of China.” Homage to Padmakara! Now, I will present the successors [and history] of our ancestors' descendants and the great ministerial state preceptors [ 77 ] connected with them. I have already discussed the succession from Genghis Khan, the Divine Ruler of Manjughosha, up to the twentieth royal descendant in the section of the history of the Hor. The twenty-first royal successor, Emperor Taitsu Zhing Puhu, [ 78 ] controlled the capital city of eastern China. The twenty-second successor is considered his son, the Second Tistsi, the Emperor Chagatai La Chinwang [ 79 ] and ruler of the Yerkhen Fortress. [ 80 ] His younger brother and fifth son of Genghis Khan, Master Sansu Tanzhin, or Dharma Lord Yonten Pel, [ 81 ] was the First Great Ministerial State Preceptor. He was a profoundly and extensively skilled victory banner of scholars and a proponent of the three baskets ( tripitaka) [of the Buddhist teachings]. He was a direct disciple of both Katok Tsangton Dorje Gyeltsen and Jampa Bum. [ 82 ] The twenty-third successor, Awola Jingwang, [ 83 ] lived a long and full life of one-hundred and seven years. His younger brother was the Second State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Yeshe Gyeltsen Pel, who received the victory banner and title of Tungshu Wanda Shai. [ 84 ] The twenty-fourth successor was Hanwang Khola Jing. [ 85 ] His elder brother was the Third State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Gelek Pel, who received the victory banner and the title of Hpozhiku Wanggi Pouda Shai, or the Radiant Sun Rays of the Victor’s Doctrine. [ 86 ] The twenty-fifth successor Tawang Negoye constructed Tau Titur Temple [ 87 ] at the Yerkhen Fortress, which was unrivalled under the sun. The temple was filled to the brim with representational objects of the enlightened body, speech, and mind. His half-brother from a different mother was the Fourth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Jinpa Pel, received the victory banner and title of Wuwan Hpapagi Youda Shi, or the Lineage Holder who Protects the Teachings. [ 88 ] The twenty-sixth successor was Sanwang Tomer. [ 89 ] His elder brother was the Fifth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Gyamtso Pel, who received the victory banner and title of Uwan Hpatou Yin Mioushi Wandai Shai, or the Lineage Holder and Courageous Lord who Disseminates the Doctrine. [ 90 ] The twenty-seventh successor was Yerkhen Dazhi Tawang. [ 91 ] His nephew was the Sixth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Jampa Pel, who received the victory banner and the title of Wuwan Hpatung Su Wanda Shai, or the Realised Lineage Holder. [ 92 ] The twenty-eighth successor was Hputai Wang Ulkebe. [ 93 ] His elder brother was the Seventh State Preceptor, Khyilwa Kunga Pel, who received the victory banner and the title of Tuwan Hputungsi Wanda Shai, or the Lineage Holder of Great Courage. [ 94 ] The twenty-ninth successor was Shrir Nadalai Wang. [ 95 ] His younger brother was the Eighth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Gyeltsen Bum, [ 96 ] who did not receive any titles. The thirtieth successor was Maga Shri Palayon Wang. [ 97 ] His elder brother was the Ninth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Jangchub Pel, who received the victory banner and title of Tuwan Hpu Shuan Ude Shai, or the Compassionate Lineage Holder. [ 98 ] The thirty-first successor was Sanwang Olgo Temu. [ 99 ] His younger brother was the Tenth State Preceptor, Purnye Shri, [ 100 ] who did not receive any titles. The thirty-second successor was Emperor Chinggin Dalai Wang Kunga Dorje, [ 101 ] and he had nine princes. The eldest prince, San Zhita Wangching, [ 102 ] was the successor to his father and controlled the Yerkhen Fortress. It is said that the current Hor Khalka Dondrub Wangchenpo is his descendant. [ 103 ] The second prince under San Zhita Wangching was the Eleventh State Preceptor, Master Zhiwa Pel, the ruler of Huwang Mei Zi'i. He received the victory banner and title of Tunghu Da Shai, or the Dharma Lord of Supreme Intellect. [ 104 ] The other six young princes were individually given golden edicts [ 105 ] and titles of lords of six large districts under the power of [Yerkhen]. These days it is said that the eighth prince Hau Puyan Tako [ 106 ] is the forefather of the Ju clan in Tibet. It later came to pass that he became the ruler of the Mong Ra Fortress. His lineage was called the Thirteen Black Spear Holding Anye Mantra Practitioners. [ 107 ] This name was bestowed since their dharma protector bears a black silk clan flag, which I will talk about in a later section. The ninth and youngest prince was acutely intelligent, exceptionally wise, highly tolerant, a prodigious orator, and a quick thinker. Even the noblest, such as the great ministers, could not compete with him. As he was King Kunga Dorje's favourite son, [ 108 ] the father kept six of the eighteen major districts for himself and gave six to his son. His father praised and bestowed upon him such items as his own imperial golden edict and golden seals from the Mongolian capital of China. The thirty-third successor was Chinggin Sanwang Gaushri Wangchuk Gyeltsen. [ 109 ] It was not known in China, Hor, nor Mongolia; however, the Barchung clan, here in Tibet, was established by him. This prince resided in the district of Ule Yerkhen Dazhi on the border of Sang Hor and Oro. [ 110 ] The thirty-fourth successor was Tiwang Yeten Toktu. [ 111 ] His elder brother was the Twelfth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Drime Pel, who received the victory banner and title of Tungshi Wan Minyi Giyou Yamida Shai, or the secret lord, the scholastic-adept of sutra and mantra. [ 112 ] During this patron-priest [relationship], the great Hor was in distress. Many greater and lesser bandit leaders began to gather, and many bandit hideouts sprang up in the lower part [of Mongolia]. Although an ocean of suffering began to overflow in the upper and lower parts [of Mongolia], we [our ancestors] could barely save our own six districts from becoming subservient to them. The Lord Togen Temur [ 113 ] also fled to the lower lands of Hor. Not long thereafter, the Great Ming Emperor Tai Tsung [ 114 ] settled in China’s capital city, bringing peace to the land. The thirty-fifth successor was the elder prince, Tale Wangtang Tirti Mangga Shri. [ 115 ] His younger brother was the Thirteenth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Taye Pel, who received the victory banner and title of Mintan Tato Yuwan Zhunthunggi Youda Shai, or the Supporter of the Victor’s Teachings—supreme unification of the oral transmission of instructions and the repository of treasure teachings of qualities. [ 116 ] From that time forward, the Great Ming emperors showed more prominent respect to Genghis Khan's royal descendants by bestowing titles, golden seals, hats signifying high rank, et cetera. The thirty-sixth successor was Ila Sikyi Wangpa Chara. [ 117 ] His elder brother was the Fourteenth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Tashi Gawai Pel, who received the victory banner and title of Lintan Date Khaisan Shiotunggi Youda Shai, or the Supporter of the Victor’s Teachings who simultaneously spreads the three trainings of oral transmission of instructions and the repository of treasure teachings of qualities. [ 118 ] During this priest and patron relationship, Chongti Dewa Temple was built in the district of Ule Yerkhen Dazhi Fortress. It was filled with unfathomable sacred objects symbolic of the enlightened body, speech, and mind, as well as a wrathful [statue] of Ashtasahasrikaprajnaparamita . Rapu Dewa Temple was built in the district of Orong. Ayur Dewa Temple was built in the district of Mala Punrar. Siu Pati DewaTemple was built in the district of Daun Tsung. Sesi Soto Dewa Temple was built in the district of Mongra Khar. On Sage Dewa Temple was built in the district of Tewo Rasi. Minyigi Dewa Temple was built in the district of Oshanwa Si. Thus, seven great temples were built in six districts as well as a fortified palace. [ 119 ] The thirty-seventh successor was Elche Wangsan Gaushri, [ 120 ] who lived for eighty-nine years. He provided unrivalled support for the Buddha's precious doctrine in the service of the Great Ming Emperor Yewang, or the Great Yunglo (Emperor Yongle; 1360–1423 CE). [ 121 ] His elder brother was the Fifteen Great State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Lachen Ozer Pelwa. [ 122 ] He received the victory banner and title of Tui Luzi Giyou Tutsun Tungdau Tungton Titan Shi'i Khing Shou Tarleu, [ 123 ] or the elder master who completely and unbiasedly ascertains the doctrine of the victors, the lord of the perfectly pure primordial wisdom of the realisation of the path, and the dharma king and great abbot endowed with immutable life. It is said that out of all the highest tantric gurus, none were more learned or had more excellent qualities than him, as the great scholar and victor Longchenpa (1308–1364) [ 124 ] had already left Tibet. The thirty-eighth successor was Tawang Tolo Gechi.[ 125 ] His younger brother was the Sixteenth State Preceptor, Rana Kotu, and was not bestowed any titles. [ 126 ] The thirty-ninth successor was Tale Wangsiwi Tanata, [ 127 ] who was a great physician. His elder brother was the Seventeenth State Preceptor and the Dharma Lord, Gyeltsen Pel, who received the victory banner and the title of Khaisan Thiokyang Thuwang Datheng Kyemin Tanshi'i, [ 128 ] or the lineage abbot of the oral transmission and treasure teachings of the precious qualities of the Mahayana and of the bodhisattva vows, the one who propagates the three excellent trainings. A younger brother of his, Tale Badur Tarwa Kyab, [ 129 ] lived in a separate household. It was said that he was not a family descendant, as he was an adopted son. The six Barchung groups spread from the descendants of Tale Badur Tarwa Kyab and his elder brother, King Tale Wangsi. [ 130 ] The actual descendants of the physician King Wangsi were the older Penkor, the middle Kyabkor, and the youngest Yagkor. These three were collectively known as the three groups of lords. [ 131 ] As for the descendants of Badur Tarwa, they were the older Jamo, the middle Taglen, and the youngest Gurshul, which made up the six groups. [ 132 ] The fortieth successor was the first prince Sanwang Tashir Ola Pen, [ 133 ] who stayed in the capital. The second prince was called Daben Tsering Kyab. The third prince was Sukini Tolo Yak. [ 134 ] The second and third lived in separate households. The fourth prince was the Eighteenth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Lekpa Pel, who received the victory banner and the title of Hputsung Hunggi Youda Shai, or the lineage protector and the disseminator of the doctrine. [ 135 ] The forty-first successor of the great Genghis Khan was Yewan Tebun Tsita Gaushri. [ 136 ] His younger brother was the Nineteenth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord, Sonam Pel, who received the victory banner and the title Sahpo Kiyopu Manda Shai, [ 137 ] or the perpetually happy one. In this period, changes ensued in the capital of China, and a huge crisis befell the empire due to the activities of the Great Ming Emperor Toshun (Emperor Chongzhen; 1627–1644). [ 138 ] A significant fragmentation occurred, as most people in the empire fled from areas such as the Hor land and the upper and lower parts of Oro, scattering to various places. Most of them escaped to the upper and lower parts of Kokonor. Some people from the Forty Oro Tsoyan group scattered to the sunny and shaded sides of the upper part of Ma. [ 139 ] The King Dwaichen and some others fled to both the sunny and shaded sides of Shardza, [ 140 ] and it was at this time that they acquired new abodes. At that time our own Great and Powerful Genghis Khan [ 141 ] (the lord of the clan) also abandoned and fled from the district of Ule Yerkhen Dazhi to the area of upper Barwon, [ 142 ] located in the upper part of Kokonor. There they acquired new land as they settled under black and white tents. The subjects of the six controlled districts and their chieftains scattered in all directions. Some became the victims of gangs of bandits and were completely annihilated, whilst others are said to have fled, wondering to any place they could find. People from the six districts and around our fort who followed the Lord’s family had three lords and nine groups of subjects. [ 143 ] In total, there were a little over three hundred households. During this time, Emperor Mugton Tangtsung Bogto, also known by some as Mongolian Manju Changha, [ 144 ] had settled in the China’s capital, leading to a terrible and tumultuous war that subsided after about twelve years. At that time, Hor Lekden [ 145 ] was unsuccessful in Tibet and returned with his two queens and two princes. Along with three thousand soldiers of the eight Chakar groups, [ 146 ] he surrendered to Emperor Bogto. It was at this time he offered the royal seal of the Precious, Immutable Swastika to Mugton Bogto. It is said that the power of this seal established the relationship in which China, Hor, Manchu, and Mongolia came under the one-state policy of the [Manchus]. The forty-second successor was Sanshri Gung Gonpo Gyel, [ 147 ] who did not have a priest. When he was middle-aged, King Bogto’s son, Emperor Dekyi (Emperor Qianlong, 1711–1799), [ 148 ] became a patron of the Geluk tradition. His great minister, Mongolian King Gaushri Tendzin Chogyel, [ 149 ] became very powerful. Subsequently, he put the Mongolian settlements, Ziling, Dranak, [ 150 ] and others all under miserable conditions. An uprising arose as he began to proceed with his army to Tibet. In the face of this, Barchung Chede Yaggyel and Yagkor Uchen Pema Wangdrak, [ 151 ] who were relatives of our chief, refused to obey the chief’s orders. They took about one hundred different families and went to the south of the Dzachu River to surrender to Hor Mazur Tsang. [ 152 ] Once again, the two brothers did not get along well, and Che Yaggyal departed with about seventy families, settling in the valley of Washul Tramtar. [ 153 ] Some leaders came from [within those two groups] back to us in need of a clan to join, as well as provisions. These are the ones residing in Shuggur [ 154 ] to this day. The Uchen Sewang group could also not settle and came to Da Valley to reside. [ 155 ] Some of them came to settle in Ser Valley. [ 156 ] It is also said that many families of the clan separated due to infighting. At that time, the leader of the unrest, San Gung [the forty-second successor], did well in negotiating with Sog Gau Shri. Due to this, no harm was done to the people and they [were even] granted some benefits. The forty-third successor was the chief of Gungru Jasak called Lord Namlha Yak. [ 157 ] His father passed away when he turned fifteen. Not long after that, Khandro Lobzang Tenkyong [ 158 ] from Upper Mongolia created conflicts between the Tibetans and Mongols, provoking large unrest. At that time, three groups, (1) Ju Nangso, (2) Sog Dewa rod, and (3) Sershul fled to upper Dza, initially settling there. [ 159 ] The Ju Nangsog are descendants of Hau Puyan Tako and share the same blood lineage as ours. They were the lords of Mongra Fort, a minor fort under [the control of] Yerkhen. [ 160 ] Then gradually (4) Tarshul, (5) Bumshul Nying, (6) Ponpo, (7) Badur, (8) Trims Zagong, (9) Gemang, (10) Mangge, (11) Chitan, and (12) Chewo were the first to come. Those who came later were, (13) Getse Gong, (14) Gegab, (15) Trom Gab, (16) Arig Za, (17) Pongyu, (18) Ase Bayan, and (19) Bum Sar. [ 161 ] Thus, there were eighteen Mongolian clans together with the Ju clans of Hor. These nineteen clans swore allegiance to the [king] of Derge. It was at that time the three groups of lords and nine groups of subjects continued through the land of Machu and settled on the shaded side of the Dar Valley [ 162 ] in Machu. Since the aforementioned Sanshri Gung Gonpo Gyel and Jasak Namlha Yak were without priests, there were no state preceptors for two generations. The eldest prince of Jasak was Orgyen Tsering, who lived separately. Jasak’s middle son was Lord Tsangsangs Tendzin. [ 163 ] The youngest son was the Twentieth State Preceptor and Dharma Lord the Excellent Guru Gyurme Tashi Gyamtso (1714–1793), also called the great scholar and adept A Tsuta Maha Pandita Maha Guru Sara. [ 164 ] In the Male Wood