The Biography of the Great Orgyen that Naturally Liberates On Sight From The Profound Secret Heart Essence of the Ḍākinī Chapter 6


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 6

Then I said, “While the Emperor’s life is not yet over,
And people have been benefitted

By many methods for taming beings,
You must not go elsewhere.

“When the Emperor has passed into nirvāṇa,
And the royal heir is still alive,
The future prince with requisite karma will hold the lineage.
He will practice in many such places

Blessed by siddhas,
In Tibetan lands of all four directions, as I have done:

“At Samyé, I practiced for seven human years,
And I stayed at Yamalung for five years. [130]
I was at the Yarlung Sheldrak cave for eighteen years. [131]

“I practiced at the Yerpa cave for three human years. [132]
I stayed and practiced at Tradruk for two. [133]

And for eleven months I stayed at the Kharchen cliff. [134]

“I stayed in the meadow of Mönkha for fifteen months, [135]
At Taktshang Canyon for three. [136]

And for three months I stayed at Shiktsang Canyon.[137]

“For five months I stayed at Domtshang Canyon, [138]
For three years and three months at Khamré Grove, [139]
And at Demo Pass in Kongpo for seven days. [140]

“For five months I stayed at Rongchung Dza, [141]
And for nine months in Rongchen at the Yema Cliff. [142]
For three months I stayed at Tigo Cliff. [143]

“Finally, I arrived in Kham,
Where for three days I stayed and practiced in Chamdo.[144]
At Minma I bound the queen under oath.[145]

“For a month I stayed in the Bemo Valley,  [146]
Where I bound Bethil Nagmo to oath [147]
And while I was staying at Yilong Tserma,148
I bound Soglen Nagmo to oath [149]

“‘In the future, when my teachings
Are twisted by the upsurge of Māra’s crooked teachings,
And I myself have emanated as King Gesar,
Enemies of the teachings will pervade the four directions.
Then, you must guard the teachings as you would the life of an insect.’ Besides this, I gave many other instructions.

“Then in the Sengdrak Cave of Horpo [150]
I practiced for three human years.
I granted blessings there, as well as consecrations and aspirations.
The thirty-four letters [151] arose on the cave wall,
I bound under oath the nine damsi siblings, [152]
And I captured a local nyen rock demoness.

“I sought permission
To take a girl as a consort,
And permission was given
When the rock demoness said,
‘Since I myself have come, it is allowed.’

“For three months I stayed in Mugseng Cave.[153]
I stayed for five months at Takmo Cliff [154]

And for one year at Chumig Changringmo, [155]
Where I bound the four Semo sisters to oath.[156]

“Once, towards the beginning of my year-long stay
In Rudam Nagpo Valley, [157]
During the first watch of the evening of the six day of the ninth month,
I subdued the sixteen demonic Menmo sisters [158]
With the Arrogance-Subduing Samādhi.[159]
At midnight I subdued the twelve Murderous Spirits, -[160]
At dawn I subdued nine the’urang siblings,

And I concealed twenty-five treasure caches there.

“I emanated a glorious fortress, at Dzong Tran Sangwa.[161]
There I bound to oath King Takthal of Mu, [162]
The Five Tsegyal Chukma women, [163]
The Great Nyen and the eight siblings resembling him,
And also the divine son Thökar. [164]
I entrusted treasures to them all.

“Once, in Lab, [165] on a snowy mountain
I meditated for seven days, binding to oath

The crocodile-faced demon, bear-faced demon, [166]
And their retinues of five hundred and fifty,
Appointing them all as protectors of treasures.

“Then I went to the snowy range of Tölung. [167]
When snow gods, along with the nine mātṛkā siblings Were stirring up trouble, I bound them to oath, Entrusting them with sixteen treasures.

“Then, in Dorje Yudrom, [168]
Where I stayed meditating for three days,
I mounted a turquoise dragon and bound it to oath.

“Arriving at the very peak of Dza Mountain, [169]
I subdued Taktra Namen. [170]
I stayed in that place for six months.

“In Kakong Sengé Dzong [171]
I bound sixteen nāga thels to oath, [172]
And practiced there for five months.
A Queen Mudo came, [173]
And the Tsen Düd Khala Mebar appeared, [174]

With one hundred thousand tsen troops around him.
But, by the Samādhi That Subjugates the Three Realms, [175]

I terrorized them all, bound them to oath, and appointed them as treasure guardians.

