The Biography of the Great Orgyen that Naturally Liberates On Sight From The Profound Secret Heart Essence of the Ḍākinī Chapter 4 ~ 3/3

The Biography of the Great Orgyen that Naturally Liberates On Sight From The Profound Secret Heart Essence of the Ḍākinī revealed by Dudjom Lingpa

Due to the length of the text, we will post each day with the final part posting on Guru Rinpoche’s Birthday, July 9th, which is the 10th Tibetan Day of the lunar calendar.Translated by Nick Schmidt, with the assistance of Samten, Stefan Mang, Ben Ewing, Lowell Cook, and Jordi Roig, 2017. Edited by Libby Hogg and Susanne Fairclough, 2018.

Chapter 4 ~ 3/3

I wonder, Your Majesty, is this the miracle of a god such as Īśvara?  [65]
Or is it a momentous sign or vision of a deity or protector

Arising due to the great King’s offerings
And practices of approach and accomplishment?’

“Then, in the sky, before the King and his ministers,
Red and rainbow light converged – and in the middle of a pavilion
I miraculously appeared as Maheśvara. [66]

At the moment I appeared, all prostrated, saying, ‘How wondrous!
No one is more fortunate than us!
By beholding your form, an outer happiness arises.
We will certainly fulfill your every command!

We offer our bodies, wealth, and our children and spouses –
Accept these offerings, do not leave us! Protect us all!’

“So they made such vows and oaths.
‘Whether or not you are truly Maheśvara,
You must teach us!’
And faithfully they joined their palms in homage.

“Then, displaying my own form, I said,
‘I am the Māra-subduing Padmasambhava. [67]

In all kingdoms of India
The profane, perverted doctrines of Extremists proliferate,
Leading mistaken beings to the lower realms.

“Therefore, I work only for the benefit of beings.
After converting your kingdom to the doctrine,

I will make this a place where disciples are liberated.
King and ministers, take this to heart!’

“The great King said, ‘Alas!
As you say, in our minds, we think,
Now, although the King and ministers
Gathered here have taken these oaths,
These Extremists possess great ability and miraculous powers.

If we were actually to enter the gateway of your teachings

They will harm not only your life, but our kingdom as well.
You must therefore compete through debate and miraculous display.’

“On the tenth day of the Month of Miracles [68]
The Extremists were defeated in debate, and we competed in miracles.
Competing in the eight common siddhis, we were equal.

“Then, miracles of the five elements were called for.
I emanated the five elements
And bound the Extremists,
Who, astonished, entered the teachings of Buddhism
And the whole kingdom was converted to the sacred Dharma.

“Then I saw that the kingdom of Thokar [69] should be tamed.
Duly, when the tenth day of the tiger month arrived,
Aided by the ḍākiṇı̄ Sangchen Wangmo, [70]
With the blessings of one hundred thousand formless ḍākiṇıs̄ .
Miraculously flying through the air,

I went to the Sindūra Cave. [71]
“Emissaries commissioned by the King addressed me:
‘Here in our land there are only non-Buddhists;
Buddhists are not permitted to teach.

Because this edict is ironclad,

Your tradition is not suitable — therefore you must leave now.
If you stay, you will be killed in accordance with the law.’

“In response to this, I said,
‘I have come for a higher purpose.
Because my body is unborn and deathless, though you may kill me,
I have no fear.
Because my mind is free of hope and fear, your laws do not frighten me.

Because any place is neither good nor bad, I will stay in this cave.
Because there is no work apart from the Dharma,
I have abandoned worldly activities.

I will not follow the perverted views of Extremists.
King, whatever you do, you must understand this.

“‘Messengers, when you tell this to the King,
His Majesty will be irate, quivering with a rising rage.
Assembling his hosts of ministers, he will say,

‘Destroy this foreign yogi, this barbarian infidel!
Who knows where he comes from?
How dare he come here! Let him teach when he is burning in fire.’

“Then all the ministers said,
‘Bind him to sandalwood doused with sesame oil – Everyone should carry a load!’
“And so, having carried the fuel, they placed me in the center of the pyre. But, in the very place where I should have been burning,
The gathered Extremists heard a resounding, ‘Ha ha!’

When nine days had passed,
They saw me arise as the wrathful Nangsi Zilnön [72]
Soaring in the sky to a height of seven cubits,
Surrounded by ḍākas and ḍākiṇıs̄ , all offering respect.

‘The King and ministers confessed with remorse and sorrow,
And offered the kingdom and all its riches to me.

The Extremists respectfully prostrated, saying,
‘Whatever you command, we will obediently fulfil!’
Reneging on their oaths and prior proclamations

They invited me to the royal palace,
And the kingdom was converted to the virtuous Dharma.

“Then, I went to the Kula Dzokpa charnel ground.
I was assisted there by the ḍākiṇı̄
named Wangdüma, [73]
And I bound to oath the mātṛs, ḍākiṇıs̄ , gods, and demons
Who dwelled in the charnel ground, leading them to the path of Dharma.

