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Nyönpa
The term ''nyönpa'' ( "mad one(s)"; Sanskrit ''avadhūta'') may refer to a group of Tibetan Buddhist yogis or a single individual belonging to this group. They are mainly known for their unorthodox approach and philosophical foundation known as "tulshuk chöpa." Nyönpas are a group of yogis who break away from traditional norms, emphasizing spontaneity and intuition over rigid rules. Nyönpa are characterized by a nomadic lifestyle, unique attire, and practices otherwise rejected by formal orders such as singing, dancing, and even sexual relations. Noteworthy historical figures include monk Drukpa Kunley and the second Dalai Lama Gendün Gyatso. Women were also counted among nyönpa, such as Sönam Peldren or the "Headless Sisters" Mekhala and Kanakhala. The nyönpa tradition, referred to as ''The Practice of Observance'', is founded in the religious philosophy of tulshuk chöpa. Spiritual practices Recent scholarship has helped to illuminate many distinguishing features o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tsangnyön Heruka
Tsangnyön Heruka ( "The Madman Heruka from Tsang", 1452-1507), was an author and a master of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in Tsang, he is best known as a biographer and compiler of the ''Life of Milarepa'' and ''The Collections of Songs of Milarepa'', both classics of Tibetan literature. Life Tsangnyön Heruka was a nyönpa () or "religious madman", whose eccentric ways of life were considered signs of spiritual realization. He was ordained as a śrāmaṇera, but at the age of 21 renounced his vows and trained under various tantric yogis from different schools. His first teacher was Shara Rabjampa Sanggye Sengge (1427–1470) who conveyed to him the "Aural Transmissions" (''snyan brgyud'') of the Kagyu tradition. Tsangnyön spent years in solitary retreat on Tsari in southern Tibet, which is the major sacred mountain retreat for the Kagyu school. He also studied the tantras in Pelkhor Chode Monastery in Gyantse for three years. After Heruka left the monastery, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Drukpa Kunley
Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529), also known as Kunga Legpai Zangpo, Drukpa Kunleg (), and Kunga Legpa, the Madman of the Dragon Lineage (), was a Tibetan Buddhist monk, missionary, and poet in the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of the Mahamudra tradition. He was trained at Ralung Monastery under siddha Pema Lingpa. However, by the age of 25, he had returned his monastic vows to take a wife, whose name was Tsewang Dzom (tshe dbang 'dzom). He is often counted among the Nyönpa ("mad ones"). He is considered to have been a reincarnation of Saraha. Biography Drukpa Kunley was born into the branch of the noble Gya () clan of Ralung Monastery in the Tsang region of western Tibet, which was descended from Lhabum (lha 'bum), the second eldest brother of Tsangpa Gyare. His father was Rinchen Zangpo and mother was Gomokee. He was nephew to the 2nd Gyalwang Drukpa and father of Ngawang Tenzin and Zhingkyong Drukdra. He was known for his crazy methods of enlightening other beings, mostly women ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Avadhuta
''Avadhūta'' (IAST ', written as अवधूत) is a Sanskrit term from the root 'to shake' (see V. S. Apte and Monier-Williams) that, among its many uses, in some Indian religions indicates a type of mystic or saint who is beyond egoic-consciousness, duality and common worldly concerns and acts without consideration for standard social etiquette. Avadhūta is a Jivanmukta who gives his insight to others and teaches them about his realisation of the true nature of the ultimate reality (Brahman) and self ( Ātman) and takes the role of a guru to show the path of ''moksha'' to others. Some Avadhūta also achieve the title of '' Paramahamsa''. Similar figures (colloquially called 'mad/crazy monks') are also known in Buddhist traditions, such as the medieval Zen monk Ikkyū, and the 20th-century Tibetan tulku Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. In Tibetan Buddhism the equivalent type is called a nyönpa (). Types Feuerstein frames how the term ''avadhūta'' came to be associated with the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Samding Dorje Phagmo
The Samding Dorje Phagmo () is the highest female tulku, incarnation in Tibet''The Power-places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide'', (1988) p. 268. Keith Dowman. . and the third highest-ranking person in the hierarchy after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. She was listed among the highest-ranking reincarnations at the time of the 5th Dalai Lama, recognized by the Tibetan government and acknowledged by the emperors of Qing dynasty, Qing China. In her first incarnation, as Chökyi Drönma (1422–1455 Common Era, CE), she was the student and consort of the famous polymath Thang Tong Gyalpo, who first identified her as an emanation of Vajravārāhī, and the consort of Bodong Panchen. The seat of the Samding Dorje Phagmo is at Samding Monastery, in Tibet. History and background The seat of the Samding Dorje Phagmo is at the Samding Monastery "Temple of Soaring Meditation." The Samding Monastery is associated with the Bodongpa, Bodong school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was unique ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tulku
A ''tulku'' (, also ''tülku'', ''trulku'') is an individual recognized as the reincarnation of a previous spiritual master (lama), and expected to be reincarnated, in turn, after death. The tulku is a distinctive and significant aspect of Tibetan Buddhism, embodying the concept of enlightened beings taking corporeal forms to continue the lineage of specific teachings. The term "tulku" is a loanword from Tibetan སྤྲུལ་སྐུ ("sprul sku"), which originally referred to an emperor or ruler taking human form on Earth, signifying a divine incarnation. Over time, it evolved within Tibetan Buddhism to denote the corporeal existence of certain highly accomplished Buddhist masters whose purpose was to ensure the preservation and transmission of a particular lineage. The tulku system originated in Tibet, particularly associated with the recognition of the second Karmapa in the 13th century. Since then, numerous tulku lineages have been established, with each tulku having a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vajravārāhī