“Then I went to Shagdré Rock [176]
In the area of of Lhatse. [177]
The Great Nyen and his millions of nyen warriors
Sent down a rain of meteoric iron.

“When heaven and earth were filled with his warriors,
I subjugated them all through the practice of Blazing Wrath [178]
And bound them to oath.

“I terrorized him with a rain of various weapons,
And he panicked and vowed to serve me.

I sealed his vow by placing my vajra on his head,
And entrusted him to guard five treasures.

“Then I went to Mar.[179]
In the Bese cave, [180]
I stayed and meditated for five days,
And bound to oath all of the gods and demons of lower Ser [181]
At Dünying Tse I suppressed Māra and the damsi demons.[182]

“Then I went to Yar,
And at the Dorje Dragkar, [183]
While I was practicing for six months,
I bound Ase Mase under oath in a drum. [184]

I concealed five treasures and bound them as a protector.

“Then I went to upper Ser[ 185]
Where I bound Damchen Garwa and his retinue to oath. [186]
I bestowed blessings there for one day.

“Then I went to the place called Drong Ri.[187]
Empowering and commanding the lay practitioner Dorje Drak Tsal and his
retinue, [188]
I bound them to oath and entrusted treasures to them.
I stayed there for one month, meditating and bestowing blessings.

“I stayed for nine months at Doyi Takdzong. [189]
I bestowed blessings at the practice site of the Kagyé deities.

“Then, I concealed treasures at Marshö Ashö. [190]
I stayed inside the Medicinal Stūpa of Many Doors [191]
For one day, bestowing blessings and meditating.

“After filling the mountains and valleys
Of upper and lower Mar with daylight and darkness, [192]
I walked around, binding gods and demons under oath.

“Then, in the east, as I was meditating In a haunted, snowy area
Over the course of five days,
I bound the wrathful unhindered Nyenchen under oath, [193]
And entrusted him with wealth and desirables.

“On the golden lower plain of Ma,
After taking off my hat and sitting in meditation,
I filled the entire first mountain of Ma
With manifestations of the Peaceful and Wrathful deities.
I bound the gods and demons to oath, and performed consecrations and blessings.

“In the desolate Place of Conquerors at Sothog [194]
I practiced Manjusrī, enlightened body, for three months.

“While staying at the base of Washab Dragkar Cliff for seven days,[195]
I bound the devil Black Hala to oath.[196]

“At my dwelling place called Nāga Cave
For ten months I stayed, cultivating meditation.

“In Tsen Canyon at Kawa Karpo [197]
I stayed for one year, bestowing blessings and meditating.

“At Dza Mountain on the border between Ma and Dza [198]
I practiced for three months, blessing the place.

“Arriving at Mount Machen, [199]
I practiced for a year and six months.
I gave empowerments to the yakṣa King Gökyi Chokshuchen [200]
Along with his main consort, Drakgyal Men and his ministers, [201]
I bound them under oath, commanding them to be treasure guardians.
I established them as the principal rulers

Of the local deities of the six ridges of eastern Tibet.

“Then, when I went to Drakar Trel Dzong [202]
Chinese and Mongolian gods and demons were causing obstacles,
Filling the mountain valleys with the sounds of “Ki!” and “So!”

I sent down torrents of molten metal, flames, and weapons
And annihilated all those pernicious gods and demons.

“When they offered their lives to me, I bound them to oath,
Entrusted them with treasures, and gave them empowerments and blessing.
I practiced in that place for three years.

“In order to spread the teachings of the Buddha,
I travelled around the borderlands of Mongolia and Tibet Performing consecrations and making aspirations.

“I then went to Dungri Karpo Mountain in the east. [203]
For three years I stayed and practiced there.
In the pure realm of millions of ḍākinīs,
I bestowed blessings and performed consecrations,
And commissioned them to guard the border of China and Tibet.

“I went to Lhadrak Karpo in Rungpo, [204]
Where I stayed for one year practicing wrathful mantras,
Establishing that site as a place for wrathful activities.