“Arriving at Akaniṣṭha,
On the tenth day of the pig month,
I met the deity of timeless awareness, Samantabhadra-Vajradhara.[74]
I requested explanations of all the teachings

Of the extremely secret, unsurpassed Vajrayāna.
I was renowned then as Kunzang Pendé Wangchuk. [75]

“On the tenth day of the mouse month,
Arriving at the Yangleshö cave in Nepal,
I settled in the ‘Overwhelming Appearance and Existence with Splendour Samādhi’ [76]
During the first watch of the night

I bound to oath King Takdong [77] and his seven siblings.
And I bound Hormo [78] and her nine relatives to oath at sunset.
At daybreak, I bound to oath the the’urang spirit Lükyong Nödjin, [79]
The Mamo Reti [80] and her nine relatives,

And the murderous Pelthog Gyalmo [81] and her three relatives.

“Then in the Meri Barwa charnel ground, [82]
I was assisted by Ekajaṭī, the Protectress of Mantra,
he Queen of the All- Encompassing Space.

She instantly arrived though her miraculous power.

“I requested the empowerment, transmission, and instructions
for the Rigdzin Lama [83] practice

From Shönu Nampar Rolpé Wangpo.[84]
I practiced it in the east, at the Raya Stūpa Grove, [85]
And manifested the accomplishment of the practice.

“Then I arrived at Mount Aḍakavatī. [86]
Where I was assisted by the goddess Pramohā[.87]
From Vajrapāṇi, the Lord of Secrets,
I requested empowerment, transmission, and instructions for Jigten Chöto. [88]
Practicing in the Jikjé charnel ground, [89]
I became the ruler of the entire maṇḍala of Jigten Chöto.

“Then I arrived at the Rangjung Tsal charnel ground. [90]
While I practiced, I filled the entire area around the charnel ground
With hundreds of emanated phantoms,

And became the ruler over all of the infinite maṇḍalas.

“Then I arrived at the Khandro Sangphuk cave at Tak Dzong Grove [91]
In the Jikrung Ngamji charnel ground. [92]
Again, I practiced Vajrakīla.
After six months, the maṇḍala deities
Appeared in the sky, and dissolved into my body.

“As two separate miraculous emanations,
I went to both China and Mongolia [93] simultaneously.
I indentured malevolent gods and demons, binding them to oath,
And converted entire kingdoms to the virtuous Dharma.

“Once again, back at the Tak Dzong Cave, [94]
I merged back into one form.
The teacher and yidam united, and, on account of my wild wrath,

My name then was Guru Dorje Drolö,
As I bound to oath the eight classes of planetary and tsen spirits.

“Then I practiced in the grove at the Jarung Khashor Stūpa [95]
And the hosts of ḍākinīs urged me to prophesy.
So I said, ‘Five hundred years from now, in the time of degeneration,
Border barbarians will destroy the Buddha’s teachings.

One follower of yours will come in the time of degeneration,
And there will be six hidden lands.
Pray that he will appear through the power of the Miraculous Samādhi.’
In saying this, I gave a weighty prophecy.

“Then I went to the Serung rock cave [96]
To cultivate the Timeless Awareness of the All-Encompassing Space of Phenomena
Display Samādhi. [97]
And I blessed the place as the hidden land Lhundrub Dzong. [98]

“Arriving at the Tak Dzong Cave, [99]
I cultivated the Mirror-like Awareness Display Samādhi. [100]
And I blessed the place as the hidden land Dorjé Dzong.[101]

“Also, I went to the Zarchung rock cave. [102]
I cultivated the Awareness of Equalness Display Samādhi [103]
And I blessed the place as the hidden land Dremo Jong. [104]

“At the Shelkar rock cave [105]
I cultivated the Discriminating Awareness Display Samādhi [106]
And I blessed the place as the hidden land Padma Jong.[107]

“And at the Marchung Sa cave [108]
I cultivated the All-accomplishing Awareness Display Samādhi [109]
And I blessed the place as the hidden land Gawé Tshal. [110]

“Then, arriving at the Ralpa Cave [111] in the north,
Through the All-embracing Display Samādhi [112]

I blessed the place as the hidden land Yumbu Lung [113]

“Once again, I returned to India,
Where I served as King Sengé Tob’s royal chaplain.
I stayed there benefiting beings for twelve human years.”

This is the fourth chapter of the biography of Padma that naturally liberates on sight, on how he came to the pure lands of India and Nepal through miraculous powers, perfectly accomplishing the two types of benefit.


