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Thang Tong Gyalpo

Thangtong Gyalpo (Tibetan: ཐང་སྟོང་རྒྱལ་པོ་, Wylie: thang stong rgyal po) (1385 CE–1464 CE[1] or 1361 CE–1485 CE[2]), also known as Chakzampa, the "Iron Bridge Maker" (Wylie: lcags zam pa), Tsöndrü Zangpo "Excellent Persistence" (Wylie: brtson 'grus bzang po), and the King of the Empty Plain.[3] He was also known by a variation of this name, Madman of the Empty Valley.[3][4] He was a great Buddhist adept, a Chöd master,[5] yogi, physician, blacksmith, architect, and a pioneering civil engineer. He is considered a mind emanation of Padmasambhava[1] and a reincarnation of Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen. He founded the Iron Chain lineage of the Shangpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, and he recognized the first Samding Dorje Phagmo, Chökyi Drönma (1422–1455), the female incarnation lineage of Vajravārāhī.[6]

Thangtong Gyalpo

Thangtong Gyalpo is said to have built 58 iron chain suspension bridges around Tibet and Bhutan, several of which are still in use today. He also designed and built several large stupas of unusual design including the great Kumbum at Chung Riwoche, Tibet; established Gonchen Monastery in Derge; and is considered to be the father of a style of Tibetan opera called Lhamo.[4] Associated with the Shangpa Kagyu, Nyingma and Sakya traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, and with the tradition of "mad yogis" known as nyönpa, Thang Tong Gyalpo is also known as a sorcerer character in the popular Tibetan story of Gesar.[4] In addition, he is believed to be the most widely traveled person in Tibetan history.[6]

Biography edit

Thangtong Gyalpo was born at Ölpa Lhartse in upper Tsang (modern Ngamring County) in 1385 CE (wood ox year, sixth cycle).[7]

Thangtong Gyalpo is best known for his founding of lhamo or Tibetan opera as well as the numerous iron suspension bridges he built to ease travel and pilgrimage though the Himalayas. He established a song and dance troupe of seven sisters to raise the money needed to build these bridges.[8][9]

Thangtong Gyalpo also founded Gonchen Monastery, a large Sakya vihara and printing centre in the town of Derge, Kham (modern Sichuan, China).[10]

Thangtong Gyalpo opened the route through the land of the Kongpo aborigines (the Lhoba people), where he obtained iron for his bridges and rights of passage for Tibetan pilgrims to visit the holy places in Tsari to the southeast of Dakpo near the Indian border.[11]

He is also considered to be the patron saint of theatre and became known as "the madman of the empty land" (Wylie: lang ston smyon pa). Plays traditionally have an altar erected in the middle of the stage surrounded by trees, where the "god of drama", Thangtong Gyalpo, is worshiped as an elderly man with a white beard.[12]

He is said to have made 108 iron-chain suspension bridges (though another account says 58 suspension bridges and 118 ferry-crossings),[13] the most celebrated being the one over the Yarlung Tsanpo near modern Chüshül. He is often shown in murals with long white hair and holding some chain links from his bridges.[8][9]

 
Chushul Chakzam

One of his iron chain suspension bridges, Chushul Chakzam, about 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Lhasa on the Yarlung Tsangpo River still existed in 1948, though it was in need of repairs and no longer used, the crossing being made by ferry. The old bridge was destroyed when a new one was opened about a hundred metres west of it. The old bridge was described as being of ancient design: "two thick chains are tied to heavy wooden beams underneath the pillars, from the top of which are suspended 12-foot (4 m) ropes hung from the chains and support wooden boards a yard (1 m) long and a foot (30 cm) broad, allowing passage for one man. The bridge is a hundred paces long."

At the south end of the Tsangpo bridge was Thangtong Gyalpo's main gompa founded in 1444, Chaksam Chuwo Ri (Tibetan: ལྕགས་ཟམ་ཆུ་བོ་རི) and he lived in the Chaksam Labrang, the main building of the complex which included the assembly hall. The gompa had a hundred monks supported by the toll on the bridge. There was also a large stupa known as "Tangtong's Kumbum" at the southern end of the bridge which contained his relics, and a chapel at the top contained an image of him. The gompa was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Dowman reports that "all evidence of its existence has now vanished".[14][15][16]

Teachers and students edit

Teachers edit

Thang Tong Gyalpo is said to have studied with over 500 teachers in Tibet, India, and Nepal.[5] Part of the impetus for his intensive travel throughout the region was to meet and study with various Vajrayana tulkus, teachers, lineage holders, and yogis and yoginis.