“I travelled around such places, among the six ridges of eastern Tibet, Bestowing consecrations and blessings,
With the aspiration to spread the Buddha’s teachings.
Binding all of the gods and demons to oath,

I commanded them to protect the sacred teachings.
Finally, I returned to Tibet proper.”

This is the sixth chapter of the biography of Padma that naturally liberates on sight, on how he bound the gods and demons under oath in all realms of Tibet, and gave prophecy after blessing sacred places.


130. Yamalung (g.ya’ ma lung) is a hermitage near Samye.
131.Yarlung Sheldrak (yar lung shel brag)
132.Yerpa cave (yer pa’i brag)
133.Tradruk (khra ‘brug) is a temple established during the reign of Emperor Songtsen Gampo, near Seng Gong (seng dgong) in Yarlung.
134. Kharchen cliff (mkhar chen brag)
135. The meadow of Mönkha (mon kha ne’u ring)|
136. Taktshang Canyon (stag tshang rong)
137. Shiktsang Canyon (gzig tshang rong)
138. Domtshang Canyon (dom tshang rong)
139. Khamré Grove (khams ras tshal)
140. Demo Pass in Kongpo (kong yul de mo la)
141. Rongchung Dza (rong chung rdza)
142. Rongchen at the Yema Cliff (rong chen ye ma brag)
143. Tigo Cliff (ti sgo brag)
144. Cha mdo (chab mdo) is a large city in Kham.
146. Minma (smin ma)|
147. Bemo Valley (be rdo)|
148. Bethil Nagmo (be thil)
149.Yilong Tserma (yid slong tsher ma can)
150.Soglen Nagmo (srog len nag mo)
151.Sengdrak Cave of Horpo (hor po’i seng brag)
152.The thirty-four letters possibly refers to the consonants of the Tibetan alphabet.
153. The nine damsi siblings (dam sri spun dgu)
154. Mugseng Cave (rmug seng phug)
155. Takmo Cliff (stag mo’i brag)
156. Chumig Changringmo (chu mig byang ring) refers to the site of Chumig Changchub in Nepal.
157.The four Semo sisters (bswe mo spun bzhi)
158.Rudam Nagpo Valley (ru dam lung pa nag po)|
159.Menmo sisters (sman mo bcu drug)|}
160.The Arrogance-Subduing Samādhi (dregs pa zil gnon ting ‘dzin)
161.The twelve Murderous Spirits (bla rkun bcu gnyis)
162.Dzong Tran Sangwa (rdzong phran gsang ba)
163..King Takthal of Mu (dmu rgyal stag thul). Mu (dmu) is a type of demon, or the name of a clan.
164.The Five Tsegyal Chukma (rste rgyal phyug mo rnam lnga)
165.The divine son Thökar (lha phrug thod dkar)|
166.Lab is in Lhoka.\
167.The crocodile-faced demon (chu srin) and the bear-faced demon
(dred gdong can)\
168.Tölung (stod lung) is near Lhasa.\
169.Dorje Yudrom (rdo rje g.yu khrom)
170. The peak of Dza Mountain (rdza ri rtse rgyal)|
171. Taktra Namen (stag bkra gnam sman)
172. Kakong Sengé Dzong (ka kong seng ge rdzong)
173. Nāga thels are a type of earth Nāga.
174.Q ueen Mudo (rgyal mo dmu rdo)
175. Tsen Düd Khala Mebar (btsan bdud kha la me ‘bar) is a preta king.
176.The Samādhi That Subjugates the Three Realms (khams gsum dbang sdud ting ‘dzin)
177. Shagdré Rock (bzhag ‘bras rdza)
178. Lhatse (lha rtse)
179. The practice of Blazing Wrath (khro bo ‘bar ba’i brtul zhugs)
180. Mar is in Lhodrak.
181.Bese cave (be se brag phug)
182. Lower Ser (gser smad)
183. Dünying Tse (bdud snying rtse)
184. Dorje Dragkar (rdo rje brag dkar)
185. Ase Mase (a se ma se)
186.Upper Ser (gser stod)
187. Damchen Garwa (dam can mgar ba) is likely Vajrasādhu, (rdo rje legs pa), the protector who assumes the form of a blacksmith.
188. Drong Ri (‘brong ri)
189. Dorje Drak Tsal (rdo rje drag rtsal)
190. Doyi Takdzong (rdo yi stag rdzong)
191. Marshö Ashö (smar shod a shos)|
192.The Stūpa of Many Doors (mchod rten sgo mang)
193. Mar (sMar)
194. Nyenchen (myen chen)
195. The desolate Place of Conquerors at Sothog (bso thog rgyal ba’i dben gnas)
196. Washab Dragkar Cliff (Wa zhabs brag)
197.The devil Black Hala (bdud po ha la nag po)
198. Tsen Canyon at Kawa Karpo (rong btsan kha ba dkar po)
199. Ma (rma) and Dza (rDza)
200. Machen (rma chen)
201.The yakṣa King Gökyi Chokshuchen (nor bdag rgyal po rgod kyi cog zhu can)
202. Drakgyal Men (drag rgyal sman)
203. Drakar Trel Dzong (brag dkar sprel rdzong)
204.Dungri Karpo Mountain (dung ri dar po)


