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Today we continue
the Karma Kagyu Lineage Masters History and the first
subject shall be concentrated on Dharma Lord Gampopa Dakpo
Lharje. He is one of the two main disciples of Milarepa
and both of them are like the moon (Rechungpa) and the sun
(Gampopa). Basically there are 3 names that Gampopa is
address, one being Gampopa, Dakpo and the other is Dhawei
Shinu. |
The significance of Gampopa is derived
from the Mountain where the Monastery is situated and Dakpo is the
name of the area where he was born. There is also another name but
not commonly use which is Dhawey Shinu which is derived from one
of the previous live of Gampopa who had been a Bodhisattva and the
follower of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha, the name Jangchub Sempa Dhawey
Shinu is given by Lord Buddha himself. Therefore each name has a
great significance and meaning to it.
Yesterday’s subject was mainly on
Milarepa whom created great sins before arriving to the Dharma
Path. He practiced with strict diligence and thus attained
enlightenment. He was a great example and a human being who’d
achieve the highest realization and was respected till today. The
difference between Milarepa and Gampopa is the latter being an
incarnation of the Great Bodhisattva Jangchub Sempa Dhawey Shinu
of Mount Rajghiri or Vulture Peak. Nowadays in Rajghir is a dirty
and poor town, but tin the olden days when the Buddha roam the
area it was a prosperous large city and the Buddha also delivers
his sermons there. In that city lived a merchant who is very rich
and powerful who is named Dhawey Shinu. On one occasion during the
Buddha’s visit, he hosted and prepared food for offering to the
Buddha and his delegates. Soon after the meal, Dhawey Shinu
requested the Buddha to give Dharma teachings. Thus the Buddha
gave The Do Tenzin Gyalpo Teaching (The King of Samadhi
Teaching).
Many followers attended the King of
Samadhi Teaching, before the teaching conclusion the Buddha
addressed the crowd. The Buddha prophesied that in future this
King of Samadhi teaching and practice will be very beneficial to
sentient beings and will lead many toward the liberation path. It
emphasize mainly on the meditational practice. The Buddha then
request someone from amongst the crowd to flourish, propagate and
protect this teaching in the future. The merchant Dhawey Shinu
accepted the responsibility to perform it in the future and
propagate it to as many sentient beings as possible.
Then the Buddha called forth Dhawey
Shinu and places his palm on Dhawey Shinu’s crown. He thus
prophesized that Dhawey Shinu in future will take rebirth in a
place near Bhramaputra River. You will be learned in medicine and
thus will carry the name Dakpo Lharje (Doctor Dakpo), he will
combined the Mahamudra and the King of Samadhi Teachings and
propagate the Dharma far and wide.
Initially Gampopa was learned and
specialized in the Kadampa Tradition. He contemplates the Loving
Kindness and Compassion, and practice all different Yidam Deities
and thus attained realization. Yet he is still no satisfy with his
achievements and was thinking that there is still much to learn
and practice in the Buddha-Dharma.
One day when he was meditating in his
room, he overheard the talk of 3 beggars. The first beggar wish
that he have a plate of food and wish to have it on a daily basis,
the second beggar admonish the first beggar in his wish for only a
plate of food, he should instead wish for more. The second beggars
then says, if I wish then I would wish to become like a previous
King of Tibet who is a warrior, wealthy and has many followers
under his rule. Then the third beggar says that both of their wish
isn’t a perfectly good wish after all. If he were to wish he would
wish to become like Milarepa because he is like a King of Beggar
who doesn’t need to worry, work or to wear clothes. All he does is
meditate and has clear and peaceful mind free from the 3
poisons.
When Gampopa heard of the name
Milarepa, he was overfilled with joy. He invited the three beggars
to his home and offered them food to fulfill their wish. He then
inquires the beggars about this Milarepa and from where he comes
from and where he is staying. One of the beggars says that
Milarepa is a great Yogi and is now residing at Ngari-Bhuntang, he
teaches the Dharma in the form of songs and frequently meditates.
He is claimed to be the Greatest Yogi in the Ngari area.
Gampopa the take off to search for
Milarepa and soon found him, he receive all the teachings from
Milarepa and starts to practice the teachings in strict retreat in
a cave up the mountains. During the meditation practices, he on
numerous occasion saw good signs of achievements and on certain
occasion saw also bas signs. One day while sleeping Gampopa dream
of the Mandala of the Yidam Deity he was practicing, thus he went
to consult Milarepa on the dream he experienced. Milarepa then
told that it wasn’t a good sign or neither a bad one, he then told
Milarepa to continue his practice. Not long in the retreat he saw
the hell realm and consulted Milarepa on this but was told that it
wasn’t a good nor bad sign. Again he sent into his practice cave
and for many years he continue to meditate.