Horse Year, called Victorious, he was born in Chag Trang [ 165 ] situated in the lower part of the Dar Valley in the land of Ma. In the Fire Monkey Year (1716), when [Tashi Gyamtso] was three years old, most of the Tibetans and Mongols from the Gelug tradition were provoked by [the god of desire], Metok Dachen. [ 166 ] When the impudent borderland army of the Dzungar Mongols marched to Central Tibet, it is said that they passed over a small part of Upper Ma. In the Earth Dog Year (1718), they caused large scale destruction to the teachings, principally the Nyingma teachings, especially at such monasteries as Dorje Drak and Mindroling. [ 167 ] When they returned in the Earth Pig Year (1719), a large Chinese army annihilated the Dzungar troops and their leaders. Simultaneously, a great majority of other Mongolian gurus and leaders were also annihilated by the law. As a result, the area became relatively peaceful. In the Iron Mouse Year (1720), most of the nomadic settlements in Ma escaped to other places as there were hidden enemies and bandits who were pillaging. It was difficult, in particular, to distinguish and know if the travellers claiming to be Mongolian were friends or foes. Losing hope, they decided this was not a place to reside for a significant period of time. These were the chief houses of Genghis Khan. The three groups of lords together with the nine settlements of subjects which are (1) Jamo, (2) Taklen, (3) Gurshul, (4) Gyarok Beli, (5) Tsanno Behu, (6) Achok Bechang, (7) Sokpo, (8), Gotsa, and (9) Gyeza. [ 168 ] In total, around one hundred and eighty families travelled here to the south. In Derge, the Dharma King Tenpa Tsering (1678–1738) [ 169 ] had just been enthroned [in 1714], and it was a great time for the clans to meet and submit to him. The chief house was given the position of a great lord like before. Chief Orgyen Tsering and Penkor Barchung Delek Rabten of separate houses were given the position of the great managers of Derge. Kyabkor Barchung Yeshe Tseten and Yagkor Barchung Gyeltsen Bum were given the position of the interior court. Gya, Tsan, and A were given the position of ministers like before as well as excellent resources and respect following the tradition of the kingdom. [ 170 ] Thereafter, during the time of land distribution, [the king] purposely sent the general secretary Tashi Wangchuk and gave [the Barchung] the opportunity to choose from the Dzachukha area, an incomparable place. They chose all the land of Dzahu Rama, the lands from the lower Chaktak Drangkha and the upper and lower Sakuti to the plain of Dza, the lands from Dzasang Hachak Gamapu to the entire area of Hura, Margo Womporing, upper and lower Sang Trichan, the entire land of Dzagyab Mukmo, [ 171 ] and the land that belong to the families of Lake Mang can. Thus, he gave excellent and vast lands to the smallest settlements for their resources. In brief, there were twenty-two successors of the Divine Ruler Genghis Khan of the Great Hor. Beginning from the reign of the twenty-second successor King Chagatai La Chinwang, who took control of the immutable Fort Yerkhen Dazhi in the land of north-eastern Tokar, to the forty-third successor Chief Gungru Jasak called Lord Namlha Yak, who was an owner of a nomadic black-haired tent. From the time of Chagatai La Chinwang’s younger brother, the first of the Great State Preceptors Sansu Tanzhin, or the precious Dharma Lord Yonten Pel, until Namlha Yak’s younger son the [Twentieth] State Preceptor A Tsuta Maha Pandita, Gyurme Tashi Gyamtso, the Dharma Lord of the great Translated Words of the Buddha, there were twenty excellent gurus. During these years, they were exclusively the lords who maintained and disseminated the lineage of the teachings and were the disciples of the victorious dharma lords of Katok [Monastery]. They also made offerings to and relied upon the deities of The Eight Pronouncements : Yamantaka, Vajrakila, and the protector the Mahakala as their supportive deities. They engaged exclusively in the root of all teachings called the Nyingma—the profound path of the secret Vajrayana [tradition] of the great and secret Early Translations, the tradition of the victorious Lake-Born, [ 172 ] who is the immortal and universal embodiment of all the victorious ones of the three times. Since the gurus and chiefs [of this clan] were self-composed, they could continue with their own tradition. They did not follow other traditions other than [Nyingma] and were not distracted by the vast selection of new or higher teachings. The forty-fourth successor and twenty-second successor [counting from Genghis Khan] was the great lord and doctor Sanggye Tendzin. [ 173 ] During his time, he performed excellent services to the Dharma King [of Derge] and his nephew. The king favoured him, granting great privileges. Our people found that he was quite dignified and paid him high respects as they prospered in wealth and reputation. At the age of eighty-seven he passed away, having greatly benefited beings, teaching medicine, and administering treatments His younger brother, the [Twentieth] State Preceptor, the great scholar and adept Gyurme Tashi Gyamtso received, trained in, and learnt [many teachings], relying upon many excellent teachers. These included Katok Drung Rinpoche, Minling Trichen Namgyel (1765–1812), Venerable Guru Mingyur Peldron (1699–1769), and the Second Dzogchen [Gyurme Tekchok Tendzin] (1699–1758). [ 174 ] There were many people to whom he offered the gift of the excellent teachings. These included the glorious and sacred master Katok Drung Rinpoche, Drime Zhing Gonpo (b. 1724), Gyelse Orgyen Tenpel, Gyelse Pema Namgyel, Karshing Rigdzin Chenpo, Minling Tri Trinle Namgyel (1765–1812), Khenchen Orgyen Tendzin Dorje (b.1742), Dordrak Rigdzin Chenpo Kham Sum Zilnon, the Eighteenth Lhatsun Zhabdrung, and Khampa Dzogchen Tulku Ngedon Tendzin Zangpo (1759–1792). [ 175 ] Most of their monastic students and other countless students from the north [of Tibet] were united through a single golden thread of bearing commitments to the teachings. These include people of Gome (Dome), Rongpo, Tsako, and Gyelmo Rong as well as the King of Dardo Chakla and the Lord Prince Lodro Gyamtso along with his mother, minister, and other government officials. [ 176 ] In brief, during the entirety of his life, his good and excellent deeds shone in all directions, and he passed away in the Water Ox Year (1793) at the age of eighty. Gyurme Tashi Gyamtso was alive, sometime during his fifties, he received from Changkya Rolwai Dorje [ 177 ] the title of State Preceptor A Tsuta Maha Pandita Maha Guru Sara, [ 178 ] or the supreme guru of the great crown jewel. Manchu Emperor Po Hwong also granted him many privileges and an ample amount of high respect. Emperor Po Hwong was the son of Kanshin, who was in turn the son of Emperor Dekyi, son of Pogto, the first Manchu Emperor. [ 179 ] During the time of this guru and lord, the remaining noble familial lineage of Barchung Tseyak Gyel of Tromkyi Shugu had ceased. [ 180 ] As such, they earnestly said there is no other way [for them to continue their familial line] unless they were gifted a son from the genuine, great, and noble Genghis Khan family—the Pen, Kyab, and Yak [families]. The lords agreed that it was suitable [for them to receive a child] from the highest family [of Genghis Khan]. However, there were only two boys, one of whom would be a guru and the other a lord. Penkor Delek Rabten’s second son, Gyamtso Tar, was chosen to be given to the Parkha family as their lord following the divinations and astrological calculations. [ 181 ] The forty-fifth successor, Lord Gonpo Wanggyel, [ 182 ] was a sound person, but he was weak and lost his power to the hands of others. At this time, the misdeeds of Lakho, an incapable person of the Yakkor community, [ 183 ] came to fruition, and a great number of our clan fled towards Namtsho Lake in the north. Afterwards, many of our settlements and families scattered to places like Serkhok, Gyade, and Shokpa. [ 184 ] The Lord [Gonpo Wanggyel] himself did not live past his fifties. The younger brother, Je Won Guru Tendzin Norbu,[ 185 ] was the twenty-first successor [counting from Genghis Khan]. He relied upon many excellent masters principally his paternal uncle who was a guru and the great state preceptor. He performed admirable deeds of the excellent ones such as scholarship, nobility, and kindness, passing away at sixty-six. The forty-sixth successor was Lord Kunzang Namgyel, and his younger brother was Gegen Choying Tendzin. [ 186 ] During their adolescence, the Derge representatives could not hold onto their governance, losing it to the selfish and powerful lords of Getse. These lords did what they wanted, taking the remaining settlements and entire territory of Barchung. The forty-seventh successor was Barchung Sanggye Tashi, even though he was not given the title of Lord. He and his younger brother, Guru Jigme Chodar, were the last actual successive lords of Genghis Khan’s descendants. [ 187 ] After these two brothers there were no more successive guru seat holders who were genuine descendants of the Genghis Khan lineage. However, the lord Won Guru Tendzin Norbu’s direct student was Guru Drubchen Pema Wanggyel of Adro. [ 188 ] I, Gyurme Pema Chogyel, an itinerant monk, and supposedly his reincarnation, possessing the name of an emanation and of the Dru lineage, am the current lineage holder, and I am still alive. [ 189 ] Furthermore, Adro Guru Pema Gyamtso, an excellent and supreme student of Gyurme Tashi Gyamtso, and the Derge retreatant and excellent guru, our own nephew Guru Kunzang Dargye also lived at the same time as Je Won Guru [Tendzin Norbu]. [ 190 ] COLOPHON Thus, The Ruby Garland i s a document of the genealogy of the Divine, Great Emperor Uhu Genghis Khan, an emanation of Manjughosha, and the state preceptors and gurus connected with that genealogy. Gyurme Pema Chogyel, also known as Rigdzin Tubten Gelek Pelzangpo Chokle Nampar Gyelwai De, the Twenty-Third State Preceptor of Genghis Khan’s lineage wrote it. [ 191 ] It was composed on a virtuous day in the sixth month of the Water Mouse Year (1852?) to fulfil the wishes of Lord Rigdzin, [ 192 ] a descendant of Gyamtso Tar, who is unmistakably Genghis Khan’s descendent and State Preceptor, Santang Ola Pen. [ 193 ] May it be victorious! As the ancient saying goes: “The immutable fort is the Fort of Yerkhen Dazhi. The immutable lords are the descendants of the heavenly Genghis Khan. The immutable subjects are the communities of the three and nine districts. The number of subjects is said to be one hundred and fifty-five thousand, two hundred and ten.” A later saying posits: “The descendants of the heavenly Genghis Khan governed the left, right, lower, and central regional divisions of Kokonor. There were three thousand and two hundred black nomadic tents, sixty families, and over three hundred lord families. Thus, these are the two sayings [associated with the descendants of Genghis Khan].” After some time, when they arrived in the south, there were three communities of lords: Pen, Kyab, and Yak. There were nine communities of subjects: Ja, Tak, and Gur, three communities of ministers: Gya, Tsen and A, and the three communities of subjects: Gon, Sok, and Gyo. Within those twelve [ 194 ] communities numbered around one hundred and eighty families. It is said that during the time of the Lord Tsodze Chenpo [ 195 ] and the state preceptor gurus and brothers [Tashi Gyamtso and Sanggye Tendzin], the status [of the whole community] was higher than that of Brahma. May it be victorious! NOTES [1 ] rlangs [2] ta'i ming, 大名 [3] dmu thag [4] sbor ta' ching [5] ta' chi gan; tham cha ga [6] ching ji mer gan [7] la'u dza be ra 'ol and sis kin dun [8] sems dza 'o dzi and la ju [9] nun mer gan [10] a lan kho and len lun mo'o ma [11] bo ton char and char mer gan [12] ga chi the'i ho'u; sbi khir [13] man tho don; ga'i thu gan [14] ba'i shing; kho ra thog shing [15] dum bi ha'i khan; ga bu la gan [16] bar than bA' dur; ye phur ga bA dur [17] ching gis rgyal po'am jing gir [18] ye phur ga ba dur; mo hu lun [19] The original text states this is the Water Male Tiger Year. [20] the mun jen and tha'i tsu zhing u hu wang rdI, 皇帝 [21] The original text states thirty-eight. [22] gdung brgyud this tsi, 太子 [23] ju chi; thog mog [24] cha ga ta'i; chin wang, 亲王; thod dkar [25] Yardkand or Yarkent (yer khen) is currently a county in Uyghur Autonomous Region and used to belong to Chagatai Khanate. [26] khal kha don 'grub wang, 'ju, and 'bar chung [27] sras this tsi; a b+ho la [28] i ma ma hu li; sa dmar gyi mkhar [29] a ti ra ma hA ma ri; bA la sha'i mkhar [30] kong kha ra to lo; rom and sdom la'i mkhar [31] the mur; o ru kho; and mkhar b+hu ha [32] u go ta; tha'i tsung ing wen hu wang rdI [33] go yug; ting tsung sti yan phing hu wang rdI [34] stong kha tho lo [35] mung khe; Shi yan tsung hu ban su hu wang rdI; mong gol gan gya [36] u la go ta [37] hu pi la'i; se chen gan gyar [38] se chen gan gya [39] ba hu wang [40] the mur, or ching tshung ku wang Shi'o 'u hu wang rdI [41] ul jo'i thu', or ol ja du [42] kwi zhi'u yung thang [43] khin cha [44] gzhi son; h+phu sang; si yang [45] dwa'i yu'an, 大元; and chen po hor [46] u tshung Shan Sho'i hu wang rdI, or khu lug, or go yug [47] a yu par sa ta zhin tshung khin Shi'u hu, or bu yan thu rgyal po [48] shu b+ho pha la yin tsung wen Shi 'u hu wang rdI, or ko kon rgyal po [49] yi sun the mur jing wang thi'i ting rgyal po [50] ra khyi phag, or a su ki ba [51] thug tho mur [52] ku sha la ming tsung rgyal po, or ku la go thu [53] the mur wen tsung ja ya thu [54] rin chen dpal [55] blon chen em tha mur tha shris [56] tho gan the mur hu'i tsung zhun hu wang rdI, or u hA rgyal po [57] tA'i ming tha'i tsung rgyal po [58] tho gar the mur [59] hor legs ldan zhu thog rgyal po; gtsang pa sde srid karma bstan skyong dbang po [60] tI shri [61] tha'i tsung rgyal po [62] hu'ang kyo'u zi lha khang [63] The priest-patron relationship, or mchod yon, played a pivotal role in the history of Tibet by establishing connections with other dynasties including the Yuan, Ming, and Qing. [64] kyi hun [65] ye wung g.yung lo chen po [66] bzhin rdzung [67] zon de [68] ci thung [69] kyin tha [70] then shun [71] There are spelling variances in the text with ton shun, thon shun, and ten shun, alluding to the same individual. [72] ye dbang [73] the shun [74] u tsung, zhi tsung; shon tsung; khrung tsun [75] li tsi ching [76] tha'i tsung bog to rgyal po; zhi tsu hu wang rdI; mug ton; man ju sog po ching hwa [77] tI shri blon chen po [78] tha'i tsu zhing phu hu wang rdI [79] this tsi gnyi pa cha ga tA'i la chin wang rgyal gpo [80] Yerkhen and Yarkant are the same fortress. [81] tI shri blon chen po 01, chos rjes yon tan dpal, slob dpon gsan su twan zhin. It is also important to mention here that bla rab and tI shri are interchangeable in the text. [82] kaHtok gtsang ston rdo rje rgyal mtshan; byams pa 'bum [83] a bO la Jing wang [84] tI shri blon chen po 02, chos rje ye shes rgyal mtshan dpal; thung Shuwan dA sha'i [85] han wang kho la jing [86] tI shri blon chen po 03, chos rje dge legs dpal; h+pho zhi ku wang gi po'u dA sha'i [87] tA wang gnas go ye; lha khang ta'i tis tur [88] tI shri blon chen po 04, chos rje sbyin pa dpal; wu wan h+pha h+pha gi yo'u dA shi'i [89] gsan wang tho mer [90] tI shri blon chen po 05, chos rje rgya mtsho dpal; u wan h+pha tho'u yin mi'o'u si wan dA sha'i [91] yer khen dA zhi Ta wang [92] tI shri blon chen po 06, chos rje byams pa dpal; wu wan h+pha thung Shu wan dA sha'i [93] h+phu tA'i wang u lke be [94] tI shri blon chen po 07, 'khyil ba kun dga dpal; Thu wan h+phu thung si wan dA sha'i [95] shrIr rna dA la'i wang [96] tI shri blon chen po 08, chos rjes rgyal mtshan 'bum [97] ma ga shrI pha la yon wang [98] tI shri blon chen po 09, chos rjes byang chub dpal; Thu wan h+pha Shu'an u dE sha'i [99] gsan wang ol go the mu [100] ti shri 10 pur+N+ye shri [101] ching gin dA la'i wang kun dga' rdo rj rgyal po [102] gsan zhi tA wang ching [103] hor khal ka Don 'grub wang chen po [104] tI shri blon chen po 11, slob dpon zhi bad pal, hu wang me'i zi'i bdag po; thung hu dA sha'i [105] gser yig [106] ha'u phu yan tA ko [107] a mnyes sngags pa mdung nag can bcu gsum [108] kun dga' rdo rje [109] ching gin gsan wang gau shri dbang phyug rgyal mtshan [110] u le yerk hen dwa zhis rdzong; bsang hor; o rod [111] tI wang ye then thog tu [112] tI shri