Phajo Drugom Shigpo
Encyclopedia
Phajo Drugom Shigpo [1184-1251 / 1208-1275] was a Tibetan Buddhist
particularly important in the early spread of the Drukpa school to Bhutan
where he is revered as an emanation of Avalokiteśvara
. His descendants played a significant role in the history of Bhutan.
Phajo Drugom Zhigpo was born, probably in 1184, at Yangtse Babchu (ryang tse 'bab chu), Tashigang in the Do-Kham
region of East Tibet
the youngest of three sons of the merchant Dabzang (zla-bzang), who belonged to a branch of the Gya (rgya) clan, and his wife Achi Palmo Kyid (a lce dpal mo skyid). His was originally named Dondrub Gyaltsen. Phajo's Tibetan hagiography and Drukpa Kagyu religious histories from Bhutan relate various auspicious and miraculous signs accompanying his conception, gestation, and birth, and record that he was an obstinate and precocious child.
At the age of seven he began his studies under a local Nyingma
priest who taught him reading and writing. At the age of 12, he went to study with a Nyingma master named Tharpalingpa who gave him the complete set of lay devotees vows and the name Tarpa Gyaltsen. From this teacher he received and received instructions on generating the great thought of enlightenment, teachings on the Maha, Anu and Ati levels of Tantra, Dzogchen
and in particular empowerment and teachings on "all the Cycles of Mahākāruṇika"(The Great Compassionate One a name of Avalokiteśvara
). He also received all the cycles and empowerments of the Eight Commandments (bka brgyad).
From a lama he also received instructions on the texts Mahamudra Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance and a Chöd
text called The Profound Teaching of Object Cutting During a Single Sitting.
Then he did prolonged meditation at Lingkar Drak, a place blessed by Guru Padmasambhava.
While in Samye, he heard the news of Tsangpa Gyare's passing away from two ascetics and he fainted. When he regained his senses, he heard about Onre Darma Sengye, the Regent of Tsangpa Gyare at Ralung, whose spiritual attainment was equal to that of Tsangpa Gyare. At the age of 33, Tharpa Gyaltsen arrived at Ralung. As instructed by Tsangpa Gyare, Onre Darma Sengye took him as his disciple and transmitted the teachings of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition. After receiving the teachings for about a year, Tharpa Gyaltsen meditated at Jekar and Longdol and "strenuously practiced meditation for three years and fully actualized the realization. In particular, he perfected his mastery of Mahamudra." He then went back to his master Onre Darma Sengye and related his experiences and, impressed by his realization, Onre gave him the name Phajo Druggom Zhigpo and betowed on him the complete empowerments and teachings of Rechungpa's Ear Whispred Transmission of Samvara (bde mchog snyan rgyud).
He then stayed at
At the appropriate time, Onre Darma Senye told Phajo about Tsangpa Gyare's prophecy and gave him instructions about his activities in Bhutan. In 1224, at the age of 40, Phajo left for Bhutan
to carry out the prophecy of Tsangpa Gyare.
Then Phajo meditated at Paro Taktsang
for a month. In a vision during the meditation, Guru Padmasambhava
instructed him to travel throughout the country and meditate at twelve places:
While staying at Darkar Latse, Phajo met Achog and took her as his consort. A son was born and given the name Dampa. When Phajo went to Wang Sinmo, he met Sonam Paldron, a girl with the signs of a Dakini, at Chagzam Bridge. Since meeting her had been prophesied to Phajo in a vision, he took her also as his consort. The bridge came to be known as Lungten Zampa, or the ‘Bridge of the Prophecy’. Phajo gave her all the instructions and empowerments of the Drukpa tradition. Then they went to meditate at the cave Dodena, where Tago monastery stands today. In a vision during the meditation, Hayagriva instructed Phajo to continue his line through children to spread the traditions of the Drukpa lineage. After nine months Sonam Paldron gave birth to a daughter.
Leaving his consort and daughter at Dodena, Phajo went to meditate at all the places prophesied. One day, while he was at the Dechen Drak, the string of his rosary broke and the beads scattered in all directions. This was an omen that his teachings would spread all over the country in the future.
Prior to the arrival of Phajo Druggom, Nyoe Gyalwa Lhanangpa, a disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon (1143–1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyud, had great influence and controlled a large part of western Bhutan. However, the growing reputation of Phajo began to threaten the spread of his Lhapa taching brought by Gelwa Lhanangpa.