One day Milarepa came and told him
that he has to leave and go to the East direction to Tibet near
the Nepal borders where you will encounter a mountain called Gampo
Dharjere and looks like a King Mountain surrounded by 7 smaller
ones that acts like minister to the King. The mountains itself is
grown with all kinds of trees, grass and flowers very similar to a
Mandala, this auspicious location will prosper in the near future.
Milarepa prophesied that Gampopa should stay there and he will be
able to benefit many sentient beings that will seek his teachings
and instructions. Milarepa also presented Gampopa with a Hat that
shapes like the Gampo mountain, this hat is also known nowadays as
the Gampopa Hat normally seen worn by Vajra Masters during
ceremony and rites.
Milarepa had a dream, he dreamt of a
Vulture flying from his place in Ngari toward the direction of
this mountain towards the east, this mountain is filled with Ducks
yellow in color that envelopes the whole mountain. There he will
have a lay disciple (Gampopa) who will flourish the Dharma there.
Through this Dharmic action he received many disciples and amongst
there are from the community of ordained monks as well as lay
practitioners. In future his teaching will be flourish mainly by
monks.
Gampopa soon arrive to the place
specified by Milarepa, he saw that there is no one on the mountain
or its vicinity. Gampopa then though, how come his master had sent
him here to propagate the Dharma when there is no one around this
place to receive his teachings. Gampopa then make a decision to go
on a thirteen year’s retreat on those mountains. He build a small
hut and started his retreat, in the evening he had a dream. ‘He
dreamt of a Dakini (Female Form of a Celestial Beings) who came to
visit and told that if he goes on retreat which is truly
beneficial to oneself, but it would be better is he could
propagate and flourish the Dharma for thirteen years.’ When
Gampopa woke up in the morning, he though to himself remembering
the dream he had last night, he was wondering to whom shall he
teach as there is no one around to be seen.
Not long after the dream, one person
came to Gampopa to seek his Dharma teachings and from there more
and more came until one point it reaches 800 persons. All those
who came for the teachings attained realization.
Gampopa mainly gave teachings on
Mahamudra and 6 Yogas of Naropa to his disciples. From these
disciples in turn flourish the teachings after attaining the
highest realizations and at this point came many different sub
lineage of the Kagyu Tradition. There are 4 Major Direct and 8
Minor Kagyu Lineage that sprung and many survived till today. One
of Gampopa’s outstanding main disciple namely Khampa Özer who
originates from the (Khampa) Kham Province and has (Özer ) Grey
Hair, he is also known as The First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa.
Gampopa instructed him to go towards the East of Tibet near the
Tibet-China borders (today known as Minyak) to meditate in retreat
center on a mountain surrounded by other mountains with snowy
caps. He should also meditate at a specific mountain in the
surrounding in which Gampopa prophesied that The Karmapa would
benefit many sentient beings in Tibet especially those in the
province of Ü, Kham and Tsang in future (lives).
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From the First
Karmapa, follows a series of reincarnations and also the
accomplished disciples of the Karmapas too had taken
rebirths after rebirths in order to continue the Karma
Kagyu Lineage Order.That is how the Oral Transmission
Lineage is protected from being faded away, this unique
master-disciple transmission is being practiced till date
which we all know from the Lineage Transmission Chart and
Thanka. |
The second reincarnation (The Second Karmapa,
Karma Pakshi) was found not long after the Pari-Nibanna of the
First Karmapa. And the first close disciple of Karma Pakshi was
namely Drögon Repa Chenpo who later was also the first
reincarnated disciple also known as the Second Tai Situ Rinpoche
which was found and recognized by The Karmapa. In many a times the
Tai Situ reincarnations has been the teacher of the succession of
The Karmapas’ and vice versa. The first Gyalsab Rinpoche is the
disciple of the Sixth Karmapa and was The Seventh Karmapa’s
teacher, from there on the succession of reincarnations of the
Gyalsab Rinpoche has taken rebirths. There is also a meaning to
the name Gyalsab that was translated as representative or regent
in the absence of The Karmapa.
The Jamgon Kongtrul was at a later
part of the succession history but was already predicted by The
Fifth Karmapa. Jamgon Kongtrul is an ordinary person (not an
incarnation of Buddha or Bodhisattva) but he was a very learned in
the Dharma and a great scholar, he was a monk from the Dege
Monastery. At that time the King of Dege had requested the Ninth
Tai Situ Rinpoche (Pema Nyingje) to take The Outstanding Jamgon
Kongtrul as his disciple. From there on follows a series of
reincarnation of The Jamgon Kongtrul (presently until the Fourth
in Pullahari Monastery, Nepal).
End with Dedication
Prayer.........................................