Continues with Chapter 7 tomorrow.


 

The Biography of the Great Orgyen that Naturally Liberates On Sight From The Profound Secret Heart Essence of the Ḍākinī Chapter 5


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 5

“Then, Trisong Detsen, Emperor of the impure Tibetan lands
Instructed Trisher of the Yarlung Ba clan [114]

To carry one bre of gold dust in an ornamented bowl
And invite me, Tsokyé Dorje to come.

The messenger, as instructed,
Offered me gold dust in a golden vessel.

“Although I already knew, I asked, ‘Who are you?’
Joining his hands in reverence he replied,

‘I am Trisher of the Bami clan of Yarlung,
In Pur Gyal, [115] the kingdom of Tibet.

“‘Although formerly known as bellicose and thieving,
The Emperor of Tibet, Trisong Detsen,

Has subjugated and united all the thirty-two regions.
Now, he wishes to perform spiritual activities.

Please consider his letter of invitation.’
“Since I had received the letter, I had to go to Tibet.

I replied to him, ‘Since you are a human
With a corporeal body of flesh and blood,
You would be attacked and killed by those spirits who oppose me.
It wouldn’t be right to return there together.

“‘Tibet is the domain of demons and cannibals.
If you do not have a body of light like mine,
Free of cruel thoughts and acts — the ripening of past misdeeds —
People with normal bodies find it difficult to overcome them.

So, I will follow behind as you go ahead.
Relate this to the Emperor and take the letter to him.’

“All the gods and demons of Tibet
Would have attacked me, life and limb,
But I bound them under oaths, entrusted them with treasures,
And empowered them through magic as protectors of the Buddha’s teachings.

“After bestowing a name and a command, and sealing them with my vajra,
I placed a casket of precious treasure in their hands.

Emanating a treasury of inexhaustible enjoyments that filled space,
I commissioned them to protect the Secret Mantra teachings.

I said, ‘All you defiled gods and demons will be punished later.
My successors will invoke these bonds,

And enforce the command that you are under an oath of service
With the four types of awakened activity.’ [116]

“Then, when I reached Tibet,
The Emperor, his ministers, and subjects came to meet me
And they were ecstatic as they welcomed me.

I thought, ‘I must convert the Emperor and his subject
By displaying various miracles that will generate faith!‘

“Through myriad unobstructed miracles
The misguided Emperor and his ministers
Abandoned the afflictions and darkness of their minds.

“They listened to my commands, and with faith and devotion, they fulfilled them. Because only heretic teachers [117] inhabited this land of Tibet,
No teachers of the holy Dharma were allowed to stay there.

“The Emperor Trisong Detsen
Arranged a seat of silken cushions, piled nine high.
Then the great monarch

Prepared a golden maṇḍala
And filled it with heaps of turquoise and gems.

“He prostrated, joined his palms, and respectfully requested:
‘My kingdom is a land of demons and defiled beings.
Previously I was a ruler in the heretic tradition.
I committed evil actions, and I did not propagate the sacred Dharma.

“‘During the reign of Emperor Thori Nyantsan, [118]
Vajrapāṇi, the Lord of Secrets,
Initiated an auspicious interdependent connection
By miraculously granting him symbols of awakened form, speech, and mind.