blon chen po 12, chos rjes dri med dpal, thung Shi wan mi nyi gi yo'u ya mi dA sha'i; mdo sngags mkhas grub gsang ba'i bdag po [113] bdag po tho gan the mur [114] tA'i ming tha'i tsung rgyal po [115] tA las wang thang Thir thi mang+ga shri [116] tI shri blon chen po 13, chos rjes mtha' yas dpal, min than Ta to yu wan bzhun thung gi yo'u dA sha'i; gdams pa'i bka' babs yon tan gter mdzod kha sbyor mchog ldan rgyal bstan 'degs pa [117] i la si kyi wang pa cha ra [118] tI shri blon chen po 14, chos rjes bka shis dga' wa'i dpal, lin than dA te kha'i san Shi'o thung gi yo'u dA sha'i; gdams pa'i bka' babs yon tan gter mdzod bslab gsum 'dom spel rgyal brtsan zhabs nas 'degs pa [119] The temples and their districts include: (1) lha khang chong ti dE ba – u le yerk hen dwa zhis rdzong (2) lha hang ra phu dE ba – o rong rdzong (3) lha khang a yur dE ba – ma la pu n+rar rdzong (4) lha khang si'u pa ti dE ba – dA’un tsung gi rdzong (5) lha khang sas si so to dE ba – mong ra mkhar rdzong (6) lha khang on sa ge dE ba – the bo ra si rdzong (7) lha khang mi nyi gi dE ba – 'o shan ba si rdzong [120] el ce wang gsan gau shri [121] tA'i ming ye dbang ngam g.yung lo chen po [122] tI shri blon chen po 15, chos rjes bla chen 'od zer dpal ba [123] TU'i lu zi gi yo'u tu tsung thung dA'u thung Ton Ti Than shi'i khing zho'u Tar le'u [124] klong chen pa dri med 'od zer, BDRC P1583 [125] tA wang tho lo ge chi [126] tI shri blon chen po 02, ra rna ko tu [127] tA las wang gsi bi Tha nA tha [128] tI shri blon chen po 17, chos rjes rgyal mtshan dpal; kha'i san Thi'o kyang Thu wang dwa Theng kyas min than shi'i [129] tA las bA dur thar ba skyabs [130] rgyal po tA las wang gsi [131] 'phen skor; skyabs skor; yag skor; and rje nges tsho gsum [132] 'ja' mo; stag len; and gur shul [133] gsan wang tA shir o la 'phen [134] dwa ben tshe ring skyabs; su ki ni tho lod yag [135] tI shri blon chen po 18, chos rjes legs pa dpal; h+phu tsung hung gi yo'u dA sha'i; brgyud skyongs bstan spel [136] ye wan the bun tsi tA gau shri [137] tI shri blon chen po 19, chos rjes bson nams dpal; sa h+pho ki yo phud man dA sha'i [138] tA'i ming tho shun rgyal po [139] mtsho sngon; o rod tsho yan bzhi bcu; rma stod [140] dwa'i chen rgyal po and shar rdza [141] jing gir wang chen po [142] According to 'ju dgon po sprul sku, bar won is in them chen district under Qinghai province. [143] 'bangs [144] mug ton thang tsung bog to rgyal po; sog man ju chang hwa [145] hor legs ldan [146] cha dkar mtsho brgyad [147] gsan shrI gung mgon po rgyal [148] bde skyid rgyal po [149] blon chen sog po rgyal gau shri bstan 'dzin chos rgyal [150] zi ling and sbra nag [151] 'bar chung che de yag rgyal; yag skor dbu chen pad+ma dbang drag [152] rdza rgyud; hor ma zur tsang [153] wa shul khram thar khog [154] shug gur [155] dbu chen sad dbang; zla khog [156] gser khog [157] gung ru ja sag dpon gnam lha yag [158] mkha' 'gro blo bzang bstan skyong [159] 1. 'ju nang so; 2. sog sde bA; 3. ser shul [160] ha'u phu yan tA ko; mong ra mkhar rdzong [161] 4. thar shul; 5 'bum shul rnying, 6 dpon po; 7 bA dur; 8 khrims bza' gong; 9 dge mang; 10 mang dge; 11 chis tAn; 12 che wo; 13 dge rtse gong; 14 dge 'gab; 15 khrom 'gab; 16 a rig bza'; 17 dpon rgyu; 18 a se bA yan; and 19 'bum gsar [162] dar lung [163] o rgyan tshe ring; dpon tsang sangs bstan 'dzin [164] tI shri 20, chos rjes 'gyur med bkra shis rgya mtsho; mkhas grub chen po 'a tsU Ta ma hA paN Ti ta ma hA gu ru sa ra; BDRC P8741 [165] lcags 'phrang [166] me tog mda' can ('dod lha ) is the god of desire. [167] rdo rje brag dgon; smin grol gling [168] 1 'ja' mo; 2 stag len; 3 gur shul; 4 rgya rog bE li; 5 tsan no be hu; 6 a lcog be cang; 7 sog po; 8 mgo rtsa; 9 gye za [169] sde dge rgyal po 10 bstan pa tshe ring, BDRC P4095 [170] 'phen skor 'bar chung bde legs rab brten – gner chen; skyabs skor 'bar chung ye shes tshe brtan and yag skor 'bar chung rgyal mtshan 'bum – mdun skor nang ma; and rgya, tsan, and a – blon [171] rdza hu ra ma; lcags thag 'phrang kha man; sa ku ti; rdza gsang ha cag 'ga' ma phu; hu ra; mar sgo womp u ring; gsang khri; rdza rgyab smug mo [172] mtsho 'khrung [173] sangs rgyas bstan 'dzin [174] kaH thog drung rin po che; smin gling khri chen 05 'phrin las rnam rgyal, BDRC P674 (It is not clear to us whether this is the Third Throne Holder rin chen rnam rgyal (1694–1758; BDRC P674 ) or the Fifth Throne Holder mentioned in this paragraph.); rje bla ma mi 'gyur dpal sgron, BDRC P678 ; and rdzogs chen grub dbang 02 'gyur med theg mchog bstan 'dzin, BDRC P677 [175] kaH thog drung rin po che; dri med zhing mgon po, BDRC P5972 ; rgyal sras o rgyan bstan 'phel; rgyal sras pad ma rnam rgyal; mkhar shing rig 'dzin chen po; smin gling khri chen 'phrin las rnam rgyal; smin gling mkhan chen 03 o rgyan bstan 'dzin rdo rje, BDRC P683 ; rdor brag rig 'dzin chen po khams gsum zil gnon; lha btsun 18 zhabs drung; khams pa rdzogs chen grub dbang 03 nges don bstan 'dzin bzang, BDRC P7404 [176] sgo me/rdo me; rong bo; tsa kho; rgyal mo rong; dar mdo lcags la mi che sa’i rgyal ba/mi nyag lcags la rgyal po; bdag po lha sras blo gros rgya mtsho [177] lcang skya rol pa'i rdo rje [178] tI shrir tsU Ta ma Ti ma hA ru sa rA [179] man ju bog to sras/ bde skyid rgyal po/ de sras khang shin/ de sras rgyal po hwong [180] krom kyi shu gur 'bar chung tshe yag rgyal [181] rgya mtsho thar; 'phen skor bde legs rab brten; phar kha [182] dpon mgon po dbang rgyal [183] yag skor ba bla kho [184] gser khog; rgya sde; shog pa [185] rje dbon bla ma bstan 'dzin nor bu [186] dpon kun bzang rnam rgyal; dge rgan chos dbyings bstan 'dzin [187] 'bar chung sangs rgyas bkra shis; bla ma 'jigs med chos dar [188] a gro bla ma sgrub chen pad+ma dbang rgyal [189] 'gyur med pad+ma chos rgyal; 'bru rigs [190] a gro bla ma pad+ma rgya mtsho; kun bzang dar rgyas [191] bla rab 'dzin pa 23 rig 'dzin tub bstan dge legs dpal bzang po phyogs las rnam par rgyal ba'i sde [192] dpon rig 'dzin [193] gsan Tang tI shri o la 'phen [194] The text states thirteen communities, however, there are only twelve. [195] dpon 'tsho mdzad chen po BIBLIOGRAPHY 'Gyur med pad+ma chos rgyal. 1852?. ' Jam dbyangs brtan pa'i 'khor lo'i sgyu 'phrul gyi rol gar 'od gsal gnam gyi lha zhing u hu wang jing gir gyi gdung rab yi ger bkod pa pad+ma rA ga'i phreng ba zhes bya ba bzhugs so . London: Tib Shelf W001 Abstract The Ruby Garland is a genealogy of the Tibetan clans Barchung and Ju, descended from Genghis Khan. It might be the only Tibetan historical document that holds a clear account of Buddhism's existence in Mongolia during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Parallel historical narratives can be found in the official historical records of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Shi (明史). TIB SHELF W001 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 00:27 HISTORICAL PERIOD 13th Century 14th Century 15th Century 16th Century 17th Century 18th Century 19th Century CLAN Barchung LORDS 1. Genghis Khan 2. Chagatai Khan 3. Borta Ching (pending) 4. Hanwang Khola Jing 5. Tawang Negoye 6. Sanwang Tomer 7. Yerkhen Dazhi Tawang 8. Hputai Wang Ulkebe 9. Shrir Nadalai Wang 10. Maga Shri Palayon Wang 11. Sanwang Olgo Temu 12. Chinggi Dalai Wang Kunga Dorje 13. Wangchuk Gyeltsen 14. Tiwang Yeten Toktu 15. Tale Wangtang Tirti Mangga Shri 16. Ila Sikyi Wangpa Chara 17. Elche Wangsan Gaushri 18. Tawang Tolo Gechi 19. Tale Wangsiwi Tanata 20. Sanwang Tashir Ola Pen 21. Yewan Tebun Tsita Gaushri 22. Sanshri Gung Gonpo Gyel 23. Namlha Yak 24. Sanggye Tendzin 25. Gonpo Wanggyel 26. Kunzang Namgyel 27. Sanggye Tashi STATE PRECEPTORS 1. Dharma Lord Yonten Pel 2. Dharma Lord Yeshe Gyeltsen Pel 3. Dharma Lord Gelek Pel 4. Dharma Lord Jinpa Pel 5. Dharma Lord Gyamtso Pel 6. Dharma Lord Jampa Pel 7. Khyilwa Kunga Pel 8. Dharma Lord Gyeltsen Bum 9. Dharma Lord Jangchub Pel 10. Purnye Shri 11. Zhiwa Pel 12. Dharma Lord Drime Pel 13. Dharma Lord Taye Pel 14. Dharma Lord Tashi Gawai Pel 15. Dharma Lord Lachen Ozer Pelwa 16. Rana Kotu 17. Dharma Lord Gyeltsen Pel 18. Dharma Lord Lekpa Pel 19. Dharma Lord Sonam Pel 20. Dharma Lord Lama Gyurme Tashi Gyatso No State Preceptors for two Generations 21. Lama Tendzin Norbu 22. Choying Tendzin 23. Lama Jigme Chodar (no title and end of bloodline) 24. Drubchen Pema Wanggyel (lama of the lineage) 25. Gyurme Pema Chogyel (author) TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf Rachael Griffiths INSTITUTIONS N/A STUDENTS N/A AUTHOR Gyurme Pema Chögyal The Ruby Garland: A Genealogy of the Emperor Uhu Wang Genghis Khan VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

A brief history of Kyodrak Monastery, the principal seat of the Barom Kagyu in Dokham and residence of the successive incarnations of Tsoknyi Öser. The narrative includes the monastery’s legendary founding in 1361, when a primordial wisdom ḍākinī—appearing as a fox that stole the master’s shoes—revealed the sacred site where the monastery would be built. A Brief History of Kyodrak Monastery Om Swasti! From the profound instructions of the incredible Lake Manasarovar Comes the wealth of precious pith instructions endowed with the Enlightened mind; I respectfully bow to those of the Kagyu tradition: Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, and Dakpo [Gampopa], the protectors of beings! KYODRAK MONASTERY: The Universally Abundant Kyodrak Monastery: The Place that Disseminates and Proliferates the Theory and Practice of the Buddhist Teachings [ 1 ] LOCATION OF THE GREAT MONASTIC SEAT OF KYODRAK MONASTERY: Tibet, the Land of Snow, a place exalted like a crown jewel on the top of the Earth, is divided into three regions: Amdo, Central Tibet, and Kham. In Do Kham there is a famous practice site of Guru Pema called The Universally Abundant Kyodrak , which is one of the twenty-five great sacred sites of Do Kham. It is the excellent Akanishta descended upon the Earth, an utterly vast arrangement of implements and seed syllables. That is the location of Kyodrak Monastery. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONASTERY: In the Iron Bull Year of 1361 in the sixth calendrical cycle of the Tibetan calendar, one of Lha Repa Tsondru Pelwa’s [ 2 ] many disciples, the supreme emanation of Manjushri, Langre Drakpa Gyeltsen, [ 3 ] practiced in the area’s sacred site of the eastern facing Kyoko Cave. [ 4 ] When he had discovered accomplishment in a single life, the primordial wisdom dakini prophesised: “On the palace atop the cliff over there, [ 5 ] is the pollen bed of the enlightened mind of the great, glorious Chakrasamvara. In its centre sits a boulder like a sizeable and majestically poised tiger. Compile the embers of a fire in this essential place! [ 6 ] This important place is like a vigorous striped tiger. The benefit of beings and the teachings will flourish far and wide.” Saying that, the dakini emanated into a fox and stole his shoes. Early the next morning he sought for the tracks [of the dakini] in the fallen snow. There he saw the main cliff of Kyodrak—at its crest was a swirling rainbow tent of the dharmakaya, at its slope was a pleasant rain of blessings, and diffusing across its base was the aromatic fragrance that arises from discipline. Understanding the dependent arisings from having arrived at this place of solitude, he constructed the initial monastic [structure] of Kyodrak. It was at that time that the Mongol King Genghis Khan offered a bronze [ 7 ] statue of the unparalleled Teacher Shakyamuni. He, [Drakpa Gyeltsen], saw that the figure of the Teacher was made of a brilliant mass of rainbow light and stated that this supreme sacred object is equal in blessings to Shakyamuni. Consequently, he made it the central sacred object of the temple. The dependent arisings of that statue are well suited to allow the teachings to abide for a long while and for there to be a continuous stream of beings who understand the teachings and benefit whomever they encounter. The main representational statue of the enlightened mind was an eight-year-old form of the Sixth Dharmakaya Vajradhara [ 8 ] made from a refined gold of high-quality. In the representational statue of the unified enlightened mind are many relics of the buddhas including small pearl-like relics ( ringsel ) of Tilopa Prajnabhadra (988–1069), [ 9 ] small pearl-like relics from the nose blood of Naropa Jnanasiddhi (1012–1100), [ 10 ] a tooth from Marpa Chokyi Lodro (1012–1097) [ 11 ] with a manifested Hevajra, a small pearl-like relic in the shape of a conch shell from the Laughing Vajra Milarepa (1040–1123), [ 12 ] the combined tongue, heart, and eyes of the Youthful Moonlight of Dagpo [Gampopa], and small pearl-like relics from Barom Darma Wangchuk (1127–1194). [ 13 ] After those were put into the representational [statue] of the unified enlightened mind, a ‘rain of flowers’ fells three times and consecrated the sacred place. “In future times, this will be my representative,” he said as the people received his command. Later when the accomplished meditator Marmo [Sonam Dondrup] was young, as he offered prayers, the compassionate eyes [of the statue] looked upon him pensively. Marmo [Sonam Dondrup] was actually able to see its smiling face and nicely arranged white teeth. Blazing with sincere and measureless devotion, he genuinely discovered the realization of the single experience of meditation. Thus, he built a temple and sacred objects. Philosophical System: It adheres to the stainless tradition of the unbroken lineage of the essential meaning of the dharma lords of the Barom Kagyu, one of the four great Kagyu traditions. MAINTENANCE OF THE TEACHINGS: The transmission is maintained firstly by the lineage gurus of the accomplished ones, secondly by the lineage of the Bare [ 14 ] knowledge holders, lastly by the lineage of the emanations of the bodhisattvas. Development: There is the unbroken lineage of accomplished masters inseparable from the great masters and accomplished ones of India who soared like a flock of birds in the sky. They include the Kyodrak dharma lords, [specifically] the thirteen accomplished ones of Barom, who knew how to fly as they had mastered the power over their winds and mind. Their fame has spread far and wide. There are various representations of enlightened body, speech, and mind including the thirteen [sets] of the Translated Words of the Victor written in gold. Up until this point, it has been the history of the development of the precious teachings of the victor at the central peak of Kyodrak, or the main Kyodrak cliff. FOUNDING OF THE MONASTERY IN CENTRAL KYODRAK: In the Wood Dog Year, 1754, of the thirteenth calendrical cycle, Kyodrak Tsoknyi Ozer (b. 1737) [ 15 ] received the complete instructions of the abiding nature from Nedo Dechen. [ 16 ] Then he went on pilgrimage to U in [central Tibet] and met Karmapa Dudul Dorje (1733/34–1797/98) [ 17 ] who had decided that Tsoknyi Ozer was the reincarnated emanation of Choje Lingpa (1682–1720) [ 18 ] and bestowed him the name Tsoknyi Ozer and all of the instructions. “Since your benefit to beings is in Kyodrak,” the Karmapa prophesised, “you must go there and be of service. In the future you will be of great help for the Barom teachings.” Accordingly he travelled to his homeland. He received all the instructions of the liberative methods from Selje Chogrub Senge. Before that time as there had only been black yak-haired tents at Kyodrak, he [ Tsoknyi Ozer ] built Pur Khang Fort [ 19 ] in 1779. There he conducted meditational practices, rituals, and offerings. In the thirteenth calendrical cycle of the Wood Dog Year, 1785, Tsoknyi Ozer constructed Kyodrak Monastery’s new assembly hall along with its sacred objects. His enlightened activities flourished and spread: He established the tradition of Choje Lingpa’s revealed treasure teachings, becoming the object of worship for the people of China, Tibet, and Mongolia. He [built] innumerable and priceless representations of the enlightened body, speech, and mind and established retreat centres at numerous hermitages. In brief, he extensively spread and proliferated the teachings of both theory and practice, such as the dances, mask dances, and melodies, following the traditions of the previous knowledge holders. DESTRUCTION: During the Cultural Revolution, the sacred objects and the immeasurable mansion of this monastery were destroyed, falling into ruin just like the other monasteries. Only its name had remained. RESTORATION: Relying upon the marvellous armour of the aspirations of the Eighth