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Ngakpa

May 08, 2024

In Tibetan Buddhism and Bon,[1] a ngakpa (male), or a ngakma (female) (Tibetan: སྔགས་པ་, Wylie: sngags pa; Sanskrit mantrī) is any practitioner of Vajrayana who is not a monk or a nun. The terms translates to "man or woman of mantra" or "man or woman of secret mantra".[2] They are often referred to as "householder yogis" or "yoginis" because they maintain a householder lifestyle while engaging in advanced tantric practices.[3]

Milarepa, wearing the distinctive white shawl (zen) of a ngakpa

Ngakpas are known for their commitment to the Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhist path, which involves utilizing advanced meditation techniques, rituals, mantras, and visualizations to achieve enlightenment in one lifetime. They are often recognized by their distinctive attire, which may include special robes, ornaments, and ritual objects. Traditionally, many Nyingma ngakpas wear uncut hair and white robes and these are sometimes called "the white-robed and uncut-hair group" (Wylie: gos dkar lcang lo'i sde).[4] The Nyingma school's red sangha are the ordained monks and nuns.[4]

In Tibetan society, ngakpas hold a respected and important role as spiritual practitioners and often serve as intermediaries between the monastic community and the lay population. They play a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly those related to tantric practices. In Bhutan, and some other parts of the Himalayas, the term gomchen is the term most often used to refer to this type of Vajrayana practitioner.[5]

Definition edit

Matthieu Ricard defines ngakpa simply as "a practitioner of the Secret Mantrayana".[2] Gyurme Dorje defines ngakpa (mantrin) as "a practitioner of the mantras, who may live as a householder rather than a renunciate monk."[3] A ngakpa is thoroughly immersed and engaged in the practice of the teachings under the guidance of a lineage-holder. They have received the esoteric transmissions and empowerments (wang, lung, and thri) and have taken the associated vows (samaya). Significant lineage transmission is through oral lore.[2][3]

Description edit

Ngakpas are known for their commitment to the Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhist path, which involves utilizing advanced meditation techniques, rituals, mantras, and visualizations to achieve enlightenment in one lifetime. They are often recognized by their distinctive attire, which may include special robes, ornaments, and ritual objects. Ngakpas often marry and have children. Some work in the world, though they devote significant time to retreat and practice and in enacting rituals when requested by, or on behalf of, members of the community.

According to Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche,

There are two types of ngakpas – those of family lineage (rigs rgyud) and those of Dharma lineage (chos rgyud). Ngakpa family lineages are passed from father ngakpa to their sons from generation to generation. At present, these are family lineage holders such as the great lamas of the Nyingma tradition, Minling Trichen Rinpoche and Sakya Trizin, the throne holder of the Dharma Potrang lineage.[6]

 
Ngakpa Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (front)

Tibetan Buddhism contains two systems of ordination, the familiar monastic ordinations and the less well known ngakpa or Tantric ordinations.[4] Family lineage ngakpas are all members of the non-celibate wing of ordained sangha,[7] with the practice of a particular yidam being passed through the family lineage.

History edit

Sam van Schaik writes that the "tantric practitioner (sngags pa, Skt. māntrin) became[when?] a common figure in Tibet, and would remain so throughout the history of Tibetan Buddhism."[7]

Labrang Monastery, a major Gelug monastery founded in 1709 in Amdo, has a ngakpa college (Wylie: sngags pa grwa tshang) located nearby the main monastery at Sakar village.

Notable ngakpa edit

Kunga Gyaltsen, the father of the 2nd Dalai Lama, was a ngakpa and a famous Nyingma tantric master.[8] His mother was Machik Kunga Pemo; they were a farming family. Their lineage transmission was by birth.[9]

Dudjom Rinpoche, who was the Supreme Head of the Nyingma school, was a ngakpa.[7]

See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Sihlé 2009, p. 150.
  2. ^ a b c Ricard 1994, p. 12 n.23.
  3. ^ a b c Dorje 2004, p. 840.
  4. ^ a b c Terrone 2010.
  5. ^ Phuntsok 2005, p. 77.
  6. ^ Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Van Schaik 2004, p. 4.
  8. ^ Samphel & Tendar 2004, p. 79.
  9. ^ Adams 2008.

