Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [12]
Between the 13th and 16th centuries, the Drukpa Kagyu lineage flourished and Bhutan adopted a separate religious identity. More lamas from Ralung were invited to Bhutan to teach and build monasteries and many Bhutanese nobles are descended from Lama Phajo.
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GURU RINPOCHE
Guru Rinpoche is also known by the names Padmasambhava, Precious Master and Ugyen Rinpoche. Padma is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘lotus flower’ and is the origin of the Tibetan and Bhutanese name Pema; sambhava means ‘born from’. He is a historical figure of the 8th century and his birth was predicted by Sakyamuni, the Historical Buddha. He is regarded as the second Buddha and had miraculous powers, including the ability to subdue demons and evil spirits.
Guru Rinpoche is credited with many magical deeds and is regarded as the founder of Nyingma Buddhism. He is one of the most important of Bhutan’s religious figures and his visit to Bumthang is recognised as the true introduction of Buddhism to Bhutan. He left an impression of his body on the rock upon which he meditated near the head of the Choskhor valley in Bumthang. On this site the temple of Kurjey Lhakhang was built, and Guru Rinpoche’s body print can still be seen there. His statue appears in almost all temples built after his visit to Bhutan in AD 746.
His birthplace was Uddiyana in the Swat valley of what is now Pakistan. Uddiyana is known in Dzongkha as Ugyen, and some texts refer to him as Ugyen Rinpoche. He travelled in various manifestations throughout Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan, meditating in numerous caves, which are regarded as important ‘power places’. He preserved his teachings and wisdom by concealing them in the form of terma (hidden treasures) to be found by enlightened treasure discoverers called tertons. His biographer, Yeshe Chhogyel, urges us not to regard Guru Rinpoche as a normal human being, because by doing so we will fail to perceive even a fraction of his enlightened qualities.
Bhutanese and Tibetans differ over a few aspects of his life; the following description reflects the Bhutanese tradition.
Eight Manifestations
The Guru is depicted in eight forms (Guru Tshengay). These are not really different incarnations, but representations of his eight main initiations, in which he assumed a new personality that was symbolised by a new name and appearance. Because initiation is equivalent to entering a new life, it is a form of rebirth. The eight forms follow the chronology of Guru Rinpoche’s life.
He emerged as an eight-year-old from a blue lotus on Lake Danakosha in Uddiyana, and was adopted by King Indrabodhi. Then he was called Tshokye Dorji (diamond thunderbolt born from a lake). He later renounced his kingdom and went to receive teachings and ordination from the master Prabhahasti in the cave of Maratrika (near the village of Harishe in eastern Nepal), becoming Sakya Senge (lion of the Sakya clan). In this form he is identified with Sakyamuni, the Historical Buddha.
After studying the teachings of the Vajrayana and mastering the sciences of all Indian pandits, he obtained full realisation and was able to see all the gods and deities. Then he was called Loden Chogsey (possessor of supreme knowledge). He took as his consort Mandarava, the daughter of the king of Zahor (in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, India). This enraged the king, who condemned them both to be burned, but through his powers the Guru turned the pyre into a lake and converted the kingdom to Buddhism. Then he was called Pema Jugney (Padmasambhava).
He returned to Uddiyana to convert it to Buddhism, but was recognised as the prince who had renounced