The Dakini Niguma edit

One of Thang Tong Gyalpo's most important teachers was the great dakini Niguma.[5][17][18][19] who visited him in visions three times over a period of years.[20]

Thang Tong Gyalpo had other notable teachers as well who also offered him direct teachings of Niguma's spiritual practices. He

. . . received the transmission of her [Niguma's] instructions from the master Jangsem Jinpa Sangpo, passed down through the lineage of the "Seven Jewels" and Jagchungpa Tsangma Shangtön (1234−1309).73 He may also have studied the same instructions under the guidance of Dorjé Shönu and Müchen Namkhai Naljor, both disciples of Gyaltsen Palsang.[5]

The first vision of Niguma edit

After receiving teachings from Jangsem Jinpa Sangpo, Thang Tong Gyalpo went into retreat and was visited in vision by Niguma.[5] Niguma gave him "direct transmission" of the Six Yogas of Niguma.[21]

During a profound visionary experience, the dakini Niguma herself bestowed upon him the four initiations, specific instructions concerning the esoteric significance of her Vajra Lines, and an extraordinary technique for transference of consciousness through meditation on the white and red forms of Khecarī. Tangtong's mastery of these practices is said to have given him the ability to instantly emanate many forms, to know what other people were thinking, and to perform the transference of consciousness from afar for the benefit of another person.[5]

The second vision of Niguma edit

The second visionary visit of Niguma to Thang Tong Gyalpo was a few years later.

. . . Tangtong Gyalpo was traveling from his birthplace to Lhasa soon after he had returned to Tibet from Uddiyana. In a grove of juniper trees at a place called Sinpo Dzong (Demon Fort), he was approached again by the dakini Niguma, this time in the form of a fifteen-year-old shepherd girl. On this occasion she gave him special instructions concerning the sequence of visualizations during meditation, and bestowed the blessing of the illusory body.[20]

The third vision of Niguma edit

Thang Tong's spiritual instructions from Niguma only were recorded many years later, in 1458. This was the same year of his third vision of Niguma.

. . . he finally received, in a third vision, permission to write down what Niguma had previously given him. This event occurred at Riwoché, and the instructions were recorded by Tangtong's disciple Lodrö Gyaltsen, through whom the major lineage was subsequently transmitted. These instructions, known as the Collection of the Essentials (Snying po kun ’dus), and a group of related teachings, have been passed down as the Tangtong Tradition (Thang lugs) of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage, and are among the few texts actually signed by the great adept.[22]

Machig Labdrön edit

Thang Tong Gyalpo was also a Chöd practitioner.

Students edit

Chökyi Drönma, the Samding Dorje Phagmo, (1422–1455) was one of Thang Tong Gyalpo's students and his main consort.[23] He is said to have recognized her as the incarnation of Vajravārāhī and to have associated her with this deity's prophecies, and later to have identified her reincarnation.[24]

Lineage founding edit

Thang Tong Gyalpo began a spiritual lineage called the Thangluk (Wylie: Thang lugs) or Chakzam "Iron Chain" (Wylie: lcags zam) lineage, inside of the Shangpa Kagyu school. What are known as the Collection of the Essentials (Snying po kun ’dus), along with a collection of related teachings, came to Thang Tong Gyalpo in visions from the great wisdom dakini Niguma.[22] Thang Tong Gyalpo combined the Shangpa and Jangter "Northern Treasures" (Wylie: byang gter) teachings[25] and traditions.[26]

Incarnation lineage edit

There is an incarnation line for Chakzampa Thang Tong Gyalpo, in Bhutan, that continues on into contemporary times. He was born in the 16th of November, in 1973.[27][28]

Surviving prayers, spiritual practices, and empowerments edit

The teachings that are alive today are associated with the Shangpa Kagyu lineage,[29] the "Northern Treasures" tradition, and within the cycles of Mahamudra Chöd.[5]

Sādhanā and prayers edit

Thang Tong Gyalpo is known for writing an Avalokiteśvara sādhanā entitled For the Benefit of All Beings as Vast as the Skies, which is practiced in dharma centers today.[30] In 2013 and in 2014, spiritual retreats were held at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde in Europe focused on this sadhana.[31][32]

Other texts written by Thang Tong Gyalpo, and translated into English, can be found at Lotsawa House.[33] They include a prayer for dispelling famine, a refuge practice to Thang Tong Gyalpo, and a prayer for pacifying the fear of disease. Contemporary social media has included postings containing prayers to Thang Tong Gyalpo to relieve suffering from earthquakes natural disasters as well.[34]

Empowerments edit

Sakya Trizin gave the Vajrayana empowerment of Thang Tong Gyalpo's long life practice, called thangyal tsédrup (or bka' gter dag snang zung du 'brel ba'i tshe sgrub shin tu nye brgyud kyi sgrub thabs), at Lerab Ling in southern France in 2011.[35]

Thang Tong Gyalpo in Bhutan edit

 
Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, built by Thangtong Gyalpo in Paro

In 1433, Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo and his disciples traveled to Pagri in the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, and from there to Paro Taktsang in Bhutan. According to his biography, while performing rituals of Vajrakilaya there, he had a vision of the assembly of the Eight Classes of Heruka (Wylie: sgrub pa bka' brgyad) meditational deities with Vajrakumara as the central figure.

It is said that a nine-headed nāga spirit, who was the guardian of the sacred place of Paro Taktsang, declared "your religious inheritance was concealed here by Ogyen Rinpoche, please make your discovery and reveal it". Thereupon Drubchen Thangtong Gyalpo extracted a sacred scroll ten body lengths long from the cliff of Taktsang.

The line of mountains where Taktsang is located is shaped like a black snake with its head in the middle of the Paro valley. On the nose of this snake the Drubthob constructed Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, a stupa-shaped temple and pronounced that all diseases caused by evil spirits residing under the ground were suppressed and that the valley would be free from leprosy.

