Auspicious birth

A living Heruka

A lineage is born

From poverty to greatness

A great master rises

The Guru of all Men

An epitome of Guru devotion

The path of Vajrayogini

Empowering liberation into all beings

The Guru of Gurus

Conclusion

What other great Lamas say about Pabongka Rinpoche

“This manifestation of the Buddha has no equal. If you are really determined to tame your mind, he will even give you his heart.” ~ Geshe Rabten about Gyalchen Dorje Shugden

Pabongka Rinpoche Dechen Nyingpo Jampa Tenzin Trinlay Gyatso was one of the greatest masters of the 20th century and one of the most influential teachers in Tibet. He received teachings from the Sakya and Nyingma school, and the lineage of Ganden Tendzin and Ngulchu Dharmabhadra, and collected other valuable teachings from many highly venerated sources during his lifetime.

When many Tibetans departed Tibet in the late 1950s, Pabongka knew that he would not be able to leave. He thus carefully transmitted all these important teachings to a single heart disciple, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, who became the Junior Tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama and root Lama of many of the world’s greatest teachers today. In this way, all the transmissions were carried safely to India and securely passed on to His Holiness and countless other high Lamas. When Pabongka Rinpoche left his earthly body, he also left a treasure trove of over 15 volumes covering a broad range of topics within Buddhism. This became the living foundation of the Gelugpa Lineage that we have today.

Auspicious birth

Pabongka Rinpoche was born north of Lhasa in a town called Tsawa Li in the Yeru Shang district of the state of Tsang in 1878. His family was part of the nobility and owned a modest estate called Chappel Gershi. It is said that on the night that he was born, a light shone in the room and people outside the house had a vision of a Protector on the roof.

As a child, Pabongka already exhibited unusual qualities and so, was taken before Sharpa Rinpoche Chuje Lobsang Dargye, one of the leading religious figures of the day. Later on, he was found to be a reincarnation of the Changkya line, which included the well-known scholar Changkya Rolpay Dorje (1717-1786). The Lamas of this line had done much teaching in the regions of Mongolia and China, including in the court of the Chinese Emperor himself, and was known as being the Royal tutor to the Emperors. The Changkya Lamas were known to be highly attained.

With his royal standing, the Changkya Lama was able to accomplish a great deal for Tibetan Buddhist institutions in China, Mongolia, and Tibet. Changkya Rolpay Dorje was also the student of the 7th Dalai Lama and a teacher of the 8th Dalai Lama. He was an important lineage holder in several very sacred traditions of both Father and Mother Tantras. It is also commonly believed that he was also the reincarnation of Tsako Ngawang Drakpa, one of the main disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa and founder of Dhe-Tsang Monastery.

However, the name “Changkya” came to have strong Chinese connotations. As the Tibetan government and people were already sensitive to the pressures put on them from China, the name “Changkya” was ruled out. Instead, the boy was eventually recognized and enthroned as the late abbot of a small, obscure monastery, which sat atop a rock named Pabong. He was thus declared as Pabongka Rinpoche. For this reason, Rinpoche is sometimes documented as the second Pabongka and referred to as Pabongka Kentrul.

It was Sharpa Chuje Lobsang who foretold that if the young boy were to be placed in the Gyalrong House of Sera Mey College, something wonderful would happen to him in the future.

A living Heruka

Pabongka Rinpoche’s full name was Kyabje Pabongka Jetsun Jampa Tenzin Trinleyyatso Pel Sangpo, which means the “Lord Protector, the one from Pabongka, the venerable and glorious master whose name is the Loving One, Keeper of the Buddha’s Teachings, Ocean of the Mighty Deeds of the Buddha”. He was also affectionately known as “Dechen Nyingpo”, which translates as “Essence of Great Bliss” or “The King of Bliss from the Palace of Bliss”, which mean that he was a highly attained being who is already one with Heruka.

He was an extraordinary master, known widely for the Heruka Body Mandala and the Vajrayogini practice; he had a special responsibility for the Mother Tantra. There is a famous story Heruka actually appearing to Pabongka when he visited Cimburi in Tibet, where there is an image of Heruka. This is where the Blood drinker’s mountains are, named after Heruka, Drinker of Blood. Apparently, Pabongka went to this place three times during his lifetime.

When he first went there, this image spoke to him, opened its mouth and issued forth a tremendous amount of nectar. Pabongka collected the nectar from the mouth of Heruka while in the presence of 60 or 70 people. This nectar was then made into nectar pills which are now among the Gelugpas’ current rare nectar pills.

It is also said that it was in this very same cave in Cimburi, where Pabongka received the nectar from the Heruka image that Heruka promised him the following: “From now on, for the next seven generations, whoever practices my teaching, I will protect and help.”

This is why Pabongka is also considered to be a living Heruka and many people strove to receive the Heruka Body Mandala and every teaching on it from him. Further, if you happen to fall within that seventh generation category, you are indeed very much blessed by Heruka’s promise.