“‘In the reign of Emperor Songtsen Gampo,
Who was cared for by Ārya Mahākaruṇa, [119]

The three supports were installed in the temple, the foundation of the teachings. The Emperor gave many instructions
For the stages of generation and completion of the secret method
To a few of his ministers, enabling them to experience bliss.

“‘Then, Emperor Tride Tsuktsen [120]
Began laying the foundations for the teaching of the holy Dharma.
However, due to the powers and curses of the heretics,

He ‘dissolved into space’ when he was twenty-eight years old.

“‘So I waged war with their rulers
From age fifteen to twenty-four,
Subjugating the thirty regions of the world.

“‘Then in my dreams, Vajra Dhātvisvarī, [121] the ḍākinī of awareness, Displayed a form like fifteen rising moons, and said:
‘Kye ma! O Dear! This evil leader’s actions
Are the accumulated causes of the sufferings of endless saṃsāra.
Your accumulated negative actions will lead you to deep, fiery prisons.
Who will rescue you from that such an inescapable, piteous time?’

“‘Though she glared at me with menacing eyes,
I said, ‘Excellent, O Compassionate One!
Pray, tell me whether this heretic kingdom of mine Is proper or improper.’

“‘In response the ḍākinī said,
‘This ‘heretic lineage’ is only the teaching of Māra, a perverted path.
As soon as its followers die, they are reborn as demons and malevolent spirits Who attack the life-force of sentient beings.
In the end they will surely fall to the Hell of Ceaseless Torment.’ [122]

“‘I said, ‘Very well then.
Since the heretic teachings are a cause for lower rebirths,
What method is there to gain liberation? What must I do?’

“‘When I asked this, the ḍākinī said:
‘Conquer all the charnel grounds and pilgrimage places
Of all of the kingdoms of the noble land of India.
When you have bound to oath all guardians of the teachings and places, and gods and demons of all that appears and exists,
And when you have banished Extremists and holders of wrong views from all kingdoms,
Then everyone will come to know bliss.’

“‘After the teacher, Sākyamuni, arrives,
The splendour of the disciples will arise from the all-encompassing space of phenomena.

“‘If you invite the one known
As Guru Pema Jungné,
You can be sure that the kingdom of Tibet Will convert to the pure Dharma.’

“‘And so, I acted in accordance with that dream.
Give me a method for converting my kingdom to the dharma
And hold me with your compassion!’

“So spoke the Emperor. In response, I advised:
‘First, in a temple, the foundation for the teachings,
Raise many supports of awakened form, speech, and mind, And train many Tibetan youths in secular knowledge.

“‘Next, commission the translations of the Indian teachings.
Although I hold the teachings and lineages of the Buddha,
And all written commentarial teachings

Have merged in me like streams in the ocean,
And I understand them all, I can not spread them.

“In order to secure the foundation of the Buddha’s teachings
You must invite Khenchen Bodhisattva, [123]

The Buddha disguised in human form,
Lord of all the learned and accomplished translators of the Noble Land,
The genuine one in whom all lineage holders place their trust,

The glorious Lord of the activity of training those to be trained.’

“In response, the Emperor said,
‘I’m not sure if I can invite the great abbot.
If it can be done, then to whom should I send the letter?
Great master, I request you foretell

Whether we have the good fortune for him to come here.’

“I advised, ‘Kye Ho!
Listen, sovereign Dharma King!
Due to the powerful past aspirations of four children
We presently have the fortune of meeting again. [124]
If the Ba from Yarlung were to invite him, that would be excellent.’
As suggested, the Ba clansman was sent to invite him to Tibet

In order to expand the extent of the Buddha’s teachings.

“Then, I, Padma Jungné, through the strength of my samādhi,
Summoned ḍākas and ḍākinīs

From the twenty-four Great Places, the thirty-two Sacred Places,
The hundred and eight Charnel Grounds, and the ten Heruka sites.

“Summoning the gods that surround the four great kingdoms,
And all the eight classes of oath-bound gods and demons
With the All-embracing Display Samādhi [125]

I appointed them as emissaries under my command.

“I bound under oath foul nāgas, māras and murderous spirits
To seize and tame the land, and raise glorious Samyé.

After that, the master and disciples performed the consecration,
And I entrusted Gyalpo Pehar as the lord of the place.