 
Tachog Lhakhang established by Thangtong Gyalpo

Arriving at a place called Phurdo, he saw a five-coloured rainbow upon which were seated Buddha Amitabha, Avalokitesvara and Padmasambhava and declared that the place was as sacred as Potala mountain. At Tamchogang, at the foot of the Phurdo mountains, he established Tamchog Lhakhang temple and made sacred representations of the Buddha's body, speech and mind. This temple, which located opposite the road from Paro about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) before Chudzom, is still maintained by the descendants of Drubtob Thang Tong Gyalpo.

From there he travelled to Drawang Tengchin where a rich man named Olag presented him three hundred and forty coins and turquoises and requested him to extract water. He did so and the water was sufficient to feed not only the people and cattle but also irrigate the fields. He then arrived at Gophog and told Lama Gyaltshen that he needed large quantities of iron to help him build links for compassionate purposes. Lama Gyaltshen answered that he would make available one hundred pieces of iron if the Drubthob could show him a proof of his attainment. The Drubthob told him to bring a boulder that was near the bridge which he split it into two just by pointing his finger. Within the stone they saw a live scorpion, the size of a thumb with innumerable of new-born scorpions. The Drubthob prayed in Samadhi and the insects instantly disappeared in the form of a rainbow and he proclaimed that he had sent them to Sukhavati.

At Wundul Shari, he climbed a steep mountain cliff, impossible to climb by the ordinary humans and stayed there for a month. He said that the cliff contained caves like Tashigomang and the place resembled Shambala in the north. However, he said, as the ordinary people could not go there, he had made a door. When the people looked up they found an opening that did not exist earlier on the face of the cliff. Then he travelled to Wundul, Gyaldung and Langsamar, and upper and lower Ha region. He converted the offerings that he received into iron and renovated the iron bridge there. Then he went back to Dromo Dorje Gur in Tibet.

From there, he travelled again to Thimphu and Thed valleys where he built an iron bridge at Bardrong. His journey then took him to Rued and Kunzangling where Lama Thuchen presented him with two hundred and fifty pieces of iron. It is said that he also built the Chiwotokha Lhakhang [in Shar district] during this visit. He took all the offerings including the iron pieces to Paro, turning himself into eighteen persons, he went into different villages such as Dolpoiphu, Tsharlungnang, Dungkhar, Jiwu, Nyagbu and Lholingkha, and instructed eighteen blacksmiths to forge iron links.

After about three months, he had seven thousand iron links and many iron hammers and bars. At Kewangphug and other places, he built stupas to subdue the spirits of these areas. At Changlungkha Rawakha, Nyal Phagmodrong, Tachogang, Wundul Dronkar, Silung, Bagdrong, Binangkhachey, Daglha, Gyirling and Nyishar, he conducted a lot of religious activities by providing image, scripture, stupa, iron bridges and established meditation centres.

When he returned to Phari, the patrons and monks of the new monastery in Paro, reached one thousand four hundred loads of iron (fifteen pieces of iron making a load), and seven hundred loads of ink, paper and other goods to Phari.

The bridge can be still seen today featuring majestically on the hill beside the river of Pa-chu. The suspension bridge was very old enough during the year of 2017 thus it is closed for either renovation or for people's safety.

Death edit

Thangtong Gyalpo is said to have "passed away bodily, in the way of a sky-farer" in his 125th year at Riwoche.[7]

