Life of Chokgyur Lingpa

Abstract

The book introduces the entire life of Chokgyur Lingpa. Chokgyur Lingpa was born in Nangchen, a province of Kham in eastern Tibet. His family name was Kyasu. His father was called Pema Wangchuk and his mother Tsering Yangtso. Born in the year of the Ox, auspicious signs must have occurred at the time of his birth, but there is nothing clearly stated about such occurances. His first name, given by his parents, was Norbu Tendzin. As a boy, he herded the cattle. One day at a place named Manika he met a lama in the form of an Indian mendicant (atsara) who asked him what his name was. “My name is Norbu Tendzin,” he answered. “What is this place called?” “Manika,” he said. “What is the name of this valley?” “It is called Arya Nang,” he answered. “That is very auspicious,” the Indian mendicant declared, “You will become quite wellknown in this world.” The mendicant was Guru Rinpoche. As a youth, Chokgyur Lingpa learned some reading and writing from his uncle, but he did no higher studies. He found a tsa-tsa [footnote]* one day and put it in his pocket. As he was passing the house of a big family, many dogs attacked and bit him. Some people came to check whether or not he was wounded. When they undid his belt the tsa-tsa dropped down and hit a stone. Out of the tsa-tsa came a roll of paper: the inventory of all his termas.