Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal
Encyclopedia
Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal (1142–1210) is the Founder of the Taklung Kagyu
lineage.
The Taklung Kagyu lineage remains unbroken to this day.
Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal founded the Taklung Yarthang Monastery.
He is considered as one of the many immediate students of Pal Phagmo Drupa
.
teachings. Owing to his vast and profound knowledge of Buddhist
doctrine, he was renowned as the great sovereign and accomplished master scholar.
He travelled towards Central Tibet
where he met his destined root teacher, Phagmo Drupa
. For six years, Tashi Pal served his master as his personal attendant during which time he received the entire tantric
and sutric teachings, including the ripening empowerment and liberating instructions of the great Mahamudra
and the six yogic teachings
of Naropa
. Later, he spent many years in six different solitary places staying in extremely strict retreat practice by sealing off his retreat room. As a result, he achieved the supreme siddhi
of enlightenment
.
at Taklung Thang Dorje Den. Since then, his name came to be known as Taklung Thangpa and his distinct tradition renowned as the unequalled lineage of accomplishment, the Taklung Kagyu
.
The main teaching of Taklung Kagyu
is Guru Yoga and the main practice devotion and reverence towards one's root teacher. Specifically Vinaya
practice was greatly emphasized. As such, Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal, fully ordained and holder of the Vajrayana
doctrine, came to be famously known for his pure morality.
, China
, Mongolia
, and the three provinces of Tibet
.
After giving final advice to his followers, Taklung Thangpa achieved the non-dual state of Vajradhara
and passed away into nirvana
, dissolving his body and mind into the Dharmakaya
in the year 1210. This was displayed to allow beings to realize the impermanent nature of life.
Taklung Kagyu
The Taklung Kagyu is a sub-sect of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.-History:The Taklung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by the Dharma Lord Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal in 1180 AD. He was the first lineage holder of this tradition...
lineage.
The Taklung Kagyu lineage remains unbroken to this day.
Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal founded the Taklung Yarthang Monastery.
He is considered as one of the many immediate students of Pal Phagmo Drupa
Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo
Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo [1110-1170], was one the three main disciples of Gampopa Sonam Rinchen who established the Dagpo Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism; and a disciple of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo [1092-1158] one of the founders of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism...
.
Early years
Tashi Pal was born in 1142 AD, to the Taklung Gazi family, one of the six main ancestral Tibetan lineages. He embraced monkhood in Pal Thang-kya Monastery, where he studied and mastered the general and distinct BuddhistTibetan 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...
teachings. Owing to his vast and profound knowledge of Buddhist
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...
doctrine, he was renowned as the great sovereign and accomplished master scholar.
He travelled towards Central 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...
where he met his destined root teacher, Phagmo Drupa
Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo
Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo [1110-1170], was one the three main disciples of Gampopa Sonam Rinchen who established the Dagpo Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism; and a disciple of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo [1092-1158] one of the founders of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism...
. For six years, Tashi Pal served his master as his personal attendant during which time he received the entire tantric
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
and sutric teachings, including the ripening empowerment and liberating instructions of the great Mahamudra
Mahamudra
Mahāmudrā literally means "great seal" or "great symbol." It "is a multivalent term of great importance in later Indian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism" which "also occurs occasionally in Hindu and East Asian Buddhist esotericism."The name refers to the way one who...
and the six yogic teachings
Six Yogas of Naropa
The Six Yogas of Nāropa , also called the six dharmas of Naropa and Naro's six doctrines , are a set of advanced Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices and a meditation sādhana compiled in and around the...
of Naropa
Naropa
thumb|right|NaropaNāropā was an Indian Buddhist yogi, mystic and monk. He was the disciple of Tilopa and brother, or some sources say partner and pupil, of Niguma. Naropa was the main teacher of Marpa, the founder of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism...
. Later, he spent many years in six different solitary places staying in extremely strict retreat practice by sealing off his retreat room. As a result, he achieved the supreme siddhi
Siddhi
is a Sanskrit noun that can be translated as "perfection", "accomplishment", "attainment", or "success". The term is first attested in the Mahabharata. In the Pancatantra, a siddhi may be any unusual skill or faculty or capability...
of enlightenment
Bodhi
Bodhi is both a Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English with the word "enlightenment", but which means awakened. In Buddhism it is the knowledge possessed by a Buddha into the nature of things...
.
Taklung Kagyu
In the year 1180 AD, he established the seat and the distinct tradition of Taklung KagyuTaklung Kagyu
The Taklung Kagyu is a sub-sect of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.-History:The Taklung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by the Dharma Lord Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal in 1180 AD. He was the first lineage holder of this tradition...
at Taklung Thang Dorje Den. Since then, his name came to be known as Taklung Thangpa and his distinct tradition renowned as the unequalled lineage of accomplishment, the Taklung Kagyu
Taklung Kagyu
The Taklung Kagyu is a sub-sect of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.-History:The Taklung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by the Dharma Lord Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal in 1180 AD. He was the first lineage holder of this tradition...
.
The main teaching of Taklung Kagyu
Taklung Kagyu
The Taklung Kagyu is a sub-sect of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.-History:The Taklung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by the Dharma Lord Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal in 1180 AD. He was the first lineage holder of this tradition...
is Guru Yoga and the main practice devotion and reverence towards one's root teacher. Specifically Vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
practice was greatly emphasized. As such, Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal, fully ordained and holder of the Vajrayana
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
doctrine, came to be famously known for his pure morality.
Legacy
He devoted the first half of every month to bless and teach students, and the second half to strict retreat practice. Generally, there were more than 3600 resident monks in Taklung Monastery during his time, and his disciples came from different places in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, and the three provinces of 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...
.
After giving final advice to his followers, Taklung Thangpa achieved the non-dual state of Vajradhara
Vajradhara
Vajradhara is the ultimate primordial Buddha, or Adi Buddha, according to the Gelug and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism.In the evolution of Indian Buddhism, Vajradhara gradually displaced Samantabhadra, who remains the...
and passed away into nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
, dissolving his body and mind into the Dharmakaya
Dharmakaya
The Dharmakāya is a central idea in Mahayana Buddhism forming part of the Trikaya doctrine that was possibly first expounded in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā prajñā-pāramitā , composed in the 1st century BCE...
in the year 1210. This was displayed to allow beings to realize the impermanent nature of life.