Rigdzin Kumaradza (1266–1343) was a
Dzogchen master in the lineage of the ''
Vima Nyingthig
Vima Nyingthig (), "Seminal Heart of Vimalamitra", in Tibetan Buddhism is one of the two "seminal heart" () collections of the menngagde cycle Dzogchen, the other one being "Seminal Heart of the Dakini" (''mkha' 'gro snying thig''). Traditionally ...
''.
Nomenclature, orthography and etymology
Kumārarāja
Rigdzin Kumaradza (1266–1343) was a Dzogchen master in the lineage of the ''Vima Nyingthig''.
Nomenclature, orthography and etymology
Kumārarāja, Kumārāja and Kumaraja (Sanskrit) is sometimes also orthographically represented as Kum ...
,
Kumārāja
Rigdzin Kumaradza (1266–1343) was a Dzogchen master in the lineage of the ''Vima Nyingthig''.
Nomenclature, orthography and etymology
Kumārarāja, Kumārāja and Kumaraja (Sanskrit) is sometimes also orthographically represented as Kumā ...
and
Kumaraja
Rigdzin Kumaradza (1266–1343) was a Dzogchen master in the lineage of the ''Vima Nyingthig''.
Nomenclature, orthography and etymology
Kumārarāja, Kumārāja and Kumaraja (Sanskrit) is sometimes also orthographically represented as Kumār ...
(Sanskrit) is sometimes also orthographically represented as
Kumārarādza and
Kumārādza.
Overview
Kumaradza was a
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa, Taman ...
an
yogi
A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga, including a sannyasin or practitioner of meditation in Indian religions.A. K. Banerjea (2014), ''Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha'', Motilal Banarsidass, , pp. xxiii, 297-299, 331 Th ...
c
mendicant famous for his
austere nomadic
A nomad is a member of a community without fixed habitation who regularly moves to and from the same areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the popu ...
lifestyle and deep
flow meditation
Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm ...
styles. Nomadic in orientation and obscure in
siddhi, he was renowned as genuine realizer of
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna ( sa, वज्रयान, "thunderbolt vehicle", "diamond vehicle", or "indestructible vehicle"), along with Mantrayāna, Guhyamantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, are names referring t ...
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
luminous clarity. Kumaradza's
esoteric
Western esotericism, also known as esotericism, esoterism, and sometimes the Western mystery tradition, is a term scholars use to categorise a wide range of loosely related ideas and movements that developed within Western society. These ideas ...
processes reflected a kindly though abrupt and forceful demeanor. There are accounts of how some of his students were meditating in mere animal skin shelters as quasi-impromptu protection against ferocious
high desert winds. These small camps subsisted on scant donations. The focus of his practices concentrated on secret cognizance yogas of "naked awareness" or "natural mind" (
rigpa
In Dzogchen, ''rigpa'' (; Skt. vidyā; "knowledge") is knowledge of the ground. The opposite of ''rigpa'' is ''ma rigpa'' ('' avidyā'', ignorance). A practitioner who has attained the state of ''rigpa'' and is able to rest there continuously ...
).
His striking purview of existence was very powerful, particularly in how he applied his
consciousness
Consciousness, at its simplest, is sentience and awareness of internal and external existence. However, the lack of definitions has led to millennia of analyses, explanations and debates by philosophers, theologians, linguisticians, and scien ...
to matters at hand. For he was considered one of the most realized masters of his day. Sought after and admired but his processes and teachings were stringent for most beings to undertake due to his rigorous approaches and dogged regimens.
He stolidly adhered to tenets of
Dzogpa Chenpo methods of enlightening awareness. And he was also versed in
Maha Mudra processings of liberation from "afflictions" and "obscurations"
kleshas of mind. He was likely familiar with Maha
Madyamika and various intellectual traditions of meditational development current in those
Himalaya
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
n regions. But recountings indicate he must have preferred
Dzog Chen
Dzogchen (, "Great Perfection" or "Great Completion"), also known as ''atiyoga'' ( utmost yoga), is a tradition of teachings in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Yungdrung Bon aimed at discovering and continuing in the ultimate ground of existence. ...
or some combination of Dzog Chen and Maha Mudra.
Kumaradza's name can be recognized and translated as an epithet for
Vajra Kilaiya or
Dorje Phurbu, one of the chief protectors of
Nyingma
Nyingma (literally 'old school') is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as ''Ngangyur'' (, ), "order of the ancient translations". The Nyingma school is founded on the first lineages and transl ...
pas and important to
Sakyapa
The ''Sakya'' (, 'pale earth') school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug. It is one of the Red Hat Orders along with the Nyingma and Kagyu.
Origins
Virūpa, 16th century. It depict ...
and
Kahjyupa schools. Rikzin Kumaradza could be said to mean "Rigpa Holder Of Kilaiya Regency", or "Awakened Ruler Of Royal Purba", or "Awareness Master King Of Tri-Dagger". Implication being, that Kumaradza is accomplished in realization and liberation and enlightening for beings of the three worlds of past and present and future, as well desire realms and form ranges and formless zones, and also could be interpreted as glowing with
Dharmakaya,
Sambhogakaya and
Nirmanakaya eyes.