In Tibetan Buddhism, Vajravārāhī ("The Indestructible Sow", Dorje Pakmo) is considered a female buddha and "the root of all emanations of dakinis". As such, Vajravarahi manifests in the colors of white, yellow, red, green, blue, and black. She is a popular deity in Tibetan Buddhism, and in the Nyingma school she is the consort of Hayagriva, the wrathful form of Avalokiteshvara. She is also associated with the ''Cakrasaṃvara Tantra'', where she is paired in yab-yum with the Heruka Cakrasaṃvara. The Vajravarahi tulku lineage is the Samding Dorje Phagmo, who are associated with the Bodongpa, a little-known school of Tibetan Buddhism. There are practices of Vajravārāhī in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and in the Kagyu school Vajravarahi is one of its main yidam practices. Vajravarahi is depicted as a naked, often red-skinned maiden in a dancing posture, with a kapala (skull cup) in her left hand and a khatvanga on her left shoulder, while her right hand holds ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Milarepa
Jetsun Milarepa (, 1028/40–1111/23) was a Tibetan , who was famously known as a murderer when he was a young man, before turning to Buddhism and becoming a highly accomplished Buddhist disciple. He is generally considered one of Tibet's most famous yogis and spiritual poets, whose teachings are known among several schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a student of Marpa Lotsawa, and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also famous for the feat of climbing Mount Kailash. Biography Milarepa's life-story is famous in Tibetan culture, and retold many times. The best-known biography, ''The Life of Milarepa'', written by Tsangnyön Heruka (1452–1507) in the fifteenth century and drawing from older biographies, is still very popular. Most of the present-day stories on Milarepa come from this single source, with oral lineage predominating as well as relics including his bearskin coat. While "very little [is known] about him as a historical per ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ünyön Künga Zangpo
Ünyön Künga Zangpo ( Tibetan: དབུས་སྨྱོན་ཀུན་དགའ་བཟང་པོ།; Wylie: dbus smyon kun dga' bzang po; 1458-1532) was a famous yogin of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. While Künga Zangpo is a personal name that he received at the time of his monastic ordination, the moniker Ünyön ("ü-nyön"), meaning "Madman from the Ü egion" was a title he earned through his distinctive tantric asceticism. The term "the three madmen" (སྨྱོན་པ་གསུམ།; smyon pa gsum) is sometimes used to refer to the Madman of Ü along with his two "madman" contemporaries: the Madman of Tsang, and Drukpa Kunley, "the Madman of the Drukpa agyu". Further reading A hagiographic A hagiography (; ) is a biography of a saint or an ecclesiastical leader, as well as, by extension, an wiktionary:adulatory, adulatory and idealized biography of a preacher, priest, founder, saint, monk, nun or icon in any of the world's religi ... t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thang Tong Gyalpo
Thangtong Gyalpo () (1385 CE–1464 CE or 1361 CE–1485 CE), is also known as Chakzampa, the "Iron Bridge Maker" (), Tsöndrü Zangpo "Excellent Persistence" (), and the King of the Empty Plain.Sarah Harding. Niguma, Lady of Illusion. Snow Lion Publications. 2010. p. 265, n. 84 He was also known by a variation of this name, Madman of the Empty Valley. He was a great Buddhism, Buddhist adept, a Chöd master, yogi, physician, blacksmith, architect, and a pioneering civil engineer. He is considered a mind emanation of Padmasambhava and a reincarnation of Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen. He founded the Iron Chain lineage of the Shangpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, and he recognized the first Samding Dorje Phagmo, Chökyi Drönma (1422–1455), the female incarnation lineage of Vajravārāhī. Thangtong Gyalpo is said to have built 58 iron chain suspension bridges around Tibet and Bhutan, several of which are still in use today. He also designed and built several large stupas of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kalapa
Kalapa, according to Buddhist legend, is the capital city of the Kingdom of Shambhala where the Kulika King is said to reign on a lion throne. It is said to be an exceedingly beautiful city with a sandalwood pleasure grove containing a huge three-dimensional Kalachakra mandala A mandala (, ) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid ... made by King Suchandra. Kalapa Court, the palace of the king, stands on a platform of pearl in the center. The building is nine stories high. The roof and floor of the king's chamber consist of crystal plants that radiate heat for warmth. The city is shaped like a square and surrounded by walls made of ruby. There are four gates for entry made of precious stones. There are 31 pavilions each of which is surrounded by gardens and streams. There are tw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mahasiddha
Mahasiddha (Sanskrit: ''mahāsiddha'' "great adept; ) is a term for someone who embodies and cultivates the "siddhi of perfection". A siddha is an individual who, through the practice of sādhanā, attains the realization of siddhis, psychic and spiritual abilities and powers. Mahasiddhas were practitioners of yoga and tantra, or ''tantrika''s. Their historical influence throughout the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas was vast and they reached mythic proportions as codified in their songs of realization and hagiography, hagiographies, or Namtar (biography), namtars, many of which have been preserved in the Tibetan Buddhist canon. The Mahasiddhas are identified as founders of Vajrayana traditions and lineage (Buddhism), lineages such as Dzogchen and Mahamudra, as well as among Bon, Bön, Nath, Nāth, and Tamil Siddhar, siddhars, with the same Mahasiddha sometimes serving simultaneously as a founding figure for different traditions. Robert Thurman explains the symbiotic relati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