Sonam Paldron gave birth to seven sons. One day, Phajo took all seven sons to a bridge and, invoking the deities to decide which of his sons were demons and which would preserve his lineage, he threw all of them into the river. Three sons drowned and four remained unharmed. This story spread across the country and Lhakpas, the descendants of the Lhanangpa's line of teaching(i.e Dregung Kaguye) became envious and hostile. Lhakpas sent a letter to Phajo saying, "You cannot spread your teaching without a mutual consent since I have started the teaching in this country for the first time. You should either look after the monastery of Jathel Dzong or serve as in a mutual way. Else we will have dispute". (In most of the writings it is mentioned that Lhanangpa as the opposition to the Phajo, but the Lhanangpa after coming to Bhutan, who is also the first Tibetan scholar after Guru Rinpoche to visit the country and start the first Buddhist teaching in Bhutan has not stayed long, his son Ngoeten Trulzhig chojee remained in Bhutan, therefore Lhanangpa did not seem personally opposed to the teaching of Phajo. However the ruler of the kingdom remained the descendants of Lhanangpa'a linages since Pema lingpa fall to his linage)
Phajo dismissed the threat and wrote back saying that he had been sent by Onre Darma Sengye in accordance with the prophecy of Tsangpa Gyare, to spread the teachings of the Drukpa lineage. Then the dispute erupted between the lhapas and Phajo, exchanging forces and power, where the Phajos effort made it to succession by over coming the Lhapas to spread the drukpa kagyued. When this news was conveyed to Noge Gelwa Lhanangpa, he said to his followers that, the drukpa spread was predestined for the small kingdom, while the rulers of the kingdom will remain from his linage.
Phajo began to spread the teachings of the Drukpa lineage systematically. He firmly established the Drukpa lineage teachings as the main school in western Bhutan and exerted considerable political and spiritual influence in the rest of the country. He passed on the teachings to his sons and sent them to different areas. They ruled according to the principles of the Dharma. In 1251, at the age of 68, Phajo died at Tago.
'Clarification: How could Lhanangpa be Phajo's opponent
It was true that Phajo faced resistance from other religious sects in which one of them was the Lhapa, but Lhapa was the sub-sect of Drigung kagyue found by Lhanangpa that does not mean Lhapa is the Lhanangpa. There are authors who deliberately point at Lhanangpa making him the 'bad man' of the time.
To my surprise Lhanangpa was died in the year when Phajo came to Bhutan. Lhanangpa was born in 1164 and has died in the year 1224 when Phajo just turned for Bhutan. So why is authors relating Lhanangpa as the bad man of the Phajo's time. Here needs some better research and analysis.
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
particularly important in the early spread of the Drukpa school to Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
where he is revered as an emanation of Avalokiteśvara
Avalokitesvara
Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism....
. His descendants played a significant role in the history of Bhutan.
Early life
Just before he died, the founder of the Drukpa school, Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje told his nephew and Regent, Onre Darma Senge (1177–1237), "A Khampa son from Kham is coming. But he won't meet me. You look after him. Send him to the southern valley that has been visited and blessed by Orgyen Padma Jungne. He will be of great service to the Buddha Dharma."Phajo Drugom Zhigpo was born, probably in 1184, at Yangtse Babchu (ryang tse 'bab chu), Tashigang in the Do-Kham
Kham
Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...
region of East Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
the youngest of three sons of the merchant Dabzang (zla-bzang), who belonged to a branch of the Gya (rgya) clan, and his wife Achi Palmo Kyid (a lce dpal mo skyid). His was originally named Dondrub Gyaltsen. Phajo's Tibetan hagiography and Drukpa Kagyu religious histories from Bhutan relate various auspicious and miraculous signs accompanying his conception, gestation, and birth, and record that he was an obstinate and precocious child.
At the age of seven he began his studies under a local Nyingma
Nyingma
The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism . "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as Nga'gyur or the "old school" because it is founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan, in the eighth century...
priest who taught him reading and writing. At the age of 12, he went to study with a Nyingma master named Tharpalingpa who gave him the complete set of lay devotees vows and the name Tarpa Gyaltsen. From this teacher he received and received instructions on generating the great thought of enlightenment, teachings on the Maha, Anu and Ati levels of Tantra, Dzogchen
Dzogchen
According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...
and in particular empowerment and teachings on "all the Cycles of Mahākāruṇika"(The Great Compassionate One a name of Avalokiteśvara
Avalokitesvara
Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism....