Bibliography edit

  • Diemberger, Hildegard (2014). When a Woman Becomes a Religious Dynasty: The Samding Dorje Phagmo of Tibet. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-14321-9.
  • Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (2012). The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism: Its Fundamentals and History. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-86171-734-7.
  • Gerke, Barbara (2011). Long Lives and Untimely Deaths: Life-Span Concepts and Longevity Practices Among Tibetans in the Darjeeling Hills, India. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-21703-4.
  • Gerner, Manfred Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo - Architect, Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder. Thimphu: Center for Bhutan Studies 2007. ISBN 99936-14-39-4 - This book details Thangtong Gyalpo's bridge building activities and discusses his possible influence on European chain suspension bridges. With photographs of a number of his bridges which survive to the present.
  • Gyatso, Janet: "Thang-strong rGyal-po, Father of the Tibetan Drama Tradition: The Bodhisattva as Artist" in Jamyang Norbu (1986). Zlos Gar: Performing Traditions of Tibet. Library of Tibetan Works & Archives.
  • Stearns, Cyrus. The Life and Teachings of the Tibetan Saint Thang-strong rgyal-po, "King of the Empty Plain" (Univ. Washington, Master's thesis, 1980)
  • Stearns, Cyrus (2015). King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron-Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 978-1-55939-837-4.
  • Vitali, Roberto (1990). Early Temples of Central Tibet. Serindia Publications. ISBN 978-0-906026-25-0.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Stearns, Cyrus (2007). King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo. Shambhala. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-55939-837-4.
  2. ^ Barbara Gerke. Long Lives and Untimely Deaths: Life-span Concepts and Longevity Practices in the Darjeeling Hills, India. (2011). Brill Academic Publishers. P. 230. ISBN 978-9004217034
  3. ^ a b Sarah Harding. Niguma, Lady of Illusion. Snow Lion Publications. 2010. p. 265, n. 84
  4. ^ a b c Stearns, Cyrus (2007). King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo. Shambhala. p. 2. ISBN 978-1-55939-837-4.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Cyrus Stearns. King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo. (2007). Snow Lion Publications. p. 18. ISBN 978-1559392754
  6. ^ a b Stearns, Cyrus (2007). King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo. Shambhala. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-55939-837-4.
  7. ^ a b Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje 2012, p. 802-4.
  8. ^ a b "Derge, the home of Tibetan Sutras". Tibet.to. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  9. ^ a b Tibet. (2005) 6th Edition, p. 26. Bradley Mayhew and Michael Kohn. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74059-523-8.
  10. ^ Tibet. (2005) 6th Edition, p. 256. Bradley Mayhew and Michael Kohn. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74059-523-8.
  11. ^ Tibetan Civilization, pp. 79–80. R. A. Stein. (1972) Stanford University Press. Cloth ISBN 0-8047-0806-1; Paper ISBN 0-8047-0901-7.
  12. ^ Tibetan Civilization, pp. 276–277. R. A. Stein. (1972) Stanford University Press. Cloth ISBN 0-8047-0806-1; Paper ISBN 0-8047-0901-7.
  13. ^ Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje 2012, p. 803.
  14. ^ The Power-Places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide, pp. 136–137. Keith Dowman. (1988) Routledge & Kegan Paul, London & New York. ISBN 0-7102-1370-0.
  15. ^ Gerner, Manfred (2007). Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo: Architect, Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder (PDF). Translated by Verhufen, Gregor. Centre for Bhutan Studies. ISBN 978-99936-14-39-5. (p12) This monastery is located at the holy mountain of Chuwo Ri (Chu bo ri), above the southern bridgehead of his iron chain bridge across the Yarlung Tsangpo river. Chuwo Ri is one of eight original meditation caves of Guru Rinpoche and the eighth century king of the Dharma, Trisong Detsen. (p32) In Tibet, the large monastery of Chakzam Chuwo Ri (lCags zam Chu bo ri) that Thangtong Gyalpo founded in 1444, located at the southern bridgehead of his famous 'Chakzam' across the Yarlung Tsangpo river, above its confluence with the Kyichu river (sKyid chu) became his main seat. Later, the monastery of Chakzam Chuwo Ri became the main monastery of the Chakzampa school as well as the seat of the Chakzampa Tulkus. (p83) Chinese engineers tore down this bridge during the construction of the new concrete bridge in about 1950 (p85) 30 centimetres wide
  16. ^ Lungta. Amnye Machen Institute. 2001. the monastery of Lcags zam Chu bo ri ... was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
  17. ^ tbrc 2007-12-19 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
  19. ^ Sarah Harding. Niguma, Lady of Illusion. Snow Lion Publications. 2010. pp. 10.
  20. ^ a b Cyrus Stearns. King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo. (2007). Snow Lion Publications. Pp. 18-19. ISBN 978-1559392754
  21. ^ Sarah Harding. Niguma, Lady of Illusion. Snow Lion Publications. 2010. p. 136.
  22. ^ a b Cyrus Stearns. King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo. (2007). Snow Lion Publications. p. 19. ISBN 978-1559392754
  23. ^ Cyrus Stearns. King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo. (2007). Snow Lion Publications. p. 4. ISBN 978-1559392754
  24. ^ Hildegard Diemberger. When a Woman Becomes a Religious Dynasty: The Sanding Dorje Phagmo of Tibet." (2007). Columbia University Press. Pp. 46-47. ISBN 978-0231143202.
  25. ^ "Jangter - Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionary".
  26. ^ Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo - Architect, Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder 2008-06-25 at the Wayback Machine by Manfred Gerner. Thimphu: Center for Bhutan Studies 2007. ISBN 99936-14-39-4
  27. ^ Manfred Gerner. Thangtong Gyalpo: Architect, Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder. (2007). Thimphu: The Center for Bhutan Studies.
  28. ^ http://crossasia-repository.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/311/1/Chakzampa.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  29. ^ http://www.shangpa.net/spip.php?article20 2016-05-28 at the Wayback Machine accessed 11 May 2016
  30. ^ "Thangtong Gyalpo – KTD Publications". www.ktdpublications.com. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  31. ^ . www.gomde.at (in English and Austrian German). Rangjung Yeshe Gomde. October 4–6, 2013. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  32. ^ . www.gomde.at (in English and Austrian German). Rangjung Yeshe Gomde. December 28–31, 2014. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  33. ^ "Thangtong Gyalpo Series". Lotsawa House.
  34. ^ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1723936874507377.1073741840.1693760104191721&type=3 accessed 11 May 2016[user-generated source]
  35. ^ "Thangyal Tsédrup". www.rigpawiki.org. Rigpa Shedra. from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2023.