Works cited edit

  • Adams, Namdrol Miranda (September 2008). "The Second Dalai Lama, Gendun Gyatso". The Treasury of Lives. ISSN 2332-077X. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  • Dorje, Gyurme (2004). Footprint Tibet Handbook (3rd ed.). Bath: Footprint Handbooks. ISBN 1-903471-30-3. OCLC 57302320.
  • Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche (March 10, 2012). "An Historic Description of Awareness Holders of the Great Secret Mantra who are Resplendent in White Clothes and Long Hair". P'hurba T'hinley Ling. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  • Phuntsok, Tashi (2005). "The Positive Impact of the Gomchen Tradition on Achieving and Maintaining Gross National Happiness" (PDF). Journal of Bhutan Studies. 12 (Summer 2005). Centre for Bhutan Studies: 75–117. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  • Ricard, Matthieu (1994). Wilkinson, Constance; Abrams, Michal (eds.). The Life of Shabkar: The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin. SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies. Albany: SUNY Press. ISBN 0-7914-1836-7.
  • Samphel, Thubten; Tendar (2004). The Dalai Lamas of Tibet. New Delhi: Roli & Janssen. ISBN 81-7436-085-9.
  • Sihlé, Nicolas (2009). "The ala and ngakpa priestly traditions of Nyemo (Central Tibet): Hybridity and hierarchy". In Jacoby, Sarah; Terrone, Antonio (eds.). Buddhism Beyond the Monastery: Tantric Practices and their Performers in Tibet and the Himalayas. Brill’s Tibetan Studies Library/PIATS 2003. Vol. 10/12. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 978-90-04-17600-3.
  • Terrone, Antonio (2010). Bya rog prog zhu, The raven crest: the life and teachings of bDe chen 'od gsal rdo rje treasure revealer of contemporary Tibet (PhD). Leiden University.
  • Van Schaik, Sam (2004). Approaching the Great Perfection: Simultaneous and Gradual Approaches to Dzogchen Practice in Jigme Lingpa's Longchen Nyingtig. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-370-2.

Further reading edit

  • Dhondup, Yangdon; Pagel, Ulrich; Samuel, Geoffrey, eds. (2013). Monastic and Lay Traditions in North-Eastern Tibet. Brill’s Tibetan Studies Library. Vol. 33. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 978-90-04-25569-2.
  • Dorje, Gyurme (2009). Tibet Handbook (4th ed.). Bath: Footprint Handbooks. ISBN 978-1-906098-32-2. OCLC 191754549.
  • Nietupski, Paul Kocot (2011). Labrang Monastery: A Tibetan Buddhist Community on the Inner Asian Asian borderlands. Studies in Modern Tibetan Culture. Plymouth: Lexington Books. ISBN 978-0-7391-6445-7.
  • Samuel, Geoffrey (1993). Civilized Shamans: Buddhism in Tibetan Societies. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