). He also received all the cycles and empowerments of the Eight Commandments (bka brgyad).
From a lama he also received instructions on the texts Mahamudra Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance and a Chöd
Chöd
Chöd , is a spiritual practice found primarily in Tibetan Buddhism. Also known as "Cutting Through the Ego," the practice is based on the Prajñāpāramitā sutra...
text called The Profound Teaching of Object Cutting During a Single Sitting.
Then he did prolonged meditation at Lingkar Drak, a place blessed by Guru Padmasambhava.
Meeting with Sangey Onre Darma Senge
One day he learned of the spiritual reputation of Tsangpa Gyare from some traders of Jang Taklung. Merely hearing the name of Tsangpa Gyare generated a deep sense of devotion in him and tears came to his eyes. Moved with great devotion, he made up his mind to go to Ralung to see Tsangpa Gyare. He sought his teacher's permission to go on a pilgrimage to Lhasa and Samye. After receiving the remaining instructions from his teacher, he set off on his journey. It took him almost a year to reach the U-Tsang region of Tibet.While in Samye, he heard the news of Tsangpa Gyare's passing away from two ascetics and he fainted. When he regained his senses, he heard about Onre Darma Sengye, the Regent of Tsangpa Gyare at Ralung, whose spiritual attainment was equal to that of Tsangpa Gyare. At the age of 33, Tharpa Gyaltsen arrived at Ralung. As instructed by Tsangpa Gyare, Onre Darma Sengye took him as his disciple and transmitted the teachings of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition. After receiving the teachings for about a year, Tharpa Gyaltsen meditated at Jekar and Longdol and "strenuously practiced meditation for three years and fully actualized the realization. In particular, he perfected his mastery of Mahamudra." He then went back to his master Onre Darma Sengye and related his experiences and, impressed by his realization, Onre gave him the name Phajo Druggom Zhigpo and betowed on him the complete empowerments and teachings of Rechungpa's Ear Whispred Transmission of Samvara (bde mchog snyan rgyud).
He then stayed at
At the appropriate time, Onre Darma Senye told Phajo about Tsangpa Gyare's prophecy and gave him instructions about his activities in Bhutan. In 1224, at the age of 40, Phajo left for Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
to carry out the prophecy of Tsangpa Gyare.
Activities in Bhutan
At the time of Phajo's arrival at Lingzhi, in Bhutan, a cow belonging to a local rich man named Matong Gyi, had given birth to a calf with the head of a donkey and a snake as the tail. He approached Phajo for help. Phajo subjugated the evil spirit and it became a normal calf. All the nomads of Lingzhi joined together and offered Jagoe Dzong and all the surrounding land to Phajo.Then Phajo meditated at Paro Taktsang
Paro Taktsang
Paro Taktsang , is the popular name of Taktsang Palphug Monastery , a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex, located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley, Bhutan...
for a month. In a vision during the meditation, Guru Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava ; Mongolian ловон Бадмажунай, lovon Badmajunai, , Means The Lotus-Born, was a sage guru from Oddiyāna who is said to have transmitted Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet and neighbouring countries in the 8th century...
instructed him to travel throughout the country and meditate at twelve places:
- Four Dzongs (fortresses) - Taktsang Sengye Samdrub DzongParo TaktsangParo Taktsang , is the popular name of Taktsang Palphug Monastery , a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex, located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley, Bhutan...
, Tago Choying Dzong, Lingzhi Jagoe Dzong and Yangtse Thubo Dzong; - Four Draks (rocks) - Gom Drak, Thukje Drak, Tsechu Drak and Dechen Drak
- Four Phugs (caves) - Tsedong Phug, Gawa Phug, Langthang Phug and Sengye Phug.