External links edit

  • Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo: Architect, Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder. Manfred Gerner. Translated by Gregor Verhufen. (2007). Center for Bhutan Studies. ISBN 99936-14-39-4.
  • Thangtong Gyalpo
  • Images of Tangtong Gyalpo - HimalayanArt.org
  • Image of Thang Tong Gyalpo

thang, tong, gyalpo, thangtong, gyalpo, tibetan, ཐང, wylie, thang, stong, rgyal, 1385, 1464, 1361, 1485, also, known, chakzampa, iron, bridge, maker, wylie, lcags, tsöndrü, zangpo, excellent, persistence, wylie, brtson, grus, bzang, king, empty, plain, also, k. Thangtong Gyalpo Tibetan ཐང ས ང ར ལ པ Wylie thang stong rgyal po 1385 CE 1464 CE 1 or 1361 CE 1485 CE 2 also known as Chakzampa the Iron Bridge Maker Wylie lcags zam pa Tsondru Zangpo Excellent Persistence Wylie brtson grus bzang po and the King of the Empty Plain 3 He was also known by a variation of this name Madman of the Empty Valley 3 4 He was a great Buddhist adept a Chod master 5 yogi physician blacksmith architect and a pioneering civil engineer He is considered a mind emanation of Padmasambhava 1 and a reincarnation of Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen He founded the Iron Chain lineage of the Shangpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and he recognized the first Samding Dorje Phagmo Chokyi Dronma 1422 1455 the female incarnation lineage of Vajravarahi 6 Thangtong GyalpoThangtong Gyalpo is said to have built 58 iron chain suspension bridges around Tibet and Bhutan several of which are still in use today He also designed and built several large stupas of unusual design including the great Kumbum at Chung Riwoche Tibet established Gonchen Monastery in Derge and is considered to be the father of a style of Tibetan opera called Lhamo 4 Associated with the Shangpa Kagyu Nyingma and Sakya traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and with the tradition of mad yogis known as nyonpa Thang Tong Gyalpo is also known as a sorcerer character in the popular Tibetan story of Gesar 4 In addition he is believed to be the most widely traveled person in Tibetan history 6 Contents 1 Biography 2 Teachers and students 2 1 Teachers 2 1 1 The Dakini Niguma 2 1 1 1 The first vision of Niguma 2 1 1 2 The second vision of Niguma 2 1 1 3 The third vision of Niguma 2 1 2 Machig Labdron 2 2 Students 3 Lineage founding 4 Incarnation lineage 5 Surviving prayers spiritual practices and empowerments 5 1 Sadhana and prayers 5 2 Empowerments 6 Thang Tong Gyalpo in Bhutan 7 Death 8 Bibliography 9 References 10 External linksBiography editThangtong Gyalpo was born at Olpa Lhartse in upper Tsang modern Ngamring County in 1385 CE wood ox year sixth cycle 7 Thangtong Gyalpo is best known for his founding of lhamo or Tibetan opera as well as the numerous iron suspension bridges he built to ease travel and pilgrimage though the Himalayas He established a song and dance troupe of seven sisters to raise the money needed to build these bridges 8 9 Thangtong Gyalpo also founded Gonchen Monastery a large Sakya vihara and printing centre in the town of Derge Kham modern Sichuan China 10 Thangtong Gyalpo opened the route through the land of the Kongpo aborigines the Lhoba people where he obtained iron for his bridges and rights of passage for Tibetan pilgrims to visit the holy places in Tsari to the southeast of Dakpo near the Indian border 11 He is also considered to be the patron saint of theatre and became known as the madman of the empty land Wylie lang ston smyon pa Plays traditionally have an altar erected in the middle of the stage surrounded by trees where the god of drama Thangtong Gyalpo is worshiped as an elderly man with a white beard 12 He is said to have made 108 iron chain suspension bridges though another account says 58 suspension bridges and 118 ferry crossings 13 the most celebrated being the one over the Yarlung Tsanpo near modern Chushul He is often shown in murals with long white hair and holding some chain links from his bridges 8 9 nbsp Chushul ChakzamOne of his iron chain suspension bridges Chushul Chakzam about 65 kilometres 40 mi from Lhasa on the Yarlung Tsangpo River still existed in 1948 though it was in need of repairs and no longer used the crossing being made by ferry The old bridge was destroyed when a new one was opened about a hundred metres west of it The old bridge was described as being of ancient design two thick chains are tied to heavy wooden beams underneath the pillars from the top of which are suspended 12 foot 4 m ropes hung from the chains and support wooden boards a yard 1 m long and a foot 30 cm broad allowing passage for one man The bridge is a hundred paces long At the south end of the Tsangpo bridge was Thangtong Gyalpo s main gompa founded in 1444 Chaksam Chuwo Ri Tibetan ལ གས ཟམ ཆ བ ར and he lived in the Chaksam Labrang the main building of the complex which included the assembly hall The gompa had a hundred monks supported by the toll on the bridge There was also a large stupa known as Tangtong s Kumbum at the southern end of the bridge which contained his relics and a chapel at the top contained an image of him The gompa was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution Dowman reports that all evidence of its existence has now vanished 14 15 16 Teachers and students editTeachers edit Thang Tong Gyalpo is said to have studied with over 500 teachers in Tibet India and Nepal 5 Part of the impetus for his intensive travel throughout the region was to meet and study with various Vajrayana tulkus teachers lineage holders and yogis and yoginis The Dakini Niguma edit One of Thang Tong Gyalpo s most important