Jigme Lingpa

Jigme Lingpa (Tibetan, 'Jigs-med gling-pa) (1729-1798) was one of the most important "tertöns" of Tibet. He was the promulgator of the Longchen Nyingthik, the Heart Essence teachings of Longchenpa, from whom, according to tradition, he received a vision in which the teachings were revealed. The Longchen Nyingthik eventually became the most famous and widely practiced cycle of Dzogchen teachings. Jigme Lingpa also wrote a treatise on the spiritual usage of crystals and gems of principal importance.

Career

Prefiguring Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye's creation of the "Five Collections", Jigme Lingpa gathered Nyingma texts that had become rare, starting with Nyingma tantras held in the manuscript collection of the Mindroling monastery. This collection of the Nyingma tantras led to the amassing of the 'Collection of Nyingma Tantras', the "Nyingma Gyübum" (Wylie: "rNying-ma rgyud-'bum") for which Getse Mahapandita wrote the catalogue, proofread and arranged for its printing by soliciting the expensive and labour intensive project of carving the wood blocks for the block printing. The wood block carving was forded through the patronage of the 'Derge' (Wylie: "sDe-dge" [Dharma Dictionary (December 28, 2005). 'sde dge'. Source: [http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/sde_dge] (accessed: August 2, 2008)] ) Royal Family of Kham who favoured and honoured Jigme Lingpa. [Rigpa Shedra (July 22, 2008). 'Gyurme Tsewang Chokdrup'. Source: [http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Gyurme_Tsewang_Chokdrup] (accessed: August 2, 2008)] Getse Mahapandita also arranged for the printing of texts by Jigme Lingpa and Longchenpa. Getse Mahapandita proof read these works of Jigme Lingpa, Longchenpa and the "Nyingma Gyübum". [Rigpa Shedra (July 22, 2008). 'Gyurme Tsewang Chokdrup'. Source: [http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Gyurme_Tsewang_Chokdrup] (accessed: August 2, 2008)]

Jigme also wrote a nine-volume history of the Nyingma Vajrayana and other works. His non-sectarian presentention of Madhyamika (Middle Way view) follows Tsongkhapa's system.

A major precursor of the Rime (Tib. ris med) movement, Jigme Lingpa had many distinguished disciples in all four lineages. The first Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Ozer, became his main lineage-holder. Among those held by tradition to be Jigme Lingpa's reincarnations are Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje ("mdo mkhyen brtse ye shes rdo rje") (his mind-emanation), Patrul Rinpoche (speech-emanation) and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (body-emanation).

Jigme Lingpa, rendered in English by Sam van Schaik, states how his learnings commenced and he mentions , grammar, Samye Chimpu, [Samye Chimpu (Tibetan: dPal-gyi bSam-yas mChims-phu), denotes the mountain upon which Samye Monastery is sited, but more specifically the cave wherein Padmasambhava first transmitted the Mantrayana lineage in the Tibetan region.] vajra, Longchenpa:

I began with the study of grammar, and whatever vajra topics I came across, such as the Conqueror’s scriptures and the treatises which clarify their intention, texts on conventional definitions and instructions on the true nature. Although I seized on them with veneration, apart from a few good imprints which inspired me to study in the brightness of day and under lamplight, I had no opportunity to increase my knowledge in a relationship with a teacher, even for a single day. Then in dPal-gyi bSam-yas mChims-phu, I met three times with the wisdom-body of Klong-chen-pa, and through being blessed with various auspicious symbols, my karmic connections were awakened from out of The Great Perfection. [Van Schaik, Sam (2000). "Sun and Moon Earrings: Teachings Received by Jigmé Lingpa". NB: This article was originally published in the Tibet Journal 25.4 (2000): 3–32. [http://earlytibet.com/author/earrings/#note12] (accessed: November 30, 2007) ] [Original Tibetan language: Nam tharp: lar kho bo cag gi ni yi ge’i brda sprod pa nas brtsams te| rgyal ba’i bka’ dang| |dgongs ‘grel bstan bcos| tha snyad kyi gzhung| yin lugs kyi man ngag sogs rdo rje’i gnas ji snyed pa mthong pa de dag gus pas nye bar blangs te nyin mo’i snang ba dang sgron ma’i ‘od la mjal bar spro ba’i bag chags bzang ba tsam las dge ba’i bshes gnyen dang nyin gcig kyang ‘grogs nas sbyangs stobs kyi blo gros ‘phel ba’i gnas su ma gyur mod| dpal gyi bsam yas mchims phur rgyal ba klong chen pa’i ye shes kyi sku dang lan gsum du mjal zhing brda thabs rten ‘brel du mas byin gyis brlabs pa la brten nas kho bo’i las ‘brel rdzogs pa chen po nas sad pa yin no|]

