Terton Chokgyur Lingpa A Very Brief Introduction (Compilation from Various Sources)

In the 8th century Padmasambhava left prophesies saying that at the appropriate time, his teachings will be revealed by Tertons or Treasure Revealers. When the time came for the different terma teachings to be revealed, great tertons would appear in this world. They were able to dive into lakes, fly up to impossible locations in caves and take objects out of solid rock. One such terton to appear during the 19th century was the great Terton Orgyen Chokgyur Dechen Shikpo Lingpa or Terton Chokgyur Lingpa. He was born in the year of the Ox 1829 into the Kyasu clan of Nangchen, Eastern Tibet. He was prophesized by Padmasambhava himself as the royal emanation of the Tibetan King Trisong Duetsens middle son, Lhasey Lotsawa. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche explaining the Sheldam Nyingjang (Commentary on the Essence Manual of Instructions) writes: The single father King Trisong Duetsen had three sons of which the middle one was called Murub Tseypo, a lord of the tenth bhumi who in actuality and visibly had achieved the noble qualities of abandonment and realization. Also known as the Prince Translator, he reached perfection in

learning. At the end, his bodily form vanished into the body of light and he attained the supreme accomplishment of perceiving the primordial wakefulness. It is his magical reincarnation who appeared during this age of degeneration, renowned worldwide under the title Orgyen Chokgyur Dechen Shikpo Lingpa, the universal ruler over an ocean of accomplished revealers of Dharma treasures. Terton Chokgyur Lingpa was not an ordinary person. He was the last of the one hundred and eight great Tertons that Padmasambhava himself mentioned by name in his Golden Garland Chronicles. His contemporaries considered him as the true emissary of Padmasambhava. Supplication prayers to him have been composed where the author clearly states the indivisibility of Chokgyur Linpga from Padmasambhava. In Jamyang Khyentse Wangpos supplication to Chokgyur Lingpa, he writes: Lord of all the mandalas, lake-born Vajradhara, Manifesting in the form of a supreme vidyadhara, Great lord of tertns, sole refuge of all who live in the Land of Snows, Chokgyur Lingpa, at your feet I pray! Chokgyur Lingpa was the owner of seven distinct transmissions and is often counted as the last of the one hundred and eight tertons of major importance. He is regarded as the universal monarch of all tertons in part because no other terton has revealed a teaching that includes the Space Section of Dzogchen. There are several Mind Section revelations and all the major tertons reveal the Instruction Section but only Chokgyur Lingpa transmitted the Space Section. This is why his Three Sections of the Great Perfection is considered the most extraordinary treasure he ever revealed. On the verbal request made by Dechen Chodron, the tertons consort and many of his devoted students, the First Jamgon Kongtrul writes of Chokgyur Lingpa in the supplication called The Melody of the Auspicious Conch: Heart-son of the Second Buddha of Uddiyana, Chakravartin of the ocean of accomplished treasure-revealers, Protector of the teachings and beings of the Dark Age through Inconceivable life examples, Chokgyur Lingpa, I supplicate at your feet.

custody of the terma. He then drew a design on the surface of the rock, which opened up like the anus of a cow and the stone just poured out to reveal a cavity containing the terma. As the interior became visible, people saw scintillating rainbow light. The crowd also noticed an unusually sweet fragrance that seemed to permeate the entire valley. In these miraculous ways, Chokgyur Lingpa discovered and revealed many treasures. Some of his treasures were also revealed through his pure vision. The Indian pandita Vimalamitra appeared and transmitted the Vimala Zabtig to Chokgyur Lingpa, which he then transcribed. Through the hearing lineage, Chokgyur Lingpa received from Padmasambhava the teaching called the Dzoghen Ati Zabdon Nyingtig during his visionary visits to the Copper Colored Mountain. Together with the Dharma treasures, Chokgyur Lingpa also revealed sacred substances and innumerable most amazing representations of Body, Speech and Mind. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche writes, Moreover, the activity of his enlightened deeds was beyond partiality in both expansion, practice and action, to such an extent that an untold number of learned and accomplished masters of Sakya, Geluk, Kagyu and Nyingma- all directly or indirectly accepted the nectar of his deep teachings; and thus the sunlight of these profound and extensive termas has shone far and wide for the Buddhadharma and all beings. During his life, Chokgyur Lingpa visited Padmasambhavas pure realm of the Copper Colored Mountain three times. His first visit was when he was staying at Karmey Monastery. During this time Padmasambhava placed his hands upon the tertons head, blessed him and gave him transmissions, predictions and instructions. His second visit to the Copper Colored Mountain occurred during the construction of Neten Monastery. After finishing the main construction of the monastery, a drubchen was performed. The walls were incomplete; nonetheless the drubchen was held inside. Through the cracks Chokgyur Lingpa saw many sunbeams and rainbows. One ray touched his skull cups of amrita and rakta and they began to boil. In the vapor he saw the Copper Colored Mountain and met Padmasambhava. The third visit to the Copper Colored Mountain was in a dream the terton had at Neten Monastery. It was during one of his visits to the Copper Colored Mountain when the Dakinis spoke, Son of Noble family, without forgetting a single detail, keep these displays of the pure realm in your heart. In the future, whoever sees, hears, thinks of this or makes supplication, will take birth in the pure realm of Lotus Light on the Glorious Mountain. It will definitely benefit whoever connects with it. There were ten main lineage holders of Chokgyur Lingpas terma and 25 lesser ones - the First Jamyang Khyentse was the foremost along with the two sons of Chokgur Lingpa and great masters like the 14th and 15th Karmapa, the First Jamgon Kongtrul among many others. Chokgyur Lingpa passed away on June 29, 1870. Few days after this, Jamyang Khyentse had a vision. In this vision Jamyang Khyentse perceived that Chokgyur Lingpa had manifested a new buddhafield called Padma Kepa, the Lotus Covered Realm, where he appeared in the form of the sambhogakaya Buddha Padma Nyugu. Jamyang Khyentse received many empowerments, transmissions and instruction, which he later wrote down as sadhanas. Chokgyur Linpga promised the future followers would be reborn in Padma Kepa immediately after death. This was the testament of Chokgyur Linpa received by Jamyang Khyentse. The Melody of the Auspicious Conch written by the First Jamgon Kongtrul states: In the realm Fully Covered with Lotus Flowers You are Padmasattva, the supreme jina son of Lotus Light Rays. I supplicate you who displays this and infinite other emanations