teachers was the great dakini Niguma 5 17 18 19 who visited him in visions three times over a period of years 20 Thang Tong Gyalpo had other notable teachers as well who also offered him direct teachings of Niguma s spiritual practices He received the transmission of her Niguma s instructions from the master Jangsem Jinpa Sangpo passed down through the lineage of the Seven Jewels and Jagchungpa Tsangma Shangton 1234 1309 73 He may also have studied the same instructions under the guidance of Dorje Shonu and Muchen Namkhai Naljor both disciples of Gyaltsen Palsang 5 The first vision of Niguma editAfter receiving teachings from Jangsem Jinpa Sangpo Thang Tong Gyalpo went into retreat and was visited in vision by Niguma 5 Niguma gave him direct transmission of the Six Yogas of Niguma 21 During a profound visionary experience the dakini Niguma herself bestowed upon him the four initiations specific instructions concerning the esoteric significance of her Vajra Lines and an extraordinary technique for transference of consciousness through meditation on the white and red forms of Khecari Tangtong s mastery of these practices is said to have given him the ability to instantly emanate many forms to know what other people were thinking and to perform the transference of consciousness from afar for the benefit of another person 5 The second vision of Niguma editThe second visionary visit of Niguma to Thang Tong Gyalpo was a few years later Tangtong Gyalpo was traveling from his birthplace to Lhasa soon after he had returned to Tibet from Uddiyana In a grove of juniper trees at a place called Sinpo Dzong Demon Fort he was approached again by the dakini Niguma this time in the form of a fifteen year old shepherd girl On this occasion she gave him special instructions concerning the sequence of visualizations during meditation and bestowed the blessing of the illusory body 20 The third vision of Niguma edit Thang Tong s spiritual instructions from Niguma only were recorded many years later in 1458 This was the same year of his third vision of Niguma he finally received in a third vision permission to write down what Niguma had previously given him This event occurred at Riwoche and the instructions were recorded by Tangtong s disciple Lodro Gyaltsen through whom the major lineage was subsequently transmitted These instructions known as the Collection of the Essentials Snying po kun dus and a group of related teachings have been passed down as the Tangtong Tradition Thang lugs of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage and are among the few texts actually signed by the great adept 22 Machig Labdron edit Thang Tong Gyalpo was also a Chod practitioner Students edit Chokyi Dronma the Samding Dorje Phagmo 1422 1455 was one of Thang Tong Gyalpo s students and his main consort 23 He is said to have recognized her as the incarnation of Vajravarahi and to have associated her with this deity s prophecies and later to have identified her reincarnation 24 Lineage founding editThang Tong Gyalpo began a spiritual lineage called the Thangluk Wylie Thang lugs or Chakzam Iron Chain Wylie lcags zam lineage inside of the Shangpa Kagyu school What are known as the Collection of the Essentials Snying po kun dus along with a collection of related teachings came to Thang Tong Gyalpo in visions from the great wisdom dakini Niguma 22 Thang Tong Gyalpo combined the Shangpa and Jangter Northern Treasures Wylie byang gter teachings 25 and traditions 26 Incarnation lineage editThere is an incarnation line for Chakzampa Thang Tong Gyalpo in Bhutan that continues on into contemporary times He was born in the 16th of November in 1973 27 28 Surviving prayers spiritual practices and empowerments editThe teachings that are alive today are associated with the Shangpa Kagyu lineage 29 the Northern Treasures tradition and within the cycles of Mahamudra Chod 5 Sadhana and prayers edit Thang Tong Gyalpo is known for writing an Avalokitesvara sadhana entitled For the Benefit of All Beings as Vast as the Skies which is practiced in dharma centers today 30 In 2013 and in 2014 spiritual retreats were held at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde in Europe focused on this sadhana 31 32 Other texts written by Thang Tong Gyalpo and translated into English can be found at Lotsawa House 33 They include a prayer for dispelling famine a refuge practice to Thang Tong Gyalpo and a prayer for pacifying the fear of disease Contemporary social media has included postings containing prayers to Thang Tong Gyalpo to relieve suffering from earthquakes natural disasters as well 34 Empowerments edit Sakya Trizin gave the Vajrayana empowerment of Thang Tong Gyalpo s long life practice called thangyal tsedrup or bka gter dag snang zung du brel ba i tshe sgrub shin tu nye brgyud kyi sgrub thabs at Lerab Ling in southern France in 2011 35 Thang Tong Gyalpo in Bhutan edit nbsp Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang built by Thangtong Gyalpo in ParoThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed May 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message In 1433 Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo and his disciples traveled to Pagri in the Chumbi Valley of Tibet and from there to Paro Taktsang in Bhutan According to his biography while performing rituals of Vajrakilaya there he had a vision of the assembly of the Eight Classes of Heruka Wylie sgrub pa bka brgyad meditational deities with Vajrakumara as the central figure It is said that a nine headed naga spirit who was the guardian of the sacred place of Paro Taktsang declared your religious inheritance was concealed