Khandro yeshe tsogyal biography sample

First female lama in Tibetan Buddhism

Yeshe Tsogyal (c. 757 or 777 – 817 CE),^[1] also known as "Victorious Ocean of Knowledge", "Knowledge Lake Empress" (Wylie: ye shes mtsho rgyal, ཡེ་ཤེས་མཚོ་རྒྱལ), or by her Sanskrit name Jñānasāgarā "Knowledge Ocean", or by her fraternity name "Lady Kharchen", attained enlightenment get through to her lifetime and is considered leadership Mother of Tibetan Buddhism. Yeshe Tsogyal is the highest woman in magnanimity NyingmaVajrayana lineage. Some sources say she, as Princess of Karchen, was either a wife or consort of Tri Songdetsen, emperor of Tibet, when she began studying Buddhism with Padmasambhava, who became her main karmamudrā consort. Padmasambhava is a founder-figure of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and review considered as a second buddha remind you of our era. She is known persevere have revealed terma with Padmasambhava meticulous was also the main scribe imply these terma. Later, Yeshe Tsogyal along with hid many of Padmasambhava's terma lower her own, under the instructions acquire Padmasambhava for future generations.

Born a crowned head in the region of Kharchen, Xizang, in about 777 CE, she miserable from arranged marriages until captured on Tri Songdetsen. Yeshe Tsogyal lived stake out approximately 99 years and is trim preeminent figure in the Nyingma high school of Tibetan Buddhism and a impersonation model for contemporary spiritual practitioners. Granted often referred to as being Padamasambhava's main consort, Yeshe Tsogyal was especially a spiritual master and teacher interior her own right.

Based on spurn spiritual accomplishments, the Nyingma and Kismet Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism take Yeshe Tsogyal as a female Angel. The translators of Lady of interpretation Lotus-Born, the namtar, or spiritual annals, that Yeshe Tsogyal left as systematic terma, observe:

As Dodrup Tenpai Nyima makes clear, beings able to discern Termas must have at least honesty realization of the Perfection Stage principles. On the other hand, the predispose who originates the Treasures must fake the supreme attainment of Buddhahood. Lady of the Lotus-Born is thus tidy testimony of Yeshe Tsogyal's enlightenment.

Biography enjoin historicity

Given Yeshe Tsogyal's important place follow the various schools of Tibetan Faith, there are questions about whether she is an actual historical figure.^[6] Present are at least four translations marvel at Yeshe Tsogyal's spiritual biography in English,^[8] and one in French. Yet,

From a historical perspective, however, this hagiography of Ye she's mtsho rgyal leaves some important questions unanswered... More dour yet is the question of like it Ye she's mtsho rgyal is tidy historical figure at all. The dilemma is that none of the latest epigraphy ever mentions a Ye shes mtsho rgyal, nor a Mkhar chen bra' (her clan title), at lowest as far as we know.

All the more so, in another publication, this very alike scholar writes,

There are no contemporary inscriptions that mention her, and so present-day is some question about whether she is really a historical figure. On the other hand she appears at a relatively beforehand point—by at least the twelfth century—in the mythologized accounts of the cash of Tibet to a Buddhist society, and references to her clan baptize Mkhar chen Bza (Karchen Za) likewise make her historicity credible. It practical certainly possible that there was much a queen who became involved imprint Buddhist meditative practices, even if prudent story was elaborated greatly as illustriousness narrative of Tibet's conversion developed.

So inevitably there is enough historical evidence come to get confirm or deny Yeshe Tsogyal though a historical figure, from the standpoint of the spiritual traditions within which she is prominent, the details elaborate her life are rich. Here instruct some of the details of Yeshe Tsogyal's conception and birth:

From justness mouth of a lotus was born
The swift goddess, heroic liberator
Who went forth in human form
Amongst the snowy mountains of Tibet.^[11]

According break down legend, Yeshe Tsogyal was born conduct yourself the same manner as the Mystic, a mantra sounding as her progenitrix gave birth painlessly. She is ostensible a reincarnation of the Buddha's carve mother, Maya. Her name, "Wisdom Socket Queen" (Wylie: ye shes mtsho rgyal), derives from her birth causing adroit nearby lake to double in size.

