The Dudjom Lineage of Ogyan chokhor ling
The spread of Buddhism in Tibet gained some momentum in the 7th CE under
the patronage of King Song Tsan Gampo. At this time Thon-mi Sambhota devised
a Tibetan alphabet suitable for the translation of Buddhist works. It
was during the reign of his successor King, Trisong Detsen, however, that
Vajrayana Buddhism became established. He had invited the Bodhisattva
Santaraksita to teach the Dharma to his people but he had encountered
insurmountable obstacles.
Nyingma legend recounts how Santaraksita suggested to the King that he
invite the great master Padmasambhava (known also as Guru Rinpoche) from
India, to pacify the land and clear away obstacles to Buddhist practice.
Together they built a great monastery at Samye in the shape of a mandala,
which became the first institution of Buddhist learning in Tibet. Tradition
recounts Santaraksita ordained the first Tibetan monks and many translators
were invited from India to train apprentices to begin the monumental task
of translating the Buddhadharma into Tibetan.
Meanwhile Padmasambhava began the Oral Transmission of the Mantrayana (Vajrayana or Tantric) practice tradition. Beginning with twenty-five close disciples, his teaching has been passed down through unbroken lineages of practitioners who have gained realisation through the practices and have then passed them on to people who have also gained realisation and passed them on right up to the present day. This is known as ‘long transmission’ and provides practitioners with confidence that generations before them have attained realisation through their practice. The lineage of transmission of these practices is unbroken in Ogyan cho khor ling from Padmasambhava to the present day through Ven. Lopon P. Ogyan Tanzin Rinpoche.
Guru Rinpoche and his disciple and consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, concealed many teachings, called ‘Terma’, to be revealed at the appropriate time for the benefit of future generations. This is ‘short transmission’ and provides practices that are appropriate to the evolving needs of beings.
Guru
Rinpoche concealed many teachings as treasures in the mindstreams of his
twenty-five closest disciples. In each generation, these disciples manifested
as treasure finders, called Tertons, who revealed precious texts and teachings
from the earth and water, from the sky, and from their own mindstreams.
One of Padmasambhava's twenty-five main disciples was (right)
Khyeuchung Lotsawa. He was a ngakpa wearing white robes and uncut braided
hair who received all the tantric (Vajrayana) teachings from Padmasambhava.
He was able to communicate the Dharma to the birds. Among his most notable
of a remarkable series of his rebirths was Duddul Dorje.
In the 17th Century CE Duddul Dorje opened up places of pilgrimage in remote places of power. Foremost among these was Pemakö, the hidden valley in the Tsangpo River valley inhabited by wild hill tribes. Padmasambhava and the 25 disciples as well as Gampopa had previously practised there but it was inaccessible until Duddul Dorje opened it up for the first time to ordinary pilgrims.
Among
the most famous tertons of the 19th century CE was (left)Dudjom
Lingpa (1835-1904). He also was a body emanation of Khyeuchung Lotsawa.
Dudjom Lingpa revealed the Dudjom Tersar lineage, consisting of a number of texts and twenty-two volumes of teachings. These teachings are especially profound and appropriate for these times. It is said, thirteen of his disciples attained rainbow body in their lifetime and a thousand others attained the level of rigdzin, or awareness holder.
Before passing away, Dudjom Lingpa prophesied he would be reborn in Pemakö.
This incarnation was (right) His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche (1904-1987). He became one of the greatest and most famous scholars in Tibet. He restored many old texts and terma and revealed many treasures of his own: profound teachings and sadhanas presenting a complete and perfect path for Vajrayana practice. He is best known perhaps as the author of the encyclopaedic The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism and for his role as head of the Nyingma.
There are four major cycles in the "Dudjom Tersar" of Kyabje
Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.
· The "Tsokyi Thugthig" cycle, for the practices on the
outer, inner, secret and innermost secret sadhanas of the Lama;
· The "Pudri Rekpung" cycle, for the practices of the
Yidam;
· The "Khandro Thugthig" cycle, for the practices on
the outer, inner, secret and innermost secret sadhanas of the Khandro;
and
· The Dorje Drollo
Ven. Lopon P. Ogyan Tanzin Rinpoche was born in Pemakö and was a
disciple of Dudjom Rinpoche. He has received the Dudjom tersar and this
is the basis of his own practice. We are extremely fortunate that through
his limitless compassion we are able to partake and continue this lineage
of realisation.
© Nyingma.com
2006