here by Ogyen Rinpoche please make your discovery and reveal it Thereupon Drubchen Thangtong Gyalpo extracted a sacred scroll ten body lengths long from the cliff of Taktsang The line of mountains where Taktsang is located is shaped like a black snake with its head in the middle of the Paro valley On the nose of this snake the Drubthob constructed Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang a stupa shaped temple and pronounced that all diseases caused by evil spirits residing under the ground were suppressed and that the valley would be free from leprosy nbsp Tachog Lhakhang established by Thangtong GyalpoArriving at a place called Phurdo he saw a five coloured rainbow upon which were seated Buddha Amitabha Avalokitesvara and Padmasambhava and declared that the place was as sacred as Potala mountain At Tamchogang at the foot of the Phurdo mountains he established Tamchog Lhakhang temple and made sacred representations of the Buddha s body speech and mind This temple which located opposite the road from Paro about 5 kilometres 3 1 mi before Chudzom is still maintained by the descendants of Drubtob Thang Tong Gyalpo From there he travelled to Drawang Tengchin where a rich man named Olag presented him three hundred and forty coins and turquoises and requested him to extract water He did so and the water was sufficient to feed not only the people and cattle but also irrigate the fields He then arrived at Gophog and told Lama Gyaltshen that he needed large quantities of iron to help him build links for compassionate purposes Lama Gyaltshen answered that he would make available one hundred pieces of iron if the Drubthob could show him a proof of his attainment The Drubthob told him to bring a boulder that was near the bridge which he split it into two just by pointing his finger Within the stone they saw a live scorpion the size of a thumb with innumerable of new born scorpions The Drubthob prayed in Samadhi and the insects instantly disappeared in the form of a rainbow and he proclaimed that he had sent them to Sukhavati At Wundul Shari he climbed a steep mountain cliff impossible to climb by the ordinary humans and stayed there for a month He said that the cliff contained caves like Tashigomang and the place resembled Shambala in the north However he said as the ordinary people could not go there he had made a door When the people looked up they found an opening that did not exist earlier on the face of the cliff Then he travelled to Wundul Gyaldung and Langsamar and upper and lower Ha region He converted the offerings that he received into iron and renovated the iron bridge there Then he went back to Dromo Dorje Gur in Tibet From there he travelled again to Thimphu and Thed valleys where he built an iron bridge at Bardrong His journey then took him to Rued and Kunzangling where Lama Thuchen presented him with two hundred and fifty pieces of iron It is said that he also built the Chiwotokha Lhakhang in Shar district during this visit He took all the offerings including the iron pieces to Paro turning himself into eighteen persons he went into different villages such as Dolpoiphu Tsharlungnang Dungkhar Jiwu Nyagbu and Lholingkha and instructed eighteen blacksmiths to forge iron links After about three months he had seven thousand iron links and many iron hammers and bars At Kewangphug and other places he built stupas to subdue the spirits of these areas At Changlungkha Rawakha Nyal Phagmodrong Tachogang Wundul Dronkar Silung Bagdrong Binangkhachey Daglha Gyirling and Nyishar he conducted a lot of religious activities by providing image scripture stupa iron bridges and established meditation centres When he returned to Phari the patrons and monks of the new monastery in Paro reached one thousand four hundred loads of iron fifteen pieces of iron making a load and seven hundred loads of ink paper and other goods to Phari The bridge can be still seen today featuring majestically on the hill beside the river of Pa chu The suspension bridge was very old enough during the year of 2017 thus it is closed for either renovation or for people s safety Death editThangtong Gyalpo is said to have passed away bodily in the way of a sky farer in his 125th year at Riwoche 7 Bibliography editDiemberger Hildegard 2014 When a Woman Becomes a Religious Dynasty The Samding Dorje Phagmo of Tibet Columbia University Press ISBN 978 0 231 14321 9 Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje 2012 The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism Its Fundamentals and History Simon and Schuster ISBN 978 0 86171 734 7 Gerke Barbara 2011 Long Lives and Untimely Deaths Life Span Concepts and Longevity Practices Among Tibetans in the Darjeeling Hills India Brill ISBN 978 90 04 21703 4 Gerner Manfred Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo Architect Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder Thimphu Center for Bhutan Studies 2007 ISBN 99936 14 39 4 This book details Thangtong Gyalpo s bridge building activities and discusses his possible influence on European chain suspension bridges With photographs of a number of his bridges which survive to the present Gyatso Janet Thang strong rGyal po Father of the Tibetan Drama Tradition The Bodhisattva as Artist in Jamyang Norbu 1986 Zlos Gar Performing Traditions of Tibet Library of Tibetan Works amp Archives Stearns Cyrus The Life and Teachings of the Tibetan Saint Thang strong rgyal po King of the Empty Plain Univ Washington Master s thesis 1980 Stearns Cyrus 2015 King of the Empty Plain The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo Shambhala Publications ISBN 978 1 55939 837 4 Vitali Roberto 1990 