“After many young Tibetans were trained in secular sciences,
The teachings from all over India and China

Were transmitted to Tibet in their entirety.
Finally, many paṇḍits and siddhas were invited
To clarify doubts about the teachings.

“Queen Tsepong Zawa Margyan, [126]
The embodiment of the Glorious Goddess, Srī Devī [127]

Displayed various actions so that she appeared to be a follower of the heretics. Buddhists and heretics debated, and the heretics were defeated.
Finally, she produced the method for destroying the heretic tradition.

“Then, general teachings of the Secret Mantra Vajrayāna were given,
And in particular, the doctrine of the Great Perfection.

Siddhas who renounced this life, and practiced the essence
In caverns, grottoes, and desolate places
Filled all of the mountain slopes and valleys
Throughout all the lands of Tibet.

“Five hundred years in the future, in the degenerate time, holy teachers and students
Will find the circumstances for the succession of practice lineages severed.

The thirty-two blessings of the common teachings will have dissipated.

“Although practice will be undertaken, there will be no signs of accomplishment.
Therefore, I have concealed many teachings as treasures.

After my own rebirth among humans, these treasures will be revealed.

“After teaching many fortunate disciples, saying,
‘Boundless benefit will be accomplished for beings!’
I will fill all the lands of Tibet with treasure teachings.
In future times, they will be revealed, and prophecies will be foretold.

“‘Tsogyal, you are actually Khorlo Gyedeb: [128]
The consort of the one who has accomplished the Kīla of Timeless Awareness.[129]
Spread these indestructible, inexhaustible treasures far and wide,

Concealed in the womb of the five elements.
Enjoin the host of arrogant oath-bound protectors
To keep these secret from unfortunate or unsuitable people,

And to spread this inexhaustible profundity beyond depth or limit!’
After I had so ordered, I affixed the seal in accordance with the command, and hid them.

“Afterwards I hid twenty-five representations,
Making aspirations for the subjugation of the frontier barbarians
During the lives of those treasure-revealers who would discover them,
And I also applied the seal of awakened mind.

“Some of the treasure-revealers will have four wives each.
Some will be ignoble beings, others virtuous — one can’t be sure who will reveal treasures.
Therefore, I will give them to my emanations.
These were my fervent aspirations.”

This is the fifth chapter of the biography of Padma that naturally liberates on sight, on how he accomplished the benefit of beings in Tibet and expanded the reach of the teachings.


114.Trisher of the Yarlung Ba clan (yar lung sba mi khri gzher) that is Nanam Dorje Dudjom.
115. Purgyal (spur rgyal) is the archaic name of imperial Tibet.
116. The four types of awakened activity (las bzhi) are pacifying (zhi ba’i las), increasing (rgyas pa’i las), magnetizing or subduing (dbang gi las), and wrathful (drag po’i las)
117. Heretic teachers or ‘Bönpos’ (bon po)
118. Emperor Thori Nyantsan (rgyal po tho ri gnyan btsan) was the 28th Emperor of the Yarlung Dynasty.
119. Ārya Mahākaruṇa (‘phags pa thugs rje chen po) that is Avalokiteśvara.
120.Emperor Tride Tsuktsen (Khri lde gtsug bstan r. 710-755/56)
121.
Vajra Dhātviśvarī (rdo rje dbyings phyug ma)
122.
The Hell of Ceaseless Torment (mnar med dmyal ba)
123.
Khenchen Bodhisattva (mkhan chen bo dhi satwa) that is Śāntarakṣita.  124.This is a reference to the story of the establishment of the Boudha Stūpa as told in “Liberation Upon Hearing: The History of the Great Jarung Kashor Stūpa“.
125.
The All-embracing Display Samādhi (‘khor ‘das ‘ub chub rol pa’i ting ‘dzin)  126. Queen Tsepong Zawa Margyan (btsun mo tshe spong bza’ ba dmar rgyan ma)
127.
Śrī Devī (dmag zor rgyal mo)
128.
Khorlo Gyedeb (‘khor lo rgyas ‘debs) or Tṛptacakra, that is the consort of Vajrakumāra.
129.
Kīla of Timeless Awareness (ye shes phur pa), that is Vajrakumāra.


Continues with Chapter 6 tomorrow.


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.