While staying at Darkar Latse, Phajo met Achog and took her as his consort. A son was born and given the name Dampa. When Phajo went to Wang Sinmo, he met Sonam Paldron, a girl with the signs of a Dakini, at Chagzam Bridge. Since meeting her had been prophesied to Phajo in a vision, he took her also as his consort. The bridge came to be known as Lungten Zampa, or the ‘Bridge of the Prophecy’. Phajo gave her all the instructions and empowerments of the Drukpa tradition. Then they went to meditate at the cave Dodena, where Tago monastery stands today. In a vision during the meditation, Hayagriva instructed Phajo to continue his line through children to spread the traditions of the Drukpa lineage. After nine months Sonam Paldron gave birth to a daughter.
Leaving his consort and daughter at Dodena, Phajo went to meditate at all the places prophesied. One day, while he was at the Dechen Drak, the string of his rosary broke and the beads scattered in all directions. This was an omen that his teachings would spread all over the country in the future.
Prior to the arrival of Phajo Druggom, Nyoe Gyalwa Lhanangpa, a disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon (1143–1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyud, had great influence and controlled a large part of western Bhutan. However, the growing reputation of Phajo began to threaten the spread of his Lhapa taching brought by Gelwa Lhanangpa.
Sonam Paldron gave birth to seven sons. One day, Phajo took all seven sons to a bridge and, invoking the deities to decide which of his sons were demons and which would preserve his lineage, he threw all of them into the river. Three sons drowned and four remained unharmed. This story spread across the country and Lhakpas, the descendants of the Lhanangpa's line of teaching(i.e Dregung Kaguye) became envious and hostile. Lhakpas sent a letter to Phajo saying, "You cannot spread your teaching without a mutual consent since I have started the teaching in this country for the first time. You should either look after the monastery of Jathel Dzong or serve as in a mutual way. Else we will have dispute". (In most of the writings it is mentioned that Lhanangpa as the opposition to the Phajo, but the Lhanangpa after coming to Bhutan, who is also the first Tibetan scholar after Guru Rinpoche to visit the country and start the first Buddhist teaching in Bhutan has not stayed long, his son Ngoeten Trulzhig chojee remained in Bhutan, therefore Lhanangpa did not seem personally opposed to the teaching of Phajo. However the ruler of the kingdom remained the descendants of Lhanangpa'a linages since Pema lingpa fall to his linage)
Phajo dismissed the threat and wrote back saying that he had been sent by Onre Darma Sengye in accordance with the prophecy of Tsangpa Gyare, to spread the teachings of the Drukpa lineage. Then the dispute erupted between the lhapas and Phajo, exchanging forces and power, where the Phajos effort made it to succession by over coming the Lhapas to spread the drukpa kagyued. When this news was conveyed to Noge Gelwa Lhanangpa, he said to his followers that, the drukpa spread was predestined for the small kingdom, while the rulers of the kingdom will remain from his linage.
Phajo began to spread the teachings of the Drukpa lineage systematically. He firmly established the Drukpa lineage teachings as the main school in western Bhutan and exerted considerable political and spiritual influence in the rest of the country. He passed on the teachings to his sons and sent them to different areas. They ruled according to the principles of the Dharma. In 1251, at the age of 68, Phajo died at Tago.
'Clarification: How could Lhanangpa be Phajo's opponent
It was true that Phajo faced resistance from other religious sects in which one of them was the Lhapa, but Lhapa was the sub-sect of Drigung kagyue found by Lhanangpa that does not mean Lhapa is the Lhanangpa. There are authors who deliberately point at Lhanangpa making him the 'bad man' of the time.
To my surprise Lhanangpa was died in the year when Phajo came to Bhutan. Lhanangpa was born in 1164 and has died in the year 1224 when Phajo just turned for Bhutan. So why is authors relating Lhanangpa as the bad man of the Phajo's time. Here needs some better research and analysis.
Sources
- Dargye, Yonten and Sørensen, P.K. (2001); The Biography of Pha 'Brug-sgom Zhig-po called The Current of Compassion. Thumphu: National Library of Bhutan. ISBN 9993617008
- Dargye, Yonten. (2001) History of the Drukpa Kagyud School in Bhutan (12th to 17th Century A.D.) ISBN 9993661600
- Ardusi, John A. (2000). The House of 'Ob-mtsho — History of a Buddhist Gentry Family during the 13th to 20th Century. in Journal of Bhutan Studies Vol 2:1 p. 1-29. Thimphu: Centre for Bhutan Studies.
External links
- Phajo Drukgom Zhigpo - at Rangjung Yeshi Wiki
- P7825 'brug sgom zhig po - at TBRC