Early Temples of Central Tibet Serindia Publications ISBN 978 0 906026 25 0 References edit a b Stearns Cyrus 2007 King of the Empty Plain The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo Shambhala p 1 ISBN 978 1 55939 837 4 Barbara Gerke Long Lives and Untimely Deaths Life span Concepts and Longevity Practices in the Darjeeling Hills India 2011 Brill Academic Publishers P 230 ISBN 978 9004217034 a b Sarah Harding Niguma Lady of Illusion Snow Lion Publications 2010 p 265 n 84 a b c Stearns Cyrus 2007 King of the Empty Plain The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo Shambhala p 2 ISBN 978 1 55939 837 4 a b c d e f g Cyrus Stearns King of the Empty Plain The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo 2007 Snow Lion Publications p 18 ISBN 978 1559392754 a b Stearns Cyrus 2007 King of the Empty Plain The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo Shambhala p 5 ISBN 978 1 55939 837 4 a b Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje 2012 p 802 4 a b Derge the home of Tibetan Sutras Tibet to Retrieved December 29 2008 a b Tibet 2005 6th Edition p 26 Bradley Mayhew and Michael Kohn Lonely Planet ISBN 1 74059 523 8 Tibet 2005 6th Edition p 256 Bradley Mayhew and Michael Kohn Lonely Planet ISBN 1 74059 523 8 Tibetan Civilization pp 79 80 R A Stein 1972 Stanford University Press Cloth ISBN 0 8047 0806 1 Paper ISBN 0 8047 0901 7 Tibetan Civilization pp 276 277 R A Stein 1972 Stanford University Press Cloth ISBN 0 8047 0806 1 Paper ISBN 0 8047 0901 7 Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje 2012 p 803 The Power Places of Central Tibet The Pilgrim s Guide pp 136 137 Keith Dowman 1988 Routledge amp Kegan Paul London amp New York ISBN 0 7102 1370 0 Gerner Manfred 2007 Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo Architect Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder PDF Translated by Verhufen Gregor Centre for Bhutan Studies ISBN 978 99936 14 39 5 p12 This monastery is located at the holy mountain of Chuwo Ri Chu bo ri above the southern bridgehead of his iron chain bridge across the Yarlung Tsangpo river Chuwo Ri is one of eight original meditation caves of Guru Rinpoche and the eighth century king of the Dharma Trisong Detsen p32 In Tibet the large monastery of Chakzam Chuwo Ri lCags zam Chu bo ri that Thangtong Gyalpo founded in 1444 located at the southern bridgehead of his famous Chakzam across the Yarlung Tsangpo river above its confluence with the Kyichu river sKyid chu became his main seat Later the monastery of Chakzam Chuwo Ri became the main monastery of the Chakzampa school as well as the seat of the Chakzampa Tulkus p83 Chinese engineers tore down this bridge during the construction of the new concrete bridge in about 1950 p85 30 centimetres wide Lungta Amnye Machen Institute 2001 the monastery of Lcags zam Chu bo ri was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution tbrc Archived 2007 12 19 at the Wayback Machine 1 permanent dead link Sarah Harding Niguma Lady of Illusion Snow Lion Publications 2010 pp 10 a b Cyrus Stearns King of the Empty Plain The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo 2007 Snow Lion Publications Pp 18 19 ISBN 978 1559392754 Sarah Harding Niguma Lady of Illusion Snow Lion Publications 2010 p 136 a b Cyrus Stearns King of the Empty Plain The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo 2007 Snow Lion Publications p 19 ISBN 978 1559392754 Cyrus Stearns King of the Empty Plain The Tibetan Iron Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo 2007 Snow Lion Publications p 4 ISBN 978 1559392754 Hildegard Diemberger When a Woman Becomes a Religious Dynasty The Sanding Dorje Phagmo of Tibet 2007 Columbia University Press Pp 46 47 ISBN 978 0231143202 Jangter Rangjung Yeshe Wiki Dharma Dictionary Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo Architect Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder Archived 2008 06 25 at the Wayback Machine by Manfred Gerner Thimphu Center for Bhutan Studies 2007 ISBN 99936 14 39 4 Manfred Gerner Thangtong Gyalpo Architect Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder 2007 Thimphu The Center for Bhutan Studies http crossasia repository ub uni heidelberg de 311 1 Chakzampa pdf bare URL PDF http www shangpa net spip php article20 Archived 2016 05 28 at the Wayback Machine accessed 11 May 2016 Thangtong Gyalpo KTD Publications www ktdpublications com 7 December 2014 Retrieved 11 May 2016 Avalokiteshvara Practice Weekend www gomde at in English and Austrian German Rangjung Yeshe Gomde October 4 6 2013 Archived from the original on June 4 2016 Retrieved 5 May 2023 Avalokiteshvara Compassion in theory and practice www gomde at in English and Austrian German Rangjung Yeshe Gomde December 28 31 2014 Archived from the original on June 4 2016 Retrieved 5 May 2023 Thangtong Gyalpo Series Lotsawa House https www facebook com media set set a 1723936874507377 1073741840 1693760104191721 amp type 3 accessed 11 May 2016 user generated source Thangyal Tsedrup www rigpawiki org Rigpa Shedra Archived from the original on September 28 2012 Retrieved 5 May 2023 External links editChakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo Chakzampa Thangtong Gyalpo Architect Philosopher and Iron Chain Bridge Builder Manfred Gerner Translated by Gregor Verhufen 2007 Center for Bhutan Studies ISBN 99936 14 39 4 Thangtong Gyalpo TBRC P2778 Images of Tangtong Gyalpo HimalayanArt org Image of Thang Tong Gyalpo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thang Tong Gyalpo amp oldid 1153257520, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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