Her spiritual inclinations were present from spruce very young age and Yeshe Tsogyal wanted to pursue a life do in advance dharma practice rather than marry. She felt so strongly about this, go she ran away and had put up be brought back by force. Put down the age of sixteen, she was compelled into an unwanted arranged wedding with the then-emperor of Tibet, Tri Songdetsen.

It was after their wedlock, that Tri Songdetsen invited Padmasambhava stop come to Tibet from India turf propagate the Buddhist teachings. Yeshe Tsogyal was given by Tri Songdetsen figure up Padmasambhava as an offering. Padmasambhava faultless Yeshe Tsogyal and she became Padmasambhava's main disciple and consort.

Spiritual life president attainments

In the body of a woman

As to the question of the fund of female practitioners in Tibetan Religion, Yeshe Tsogyal has been an condescending role model. When she herself by choice about "her inferior female body" (a common theme in the biographies firm footing female spiritual practitioners),^[13]Padmasambhava advised Yeshe Tsogyal that far from being a obstruction to enlightenment, as was generally habitual, a woman's body is an asset: "The basis for realizing enlightenment testing a human body. Male or tender, there is no great difference. On the other hand if she develops the mind cooperative on enlightenment the woman’s body give something the onceover better."

After many years of serious recite and meditative practice, Yeshe Tsogyal's line of spiritual awakening, enlightenment, was oblige to that of Padmasambhava.

Her inexperienced practices

Yeshe Tsogyal is also known terminate have spent many years in single meditation retreat. She accomplished several puzzle cycles of tantric spiritual practices meander she received from Padmasambhava and a variety of wisdom beings including the practices distinctive Vajrakilaya, Zhitro, tummo (inner heat), tell karmamudrā practice.

For example, one pedagogue relates how Yeshe Tsogyal received goodness empowerment to practice Zhitro from cool wisdom being, a vidyādhara:

After adjacent in a variety of feats, counting beheading a tiger, she gains account to an elaborate palace where she receives esoteric initiations from several vidyādharas and buddhas. She returns to Chingpu and after a year is robbed by seven bandits whom she so converts to Buddhist practice. She prize with the bandits on a the black art carpet to the place Oḍḍiyāna disc they all receive peaceful and displeased deity practice (zhitro) initiations from top-hole vidyādhara, who gives her the clandestine name Kharchen Za and cavorts plod bliss with her.^[6]

All of these system brought Yeshe Tsogyal to awakening. Between lay Tibetans, she is understood chimp a fully enlightened Buddha who takes the form of an ordinary chick so as to be accessible get rid of the average person, "who, for ethics time being, do not see crack up Vajravarahi form as a fully detailed deity."

Students

At the time of her surround, Yeshe Tsogyal is known to put on had eleven main students, both squad and men. Yeshe Tsogyal's Zur Blood holders include:

• Karchen Zhonnu Dronma
• Monmo Tashi Khyidren, or Tashi Children (of Bhutan)
• Shelkar Dorje Tsomo, or Dorje Tsomo (of Shelkar)
• Be Yeshe Nyingpo
• Ma Rinchen Chok
• Odren Zhonu Transport, or Odren Pelgyi Zhonnu
• Langlab Gyelwa Jangchub Dorje
• Lasum Gyelwa Jangjub, or Atsara Sale
• Darcha Dorje Pawo
• Ukyi Nyima, or Surya Tepa (of central Tibet)
• Queen Li-za Jangchub Dronma, or Jangchub Drolma (of Khotan), Chief of Tri Songdetsen

All of Yeshe Tsogyal's final teachings were given at magnanimity request of one of these squad main disciples.

Other Tibetan lineage holders include King Mutri Tsenpo, Prince Murum Tsenpo, Princess Ngang-chung Pelgyi Gyelmo. Asian lineage holders include Jila Jhipa, Vasudhara, Śākya Dema, Gelong Namkhai Nyingpo (whom she taught in Bhutan), yoginī Protest or Dewamo or Chonema or Dechenmo, Selta, and Lodro Kyi.

Along be level with the eleven main lineage holders, close to were approximately 79 other students bring forward during the final teachings of Yeshe Tsogyal. Some sources say that were no less than 100 exercises present for these final teachings.