Dungtrul Rinpoche, the Ninth Selga Rinpoche, the emanation Aten Puntsok, the elder guru Yeshe Rabgye, the emanation Tsoknyi Ozer , Chadrel Tsultrim Tarchin, Khenpo Damcho Dawa, Khenpo Jikga, the accomplished guru Tashi Namgyel, and Lopon Tsering Gyurme, the abbots, emanations, and the sangha newly constructed the assembly hall along with the sacred objects even more elaborately than before. In the main monastic seat [of Kyodrak Monastery] are the following: Barom’s Immutable and Spontaneously Established Temple, a college for the theories of the excellent teachings, the retreat centre for spontaneously accomplishing the two benefits, a tantric college for teaching the three vehicles in the lineage tradition of Marpa, a medical college to bring love and benefit to all, the Dzamo retreat centre, the Kechara nunnery of great bliss, the Lotus Stem retreat centre of enlightenment, Barom’s practice centre of the blissful and secret mantra, Victor Gyam’s Avalokiteśvara practice centre, the practice centre of all knowledge, Narong’s practice centre of the luminosity of great bliss, and Khongne practice centre of auspicious liberation. As for the minor temples that are always in use there are the new protectors’ temple, the Vajrakila meditation centre, the Lion-Faced centre, the Lotus Vajra centre, the longevity centre, the Dorje Drolo centre, and the Three Blissful Seals centre. Each year there are gatherings including a great accomplishment ceremony of the peaceful practices, enlightened heart practices, vase practices, longevity practices, practices for the tenth day, practices for all greater and lesser days, Barom’s grand prayer festival, and Barom’s ritual offerings for the deceased. Their corresponding sacred objects, dances, chants, and melodies are better than before. The monastery and its affiliated institutions have around two-thousand monastics [in total]. Furthermore, for the benefit of the entire district, there is the Precious Pleasant Grove School: The Source of Qualities for the orphans separated from the care of their parents, a nursing home for those separated from their loving children, a thrift store for those who are not able to conduct business, a hospital of both Chinese and Tibetan medicine with reduced costs of treatments for the destitute and sick, and so forth. In brief, it is an extraordinary place for maturing the beings and the teachings. ASPIRATION: May all the mountains be filled flock of meditators! May all textual traditions be enriched with scholars! May the teachings of the victorious Barom, the beautiful and conquering teachings Of the two wheels of meditators and scholars, flourish! COLOPHON Composed collectively by those at Kyodrak Monastery. NOTES [1] skyo brag spyi 'byams phun tshogs thub bstan bshad sgrub dar rgyas gling [2] lha res pa brtson 'grus dpal ba [3] mchog tu gyur pa 'jam dbyangs rnam 'phrul glang ras grags pa rgyal mtshan [4] skyo kho nyin phug [5] ya ki brag [6] This means to construct a new monastery at this location. [7] zi khyim [8] This is the Vajradhara of the sixth buddha family from which the other five families emanate. [9] ti lo pa [10] nA ro pa, BDRC P3085 [11] mar pa chos kyi blo gros, BDRC P2636 [12] mi la res pa bzhad pa'i rdo rje, BDRC P1853 [13] 'ba' rom pa dar ma dbang phyug, BDRC P1856 [14] 'bar re [15] skyo brag tshog gnyis 'od zer [16] gnas mdo bde chen [17] karma pa 13 bdud 'dul rdo rje, BDRC P828 [18] chos rje gling pa, BDRC P671 [19] phur khang BIBLIOGRAPHY Skyo brag dgon pa. 2021. Skyo brag dgon pa'i gsal bshad mdor bsuds . London: Tib Shelf I001 Abstract A brief history of Kyodrak Monastery, the principal seat of the Barom Kagyu in Dokham and residence of the successive incarnations of Tsoknyi Öser. The narrative includes the monastery’s legendary founding in 1361, when a primordial wisdom ḍākinī—appearing as a fox that stole the master’s shoes—revealed the sacred site where the monastery would be built. TIB SHELF I001 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 00:27 TRADITION Kagyu FOUNDED 1361 REGION Do Kham ASSOCIATED PEOPLE Kyodrak Tsoknyi Ozer Langre Drakpa Gyeltsen Marmo Sonam Dondrup The Eighth Dungtrul Rinpoche The Ninth Selga Rinpoche Tulku Aten Puntsok Guru Yeshe Rabgye Chadrel Tsultrim Tarchin Khenpo Damcho Dawa Khenpo Jikga Guru Tashi Namgyel Lopon Tsering Gyurme TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTION N/A INCARNATION LINES Tsoknyi Ozer AUTHOR Kyodrak Monastery A Brief History of Kyodrak Monastery VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

A rare guru yoga from Do Khyentse's treasure teachings centered on a historical yoginī, revealing unique insights into female practitioners and tantric transformation in Tibet. Cloudbanks of Blessings: A Guru Yoga ༄༅། ། ཀུན་བཟང་རྒྱལ་བའི་ཡུམ་ལ་ཕྱག་འཚལ་ལོཿ དེ་ཡང་ལྷ་ལྕམ་བློ་གསལ་དབང་མོ་ལཿ བརྟེན་པའི་བླ་མའི་རྣལ་འབྱོར་འདི་ལྟར་བྱཿ Homage to Samantabhadrā, mother of the victorious ones! What follows is the guru yoga that relies upon the divine consort Losal Wangmo. ཨེ་མ་ཧོ༔ རང་སྣང་རྣམ་དག་སྤྱི་བོའི་ནམ་མཁའ་ལཿ དག་པའི་ཞིང་ཁམས་ངོ་མཚར་བཀོད་མཛེས་དབུསཿ emaho rangnang namdak chiwö namkha la: dakpé zhingkham ngomtsar kö dzé ü Emaho! In my pure perception, in the space above my crown, Is a pure realm, marvelous and beautifully arranged. In its center སེང་ཁྲི་པད་མ་ཉི་ཟླ་བརྩེགས་པའི་སྟེང་ཿ བཀའ་དྲིན་གསུམ་ལྡན་བློ་གསལ་དབང་མོ་དང་༔ sengtri pema nyida tsekpe teng: kadrin sumden losal wangmo dang Upon a lion throne, lotus, sun, and moon, Is she who is endowed with the three kindnesses—Losal Wangmo; རྡོ་རྗེ་ཕག་མོ་དབྱེར་མེད་ཞི་འཛུམ་མདངས༔ སྐུ་མདོག་དཀར་དམར་ཞལ་གཅིག་ཕྱག་གཉིས་པཿ dorje pakmo yerme zhi dzum dang: kundok kar mar zhalchik chak nyi pa Indivisible from Vajravārāhī, she smiles, peaceful and radiant. Her form is white, red [tinged], with one face and two arms. མཉམ་བཞག་སྟེང་ན་བདུད་རྩིའི་བྷནྡྷ་བསྣམསཿ དབུ་སྐྲ་ཐོར་[473]ཚུགས་ལྷག་མའི་སྐུ་རྒྱབ་ཁེབས༔ nyamzhak teng na dütsi bhenda nams: utra tortsuk lhakme kugyab kheb These are [in the mudrā of] meditative equipoise and hold a nectar-filled bhāṇḍha. Her hair is tied in a [473] topknot, with the rest flowing down her back. དར་དཔྱངས་སྟོད་གཡོག་སྨད་དཀྲིས་རུས་རྒྱན་གསོལཿ ཡེ་ཤེས་རང་མདངས་ཐུགས་རྗེས་འོད་ཟེར་འཕྲོསཿ dar chang tö yok metri rügyen söl: yeshe rang dang tukje özer trö Her torso is draped in silk, while she wears a lower garment and ornaments of bone. Her natural radiance of primordial wisdom and compassion radiates as light rays. ཞབས་གཉིས་ཐབས་ཤེས་སྐྱིལ་མོ་ཀྲུང་གིས་བཞུགསཿ རྒྱལ་ཀུན་འདུས་པའི་ངོ་བོར་གསལ་བ་ཡིཿ zhabnyi tabshe kyilmo trung gi zhuk: gyal kün düpee ngowor salwa yi She sits with both legs crossed, [symbolizing] method and wisdom. Shining brightly, embodying the very spirit of all united buddhas, སྤྱན་ཟུང་འབྲུ་ཚུགས་བདག་ལ་བརྩེ་བས་གཟིགས༔ སྤྱི་བོར་རིགས་བདག་པདྨ་བཛྲ་དང་ཿ chen zung dru tsuk dak la tsewe zik: chiwor rikdak pema benza dang Her eyes gaze upon me with an intense expression of love. On her crown is the lord of the family, Padmavajra, ཧེ་རུ་ཀ་དཔལ་ཡབ་དང་གཉིས་སུ་མེདཿ འཁོར་དུ་རིག་འཛིན་དཔའ་བོ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་དང་ཿ heruka pal yab dang nyi su me: khor du rigdzin pawo khandro dang Indivisible from the father, glorious Heruka, While the retinue, vidyādharas, heroes, ḍākinīs, ཆོས་སྐྱོང་དམ་ཅན་སྲུང་མ་སྤྲིན་ལྟར་[474]གཏིབསཿ chökyong damchen sungma trin tar tib Dharma protectors, and oath-bound guardians amass [474] like clouds. སྤྱན་འདྲེན་ཅིང་བཞུགས་སུ་གསོལ་བ་ནིཿ Invitation and Request to Remain: རབ་འབྱམས་ཕྱོགས་བཅུའི་ཞིང་ན་བཞུགས་པ་ཡིས༔ རྩ་གསུམ་ཡེ་ཤེས་ལྷ་ཚོགས་གཤེགས་སུ་གསོལཿ rabjam chok chü zhing na zhukpa yi: tsa sum yeshe lhatsok shek su söl Those who dwell in the manifold realms of the ten directions Request the presence of the assemblies of the Three Roots and primordial wisdom deities! བདག་ལ་ཐུགས་རྗེས་བརྩེ་བར་དགོངས་ནས་ཀྱང་ཿ བྱིན་གྱིས་བརླབས་ཤིང་དགྱེས་པར་བཞུགས་སུ་གསོལཿ dak la tukje tsewar gong ne kyang: jin gyi lab shing gyepar zhuk su söl Lovingly think of me with compassion, as well as Grant me your inspiration, and please remain here joyfully! བཛྲ་ས་མ་ཡ་ཛཿ་ཏིཥྛ་ལྷནཿ benza samaya dza tishta lhen VAJRA SAMAYA TIṢṬHA LHEN ཡན་ལག་བདུན་པ་ནིཿ The Seven Branches: བླ་མ་ཡུམ་ཆེན་ལྷ་ལྕམ་སྤྲུལ་པའི་སྐུཿ བདག་ལུས་རྡུལ་སྙེད་གྲངས་ལྡན་གུས་ཕྱག་འཚལཿ lama yumchen lhacham trulpe ku: dak lü dül nye drangden gü chak tsal Lama, Great Mother, spiritual consort and emanation, I respectfully prostrate to you with a multitude of my bodies equal to the number of atoms. ཀུན་བཟང་ཕྱི་ནང་གསང་བའི་མཆོད་པ་འབུལཿ ཚེ་རབས་ལས་ཀྱི་སྡིག་ལྟུང་མཐོལ་ལོ་བཤགསཿ kunzang chi nang sangwe chöpa bül: tserab lekyi diktung töl lo shak [Like] Samantabhadra, I present the outer, inner, and secret offerings. I confess my misdeeds and downfalls of every proceeding existence. བླ་མེད་བྱང་ཆུབ་མཆོག་ཏུ་སེམས་བསྐྱེད་དོཿ བདག་གཞན་དགེ་ལ་རྗེས་སུ་ཡི་རང་ངོ་ཿ lamé changchub chok tu semkye do: dakzhen gela jesu yi rang ngo I generate the mind intent upon supreme, unsurpassable enlightenment. I rejoice in my own and others’ virtue. འགྲོ་བའི་དོན་དུ་ཆོས་འཁོར་བསྐོར་བར་བསྐུལཿ མ་ཁྱོད་མྱ་ངན་མི་འདའ་བཞུགས་གསོལ་འདེབསཿ drowe döndu chökhor korwar kül: ma khyö nya ngen mi da zhuk söl deb I request you to turn the wheel of Dharma for the sake of beings. Mother, please do not pass into nirvāṇa, but remain here. མ་གྱུར་སེམས་ཅན་དོན་དུ་དགེ་བར་བསྔོཿ magyur semchen döndu gewar ngo I dedicate this virtue for the benefit of all sentients, who have been my mothers. དེ་ནས་གསོལ་བ་འདེབས་པ་ནིཿ Supplication: ཀྱེ་མ། བཀའ་དྲིན་འཁོར་མེད་རྗེ་བཙུན་མཿ དང་པོ་འཁོར་བའི་འདམ་ནས་དྲངསཿ kyema kadrin khorme jetsün ma: dangpo khorwe dam ne drang Kyema! Jetsunma, whose kindness is uninterrupted, First, you pull [us] from the mire of saṃsāra. བར་དུ་བསྐྱེད་[475]རྫོགས་ལམ་ལ་བསླབཿ ཐ་མ་སྐྱེ་མེད་ཆོས་སྐུར་སྟོནཿ bardu kye dzok lam la lab: tama kyeme chökur tön Then, you teach the paths of creation [475] and completion. Lastly, you display as the unborn dharmakāya. ཁྱེད་ལས་རེ་ས་གཞན་ན་མེདཿ བཀའ་དྲིན་དྲན་ཞིང་མཆི་མ་འཁྲུགསཿ khye le resa zhen na me: kadrin dren zhing chima truk There is no one else whom we can place our hopes upon! Tears stream as we remember your kindness. སྙིང་ནས་གུས་པས་གསོལ་བ་འདེབསཿ ཐུགས་རྗེས་གཟིགས་ཤིག་རིན་པོ་ཆེཿ nying ne güpe sölwa deb: tukje zik shik rinpo che With sincere devotion, we offer prayers to you! Look upon us compassionately, Precious One! བདག་ཅག་ལས་ངན་མཐུ་བཙན་པསཿ ད་དུང་གཟུང་འཛིན་འཆིང་བས་བཅིང་ཿ dakchak le ngen tu tsen pe: dadung zungdzin chingwe ching The strong force of our negative karma, Keeps us shackled in chains of subject-object fixation. འཁྲི་བ་བཙན་ཐབས་མ་ཆོད་ནཿ བྱིན་རླབས་ཐུགས་ཀྱིས་དྲང་དུ་གསོལཿ triwa tsentab ma chö na: jinlab tuk kyi drang du söl If we cannot assertively break free from these entanglements, Guide us away from them with your compassionate blessings. བདེ་ཆེན་སྐུ་ཡི་དཀྱིལ་འཁོར་གྱིསཿ རྣལ་འབྱོར་ལུས་ལ་བྱིན་གྱིས་རློབསཿ dechen ku yi kyilkhor gyi: naljor lü la jin gyi lob With the maṇḍala of your great blissful body Bestow blessing upon the bodies of yogis. ཚངས་དབྱངས་གསུང་གི་བདེན་ཚིག་མཐུསཿ སྒྲུབ་པོའི་ངག་ [1] ལ་བྱིན་ནུས་སྩོལཿ tsang yang sung gi dentsik tü: drubpö ngak la jin nü tsöl With the powerful truthful words of your Brahma-like voice, Grant potent blessings to practitioners’ voices! རྣམ་དག་ཐུགས་ཀྱི་ཡེ་ཤེས་གདངསཿ བུ་ཡི་ཡིད་ལ་རྟོགས་པ་བསྐྱེདཿ namdak tuk kyi yeshe dang: bu yi yi la tokpa kye With the radiant primordial wisdom of your completely pure mind, Generate realization in the minds of your children! སྒོ་གསུམ་སྨིན་ཅིང་གྲོལ་བ་དང་ཿ ཐུགས་རྒྱུད་དགོངས་པ་འཕོ་བར་ཤོགཿ go sum min ching drölwa dang: tukgyü gongpa powar shok May the three doors be matured and liberated, and May the wisdom-heart-continuum be transferred! ཨོྃ་ཨཱཿགུ་རུ་ཛྙཱ་ན་ཌཱཀྐི་སིདྡྷི་ཧཱུྃ༔ om ah guru jnana daki siddhi hung OṂ AḤ GURU JÑĀNA ḌĀKINĪ SIDDHI HŪṂ གསོལ་འདེབས་བསྙེན་པ་ཆུ་བོའི་རྒྱུན་བཞིན་འབདཿ མོས་གུས་ལྡན་ལ་བྱིན་རླབས་གློག་ལྟར་མྱུརཿ ཆོས་ཉིད་རང་ཞལ་མཇལ་བར་ཐེ་ཚོམ་མེདཿ ཐུན་མཐར་དབང་བཞི་ལེན་པ་འདི་ལྟར་བྱཿ Exert yourself in the recitations of this supplication like a flowing river. For the devoted, blessings are swift as lightning; there is no doubt that the actual face of dharmatā will be seen. At the end of the session, receive the four empowerments in the following manner. བླ་མའི་སྐུ་[476]ལས་ལྔ་ལྡན་འོད་ཟེར་འཕྲོཿ རང་གི་གནས་ལྔར་ཐིམ་པས་སྒྲིབ་བཞི་དགཿ lamé ku le ngaden özer tro: rang gi ne ngar timpe drib zhi dak Light rays of the five colors radiate from [476] the body of the lama. By dissolving into my five places, the four obscurations are purified— དབང་བཞི་རྫོགས་ཤིང་རྡོ་རྗེ་བཞི་རུ་སྨིནཿ སྐུ་ལྔ་ལྷུན་གྲུབ་འབྲས་བཟང་མངོན་གྱུར་ཞིང་ཿ wang zhi dzok shing dorje zhi ru min: ku nga lhündrub dre zang ngöngyur zhing The four empowerments are complete, and the four vajras are matured. The five kāyas are spontaneously accomplished, and the excellent fruition is actualized. རང་ཉིད་འོད་དམར་ཐིག་ལེ་བྱ་སྒོང་ཙམཿ སྐར་མདའ་ཆད་བཞིན་བླ་མའི་ཐུགས་ཀར་འཕོསཿ rangnyi ö mar tikle ja gong tsam: karda che zhin lamé tukkar pö As red bindu about the size of an egg, I am Ejected, like a shooting star, into the heart of the lama. མོས་གུས་སྟོབས་ཀྱིས་ཐུགས་ཡིད་གཅིག་ཏུ་འདྲེསཿ ཀ་དག་རིག་པ་བླ་མའི་ཞལ་མཐོང་ཤོགཿ mögü tob kyi tuk yi chik tu dre: kadak rigpa lamé zhal tong shok Through the power of devotion, my mind and her wisdom mix as one. May I see the face of the lama, primordially pure awareness! ཐུགས་ཡིད་བསྲེས་མཐར་ལྟ་བའི་ངང་གདངས་སྐྱོང་ལ་བསྔོ་སྨོན་བྱ་བ་ནིཿ After the mixing of minds, while in the radiance of the view, dedicate and make aspirations. དགེ་འདིས་ཕ་མར་གྱུར་པའི་མཁའ་མཉམ་འགྲོཿ འཁོར་བ་མཐའ་མེད་མདག་མེའི་འོབ་ལས་ཐརཿ gé di pamar gyurpe khanyam dro: khorwa tamé dakme ob le tar Through the dedication of this virtue, may beings, equal to space, who have been my parents, Be freed from the fiery pits of endless saṃsāra! སྟོང་ཉིད་བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་ཀྱི་རྒྱུད་བརླན་ནསཿ བླ་མ་མཁའ་འགྲོའི་གོ་འཕང་ཐོབ་ཕྱིར་བསྔོཿ tongnyi changchub sem kyi gyü len ne: lama khandrö gopang tob chir ngo May their mental continua be saturated with emptiness and bodhicitta, And may they obtain the level of lamas and ḍākinīs. བདག་སོགས་འདིར་བཟུང་བྱང་ཆུབ་མ་ཐོབ་པརཿ མོས་གུས་འགྱུར་མེད་རྡོ་རྗེའི་གོ་བགོས་ནསཿ dak sok dir zung changchub ma tob par: mögü gyurme dorje go gö ne From now on, until I and others attain enlightenment, May we don the unchanging vajra armor of devotion མཉེས་པ་གསུམ་གྱིས་ཞབས་ཏོག་མཐའ་རུ་ཕྱིནཿ སེམས་ཅན་ཁམས་ཀྱི་འགྲོ་དོན་མ་རྫོགས་པརཿ nyepa sum gyi zhabtok ta ru chin: semchen kham kyi dro dön ma dzok par And perfectly serve [the lama] in the three pleasing ways. Until the benefit of those in the realms of sentient beings is completed, བླ་མའི་ཞབས་ཏོག་ཕྲིན་ལས་ཕོ་ཉ་བཿ བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་[477]ལྡན་བརྩོན་འགྲུས་དཔལ་གྱིས་ཕྱུགཿ lamé zhabtok trinle ponya wa: changchub semden tsöndrü pal gyi chak May we who serve the lama as messengers of enlightened activity, We who have bodhicitta, [477] be enriched by the glory of our diligence ངལ་བ་ཁྱད་བསད་ལུས་སྲོག་འབེན་བཙུགས་ཏེཿ ཡུམ་ཆེན་ཐུགས་དགོངས་ཡོངས་སུ་རྫོགས་པར་ཤོགཿ ngalwa khye se lü sok ben tsuk te: yumchen tukgong yongsu dzokpar shok And, regardless of the hardships, sacrifice both body and life for The intentions of the Great Mother to be completely fulfilled! མ་དག་གཟུང་དང་འཛིན་པའི་སྒྲོགས་གྲོལ་ཅིང་ཿ འཁྲུལ་བ་རང་ཞིག་བག་ཆགས་ཟག་པ་ཟདཿ ma dak zung dang dzinpe drok dröl ching: trülwa rang zhik bakchak zakpa ze May the chains of impure subject-object fixation be undone! May delusion be destroyed, and habitual patterns and defilements be exhausted! ཟག་བཅས་ཕུང་པོ་འོད་སྐུར་དེངས་ནས་ཀྱང་ཿ བླ་མ་ཡུམ་ཆེན་ཐུགས་དང་དབྱེར་མེད་ཤོགཿ zakche pungpo ökur deng ne kyang: lama yumchen tuk dang yerme shok May the defiled aggregates dissipate into a body of light, and also, May there be no separation with the mind of the lama, the Great Mother! COLOPHON གུ་རུའི་གཟུངས་མ་ལྷ་ལྕམ་མནྡ་རཿ སྤྲུལ་བསྒྱུར་འཁྲུལ་མེད་ཡེ་ཤེས་ཌཀྐཱི་མཿ བསྐྱེད་རྫོགས་མཐར་ཕྱིན་ཆོས་ཀྱི་གསང་མཛོད་ལཿ དབང་བསྒྱུར་ཡོ་གའི་བློ་གསལ་སྒྲོལ་མ་ལཿ བརྟེན་པའི་བླ་མའི་རྣལ་འབྱོར་བྱིན་རླབ་སྤྲིན། ཟོ་དོར་བཞག་བྲིའི་སྲས་མོ་འོད་མཛེས་མསཿ ནན་གྱིས་བསྐུལ་དང་ཉེ་གནས་དད་དམ་ལྡནཿ འོད་གསལ་སྙིང་པོའི་གསོལ་བ་བཏབ་པའི་ངོརཿ གནས་ཆེན་རྒྱ་ [2] མོ་དམུ་རྡོའི་ལྟེ་བ་རུཿ ཁྲག་འཐུང་ལས་ཀྱི་རྡོ་རྗེས་སྤེལ་བའོ། ། དགེའོ། ། At the insistent behest of Özema, daughter of the chief local god of Zhagdra, And the supplication of the faithful attendant Ösal Nyingpo, At the center of the great sacred place of Gyalmo Mudo, Tragtung Lekyi Dorje composed “Cloudbanks of Blessings: A Guru Yoga that Relies Upon Losal Drölma,” master Of the secret treasury of the Dharma and perfector of creation and completion, An undeluded primordial wisdom ḍākinī who is the emanation of The Guru’s divine consort, Mandara. Virtue! མཉམ་བཞག་ཏུ་ཆོས་ཐམས་ཅད་བདེན་པ་ནམ་ཡང་མེད། སྣང་བ་ཙམ་ཡང་མེད་པ་ནམ་མཁའི་དཀྱིལ་ལྟ་བུ། རྗེས་ཐོབ་ཏུ་སྣང་ཙམ་དུ་ཡོད་ཀྱང་མི་བདེན་པ་རྨི་ལམ་ལྟ་བུ་སྒྱུར་མ་ལྟ་བུར་རྟོགས་པར་བྱའོ།། །། During meditative equipoise, all phenomena do not truly exist whatsoever, not even a mere appearance—it is like the center of space. During post-meditation, even though there are mere appearances, one should realize that, like a dream and like an illusion, they do not truly exist. NOTES [1] Recte : ngag ; 2009, 475.3: ngang ; 2015, 244.13: ngag . [2] Recte : rgyal ; 2009, 477.4: rgya ; 2015, 245.17: rgyal . Published: February 2024 NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje. 2009. bla maʼi rnal ʼbyor gyi byin rlabs sprin phung . In gter chos mdo mkhyen brtse ye shes rdo rje , vol. 5, 471–77. Chengdu: Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche. BDRC MW1PD89990_670726 . Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje. 2015. mdo mkhyen brtse ye shes rdo rjeʼi gsung ʼbum , vol. 5, 243–246. Chengdu: si khron dus deb tshogs pa si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang . BDRC MW3CN7920 . Abstract Rare indeed it is to discover a guru yoga that relies upon a historical woman. But our research has unveiled a rare gem hidden in Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje’s treasure collection ( gter chos ) — a guru yoga that transcends conventional narratives, anchored in the reverence of a historical yoginī. Join us in unraveling the secrets of female practitioners in the Tibetan world, where feminine power becomes a gateway to tantric transformation. BDRC LINK MW1PD89990 _670726 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 00:27 TRADITION Nyingma INCARNATION LINE Jigme Lingpa HISTORICAL PERIOD 19th Century TEACHERS The Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang, Mingyur Namkhe Dorje The First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Özer Gyurme Tsewang Chokdrub Dola Jigme Kalzang Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTIONS Mahā Kyilung Monastery Katok Monastery Dzogchen Monastery Tseringjong STUDENTS Losal Drölma Tsewang Rabten Nyala Pema Dudul The Second Dodrubchen, Jigme Puntsok Jungne Patrul Orgyen Jigme Chökyi Wangpo The First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Özer Ranyak Gyalse Nyoshul Luntok Tenpe Gyaltsen Özer Taye Kalzang Döndrub Pema Sheja Drime Drakpa Kunzang Tobden Wangpo Gyalse Zhenpen Taye Özer Chöying Tobden Dorje Rigpe Raltri AUTHOR Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje Cloudbanks of Blessings: A Guru Yoga VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

Through verse, Dudul Dorje explores addiction and worldly attachments, revealing how these forms of suffering stem from the clinging mind itself. Addiction [1] གུ་རུ་པདྨ་སིདྷི་ཧཱུྃ༔ GURU PADMA SIDDHI HŪṂ! [2] ཨེ་མ་དཀོན་མཆོག་འགྲོ་མགོན་པདྨ་འབྱུང༔ འཁོར་བའི་ཞེན་ཆགས་བྲལ་བར་བྱིན་གྱིས་རློབས༔ Eh ma! supreme jewel, protector of beings—Lotus-Born One, Please bless me to sever my fixed attachment to saṃsāra! གཉུག་མར་རང་གསལ་ཆང་འདི་མ་འཐུང་ན༔ བྲམ་ཟེ་ཆང་མྱོས་འདི་ལ་མཐོང་ཚེ་ཡི་རེ་མུག༔ གཤིས་ལུགས་ཀ་དག་གི་ནོར་མཆོག་མ་མཐོང་ནས༔ བསླུས་ནོར་ཞེན་འཛིན་འདི་མཐོང་ཚེ་ཞེ་རེ་ལོག༔ How sad it is to see a brahmin [ 3 ] dissipated on drink, Having failed to imbibe the innate nature’s self-luminosity. When you don’t appreciate the supreme jewel of your primordially pure makeup, When you hang on to the counterfeit jewel of consuming fixation—this pains my soul .[ 4 ] མར་དམྱལ་བ་ཚ་གྲང་གི་སྡུག་བསྔལ་ཐར་མེད་དེ༔ བུ་རང་རྒྱུད་ཞེ་སྡང་གི་རྩ་དེར་འདུག༔ ཡི་དྭགས་བཀྲེས་སྐོམ་གྱི་སྡུག་བསྔལ་བཟོད་མེད་དེ༔ བུ་རང་རྒྱུད་སེར་སྣའི་རྩ་དེར་འདུག༔ The inescapable, harrowing heat and cold of hell below ,[ 5 ] My dear, [ 6 ] are rooted in your mind’s hostility. The ghost’s overwhelming, burning hunger and thirst, My dear, are rooted in your mind’s rapacity. བྱོལ་སོང་བླུན་རྨོངས་སྡུག་བསྔལ་བཟོད་མེད་དེ༔ བུ་རང་རྒྱུད་གཏི་མུག་གི་རྩ་དེར་འདུག༔ ལྷ་མིན་འཐབ་རྩོད་གྱི་སྡུག་བསྔལ་བཟོད་མེད་དེ༔ བུ་རང་རྒྱུད་ཕྲག་དོག་གི་རྩ་དེར་འདུག༔ The benighted brainlessness of a beast, My dear, is rooted in your mind’s vacuity. The asuras’ acidic quarrels ,[ 7 ] My dear, are rooted in your mind’s envy. འཆི་འཕོ་ལྟུང་བའི་སྡུག་བསྔལ་དོང་རིང་དེ༔ བུ་རང་རྒྱུད་འདོད་ཆགས་ཀྱི་རྩ་དེར་འདུག༔ དེ་ལྟར་དབུལ་ཕོངས་ཀྱི་སྡུག་བསྔལ་དེ༔ བུ་སྦྱིན་གཏོང་གཉིས་པོའི་རྩ་དེར་འདུག༔ The nightmarish chute of your fall from grace, [ 8 ] My dear, [241/242] is rooted in your mind’s indulgences. Likewise, my dear, the pauper’s pain Shares its root with the two kinds of giving .[ 9 ] འཁོར་འདས་ཤེས་བྱའི་ཐ་སྙད་དེ༔ བུ་རེ་དོགས་གཉིས་ཀྱི་རྩ་དེར་འདུག༔ བུ་རྫོགས་སངས་རྒྱས་པ་ཞེས་བྱའི་སྒྲ་ཆེ་དེ༔ བུ་རང་རིག་སྐྱེ་མེད་ཀྱི་ཀློང་དེར་འདུག༔ The conventions known as saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, My dear, are rooted in your hopes and fears. My dear, what’s called “exalted, perfect awakening,” Is there, my dear, in the unborn expanse of your self-knowing awareness. ཡིན་མིན་འབུང་བའི་གླུ་ཆུང་འདི༔ རང་འདྲའི་ཞེན་ཆགས་རྟག་འཛིན་མཁན་རྣམས་ལ༔ མཆོག་སྨན་ཆུའི་དབེན་ཁྲོད་དུ༔ འབུང་བའི་གླུ་ཆུང་སྨྲས་པ་ཟེར་རོ༔ This little song about the struggles of dignity— [ 10 ] For those like me who are hooked and think things last forever— Was sung with sincerity In isolated retreat where sublime Healing Waters flow. [ 11 ] COLOPHON ཧ་ཧ༔ དགེ་བས་འགྲོ་ཀུན་བུདྡྷ་མྱུར་འགྲུབ་ཤོག༔ རིག་འཛིན་བདུད་འདུལ་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཡིས༔ སྨན་ཆུའི་ཡང་དབེན་དུ་སྨྲས་པ་ཟེར་རོ༔ མངྒ་ལམ༔ Ha ha! By the good of this, may all beings quickly attain buddhahood. This little poem was written in the Healing Waters of total solitude .[ 12 ] By Rigzin Dudul Dorje. Maṅgalam NOTES [1] The title is literally “The Drawbacks of Alcohol.” In classical Tibetan literature, and even today, alcohol (chang) is used as a catch-all term for addictive substances. This is no doubt largely because, until recently, there was little access to other addictive substances on the Tibetan plateau, with the exception of tobacco and occasional opioid abuse among the economic elite (See McKay, “Indifference, Cultural Difference, and a Porous Frontier: Some Remarks on the History of Recreational Drugs in the Tibetan Cultural World”). We choose to render the title more openly as “addiction” since it does not focus on alcohol but on the mind afflicted by addictions to its own poisons. [2] The only edition we find of this text has rather curious punctuation. Each line ends with Sanskrit visarga marks (ཿ ), which are very commonly conflated with Tibetan terma marks (༔) that indicate a text is a revealed treasure. Since Dudul Dorje was a treasure revealer, his works are full of terma marks, however, the present poem shows virtually none of the characteristics of a treasure text and seems to be a personal composition intended for his student. Thus, the use of the visarga/terma marks may just be an editorial quirk. [3] Brahmin (bram ze): the highest caste in traditional Indian social strata. Brahmins are distinguished by their access to the sacred Vedic scriptures, which are the source of all knowledge. As a seventeenth-century Tibetan, Dudul Dorje likely uses the term figuratively as something like the English “gentleman,” as in someone whose nature is essentially good. Thus, the line might be read in contemporary English as “One hates to see a good man in the throes of addiction.” [4] “Soul” here is in the figurative sense of one’s innermost being (zhe), not, of course, in the non-Buddhist metaphysical sense of a permanent self. There are synonymic resonances in this stanza between “soul” (zhe), “innate nature” (gnyug ma), and “makeup” (gshis lugs), which is more commonly translated as “disposition,” “character,” or the extremely long “fundamentally unconditioned nature.” [5] This and the following stanzas have a repeating structure in which lines 1 and 3 repeat the word “suffering” (sdug bsngal) + an intensifier like “inescapable” (thar med) or “unbearable" ( b zod med). Since the meaning of the lines is unambiguous, rather than render a stiff word-for-word translation of the repeated phrases, we prefer to use evocative synonyms for each in accord with English stylistic conventions. [6] The word here is literally “son,” which is a common term of affection that a lama uses to address a close male student. We believe that in the present context, the term’s affectionateness is more important than its gender, and that using “son” might create needless confusion about whether he’s referring to his literal son or not. A good alternative is sometimes “dear student,” but we reluctantly choose “my dear” because it is slightly lighter in the meter. [7] Asuras (lha min) can be translated as “demi-gods”—powerful and privileged beings tormented by competitiveness with the gods who are even more powerful and privileged. [8] This line uses a phrase associated with the experience of gods when their positive karma runs out, and they traumatically descend back into lower realms. [9] Two kinds of giving (sbyin gtong gnyis po) is synonymous with two kinds of generosity (sbyin pa gnyis), which are the giving of things (zang zing gi sbyin pa) and the giving of Dharma (chos kyi sbyin pa). This line seems to emphasize that suffering and wholesome categories like generosity both have their root in the mind. [10] This interesting line deserves unpacking. It is literally “is and is not” (yin min) + “making effort” (’bung ba) + of + “little song” (glu chung). The phrase “is and is not” usually concerns moral questions of what is and is not good or right, so the line could be read as “this little poem about right and wrong.” Here, we prefer to handle it slightly more delicately since Dudul Dorje does not emphasize ethics in the poem but rather the epistemology of a mind addicted to its poisons. This is how we arrived at “the struggles of dignity (i.e., self-respect).” [11] sman chu dben khrod. This is almost certainly a place name, as in the sublime “Healing Waters Hermitage.” However, since we cannot confirm its location, we prefer to translate the terms, which have some poetic value. [12] Again, here “Healing Waters” (sman chu) is likely the name of the hermitage where he stayed. Dudul Dorje spent many years in retreat and revealing treasures in remote places, especially in the southern Tibetan regions of Powo (spo bo), Kongpo (kong po), and Pemakö (pad+ma bkod). Published: September 2023 Thanks to Lowell Cook for this editorial feedback. BIBLIOGRAPHY Dudul Dorje (bdud ’dul rdo rje). chang gi nyes dmigs. In gter chos bdud ʼdul rdo rje, 3:249–50. Edited by Zhichen Bairo (gzhi chen bai ro 03 padma rgyal mtshan). Darjeeling: Kargyud Sungrab Nyamso Khang, 1997. BDRC MW22123_D2C055 . McKay, Alex, Alex. “Indifference, Cultural Difference, and a Porous Frontier: Some Remarks on the History of Recreational Drugs in the Tibetan Cultural World.” The Tibet Journal 39, no. 1, Special Issue: Trade, Travel and the Tibetan Border Worlds: Essays in Honour of Wim van Spengen (1943–2013) (Spring-Summer 2014): 57–73. Abstract Using poetic verses, this work delves into the theme of addiction, whilst emphasizing the destructive nature of clinging to worldly attachments. Dudul Dorje draws parallels between various forms of suffering and the importance of recognizing that they are rooted in the mind. BDRC LINK MW22123_ D2C055 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 02:02 TRADITION Nyingma INCARNATION LINE Dudjom Lingpa Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje HISTORICAL PERIOD 17th Century TEACHERS Drenpa Könchok Gyal Jatsön Nyingpo Derge Drubchen Kunga Gyatso TRANSLATOR Dr. Joseph McClellan INSTITUTION Katok Monastery STUDENTS Wangdrak Dorje Longsal Nyingpo Orgyen Palzang Nyima Drakpa Kunzang Pema Loden The First Dzogchen Drubwang, Pema Rigzin Nuden Dorje Orgyen Damchö Pal Tashi Özer AUTHOR Dudul Dorje Addiction VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

A song by Tsangnyön Heruka, using the imagery of ocean, waves, and wind to point directly at the nature of mind. Ocean, Waves, and Wind: A Song on the Nature of Mind Namo guru! The ocean of mind is stirred by the wind of grasping at subject and object. The childish take the waves of appearance as something to reject. For the wise, the waves are none other than the water itself. In the ultimate, there is no river and no waves. When the waves cause harm, abandon the wind. When they do not harm, they are like a fair wind for a boat. If one is willing to make use of this wind, it becomes a companion on the path. When it causes harm, the very wind itself is the means of release. You, Yogi, understand it in this way! Evaṃ COLOPHON None NOTES * “Ocean, Waves, and Wind: A Vajra Song on the Nature of Mind” is a title supplied by the translators since this “song,” or doha , is untitled in the Collected Songs of Tsangnyön Heruka. BIBLIOGRAPHY Tsangnyön Heruka (gtsang smyon he ru ka rus paʼi rgyan can). rje btsun gtsang smyon he ru kas la phyi nas blangs pa’i nyams mgur . In gtsang smyon he ru kaʼi mgur ʼbum , 1 vol., 1, compiled by Godtsangpa Natsok Rangdröl (rgod tshang pa sna tshogs rang grol). BDRC MW4CZ1248 . Abstract Sung by Tsangnyön Heruka (1452–1507) in response to a student’s meditation report, this short mgur serves as a direct pointing-out instruction. Having received guidance on recognising the nature of mind, Tashi Rinchen Palsangpo reports his meditative experience to Tsangnyön, who replies in song. Through the recurring imagery of ocean, wind, and waves, Tsangnyön gives vivid expression to the relation between mind, dualistic grasping, and appearances, directing the listener to the nature of mind itself. By Tsangnyön’s own account, the highest use of mgur is to sing to realised yogins of view, meditation, conduct, and fruition, and this song stands as a succinct expression of precisely that purpose. BDRC LINK MW4CZ1248 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 01:26 TRADITION Marpa Kagyu CLAN Nyang HISTORICAL PERIOD 14th Century 15th Century TEACHERS sangs rgyas seng+ge kun dga' sangs rgyas yon tan rgya mtsho kun dga' nyi ma don grub grags pa The Second Drukchen, Kunga Peljor TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTIONS Pelkhor Chode Swayambhunath Rechung Puk Kailash Tsāri Labchi STUDENTS sna tshogs rang grol rdo rje seng+ge rin chen rnam rgyal dngos grub dpal 'bar AUTHOR Tsangnyön Heruka Ocean, Waves, and Wind: A Song on the Nature of Mind VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