Instructor
Kumaradza was a senior disciple of
Melong Dorje
(; sa, ādarśa, darpaṇa, italic=yes) is a Tibetan term that means "mirror", "looking glass". The is a symbol, divine attribute, and quality of the enlightened mindstream or .
Meaning and significance
The mirror is an ancient symbol thr ...
(1243–1303). Kumaradza studied with the grand master
Orgyenpa (1230–1309), who conveyed teachings of 'Vimalamitra's Seminal Heart' () upon him.
Successor
Kumararaja transmitted the complete set of all the Nyingthig teachings he held upon
Longchen Rabjam who became his 'heart son', principal disciple and lineage successor.
[Thondup, Tulku & Harold Talbott (Editor)(1996). ''Masters of Meditation and Miracles: Lives of the Great Buddhist Masters of India and Tibet''. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambhala, South Asia Editions. (alk. paper); p.111]
Dudjom
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
(1904–1987) ''et al.'' (1991: p. 579) hold that just prior to the arrival of Longchenpa, Kumaraja relates to his disciples:
"Last night I dreamt that a wonderful bird, which announced itself to be a divine bird, came with a large flock in attendance, and carried away my books in all directions. Therefore, someone will come to hold my lineage."
Kumaraja accepted no outer tribute from Lonchenpa for the teachings he received as Kumararaja through his supernormal cognitive powers discerned that Longchenpa was blameless and had offered his tribute internally.
Rigdzin Kumaradza is acclaimed as the seminal instructor for both
Longchen Rabjampa and the Third Karmapa
Rangjyung Dorjy. Kumaradza held the teachings of the 'Innermost Spirituality' (bi ma snying thig) which would have given both Lonchenpa and Rangjyungla the impetus to undergo the journey to receive his instruction and endure the significant privation of the teaching environment. Kumaradza, was crucial in drawing out Longchenpa's and Rangjyung Dorjy's realizations and luminances and interests, especially in collecting and compiling texts relevant to profound awakening. For both Longchen and Rangjyung are praised and read and recited even today as master realizers, as great writers and strong thinkers with particularly keen minds.
Gompa
A Gompa or Gönpa ( "remote place", Sanskrit ''araṇya''), also known as ling (), is a Buddhist ecclesiastical fortification of learning, lineage and sādhanā that may be understood as a conflation of a fortification, a vihara and a universit ...
s and monasteries, nunneries and centers of meditation, on worldwide scale though in rarefied manner, practice those proven techniques and wonderful yogas of devotion on daily basis. Kumaradza is in the process of becoming a more regarded figure in Tibetan spiritual lore as it spreads internationally and translations are now somewhat more frequently referring to his remarkable influences.
The
Longchen Nyingtik
Longchen Nyingthig () is a '' terma'', revealed scripture, of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, which gives a systematic explanation of Dzogchen. It was revealed by Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798).
Etymology
Longchen Nyingthig may be translate ...
tradition of the
Nyingma
Nyingma (literally 'old school') is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as ''Ngangyur'' (, ), "order of the ancient translations". The Nyingma school is founded on the first lineages and transl ...
school as revealed by
Jikmey Lingpa, who flourished in the seventeen hundreds, is through Longchenpa greatly indebted to Kumaradza. The Karma Kamtsang branch, as well as others of the
Kahjyupa school, are additionally beholden and certainly enhanced via Rangjyung Dorjy's potent songs and dohas and meditation
pujas where Kumaradza's spacious
mind flow is evident in fine resonance.
Namtars
Kumaradza accounts, or ''namtars'', of his life are available in recent translations into English, ''The Nyingma School Of Tibetan Buddhism'', ''Masters Of Meditation And Miracles'', ''Marvelous Garland Of Rare Gems'', among others. Nobly, he conversed fluently with glowing deities of enlightening liberation for all beings. Since, in being trained as an artist, his vivid and vital awareness visions were exquisite arrays of mandalas. For he was proficient devotee of
Vajra Yogini, acknowledged as mother of all buddhas. He was inspirited by essential protectors:
Ekajati
Ekajaṭī or Ekajaṭā (Sanskrit: "One Plait Woman"; : one who has one knot of hair), also known as Māhacīnatārā,''The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India'' By David Gordon White. pg 65 is one of the 21 Taras. Ekajati is ...
and Kyabjyuk Rahula and Vajra Sadhu Lekpa.
There are no known extent writings, or not currently translated, by him.
See also
*
Nelug Dzö (gnas lugs mdzod)
Notes
References
*
* Thondup, Tulku & Harold Talbott (Editor)(1996). ''Masters of Meditation and Miracles: Lives of the Great Buddhist Masters of India and Tibet''. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambhala, South Asia Editions. (alk. paper);
* Khenpo, Nyoshul (2005). ''A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems: Biographies of Masters of Awareness in the Dzogchen Lineage (A Spiritual History of the Teachings of Natural Great Perfection)''. Translated by Richard Barron. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumaradza, Rigdzin
1266 births
1343 deaths
13th-century Tibetan people
14th-century Tibetan people
Dzogchen lamas
Nyingma lamas
Tibetan Buddhists from Tibet
Tibetan Buddhist yogis