  1. Kyemo Grove (skyes mos tshal) 
  2. King Tumchen (rgyal po gtum chen) 
  3. The indestructible Vajra-like Samādhi (vajropama-samādhi, rdo rje lta bu’i ting ‘dzin) 
  4. Possibly because his spit was infused with the power of his mantra repetition.
  5. Possibly the planetary protector Rahula. 
  6. Kunthub (kun thub) 
  7. Dondrub (don grub) 
  8. Īśvara (dbang phyug) is one of the names of Siva. 
  9. Maheśvara (dbang phyug chen po) is one of the names of Siva. 
  10. Māra-subduing Padmasambhava (bdud ‘dul pad+ma sa+mbha) 
  11. In the “Month of Miracles” (cho ‘phrul chen po’i zlda ba) the Buddha displayed many miracles during the first half of the first lunar month, in order to increase the merit and devotion of future disciples. 
  12. Thokar (tho kar) possibly refers to Northwest of Kashmir. 
  13. Sangchen Wangmo (gsang chen dbang mo) 
  14. Sindūra Cave (si+ndhu ra yi phug pa) is Sanskrit term for the ochre powder from Grislea Tomentosa.
  15. Wrathful Nangsi Zilnön (snang srid zil gnon drag
  16. Wangdüma (dbang sdud ma) 
  17. Samantabhadra-Vajradhara (kun bzang rdo rje ‘chang)
  18. Kunzang Pendé Wangchuk (kun bzang phan bde’i dbang phyug)
  19. Overwhelming Appearance and Existence with Splendour Samādhi (snang srid zil gnon ting ‘dzin)
  20. King Takdong (rgyal po stag gdong)
  21. Hormo (hor mo)
  22. Lükyong Nödjin (klu gyong gnod sbyin)
  23. Mamo Reti (ma mo retI) possibly refers to (Śrī Devī, dpal ldan lha mo).
  24. Pelthog Gyalmo (bal thog rgyal mo)
  25. Meri Barwa charnel ground (dur khrod me ri ‘bar ba)
  26. Rigdzin Lama (rig ‘dzin bla ma)
  27. Shönu Nampar Rolpé Wangpo (gzhon nu rnam par rol pa’i dbang po)
  28. Raya Stūpa Grove (ra ya yi mchod rten tshal)
  29. Mount Aḍakavatī (ri bo lcang lo can) that is the pure land of Vajrapāṇi or Vaiṣravaṇa.
  30. Goddess Pramohā (lha mo pra mo ha)
  31. Jigten Chöto (‘jig rten mchod stod)
  32. Jikjé charnel ground (dur khrod ‘jigs byed tshal)
  33. Rangjung Tsal charnel ground (dur khrod rang byung tshal)
  34. The Khandro Sangphuk cave at Tak Dzong Grove (mkha’ ‘gro gsang phug stag rdzong tshal)
  35. Jikrung Ngamji charnel ground (‘jigs rung rngams brjid dur khrod)
  36. China and Mongolia (rgya nad sog yul gnyis)
  37. Tak Dzong Cave (stag rdzong phug pa)
  38. Jarung Khashor Stūpa (bya rung kha shor mchod rten tshal) is a reference to Boudha Stūpa in Kathmandu, Nepal. 
  39. Serung rock cave (se rung brag gi phug pa)
  40. The Timeless Awareness of the All-Encompassing Space of Phenomena DisplaySamādhi (chos dbyings ye shes rol pa’i ting ‘dzin)
  41. The hidden land Lhundrub Dzong (sbas yul lhun grub rdzong)
  42. Tak Dzong Cave (stag rdzong phug pa)
  43. The Mirror-like Awareness Display Samādhi (me long ye shes rol pa’i ting ‘dzin)
  44. The hidden land Dorjé Dzong (sbas yul rdo rje rdzong)
  45. Zarchung rock cave (gzar chung brag gi phug pa)
  46. The Awareness of Equalness Display Samādhi (myam nyid ye shes rol pa’i ting ‘dzin)
  47. The hidden land Dremo Jong (sbas yul ‘bras mo ljongs) is a reference to Sikkim, India.
  48. Shelkar rock cave (shel dkar brag gi phug pa)
  49. The Discriminating Awareness Display Samādhi (sor rtog ye shes rol pa’i ting‘dzin)
  50. The hidden land Padma Jong (sbas yul pad+ma ljongs)
  51. Marchung Sa cave (dmar chung sa yi phug)
  52. The All-accomplishing Awareness Display Samādhi (bya grub ye shes rol pa’i ting ‘dzin)
  53. The hidden land Gawé Tshal (sbas yul dga’ ba’i tshal)
  54. Ralpa Cave (byang lung ral pa’i phug)
  55. The All-embracing Display Samādhi (‘ub chub rol pa’i ting ‘dzin)
  56. The hidden land Yumbu Lung (sbas yul yum bu lung) is the location of the first Imperial-period Tibetan fortress.
  57. Marchung Sa cave (dmar chung sa yi phug)  ↩
  58. The All-accomplishing Awareness Display Samādhi (bya grub ye shes rol pa’i ting ‘dzin) 
  59. The hidden land Gawé Tshal (sbas yul dga’ ba’i tshal) 
  60. Ralpa Cave (byang lung ral pa’i phug)  ↩
  61. The All-embracing Display Samādhi (‘ub chub rol pa’i ting ‘dzin)  ↩
  62. The hidden land Yumbu Lung (sbas yul yum bu lung) is the location of the first Imperial-period Tibetan fortress. 

    Continues with Chapter 5  tomorrow.