Senior Geluk figure Lelung Zhepe Dorje (1697-1740) recounts his extraordinary 1729 pure vision of Gesar of Ling, marking a rare intersection of Geluk tradition with Tibet's epic hero. Chapter Narrating the Pure Vision of Gesar I pay homage, with a mind of sincere respect, to the Great Noble One, Lord of the Three Worlds, [ 1 ] and his entourages. The many tales of the Great Noble One, Gesar Dorje Tsegyel, [ 2 ] known throughout the Three Worlds, [ 3 ] are deep and hard to fathom, passing beyond our ability to comprehend. There are many different ways in which the story has come down according to a disciple’s individual karmic lot. Even today, such tales continue to be told in all directions without distinction in Dokham, Utsang, and so on. And although all these various life stories differ in style and content, they need not be considered contradictory since they are the life stories of a thus-gone one. [ 4 ] It is for this reason that there is variance. Here, not long after the [annual] grand festival to celebrate the joining of the Great Queen of Medicine, Dorje Yudronma, [ 5 ] and the Great Noble One of Ling (Gesar), at the Zangdokpelri [hermitage] in the Lelung region of the eastern land of Olga [ 6 ] [in Lhodrak, southern Tibet] in the year of the Earth Female Bird [1729 CE], an emanation of the Great Noble One (Gesar) was encountered in the form of an iron man wearing iron armour, brandishing a silk-pennanted spear. And the following life story was heard: Now in the realm of the gods above, from a primordial state of complete nothingness, a White Light, like the Victory Star, [ 7 ] arose. Being born from the Divine Wish-Fulfilling Jewel, [ 8 ] it resided in an egg-like womb of light, a light born out of its own radiance. And soon afterwards, desire arose in the breast of one daughter of the gods called Bum Okimetse, [ 9 ] and she replicated that luminous sphere. For this she was ridiculed and cursed by the gods and grew ashamed. So she went to a victorious sage of the gods and humbly beseeched him thus: “They accuse me of having done that which I have not done! They blame me for having attachments that I do not have! I just can’t take their chastisements anymore! I can dwell no longer in the realm of gods above, And nor can I go to the land of the lu water-spirits [ 10 ] below.” “So I should take a quick look at the middle world of humans. I shall take that young godling along with me [as a companion]. Is there any fault created by my going there? Great sage, please tell me; I implore you!” Thus she spoke, and the old sage of creation, born into the caste of Yungdrung Bon, [ 11 ] replied thus: “ A-ya-ya , you crowned girl, Light Garland Goddess! It is very good that you have come here, as I have been wanting to see you. Last night, beings in the land of men Had hurried dreams of various kinds. So many good signs! Such as cannot be spoken.” “ A-ya-ya ! These were signs; these were premonitions, That you, my girl, would come at this time. For now you should stay awhile longer in the land of gods, For from [your nurturing] mother’s lap, a son will be born. Call upon the god Gertso Nyenpo [ 12 ] for help But don’t dismiss your young godling, For he will be of benefit to all beings of all countries and regions.” [ 13 ] “ A-ya-ya! A godling is better than a man, Unlike other little men born of gods! Three fives make fifteen! Possible danger can come of this! Three sixes make eighteen—certainly a chance of such! O beautiful maiden, may your innermost mind be at peace.” Then the goddess Bum Okimetse went back to her own dwelling place and, [in accordance with his instructions], made offerings of female yak milk to the worldly god Nyenchen Gertso. [ 14 ] As she prayed, Gertso actually came before her and, taking her tightly on his lap, he made love to her fifteen times, inducing in her a state of great pleasure. And after a while, just as the sage had prophesied, the goddess became pregnant. Initially, a venomous black snake was born, and the gods gave it the name White-Turbaned Nele (Nele Tokar), [ 15 ] king of lu , and it went into the great ocean. Next, a red man and a red horse were born. He was named Tsen Yawa Kyachik. [ 16 ] He went to Zangthang Jangmar in the western direction, one of the five regions of the Gawa Valley in the northern part of Pemako. [ 17 ] It was a hub of pernicious harmful spirits near a town of the Chim [clan] [ 18 ] and barbarians. He stayed there as lord of gods and spirits. [ 19 ] Then a blue man wearing fine blue clothes and a blue horse were born. He was given the name Lord of Waters, Lap-born Masang (Chudak Pangkye Masang). [ 20 ] He went to the land of Lato. [ 21 ] After that, a malicious harmful spirit was born with a chin of iron and a yellow beard spiked like tongues of fire. He was respectfully given the name King of Demons (Dudje Gyelpo) [ 22 ] and, in fact, was none other than the mind-lord Indra. [ 23 ] He went to the land of Gyatri Gotri Shing [ 24 ] and was also known as Gyaje Tsenpo, [ 25 ] or the One-eyed Demon King of the Eastern Direction. Following that, a black man and a black horse were born. He was given the name Moon-faced Demon (Dudawai Gonchen). [ 26 ] He had unimaginable power and magical abilities, difficult for others to defeat. Going to the northern land of Mizhung, [ 27 ] he became a hunter. Having killed many beings by gathering their life-breath, he accumulated about a hundred thousand human and horse corpses and stayed there enjoying their flesh and blood. Subsequently, a daughter of the gods—so beautiful that a single glance nulls contentment—was born. She was given the name Charming Goddess (Lhamo Yitrok). [ 28 ] By and by, she went to the red copper plain of the tsen [ 29 ] and lived there as the wife of the noble tsen , Lutsen. [ 30 ] Then the harmful spirit Genuine Knowledge (Yangdak Shay) [ 31 ] was born, beautiful and heroic. In the Palace of Braids, [ 32 ] he joined the entourage of Vaishravana, [ 33 ] and together with the servants of this great wealth-god and lord of treasures, he stayed as the Great Protecting King of the Northern Direction. [ 34 ] Next, a being with the appearance of a sinpo demon, [ 35 ] skilled in martial arts, was born, known as Raksha Lightening-Garland (Yaksha Loktreng), [ 36 ] who in the depths of the ocean, by the power of karma, joined with the female lu Toad-headed Bloodshot-eyed (Belgo Trakmikma), [ 37 ] whose desire boiled like water. By entering into sexual union, they became husband and wife. It is said that she gave birth to the four-faced Vishnu King of Rahu. [ 38 ] Then Black Shiva (Wangchuk Nakpo) [ 39 ] was born, and staying in the land of turban-wearers, he became the protector of the Muslim regions. After that, the Red Lord of Death (Shinje Marpo Chidak), [ 40 ] the colour of blood, was born. He was also known as Bandit Bringer of Fire, the Red Lord of Life (Sokdak Marpo), or Great Abse, among other names. [ 41 ] He was the master of swift and sharp martial skills and possessed magical abilities. It is said because he had sex with his own sibling, the Charming Goddess, kith and kin were ashamed. The gods insulted them, and they were belittled by shame. Following that, the protector of China, the land of the Eastern Direction, called Lhanyen Lhaje, [ 42 ] was born. He became the protector of White Confucius. And until now, he stays in those bad regions. Then a demoness the colour of blood, with the body of a sinmo demoness and the head of a lion, was born. She was known as Red Lion-faced (Sengdong Marmo) [ 43 ] and became the wife of the demon Black Yabshar, [ 44 ] otherwise known as the Lion-faced Kunga Zhonu, the protector of the realm. [ 45 ] Next, Simultaneously Red (Chikchar Marpo) [ 46 ] was born and went to Tsaritra, [ 47 ] enjoying flesh and blood. Since he had little compassion for those mired in the passion of life, he became lord of the haughty spirits, and there he remained. After that, the one called Great Apo, [ 48 ] who resides now as a protecting god of Pemako, was born. Going to the lands of Lo Dra and Hor Ga, [ 49 ] he protects the outer, inner, and secret regions of Pemako and subregions. Then when all these fourteen elder siblings were born, the fifteenth, the Great Noble One, Gesar, King of Dralha, [ 50 ] was born. He was youthful in stature and beautiful with all the signs and characteristics [of a special being] complete, transfixing to look upon, and capable of bringing all the Three Realms [ 51 ] under his dominion. Initially, he thrice played dice [ 52 ] in the realm of gods and gained respect from all of them. Then, going to the land of humans, he again thrice played dice games, casting gambling dice, [ 53 ] and playing pebbles, [ 54 ] thereby bringing all the beings of the human realm into complete submission; he was left unrivalled. Then, having crossed to the water realm, he trice did swimming, jumping and other such games, and all the female lu lusted after him. Hence, he gained mastery over them, neutralized their viciousness, and calmed their fury. And in that way, being without rival in the Three Worlds, the Great Noble One traversed instantly through the central region [ 55 ] [of Tibet] to Serzhong Zangri. [ 56 ] In the female Earth Bird Year, the Great Noble One took care of the reincarnation of the son Gadol Gali. [ 57 ] For our benefit, he turned his horse towards the hermitage of the supreme sacred site of Zangdok Pelri [in Lelung Valley] and took the Great Queen of Medicine, Lachik Yudronma, as his consort. All lords and ministers, from the treasurer and attendant to the hen keeper and swineherd [who witnessed this], are still alive to this day. In the past, when Great Noble One came to Tibet, he visited all these places and blessed all the hermitages, mountains, and cliffs. And previously, his flying-mount-tree, [ 58 ] [the tree from which he gets his flying stick], was [considered to be] at the upper slopes of Lhunpo Dza. [ 59 ] But today it is not there, as it has been felled. And from the upper slopes of Lhunpo Dza to the area of Chabumpa, [ 60 ] the stones Gesar placed there can be seen even now. Later, the secret caves, sacred sites, and holy lakes were discovered eventually, as they were pointed out and taught in the secret transmission. COLOPHON This is the first chapter of the three-part oral instruction of the Gesar Pure Vision. NOTES [1] 'jig rten gsum. Referring to the worlds of lha ‘gods’ above, klu ‘water spirits’ below, and gnyan ‘worldly deities’ in the middle. This tripartite scheme of a vertically-ordered world is a central theme in most tellings of the Gesar epic. In this text, two or three terms are used to refer to the scheme: ‘jig rten gsum, sa gsum, and srid gsum. The first two we have translated as “Three Worlds” and the last as “Three Realms”, since it could also be interpreted as referring to the Buddhist scheme of Form, Formless, and Formless Realms (more commonly known as as khams gsum). [2] skyes bu chen po ge sar rdo rje tshe rgyal [3] sa gsum [4] de bzhin gshegs pa, tathāgata [5] Sman btsun chen mo rdo rje g.yu sgron ma is one of the bstan ma bcu gnyis, the 12 native goddesses who according to Nyingma lore were converted in the 8th century by Padmasambhava and Pelgyi Senge (dpal gyi seng ge; BDRC P4236 ) to become protectors of the tantric teachings of the Old School. [6] 'ol ga [7] The Victory Star (rgyal skar, puṣya/pauṣa) is one of the twenty-eight stars/constellations (rgyu skar nyi shu rtsa brgyad, aṣtāviṃśati nakṣatrāṇi) in the Indo-Tibetan system of lunar mansions, an ancient Indian division of the ecliptic. In the Tibetan tradition, a period associated with one of these constellations is determined by the moon’s position. If the moon was in the Victory Star at sunrise on a lunar day, that day would be considered to be ruled by that constellation. [8] lha'i yid bzhin nor bu rin po che [9] 'bum 'od kyi me tshe [10] klu (Skt: (nāga) are beings of the world below, associated with water, health, and wealth. [11] g.yung drung bon [12] lha ger mtsho gnyan po. The deity ger mtsho, in various spellings, is frequently encountered in tellings of the Gesar epic as the gnyan father of Gesar. Gnyan are a class of powerful worldly deities in Tibetan culture who inhabit the middle world, in which humans also dwell. They are often associated with mountain deities. [13] yul gling dgu'i skyes 'gro yongs [14] srid pa'i lha gnyan chen po ger mtsho. See note above. [15] ne le thod dkar [16] btsan ya ba skya gcig [17] zangs thang byang dmar gyi gling and dga' ba lung [18] 'chims [19] lha srin [20] chu bdag pang skyes ma sang [21] la stod [22] bdud rje rgyal po [23] brgya byin (“hundred sacrifices”) is the usual Tibetan name for Indra (also known as Kauśika or Śakra), king of the heaven of the Thirty-Three gods (of the desire realm). [24] rgya khri sgo khri shing [25] rgya rje btsan po [26] bdud zla ba'i gdong can [27] mi gzhung [28] lha mo yid 'phrog [29] btsan. These are non-human entities of the world characterized in Tibetan culture. They are included in the eight classes (sde brgyad) and are primarily seen as greatly powerful and nefarious beings who inhabit a specified locale. [30] klu btsan. This name is familiar from many tellings of the Gesar epic in which Lutsen is one of the hero’s main adversaries. In many tellings, he is the Demon of the North, whose beautiful wife waylays Gesar for many years. [31] yang dag shes [32] lcang lo can gyi pho brang [33] rnam thos sras, Vaiśravaṇa [34] byang phyogs skong ba'i rgyal po chen po [35] Srin po (or feminine srin mo) are a prominent class of harmful being or demon in Tibetan culture. This is the term used in Tibetan to translate the Sanskrit rākṣasa. They are human-eating and bloodthirsty. [36] rak+sha glog phreng [37] klu mo sbal mgo mig khrag ma [38] khyab 'jug gza'i rgyal po [39] dbang phyug nag po [40] gshin rje dmar po 'chi bdag [41] jag pa me len; srog bdag dmar po; ab se chen po. Among the “other names” alluded to would be beg tse and lcam sring. [42] lha gnyan lha rje [43] seng gdong dmar mo [44] yab shar nag po [45] zhing skyong seng ge'i gdong chen kun dga' gzhon nu [46] cig car dmar po [47] tsa ri tra [48] a pho chen po [49] klo gra; hor ga [50] dgra lha [51] srid gsum. This could refer to the “three worlds” (worlds above below and in the middle) or to the classical Buddhist scheme of Three Realms (usually known as khams gsum) of the Form, Formless, and Desire Realms. [52] sho [53] cho lo [54] rdo [55] dbu ru [56] gser gzhong zings ri [57] bu ga 'dol ga li'i skye ba [58] chibs phur gyi ljong shing [59] lhun po rdza'i mgul [60] bca' 'bum pa. These areas, Lhunpo Dza and Chabumpa, might be in the area of Lelung, but their exact locations are unknown to the translator and the organisation. Please contact Tib Shelf if you are aware of their whereabouts. Full Abstract: The Fifth Lelung Rinpoche, Zhepai Dorje (1697–1740), is unusual among senior Geluk figures for having taken a personal interest in the figure of Gesar of Ling, eponymous hero of the Tibetan epic. At least three texts on Gesar are ascribed to him: the one translated below and two offering texts. The text translated here narrates his ‘pure vision’ (dag snang) of Gesar, which took place near his monastic seat at Lelung, in Olga, in 1729. The vision was accompanied by a narration of Gesar’s origin ‘story’ (gtam rgyud). There are many points of interest to note about the text. Here we have an early textual attestation of the name Gesar Dorje Tsegyal, ‘Vajra Lord of Life’, the name of Gesar, which was later used by Ju Mipham in his influential elaborations of a ritual cycle centring on Gesar as protector-turned-yidam. Lelung attests that the vision took place soon after an annual festival held in his home region of Lelung, celebrating the union of Gesar and Dorje Yudronma, one of the Tenma Chunyi (‘twelve protectoresses of the teachings’), attesting to a pre-existing tradition in that region connecting Gesar to the lore around the Tantric Buddhist conversion activities of Padmasambhava. Lelung’s account of Gesar’s origins, as the 15th offspring from the union of a primordial goddess of light with a “worldly deity” (srid pa’i lha) is unusual and unique among the many tellings of Gesar’s origins. Still, it also shows interesting points of convergence with the epic storytelling traditions about Gesar, which persists in present times, especially in eastern Tibet. In particular, the identification of Gesar’s ‘worldly deity’ father as the Great Nyen Gertsho (gnyan chen po ger mtsho) is a feature often encountered in eastern Tibetan tellings of the epic. Also, Lelung’s narration of the hero’s origin is presented in the familiar three-tiered tableau of the “Three Worlds” (sa gsum, srid gsum), central to the Tibetan epic tradition and to Tibetan folk culture more broadly, of the lha (gods) above, the klu (water spirits) below, and the gnyan (worldly deities) in the middle. Unfortunately a trip to Olga, in the south-central Lhoka region of Tibet, to explore the locations in the Lelung valley referenced in the text, has so far been impossible. Many thanks to Tenzin Choephel and Ryan Jacobson for their very helpful corrections and suggestions for the translation and to Tom Greensmith for seeing the translation through to publication here. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bzhad pa'i rdo rje. 1983–1985. Dag snang ge sar gyi gtam rgyud le'u. In Gsung 'bum/_bzhad pa'i rdo rje, vol. 12, pp. 17–25. Leh: T. Sonam and D.L. Tashigang. BDRC W22130 Abstract The Fifth Lelung Rinpoche, Shepé Dorjé (1697–1740), is unusual among senior Geluk figures for having taken a personal interest in the figure of Gesar of Ling, eponymous hero of the Tibetan epic. The text translated here narrates his ‘pure vision’ of Gesar, which took place near his monastic seat at Lelung, in Olga, in 1729. Please see the full abstract in the note section of the translation. BDRC LINK W22130 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 10:07 TRADITION Geluk | Nyingma INCARNATION LINE Lelung Jedrung HISTORICAL PERIOD 18th Century TEACHERS The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso The Fifth Panchen Lama, Lobzang Yeshé Damchö Sangpo Mingyur Paldrön Chöjé Lingpa Dönyö Khedrup The First Purchok, Ngawang Jampa Ngawang Chödrak Yeshé Gyatso Damchö Gyatso Losal Gyatso Lhündrup Gyatso Dungkar Tsangyang Drukdrak The Second Dzogchen Drubwang, Gyurme Tekchok Tendzin TRANSLATOR George FitzHerbert INSTITUTIONS Lelung Monastery Mindröling Ngari Dratsang Chökhor Gyal Trandruk Potala Tsari STUDENTS Kunga Mingyur Dorjé Dorjé Yomé Kunga Paldzom Lobsang Lhachok Dönyö Khedrub Polhané Sönam Tobgyé Ngawang Jampa Mingyur Paldrön The Fifth Dorjé Drak Rigdzin, Kelsang Pema Wangchuk Lhasang Khan AUTHOR Lelung Zhepe Dorje Chapter Narrating the Pure Vision of Gesar VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