Gyatso (1998: p.140) in mentioning Kumararaja, Ganachakra, Gurkha war, beer and black magic states that:

Jigme Lingpa's Nyingma affiliations led sometimes to his participation in the sort of tantric activities that have long been criticized by more conservative Buddhists. He was himself ambivalent about some of these activities:...he regretted the black magic he performed during the Gurkha war. Jigme Lingpa even admits that the ancient ordinance of Lha Lama Shiwa O and Changchub O, which famously censured the indulgences of Nyingma practitioners, might have been merited. And yet he reports with a certain pleasure taking part in a drunken communal feast ("gaṇacakra") or geing given beer at the house of the Nyingma master Kumārarāja (1266-1343) and doing "a dance of bliss-emptiness integrated." [Gyatso, Janet (1998). "Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary; a Translation and Study of Jigme Lingpa's 'Dancing Moon in the Water' and 'Ḍākki's Grand Secret-Talk"'. Princeton, New Jersey, USA: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-01110-9 (cloth: alk. paper) p.140]

Longchen Nyingthig

Jigme Lingpa was a reincarnation of two important masters, Vimalamitra and King Trisong Deutsen.Fact|date=January 2008 As the embodiment of these two figures, Tibet's two primary Dzogchen lineages were combined in him -- the Vima Nyingthik and Khandro Nyingthik, both of which are contained in the Nyingthik Yabshi. Hence, the Longchen Nyingthig terma cycle is considered a condensation of these profound teachings.

The texts that were revealed by Jigme Lingpa, in their present-day form, comprise three volumes, known as the Nyingthig Tsapod (Wylie:"snying thig rtsa pod"). The numerous treatises, sadhanas and prayers it contains deal primarily with tantric practice, in particular the 'stages of Development' (Tibetan: "kye-rim") and Dzogchen.

adhanas

Chöd

"The Loud Laugh of the Dakini" (Tibetan: mkha' 'gro'i gad rgyangs) is a Chöd sadhana from the "Longchen Nyingthig" cycle of terma teachings revealed by Jigme Lingpa. [Source: [http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Laughter_of_the_Dakinins] (accessed: December 13, 2007)]

ee also

*Phurba
*Ngagpa

Notes

References

* Thondup, Tulku & Harold Talbott (Editor)(1996). "Masters of Meditation and Miracles: Lives of the Great Buddhist Masters of India and Tibet". Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambhala, South Asia Editions. ISBN 1-57062-113-6 (alk. paper); ISBN 1-56957-134-1
* "Approaching the Great Perfection: Simultaneous and Gradual Methods of Dzogchen Practice in the Longchen Nyingtig", by Sam van Schaik, Wisdom Publications, Boston 2004, ISBN 0-86171-370-2
* Gyatso, Janet(1998). "Apparitions of the Self, the Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary". New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN: 0-691-01110-9 (cloth: alk. paper)
* Dharma Fellowship (2005). "Biographies: Kunkhyen Jigme Lingpa". [http://www.dharmafellowship.org/biographies/historicalsaints/kunkhyen-jigme-lingpa.htm] (accessed: Friday January 19, 2007)
* Lingpa, Jigme (author); Rinpoche, Patrul (author); Mahapandita, Getse (author); Dharmachakra Translation Committee (translators) (2006). "Deity, Mantra, and Wisdom: Development Stage Meditation in Tibetan Buddhist Tantra" (Hardcover). Ithaca, NY, USA: Snow Lion Publications. ISBN-13 978-1-55939-300-3
*Dudjom Rinpoche and Jikdrel Yeshe Dorje. "The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism: its Fundamentals and History". Two Volumes. 1991. Translated and edited by Gyurme Dorje with Matthew Kapstein. Wisdom Publications, Boston. ISBN 0-86171-087-8
*Dargyay, Eva M. (author) & Wayman, Alex (editor)(1998). "The Rise of Esoteric Buddhism in Tibet". Second revised edition, reprint.Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt Ltd. Buddhist Tradition Series Vol.32. ISBN 81-208-1579-3 (paper)

External links

* [http://lotsawahouse.org/jigme_lingpa.html Lotsawa House] - Featuring translations of several texts by Jigme Lingpa.