Biography of His Eminence Ratna Vajra Rinpoche
First of all I would like to explain briefly the history of Tibetan Buddhism. As you know,
in order to lead sentient beings from suffering and dissatisfaction to temporary and
ultimate happiness, Lord Shakyamuni Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma, imparting
teachings to suit the mental dispositions of disciples at different levels.
He taught at different places, at different times and in different languages. Lord
Buddha's teachings were later collected into the Tripitaka, or three baskets: Vinaya,
Sutra and Abhidharma.
Later on, extensive commentaries were written by various
highly realized masters and great Indian Panditas. For
hundreds of years, the teachings of the Lord Buddha spread
to many countries with great success. In the 4th century
AD, during the reign of Dharma King Lha Tho Tho Ri Nyen
Tsen, the Buddha Dharma was introduced to the Land of
Snows.
Five generations later, King Songtsen Gampo formally
established Buddhism as the official religion of Tibet.
Another five generations after that, Dharma King Trison
Detsen invited the Bodhisattva Shantarakshita and the
renowned Guru Padmasambhava to consolidate the vast
teachings of the Sutras, Tantras and Shastras in Tibet.
These teachings are still preserved by the great masters of
Tibetan Buddhism.
Now I will write about my family background or lineage. My family is known as the
Khön family. The lineage of the Khön family can be traced back for thousands of years.
The ancestors of the family were heavenly beings who descended directly from the
heavenly realms. After a few generations, one of the Khön family members known as
the Yapang Kye subdued the Rakshas and subsequently the family received the name
'Khön.'
Several generations later, in 1073, a member of the Khön family, a renowned master
called Khön Könchok Gyalpo, established the glorious Sakya School, one of the four
schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Since that time successive generations of the Khön family
have continued in an unbroken lineage. Many famous and great masters have appeared
in this illustrious Khön lineage, including the five great founders of the Sakyapa Order:
the Great Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), Loppon Rinpoche Sonam Tsemo (11421182), Jetsun Rinpoche Dragpa Gyaltsen, (1147-1216), Chöje Sakya Pandita (11821251) and Drogön Chögyal Phagpa (1235-1280). These were all emanations of Arya
Manjushri (the manifestation of all the Buddhas' wisdom), Avalokiteshvara (the
manifestation of all the Buddhas' compassion) and Vajrapani (the manifestation of all
the Buddhas' power).
The Mongol King, King Godan Khan, Grandson of Gingis Khan, invited Choje Sakya
Pandita and Drongon Chogyal Phagpa to China, where they stayed for some time. This
established a Dharmic relationship between the Sakya School and the Chinese and
Mongol people. Drogon Chögyal Phagpa invented the Mongol script. At the request of one
of the Mongol Kings, Chögyal Phagpa became the King of Tibet.
So from the inception of the Sakya School until the
present, the members of the Khön family have played a
very important role, particularly within the Sakya School
itself, but also within Tibetan Buddhism in general. They
have preserved and propagated the precious and
profound teachings of Lord Buddha in many ways. They
have composed numerous texts, which accurately explain
the sacred and secret teachings of Lord Shakyamuni
Buddha. Through composing treatises and participating
in debate, they have been foremost in establishing a
logical basis for belief in the teachings of the Lord
Buddha.
The glorious Sakya Order flourished through an unbroken
lineage of scholars and Mahasiddhas. The fame of the
glorious Sakya Order spread to many places. Many
ancient histories and texts by great scholars of all schools
describe without exaggeration or sectarian bias how their
holy efforts and activities spread the light of Lord
Buddha's precious teachings. My Noble Father,
Vajradhara Ngawang Kunga Theckchen Palbar Trinley
Samphel Wangi Gyalpo, the Supreme head of the Sakya
School (His Holiness the forty first Sakya Trizin) was born
as heir-apparent of Vajradhara Ngawang Kunga Rinchen
in the Dolma Phodrang (palace) to uphold and continue
the precious lineage for the betterment of sentient
beings.
In 1974, to maintain the unbroken lineage of the Khön
family, His Holiness Sakya Trizin consented to the
request of many Lamas and of his own aunt, and
accepted Tashi Lhakee as his Dagmo (Consort). She was
the daughter of a minister of the King of Dege in Kham,
an Eastern Province of Tibet. Dagmo Tashi Lhakee's
arrival in the Dolma Phodrang was accompanied by
numerous auspicious signs. On 19th November 1974, the
fifth of the tenth lunar month, at 9:10 am Indian time
Dagmo Kusho Tashi Lhakee gave birth to me in Kalhan
Hospital in Dehra Dun, India. Due to the Kindness of
Mama Lak (mother) I was able to attain this precious
human life and also I got the chance to meet many holy
teachers and receive many precious and profound
teachings. She is also very kind to me in many other
ways.
Soon after I was born, my Noble Father visited me. He performed traditional
ceremonies and gave me many blessing pills. He also drew the Tibetan letter DHI (the
seed syllable of Manjushri) on my tongue with wisdom pills and saffron water in order
to increase my knowledge and wisdom. On November 23rd I was brought to Dolma
Phodrang for the first time. Noble Father performed rituals and Initiations on me, and
also gave me my name Ratna Vajra.