After five days of Guru Pema practice, Chöwang's pure vision atop Mt Meru reveals worldly omens and a profound teaching: all phenomena, even demons, arise from mind itself. An Extraordinary Pure Vision at Kharchu's Nectar Cave: A Dream of Guru Chöwang Namo Guru! It was the morning following five days of Guru Pema’s heart practice in Nectar Cave of Kharchu, Lhodrak. After breakfast and a gaṇacakra, I cast out the torma, and it flared up with light. As I looked at it, a numbness fell over my vision. Then, the grand torma materialized as Mount Meru and the four continents. Atop the palace of the Ever-Victorious One, perched at the peak of the mountain, was the Guru of extraordinary and complete liberation. At the sight of him and from a place of great elation, I swelled with pride and my heroic resolve emboldened. Out of my attachment to the world, I intently took in the view and witnessed armies clashing at the smoky border regions. I was horrified as my mind raced with terror. In any case, without the time to do anything about it, these displays of extraordinary omens were deceptive demonic obstacles, stirring up intense negative thoughts. I became ill-pleased with myself since I was driven by my clinging to various prideful notions of good and bad. Then the self-aware Guru explained the following Dharma to me, dispelling the obstruction of conceptual thoughts. “Emaho! Chöwang the treasure revealer, consider this: the omens you, a faithful and diligent man with karmic fortune, have experienced are fantastic. However, it is a demonic obstacle when elation and arrogance manifest—remain vigilant! For instance, seeds sown in the spring season sprout because of the abundance of water and manure. This is the nature of phenomena, so why is it surprising? “In a similar fashion, excellent signs also appear according to your mind’s [387] habituation to noble thoughts. Basically, good signs don’t come from somewhere else; they are mental [ 1 ] phenomena, so don’t be arrogant about it. Nevertheless, due to doubt, negative thoughts, [ 2 ] arrogance, timidness, or fear, they are demons—it’s like a monkey who becomes angry and agitated by looking at its face reflected in a mirror—what you perceive in your mind does not come from someplace else. “So, don’t worry about demons, and even if the nine-headed Lord of Death literally appears, there are no gods or demons separate from the mind. If one examines the mind with reason, there’s nothing to identify. Good and bad signs are akin to dreams. Therefore, objects and the mind are non-dual emptiness: where there are no likes, dislikes, or arrogance and no attainment in terms of fruition. Through the power of a mind familiarized [with such realization], everything needed will come to be, just like a precious treasury. The mind is empty by its very essence, and its objects are illusory. It has always been this way, so you shouldn’t doubt it. “When you realize it is so, the demons will grant you siddhi. In the meantime, you will be free from all activities and the act itself. Unrealized deities also create obstacles. Therefore, hold that understanding in the center of your heart.” “Having understood this fully, one should practice in the following way. For the sake of all beings who lack realization, one should take to heart the accomplishment of bodhicitta and, also in the end, dedicate all virtue to the omniscience of all beings. Always visualize the guru as the deity atop the crown, become revolted by saṃsāra, renounce the ten non-virtues and so forth, guard the three vows, and make offerings to the deities and Dharma protectors. “Since everything is an illusion, renounce attachment. Since demons are of one taste in the nature of the mind, if the mind rests as it is without distraction and mindfulness, the demons will be like darkness that can never bear the sunrise [388] or like ice melting in water. “If you strive in that way, non-conceptual fruition will dawn. If you don’t listen to your own advice, explaining the Dharma to others will be woefully pointless. Therefore, listen to this advice from the self-aware Guru!” COLOPHON I, Chökyi Wangchuk the monk of Pang [ village ] , have explained the advice of the self-aware Guru that dispels obstacles. All adherents should etch it in their hearts. Iti . [ 3 ] Thus, it was said. OṂ ĀḤ HŪṂ MAHĀ GURU SARVA SIDDHI HŪṂ: This is Pang Ban Chökyi Wangchuk’s spiritual pledge. NOTES Sigla: A1 and A2: Guru Chöwang (gu ru chos dbang). 1979. gu ru chos dbang gi rang rnam dang zhal gdams . 2 vols. rin chen gter mdzod chen po’i rgyab chos , vols. 8–9. Paro: Ugyen Tempai Gyaltsen. BDRC MW23802 . B1–3: Tertön Guru Chökyi Wangchuk (gter ston gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug). 2022. gter ston gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug gi ran rnam dang zhal gdams bzugs so , vols. 1–3. Edited by Dungse Lama Pema Tsewang (gdung sras bla ma pad+ma tshe dbang). Lamagaun, Nepal: Tsum Library. [1] A1: 387.1 interpolation: snang srid ’khor ’das (A1: ’khors) thams cad (A1: thaMD ) la sems las ma *rtogs (A1: rtoD ) chos med phyir ces pas (Because it is said, “Concerning all of phenomenal existence, whether of saṃsāra or nirvāṇa, there exist no phenomenon that is understood to be separate from the mind.”). [2] A1: 387.1 interpolation: gi gegs (A1: geD) sel (A1: gsel) dpas mtshon pas gsal bar ston no (A1: bstonno ) (“the analogy clearly demonstrates dispelling the obstacles of [x]”). [3] Tibetanized Sanskrit quote marks. Published: May 2024 BIBLIOGRAPHY Guru Chöwang (gu ru chos dbang). 1979. g+hu ru chos dbang gi rnalaM/ mkhar chu bdud+tsi phug gi dag snang khyad par can bzhug so+ho . In gu ru chos dbang gi rang rnam dang zhal gdam s. rin chen gter mdzod chen po’i rgyab chos , v. 8, 385–388. Paro: Ugyen Tempai Gyaltsen. BDRC MW23802 . Tertön Guru Chökyi Wangchuk (gter ston gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug). 2022. gu ru chos dbang gi rnal lam/ mkhar chu bdud rtsi phug gi dag snang khyad par can bzhugs so . In gter ston gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug gi ran rnam dang zhal gdams bzugs so , vol. 2, 57–58. Edited by Dungse Lama Pema Tsewang (gdung sras bla ma pad+ma tshe dbang). Lamagaun, Nepal: Tsum Library. Abstract Following five days dedicated to Guru Pema’s heart practice, a pure vision befalls Guru Chöwang in which he finds himself atop Mt. Meru, where he perceives frightening worldly omens. Beware of phenomenal demons and one’s arrogance. But never forget there is nothing that does not come from the mind. BDRC LINK MW23802 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 04:51 TRADITION Nyingma INCARNATION LINE Tri Songdetsen HISTORICAL PERIOD 13th Century TEACHERS Namkha Pal TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTION Layak Guru Lhakhang STUDENTS Gyalse Pema Wangchen Ma Dunpa Menlungpa Mikyö Dorje AUTHORS Guru Chökyi Wangchuk An Extraordinary Pure Vision at Kharchu's Nectar Cave: A Dream of Guru Chöwang VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

Outlining a four-fold presentation of Tibetan science-fiction literature, this introductory article explores connections to ancient scriptures, contemporary tales, Tibetan-related literature, and translated media. An Introduction to Tibetan Science-Fiction Literature According to the Zermik ,[ 1 ] an ancient Tibetan scripture composed a thousand years ago, “the number of universes as well is unimaginably innumerable.” Since ancient times, the Tibetan scientific tradition has held that this realm of existence is beyond the human experiential domain. It was also believed that the universe contains an immeasurable number of worlds. Further to this, they not only acknowledged the existence of life on other planets but it was even said that some of these worlds harbored civilizations more advanced than ours. The Tibetan people have a deep-seated aspiration to explore these worlds and seek a fundamental understanding of this saṃsāric realm. The Tibetan writing system has endured at least for more than one thousand four hundred years, and approximately one thousand three hundred years ago, even the first bilingual Tibetan dictionary and grammar book were composed. As such, the Tibetan language has a long history and a robust grammatical system, making it one of the world's oldest and most complete languages. There is an abundant array of both ancient and modern literature in Tibetan, among which science fiction (ཚན་རྟོག 科幻) is well represented. In this article, I will outline four distinct categories of Tibetan science-fiction literature: first, traditional science fiction; second, contemporary science fiction; third, translated science fiction; and fourth, Tibetan-related science fiction. SECTION ONE: THE CONQUEROR OF THE THREE WORLDS: TRADITIONAL SCIENCE FICTION Traditional Tibetan treatises and literary compositions provide extensive explanations concerning planets of other galaxies, as well as scientific technology. For example, The Pema Katang, authored by the renowned Orgyen Lingpa (1323–?), proclaimed that the universe is replete with numerous planets (“purelands”) that are inhabited by living beings. He introduced [individual planets with] advanced civilizations one by one. Also, since the introduction of the Glorious Kālacakra tradition to Tibet with texts like the Kālacakramūlatantra, Abbreviated Kālacakratantra, and the Great Commentary of The Stainless Light, Tibetan scholars and writers have argued for the existence of another world called Śambhala. Following [the emergence of this idea], Jetsun Drölwe Gönpo (1575–1635) wrote Entering Kalāpa: Ārya Dönyö Chakyu’s Travel Guide to the Supreme Place of Śambhala, which was followed by The Source of a Million Wonders: The Elucidation of Śambhala and Tales of the Noble Land by the Sixth Paṇchen Lama, Palden Yeshe (1738–1780), The History of the Glorious Kālachakra of the First Buddha and Its Various Names by the supreme Longdöl Ngawang Lobzang (1719–1794), and The Illuminations of the Vajra Sun That Completely Elucidate the Words and Meanings of the Glorious Kālacakratantra by Mipham Jamyang Namgyal Gyatso (1846–1912). According to these many treatises, Śambhala boasts wondrous landscapes, with inhabitants who live splendidly. Furthermore, these texts predict that strong individuals from Śambhala will one day come to Earth and conquer humans. Additionally, the dates of this conquest have also been determined through astrological calculations. Most importantly, before the widespread popularization of scientific technology, the Tibetan literary tradition had extensively recorded a variety of scientific apparatuses. For example, a book composed around the seventeenth century, entitled The Glass Fortress on a Snow Mountain, discusses soldiers flying in a helicopter (ཐད་འཕུར་གནམ་གྲུ) to remote areas for reconnaissance missions. Similarly, The Tale of a Playful Corpse depicts carpenters, blacksmiths, and religious sculptors constructing an airplane and flying to the top of a king’s palace. Similarly, Drugu’s Fortified Armory and Khache’s Turquoise Fortress [from the Gesar Epic], along with numerous other ancient manuscripts, contained many scientific and technological inventions, including but not limited to airplanes, rockets, artillery, ships, and various electronic devices, which only became popular later [with scientific development]. SECTION TWO: AS PRECIOUS AS THE WORLD: CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE FICTION Since the introduction of modern literature in Tibet, numerous new literary forms have flourished, primarily poetry and stories. In particular, fantasy ( མཚར་རྟོག་རྩོམ་རིག ) and science-fiction literature have gained considerable popularity. Notably, science-fiction stories (ཚན་རྟོག་བརྩམས་སྒྲུང་།) and science-fiction poetry (ཚན་རྟོག་སྙན་ངག) are becoming increasingly popular. For instance, “Tale of the Moon” from The Collection of Tsering Döndrub’s Short Stories and science-fiction narratives like “Directionless Universe,” which was published in Light Rain, a renowned Tibetan language literary journal, are gaining prominence. Also, science-fiction poems such as “Equal” and “Home” have been published in a poetry book titled Equal Taste of Feeling and Appearance. Several other Tibetan literary journals, including The Art of Tibetan Literature and White Snow Mountain, have published science-fiction literature as well. Today, more and more writers are exploring science-fiction literature in the Tibetan language. SECTION THREE: A COLLECTION OF UNIVERSAL VIRTUE: TRANSLATION OF SCIENCE FICTION Since the Tibetan imperial period, Tibet has produced nearly a thousand translators, both significant and lesser known. They have translated a myriad of impressive texts from a variety of foreign languages of their time into Tibetan. These include textbooks that present the theories of great scientists, such as Albert Einstein (ཨེན་སི་ཐེན།,1879–1955) and Stephen Hawking (ཧོ་ཀིང་།, 1942–2018), who are the backbones of science-fiction concepts. Recently, a number of works from fantasy and science-fiction [genres] have been and are being translated. For instance, there are science-fiction works, such as a collection of twenty books titled Excellent Science Fiction of the Central Country, and also another [fantasy] collection of twenty books titled Excellent Fantasy Stories of the Central Country. Similarly, several movies, including Interstellar (སྐར་མའི་བར།), Alita: Battle Angel (ཨ་ལིས་ཐ།), Ready Player One (རྩེད་མོ་མཁན་ཨང་དང་པོ།), The Wandering Earth (ཡུལ་གྱར་ས་ལྒང་།), and Lucy (ལོས་སེ།), have been dubbed in Tibetan. SECTION FOUR: A PERVASION OF THE SIX REALMS: TIBETAN-RELATED SCIENCE FICTION Academic articles, literature, films, and plays from various regions around the world frequently feature references to Tibet and related subjects. Particularly, numerous exceptional science-fiction stories and movies have drawn on Tibetan culture and tradition. Prolific English author Arthur Charles Clarke (ཨར་ཟིར·ཆལ་ཟི·ཁི་ལ་ཁི།, 1917–2008), often hailed as the pioneer of science fiction, penned The Nine Billion Names of God (ལྷའི་མཚན་གྱི་རྣམ་གྲངས་ཐེར་འབུམ་དགུ), a [riveting narrative partly] set [within the confines of] Tibetan monastics and their monasteries. Similarly, renowned American writer Kim Stanley Robinson (ཁེམ·སི་ཊན་ལེ·རོ་བྷེན་སན།, b. 1952) has authored The Years of Rice and Salt (འབྲས་དང་ལན་ཚྭའི་དུས་རབས།), a fiction piece inspired by a Tibetan text known as The Great Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State. Also, the famous film Farewell Atlantis (འཇིག་རྟེན་འཇིག་པའི་ཉིན་མོ།), which gave people chills around the world, utilized Tibetan language. Moreover, topics concerning Tibet and Tibetan culture are becoming increasingly prevalent in Chinese science fiction. For example, Liu Cixin, the acclaimed author of The Three Body Problem, [composed] the story Mountain, and Renxing Chengzi [wrote] Wrathful House. In sum, Tibet holds a long history of science fiction and has been a subject of numerous science-fiction literature across the globe; moreover, the Tibetan language, with its faith, sacred visions, and astonishing manifestations, is a lavish treasure trove of science fiction. COLOPHON N/A NOTES [1] mdo gzer mig (ka). In bkaʼ ʼgyur (bon po) , vol. 28, 1–508. (khreng tuʼu): si khron zhing chen par khrun lte gnas par ʼdebs khang, 1999. BDRC MW21872_41C4E1 . Published: December 2023 BIBLIOGRAPHY Goyön (sgo yon). bod kyi tshan rtog brtsams chos ngo spyod. London: Tib Shelf, 2023. Tib Shelf C001. Abstract Outlining a four-fold presentation of Tibetan science-fiction literature, this introductory article allows one to establish a foothold in Tibetan science fiction, exploring connections to ancient scriptures, contemporary tales, Tibetan-related literature, and translated media. TIB SHELF C001 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 00:27 TRADITION N/A INCARNATION LINE N/A HISTORICAL PERIOD 21st Century TEACHERS N/A TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTIONS N/A STUDENTS N/A AUTHOR Goyön An Introduction to Tibetan Science-Fiction Literature VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.