Starting from his first treasure revelation at the age of 13 till his passing away in 1870 at the young age of 41, the treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa fill 33 volumes while his own writings comprise 12 additional volumes. These teachings and practices revealed by the terton are compiled as the New Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa. The treasure teachings of Chokgyur Lingpa are unique because it covers the entire path of the Vajrayana from the Preliminary practices of Ngondro to the Ati yoga of Dzogchen. In the Melody of the Auspicious Conch, the First Jamgon Kongtrul writes: When thirteen years of age, you met Orgyen in person Who blessed you with empowerment of profound treasures. You received the gift of Lhaseys sadhana objects. I supplicate you whose mind treasures spontaneously poured forth. Chokgyur Lingpa would often reveal treasures before a crowd leading to unwavering trust placed in him for being a genuine emissary of Padmasambhava. During one such occasion, Chokgyur Lingpa presented a ritual drink to the guardian of the terma, accompanied by a request to release

Throughout the ten directions.

Supplication to Chokgyur Lingpa Emaho In the western realm of Great Bliss Is the dharmakya Amitbha Inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa; Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me! Lead me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space, To the realm of Great Bliss! In the realm of Mount Potala Is the noble and supreme one, mighty Avalokitehvara, Inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa; Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me. Lead me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space To the realm of Potala! At the Glorious Copper-coloured Mountain of Chamara Is the precious Lotus-born Inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa; Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me! Lead me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space, To the realm of Lotus Light! In Uddiynas celestial realm Is Vidydhara Lotus Vajra Inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa; Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me! Lead me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space, To the celestial realm! In the dharmadhtu palace of Akanishta Is the dharmakya Great Vajradhara Inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa; Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me. Lead me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space, To the realm of Akanishta! In the great bliss palace on the crown of the head Is the kind root guru, The embodied essence of the oral transmission, Inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa;

Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me! Lead me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space, To the dharmadhtu expanse! Master of the host of dkas and dkins Of the twenty-four great places, Vidydhara Chokgyur Lingpa; Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me! Lead me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space, To the pure celestial realms! In the realms of nirmkakyas who tame beings Is the ocean of oath-bound dharma protectors Inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa; Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me! For me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space, Dispel adversities and obstacles! In the all-bestowing realm of the supreme and common siddhis Are the Uddiyna wealth god and consort Inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa; Great Bliss Vajra, look upon me! Protect me and those connected with me, All mother sentient beings equal to space, From the fear of poverty and Bestow the supreme and common siddhis! Bring whatever aims and dharma activities we undertake in this life To completion and fulfillment. Afterwards, may we be protected from the terrors of the bardo Simply by remembering you. Grant your blessings that Right now in this very moment We swiftly realize our mind to be Mahmudr, The essence of spontaneous self-liberation. In these degenerate times, Whatever occursgood or bad, happy or sad We have no other hope but you, So look upon us with compassion.

Having received the vidyadhara Chokgyur Dechen Lingpas precious terma substance, the same moment it touched my tongue, I saw the Master of Uddiyna with consort in actuality. He assured me that "Whoever supplicates in this way will be reborn in the pure realms. Of this there is no doubt!" This was written down by Rigdzin Chogyal Dorje from the yellow parchment I had found at the Lion Fortress after having the vision there. It was offered to the incarnations of the Lords of the Three Families, and if their followers with a karmic link practice this, it will spread to connect

everyone with the Great Compassionate One. Everyone who holds no doubt will be reborn in the buddhafield of their choice. Samaya, seal, seal, seal.