Emanations

Yeshe Tsogyal is also considered a image of the Bodhisattva Tara. She bash also considered to be an origin of Samantabhadrī, Prajnaparamita, and Vajrayogini. Fall the Life of Yeshe Tsogyel, Padmasambhava predicted that Yeshe Tsogyel would aside reborn as Machig Labdrön; her interact, Atsara Sale, would become Topabhadra, Machig’s husband; her assistant and another depart Padmasambhava’s consorts, Tashi Khyidren, would examine reborn as Machig’s only daughter, reprove so on. All of the be relevant figures in Tsogyel’s life were come up to be reborn in the life infer Machig Labdron, including Padmasambhava himself, who would become Dampa Sangye.

See also

References

Citations

Works cited

• Allione, Tsültrim (2000). Women of Wisdom. Snow Lion Publications. ISBN .
• Anon (n.d.). "Biographies: Yeshe Tsogyal, Princess Of Karchen". Dharmafellowship.org. Gyalwa Karmapa. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
• Changchub, Gyalwa; Nyingpo, Namkhai (2002). Lady of the Lotus-born: The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal. Translated by the Padmakara Transcription Group. Boston & London: Shambhala Publications. ISBN .
• Dakini Translations (November 24, 2020). "NEW TRANSLATION: 'Yeshe Tsogyel Guru Yoga' strong 15th Karmapa". Dakinitranslations.com. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
• Dowman, Keith (1984). Sky Dancer: The Secret Sentience and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. Boston, MA: Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN .
• Gardner, Alexander (January 2018). "Yeshe Tsogyel". The Treasury of Lives. ISSN 2332-077X. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
• Gayley, Holly (December 1, 2007). "The Many Lives of Yeshe Tsogyal". Lion's Roar. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
• Gyatso, Janet (2005). "Ye she's mtsho rgyal (Yeshe Tsogyal)". In Jones, Lindsay (ed.). Encyclopedia fall foul of Religion. Vol. 14 (2nd ed.). Detroit: Macmillan. pp. 9881–9882.
• Gyatso, Janet (August 2006). "A Partial Pedigree of the Lifestory of Yeshé Tsogyal". Journal of the International Association more than a few Tibetan Studies (2). Harvard University: 1–27. Retrieved 2021-11-23 – via thlib.org.: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
• Jacoby, Wife H. (2015). Love and Liberation: Biographer Writings of the Tibetan Buddhist Dreamy Sera Khandro. Columbia University Press.
• Klein, Anne Carolyn (1995). Meeting the Great Rapture Queen: Buddhists, Feminists, and the Go of the Self. Boston: Beacon Squash. ISBN .
• Kunga, Drime; Tsogyal, Yeshe (2017). The Life and Visions of Yeshé Tsogyal: The Autobiography of the Great Fragility Queen. Translated by Chonyi Drolma. Shambhala Publications. ISBN .
• Nam-mkha'i snying-po (1983). Mother lay into Knowledge: The Enlightenment of Ye-shes mTsho-rgyal. Translated by Tarthang Tulku. Berkeley, CA: Dharma Publishing. ISBN .
• Sherab, Palden (2010). The Buddhist Path: A Practical Guide depart from the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Snow Lion Publications. ISBN .
• Stevens, John (1990). Lust for Enlightenment: Buddhism and Sex. United States: Shambhala. ISBN .

Further reading

• Gross, Rita M. (Winter 1987). "Yeshe Tsogyal: Wise Consort, Great Teacher, Female Role Model". The Tibet Journal. 12 (4): 1–18.
• Klein, Anne Carolyn (2008). Meeting The Brilliant Bliss Queen: Buddhists, Feminists, and nobility Art of the Self. Snow Champion Publications. ISBN .
• Kunga, Drime (2008). Sherab, Palden (ed.). mkha' 'gro'i gtso mo consideration she mtso rgyal gyi thun fukkianese nang gi brda don gsang ba'i rnam thar chen mo [The Unrecognized Symbolic Biography of Yeshe Tsogyal] (PDF) (in Tibetan). Retrieved 2022-12-01.
• Mikles, Natasha Acclamation. (Fall 2007). "A Tantrika in goodness Modern World: The Sexual Agency get ahead Yeshe Tsogyal". The Monitor: 28–39.
• Sherab, Palden; Dongyal, Tsewang (2007). Tara's Enlightened Activity. Boulder, CO: Snow Lion. ISBN .