Two spontaneous songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje: one honouring the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang Gyurme Thekchog Tenzin, the other celebrating the experience of unobstructed, effortless awareness. Both transmit direct spiritual realization through verse. A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs Song One Aho mahāsukha ye! I bow at the feet of the benevolent, paternal lama! Akaniṣṭha, the celestial realm of lotus light, Is where the peaceful and wrathful victorious protectors reside. As foretold by the oath-bound mother ḍākinīs, Je Traktung Pawo (“Lord Heroic Blood-Drinker”), set foot here— [1] In this supreme, protected holy abode where spiritual experiences naturally arise, I offer these spontaneous spiritual songs. Here today the assembly of vajra brothers and sisters, Due to previously accumulated karmic fortune, which is not lacking, Have met you, the essence of all refuge. Now, having gained this feast of good fortune, Vajra blessings permeate our three doors: We’re ablaze with spontaneous visions in every way. Our bodies, maṇḍalas of the major and minor marks, shimmer like a rainbow. We’ve received the essential nectar of vajra speech. The great joyful awakened mind embraces us. [183] What auspicious fortune—an excellent, blissful experience! Yet, we were born at the end of this degenerate age, Where stainless Dharma conduct has nearly declined— All paternal siddhas have passed into the realm of space. Those who boast of being doctrine holders Only ever pass their time in attachment and aversion. In the glorious Vajrayāna tradition, Sincere devotion is extraordinarily rare. The life stories of the great, holy noble lords— They have sullied them with their misconceptions, Creating all sorts of entrances to negative deeds. Even righteous deeds they view as wrong. In these times when whatever one does becomes flawed, Thinking of this stirs up anguish within. Peerless precious father, Infallible refuge, When I recall how you care for me, My anguish is quashed. We, brothers and sisters, gathered here, With minds of unwavering faith, At this time we make this supplication: Glorious Traktung Wangpo, our lord lama, Atop the unchanging vajra throne, May the prints of your vajra feet ever remain! With the magnificent maṇḍala [184] of your three secrets, In the hidden grove where the mother ḍākinīs assemble, May you open gateways to hundreds of pure lands And ever turn the wheel of the profound and vast Dharma! With your limitless enlightened activity that tames beings, O Protector, may you illuminate The essential meaning of the glorious, indestructible luminosity In all directions, times, and circumstances! Those gathered together in this sacred abode, All the devoted, fortunate men and women, In the self-appearing Akaniṣṭha pure land, With the lord lama, King of Self-Awareness , [2] Amidst a retinue of one hundred thousand drops of self-luminous wisdom, In a feast gathering of inseparable union, In times that never shift, change, or wane, May we enjoy it as one taste! Root and lineage gurus of the three transmissions And the assembly of heroes and ḍākinīs of the three places, Through your unified unwavering enlightened intent, May our hopes and aspirations be fulfilled! Aho ye sarva maṅgalaṃ! COLOPHON Thus, when Dzogchen Tulku Rinpoche, the blood-drinking accomplished hero and crown jewel of all holders of the knowledge mantras, journeyed from Ölga in the east to the supreme place of the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain, those gathered there offered elaborate long-life prayers along with a feast offering, during which this melodious song, blazing with spiritual insight and faith, was spontaneously offered. Later on, Rabten, the venerable manager of that holy one’s enlightened activities, requested these be put into writing. Although the words may not be an exact match, I, Zhepe Dorje, the one who [185] practices according to his own spontaneous nature, arranged whatever I could recall. Song Two Aho ye! I’ve realized my mind to be the dharmakāya! Even what is called “Buddha” is nothing other than this. In the state of the astonishing, unobstructed view, Let whatever appearances arise be free and unfettered, Undistracted presence in the continuity of non-meditation. Though there is nothing to abandon like dullness, agitation, and other afflictions, Rest the thoughts that grasp the objects of the six senses Completely in the meditative equipoise where they naturally dissolve. All appearing sense pleasures are for the enjoyment of one’s own mind. Joyfully relaxing in a continuity free from grasping, Rest in just this uncontrived yoga. Through the kindness of the authentic guru, my sole father, By making devoted prayers from the very depths of my heart, Blessings have pervaded the wheel of phenomenal existence And there is no distinction between the guru and my mind. How joyful is the way I, the yogin, nurture good experiences! There is no difference between the six classes of beings and buddhas. Everything is the great dharmadhātu’s festive display. By understanding this very nature of the fundamental state, May everything be liberated effortlessly into the body of light! COLOPHON I, Zhepe Dorje, composed this following the wishes of Chö Samdrub the Scholar of Letters. NOTES [1] The recipient of Lelung's spontaneous song — addressed throughout as "Je Traktung Pawo" and "Glorious Traktung Wangpo," and described in the colophon as "Dzogchen Tulku Rinpoche" can be identified with considerable confidence as Gyurme Thekchog Tenzin (1699–1758), the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang. Several converging lines of evidence support this identification. First, and most directly, the colophon's designation "Dzogchen Tulku Rinpoche" is not a generic honorific but a specific institutional title. A second text preserved in Lelung's gsung 'bum — a long-life prayer entitled "A Prayer Requesting that the Dzogchen Tulku Rinpoche, the Supreme One, Remain as the Principal of the Land of Sikkim ( 'Bras mo ljongs ) for an Ocean of Aeons," is almost certainly addressed to the same individual (Bzhad pa'i rdo rje 1983–1985, vol. 6, pp. 246–49). Second, the two men were near-exact contemporaries. Lelung Zhepe Dorje was born in 1697 and died in 1740; the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang was born in 1699 and died in 1757 or early 1758 (Greensmith 2018; Chhosphel 2011). Significantly, 1740, the year of Lelung's death, is also the year in which the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang undertook his second major journey to central Tibet, making this the most plausible occasion for the encounter commemorated in the song (Chhosphel 2011; Ye shes rdo rje 1996–2000, vol. 2, pp. 197–205). Third, the two men moved within the same immediate spiritual network. The 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang received his recognition partly at the hands of Minling Terdak Lingpa Gyurme Dorje (1646–1714), the founder of Mindroling, who conferred one of his enthronement names; he studied under Minling Lochen Dharmaśrī (1654–1718), Terdak Lingpa's brother and he received extensive teachings from Minling Trichen Pema Gyurme Gyatso (1686–1718), Terdak Lingpa's son, who gave him his principal name Gyurme Thekchog Tenzin (Chhosphel 2011). Jetsunma Migyur Peldron (1699–1769), Terdak Lingpa's daughter and the principal architect of Mindroling's restoration after the Dzungar invasion, is explicitly listed among his principal students (Chhosphel 2011; Ye shes rdo rje 1996–2000, vol. 2, pp. 197–205). Lelung's own close dharma relationship with Migyur Peldron, the two serving as teacher and student to one another at various points in their lives, thus places both men within the same intimate Mindroling-centred network (Greensmith 2018). Fourth, the colophon's geographical detail provides further corroboration. The Tibetan records that the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang "journeyed from Ölga Chi ( 'ol dga' chi ) in the eastern direction to the supreme place, Zangs mdog dpal ri" — arriving, that is, at Lelung's Copper-Colored Mountain temple at Namdroling in the Wolkha ( 'ol kha ) valley, the Lelung valley of the Lhoka region south of Lhasa (Greensmith 2018). The Copper-Colored Mountain temple ( zangs mdog dpal ri lha khang ) at Namdroling — constructed by Lelung on the basis of his 1727 visions of Guru Rinpoche's pure land and sponsored by Polhane — is the destination explicitly named in the colophon (Bailey 2016). The approach "from the eastern direction" is consistent with a journey originating from Kham: in 1740, the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang undertook a major journey to central Tibet from his home seat at Dzogchen Monastery, travelling through Tsang, southern Mon, Dokham, and central and southern Ütsang (Chhosphel 2011; Ye shes rdo rje 1996–2000, vol. 2, pp. 197–205) — a westward circuit that would naturally bring him into the Lhoka region and the Lelung valley from the east. [2] “King of Self-Awareness” ( rang rig gi rgyal po ) is one appellation for the personification of the primordial ground ( gzhi ) in the Dzogchen view. This figure, who resides in the keep of Dzogchen thought, is generally referred to by various epithets, including All-Creating King ( kun byed rgyal po ), All-Knowing King ( kun rig rgyal po ), King of Awareness ( rig pa rgyal po ), King of Cognizant Awareness ( shes rig gi rgyal po ), Purifying King of Self-Cognizant Awareness ( sbyong byed rang shes rig pa’i rgyal po ), and Purifying King of Awareness ( sbyong byed rig pa rgyal po ), amongst others. Also see Karmay 2007, 52, n. 45. Photo credit: Lelung Dharma Centre Published: November 2024 BIBLIOGRAPHY Primary: Bzhad pa'i rdo rje. 1983–1985. mgur gyi rim pa thol byung rdo rje'i glu. In gsung 'bum/_bzhad pa'i rdo rje, vol. 6, pp. 181–185. Leh: T. Sonam & D.L. Tashigang. BDRC MW22130_9A3DB8 Bzhad pa'i rdo rje. 1983–1985. khrag 'thung nam mkha' 'jigs med kyi sgyu 'phrul mchog gi gar mkhan rig 'dzin chen po'i zhabs brtan. In gsung 'bum/_bzhad pa'i rdo rje, vol. 6, pp. 115–127. Leh: T. Sonam & D.L. Tashigang. BDRC MW22130_719404 . Bzhad pa'i rdo rje. 1983–1985. gSung 'bum bzhad pa'i rdo rje. Vol. 6. Leh: T. Sonam & D.L. Tashigang. BDRC bdr: MW22130_414FDA . Ye shes rdo rje. 1996–2000. "rDzogs sprul 'gyur med theg mchog bstan 'dzin gyi rnam thar mdor bsdus (1699–1758)." In Gangs can mkhas dbang rim byon gyi rnam thar mdor bsdus, vol. 2, pp. 197–205. Beijing: Krung go'i bod kyi shes rig dpe skrun khang. BDRC bdr: MW25268_C75B7D . Secondary: Bailey, Cameron. 2016. " A Feast for Scholars: The Life and Works of Sle lung Bzhad paʼi rdo rje ." DPhil thesis, University of Oxford, Wolfson College. Chhosphel, Samten. 2011. "The Second Dzogchen Drubwang, Gyurme Tekchok Tendzin." Treasury of Lives. https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Second-Dzogchen-Drubwang/9383 . TOL 9383; BDRC P677. Greensmith, Tom. 2018. "The Fifth Lelung Jedrung, Lobzang Trinle." Treasury of Lives. https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Fifth-Lelung-Jedrung-Lobzang-Trinle/9361 . TOL 9361; BDRC P675. Karmay, Samten Gyaltsen. 2007. The Great Perfection (rDzogs Chen): A Philosophical and Meditative Teaching of Tibetan Buddhism . 2nd ed. Leiden: Brill. Melnick Dyer, Adriano. "Mingyur Peldron." Treasury of Lives. https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Mingyur-Peldron/9394 . Abstract In this publication, we are introduced to two spontaneous spiritual songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje (1697–1740). The first is composed in honour of the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang, Gyurme Thekchog Tenzin (1699–1758), addressed throughout by the devotional epithet Je Traktung Pawo ("Lord Heroic Blood-Drinker"), a conventional title and identified in the colophon as "Dzogchen Tulku Rinpoche," The song was composed at Lelung's Copper-Colored Mountain temple at Namdroling in the Olkha valley, on the occasion of the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang's arrival there from the east, and reflects the deep spiritual esteem in which Lelung held this great Nyingma master (see notes). The second song shifts to a more introspective theme, emphasising the experience of unobstructed, spontaneous presence — a state free from rigid meditation or effort, embodying the natural flow of awareness. These spontaneous songs, or mgur , are composed without premeditation and serve as a profound means for both the singer and the listener to connect with the essence of the teachings. Through these verses we are invited to experience a direct and heartfelt transmission of the subject being sung, bridging the inner realisation of the practitioner with the understanding of the audience. Please note video narration is only 2nd song at the present time. BDRC MW22130_ 9A3DB8 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 06:03 TRADITION Geluk | Nyingma INCARNATION LINE Lelung Jedrung HISTORICAL PERIOD 18th Century TEACHERS The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso The Fifth Panchen Lama, Lobzang Yesh e Damchö Zangpo Mingyur Paldrön Chöje Lingpa Dönyö Khedrup The First Purchok, Ngawang Jampa Ngawang Chödrak Yeshe Gyatso Damchö Gyatso Losal Gyatso Lhundrub Gyatso Dungkar Tsangyang Drukdrak The Second Dzogchen Drubwang, Gyurme Tekchok Tendzin TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTION Lelung Monastery Mindröling Ngari Dratsang Chökhor Gyal Trandruk Potala Tsāri STUDENTS Kunga Mingyur Dorj e Dorje Yom e Kunga Paldzom Lobzang Lhachok Dönyö Khedrub Polhane Sönam Tobgy e Ngawang Jampa Mingyur Paldrön The Fifth Dorje Drak Rigdzin, Kalzang Pema Wangchuk Lhasang Khan AUTHOR Lelung Zhepe Dorje A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! 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