On 23rd December, when I first visited the Sakya Center in Rajpur, I received a
traditional welcome from the assembled monks and lay people. Thereafter I
accompanied my Noble Father, Mama Lak and entourage to Lumbini, the birth palace of
Lord Shakyamuni Buddha. There, after my Noble Father had a discussion with Kyabje
Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, they decided to give me the formal name of Ngawang Kunga
Lodroe Wangchuk Rinchen Jigmed Trinley, which is a combination of the names of
Noble Father's root Gurus and the Gurus of the Dolma Phodrang. Based on this, Kyabje
Chogey Trichen Rinpoche wrote a long-life prayer for me.
We then visited Boudha in Nepal. On 29th of the second lunar month, the anniversary
of Jamgon Loter Wangpo, I had a traditional enthronement ceremony at H.E. Tharig
Rinpoche's Monastery. I was about five months old. During that time my long life
prayer was chanted for the first time. While they were chanting the long life prayer, one
of the people offered me a biography of Vajradhara Ngorchen Kunga Sangpo written in
gold. I was fortunate to receive this holy biography without prearrangement on this
occasion.
On 5th June 1975, my Noble Father gave me refuge vows in front of the precious
image of Lord Buddha. In 1976, I visited Darjeeling, Ladhak and South India with my
Noble Father and Mama Lak. In 1977, I visited overseas countries for the first time with
my Noble Father and Mama Lak, travelling to South East Asia, Europe and North
America for more than 16 months. When I was in these countries I started to speak the
English language but could not read English words, at that time.
Since then I have accompanied my Noble Father to many places within India and
abroad, such as Australia, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Malaysia, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, Spain,
Switzerland and the United States of America.
On fifth July 1979, the tenth of the fifth lunar month, the anniversary of the birth of
Guru Padmasambhava, my younger brother Dungsay Gyana Vajra Rinpoche was born
with auspicious signs.
In the morning of the 3rd October, after a traditional ceremony to mark the beginning
of my formal education, Noble Father gave me the reading transmission of the homage
to Manjushri and taught me the Tibetan alphabet etc for several months. In 1980, my
tutor Gelong Rinchen Sangpo arrived from Kalimpong. He taught me reading, writing,
history and grammar etc for many years. He was very kind to me and put a lot of effort
into helping me to gain knowledge.
On the 14th day of the 11th lunar month, the auspicious day of Jamgon Sakya Pandita's
anniversary (20th December 1980), I began to receive the cycle of the precious
Uncommon Lam Dre teachings from my Noble Father for the first time together with
many high Lamas, Tulkus, Abbots, more than 700 monks and nuns and about 500 lay
followers including many from overseas, at Sakya Thubten Namgyal Ling monastery in
Puruwala, India.
On 10th October 1981, I gave my first oral examination in the presence of my Noble
Father, my tutor and prominent members of the Sakya Center on Remembrance of the
Triple Gem, Three Heap Sutra, Confession Sutra and extended Lineage Guru's prayers
etc. Since then I have given several oral examinations, including the oral examination in
which I had to lead a special ritual in the Sakya Center. In 1986 I did my first retreat
together with Mama Lak. On 14th January 1987, I began to learn the ritual melodies
from my Noble Father.
In 1990, I joined Sakya College and studied Buddhist philosophy mainly under Most
Venerable Khenpo Ngawang Lekshey Kunga Rinpoche (late Khenpo Migmar Tsering) for
many years. I received the Kachupa Degree, which is equivalent to a BA degree. I have
received many exoteric and esoteric teachings, such as empowerments, blessings,
initiations, oral transmissions, explanations and pith instructions from my Noble Father.
I cannot express in words the kindness and the guidance that he has shown to me. It is
inexpressible and unimaginable. He is my root Guru, my Buddha, my Deity, my Dharma
and my Sangha. I have also received many sacred and secret teachings from many
Vajradharas, such as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Kyabje Chogey Trichen
Rinpoche, Kyabje Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, Kyabje Dungsay Gyana Vajra Rinpoche,
Kyabje Luding Khen Rinpoche and Late Kyabje Deshung Rinpoche. The great Jamgon
Lama Sakya Pandita said that the one from whom one has received the uncommon
Mahayana teachings is one's real Buddha. So these great masters are very holy to me.
From the great scholars and most venerable Khenpos of the Sakya school, such as
Appey Khen Rinpoche, Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk Rinpoche, Khenpo Ngawang Lekshey
Kunga Rinpoche and Khenpo Lungrik Senge Rinpoche, I have received teachings on
major topics of Buddhist philosophy such as Abhidharma, Prajnaparamita, Pramana,
Madhyamaka and the Trisamvaraprakarana, (the famous text by Great Sakya Pandita
known as Differentiation of Three Vows). I feel extremely indebted to these Masters
who, with inexpressible kindness, have bestowed upon me many precious and profound
teachings, more revered and rare to obtain than a wish-fulfilling jewel. I have learned
the melodies of rituals and ritual percussion instruments from Ven. Nyima Woser and I
have learned English language from more than ten teachers, each of whom taught me
for a short period of time.
So I have obtained the precious human life and I have also met and received ocean-like
teachings of Lord Buddha from many great Gurus. However, due to my own lack of
interest and effort, I am not a very well educated nor am I in reality a good Dharma
practitioner. This Autobiography is based on the better part of my life story. I wrote this
in October 2001 and it was edited by Mr. Tsering Migyur. This was revised in June 2002
in conjunction with Dolma Lhamo.