External links edit

  • Vajranatha on defense of ngakpas by Nubchen Sangye Yeshe

May 08, 2024
ngakpa, tibetan, buddhism, ngakpa, male, ngakma, female, tibetan, གས, wylie, sngags, sanskrit, mantrī, practitioner, vajrayana, monk, terms, translates, woman, mantra, woman, secret, mantra, they, often, referred, householder, yogis, yoginis, because, they, ma. In Tibetan Buddhism and Bon 1 a ngakpa male or a ngakma female Tibetan ས གས པ Wylie sngags pa Sanskrit mantri is any practitioner of Vajrayana who is not a monk or a nun The terms translates to man or woman of mantra or man or woman of secret mantra 2 They are often referred to as householder yogis or yoginis because they maintain a householder lifestyle while engaging in advanced tantric practices 3 Milarepa wearing the distinctive white shawl zen of a ngakpa Ngakpas are known for their commitment to the Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhist path which involves utilizing advanced meditation techniques rituals mantras and visualizations to achieve enlightenment in one lifetime They are often recognized by their distinctive attire which may include special robes ornaments and ritual objects Traditionally many Nyingma ngakpas wear uncut hair and white robes and these are sometimes called the white robed and uncut hair group Wylie gos dkar lcang lo i sde 4 The Nyingma school s red sangha are the ordained monks and nuns 4 In Tibetan society ngakpas hold a respected and important role as spiritual practitioners and often serve as intermediaries between the monastic community and the lay population They play a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism particularly those related to tantric practices In Bhutan and some other parts of the Himalayas the term gomchen is the term most often used to refer to this type of Vajrayana practitioner 5 Contents 1 Definition 2 Description 3 History 4 Notable ngakpa 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Works cited 7 Further reading 8 External linksDefinition editMatthieu Ricard defines ngakpa simply as a practitioner of the Secret Mantrayana 2 Gyurme Dorje defines ngakpa mantrin as a practitioner of the mantras who may live as a householder rather than a renunciate monk 3 A ngakpa is thoroughly immersed and engaged in the practice of the teachings under the guidance of a lineage holder They have received the esoteric transmissions and empowerments wang lung and thri and have taken the associated vows samaya Significant lineage transmission is through oral lore 2 3 Description editNgakpas are known for their commitment to the Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhist path which involves utilizing advanced meditation techniques rituals mantras and visualizations to achieve enlightenment in one lifetime They are often recognized by their distinctive attire which may include special robes ornaments and ritual objects Ngakpas often marry and have children Some work in the world though they devote significant time to retreat and practice and in enacting rituals when requested by or on behalf of members of the community According to Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche There are two types of ngakpas those of family lineage rigs rgyud and those of Dharma lineage chos rgyud Ngakpa family lineages are passed from father ngakpa to their sons from generation to generation At present these are family lineage holders such as the great lamas of the Nyingma tradition Minling Trichen Rinpoche and Sakya Trizin the throne holder of the Dharma Potrang lineage 6 nbsp Ngakpa Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje front Tibetan Buddhism contains two systems of ordination the familiar monastic ordinations and the less well known ngakpa or Tantric ordinations 4 Family lineage ngakpas are all members of the non celibate wing of ordained sangha 7 with the practice of a particular yidam being passed through the family lineage History editSam van Schaik writes that the tantric practitioner sngags pa Skt mantrin became when a common figure in Tibet and would remain so throughout the history of Tibetan Buddhism 7 Labrang Monastery a major Gelug monastery founded in 1709 in Amdo has a ngakpa college Wylie sngags pa grwa tshang located nearby the main monastery at Sakar village Notable ngakpa editKunga Gyaltsen the father of the 2nd Dalai Lama was a ngakpa and a famous Nyingma tantric master 8 His mother was Machik Kunga Pemo they were a farming family Their lineage transmission was by birth 9 Dudjom Rinpoche who was the Supreme Head of the Nyingma school was a ngakpa 7 See also editAro gTer Category NgagpaReferences editCitations edit Sihle 2009 p 150 a b c Ricard 1994 p 12 n 23 a b c Dorje 2004 p 840 a b c Terrone 2010 Phuntsok 2005 p 77 Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche 2012 a b c Van Schaik 2004 p 4 Samphel amp Tendar 2004 p 79 Adams 2008 Works cited edit Adams Namdrol Miranda September 2008 The Second Dalai Lama Gendun Gyatso The Treasury of Lives ISSN 2332 077X Retrieved 2023 03 01 Dorje Gyurme 2004 Footprint Tibet Handbook 3rd ed Bath Footprint Handbooks ISBN 1 903471 30 3 OCLC 57302320 Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche March 10 2012 An Historic Description of Awareness Holders of the Great Secret Mantra who are Resplendent in White Clothes and Long Hair P hurba T hinley Ling Retrieved 2024 03 27 Phuntsok Tashi 2005 The Positive Impact of the Gomchen Tradition on Achieving and Maintaining Gross National Happiness PDF Journal of Bhutan Studies 12 Summer 2005 Centre for Bhutan Studies 75 117 Retrieved 23 January 2015 Ricard Matthieu 1994 Wilkinson Constance Abrams Michal eds The Life of Shabkar The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies Albany SUNY Press ISBN 0 7914 1836 7 Samphel Thubten Tendar 2004 The Dalai Lamas of Tibet New Delhi Roli amp Janssen ISBN 81 7436 085 9 Sihle Nicolas 2009 The ala and ngakpa priestly traditions of Nyemo Central Tibet Hybridity and hierarchy In Jacoby Sarah Terrone Antonio eds Buddhism Beyond the Monastery Tantric Practices and their Performers in Tibet and the Himalayas Brill s Tibetan Studies Library PIATS 2003 Vol 10 12 Leiden Brill Academic Publishers ISBN 978 90 04 17600 3 Terrone Antonio 2010 Bya rog prog zhu The raven crest the life and teachings of bDe chen od gsal rdo rje treasure revealer of contemporary Tibet PhD Leiden University Van Schaik Sam 2004 Approaching the Great Perfection Simultaneous and Gradual Approaches to Dzogchen Practice in Jigme Lingpa s Longchen Nyingtig Wisdom Publications ISBN 0 86171 370 2 Further reading editDhondup Yangdon Pagel Ulrich Samuel Geoffrey eds 2013 Monastic and Lay Traditions in North Eastern Tibet Brill s Tibetan Studies Library Vol 33 Leiden Brill Academic Publishers ISBN 978 90 04 25569 2 Dorje Gyurme 2009 Tibet Handbook 4th ed Bath Footprint Handbooks ISBN 978 1 906098 32 2 OCLC 191754549 Nietupski Paul Kocot 2011 Labrang Monastery A Tibetan Buddhist Community on the Inner Asian Asian borderlands Studies in Modern Tibetan Culture Plymouth Lexington Books ISBN 978 0 7391 6445 7 Samuel Geoffrey 1993 Civilized Shamans Buddhism in Tibetan Societies Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Press External links editVajranatha on defense of ngakpas by Nubchen Sangye Yeshe Introduction to the White Sangha of Ngakpa and Ngakmo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ngakpa amp oldid 1215828571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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