THE CONDENSED CHRONICLE

BY ORYGAN PADMA

BY LOTSAWA TONY DUFF

PADMA KARPO TRANSLATION COMMITTEE

THE CONDENSED CHRONICLE

BY ORYGAN PADMA

BY LOTSAWA TONY DUFF

PADMA KARPO TRANSLATION COMMITTEE

Copyright 2008 Tony Duff. All rights reserved. No portion of this

book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photography, recording, or by any information
storage or retrieval system or technologies now known or later
developed, without permission in writing from the publisher.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
The Condensed Chronicle by Orgyan Padma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

First edition 22nd December, 2006

Janson typeface with diacritical marks

Designed and created by Tony Duff
Tibetan Computer Company
http://www.tibet.dk/tcc

Produced, Printed, and Published by

Padma Karpo Translation Committee
P.O. Box 4957
Kathmandu
NEPAL
Web-site and e-mail contact through:
http://www.tibet.dk/pktc
Or search Padma Karpo Translation Committee on the web.

Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

TRANSLATORS INTRODUCTION

The text is a record of a discourse by Guru Padmasambhava given at the request

of Prince Muthri Tsenpo, one of the four sons of the dharma king of Tibet,
King Trisong Deutsen. The discourse chronicles the lives of Padmasambhava
before, present, and after. It also makes many predictions about the future.
At the end of the discourse, Padmasambhava instructs the great Lotsawa
Vairochana to write the discourse down and conceal it in the rooms at the
top of Samye Monastery. The text was revealed as a treasure by Orgyan Lingpa.
He wrote a small colophon which appears at the end of the text.
On the occassion. Padmasambhava gave his life story in a very condensed form.
He gave a much longer version on another occassion, and that full version
is called The Chronicles of Padma (padma bka thang).
This condensed version of the Chronicles is commonly used as a text for
recitation. Thrulzhig Rinpoche explained the virtues of reciting the text, which
are that it will tend to overcome obstacles and increase the general state of
auspiciousness. The more that you do it the better, of course, but Thrulzhig
Rinpoche suggested that it would be good to recite it once a month, if possible.
Orgyan Lingpa, the revealer of the text, suggests that you could treat it as you
would your yidam and recite it over and over again, and that if you did do that,
it would have great effects. Orgyan Lingpa makes the point that, if you read
this condensed version just one time but do it with the three things that are
the hallmark of the best style of reading or chantingclear pronunciation,
correct pronunciation, and pleasant-sounding intonationthen it will be just

vii

viii

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as effective as reading the full version of the Chronicles. If you do use it for
recitation, note that Orgyan Lingpas colophon is not part of the Chronicles
and is not recited with it.
I have not provided many notes to this edition. There are other books available
that have sufficient of the history surrounding Padmasambhava and his times
that you should be able to read them and thus understand all the details of
this Condensed Chronicle.
One of the unique things that identifies a revealed treasure is the use of a special
punctuation mark. Instead of the usual vertical stroke (called shay) that serves
as a break-mark in Tibetan text, a special mark called a terma-break is used;

it looks like this . Some years ago Nalanda Translation Committee was
translating revealed treasures and they discussed the work with Dilgo Khyentse
Rinpoche who was visiting at the time. One of the things that Rinpoche felt
important was that the terma-breaks should be retained, somehow, because
it is these marks that immediately and definitely indicate to the reader that
the text is a revealed treasure. Accordingly, I have kept the terma-break marks
in this translation.
The original is in Tibetan verse which makes it very useful for recitation.
However, the content is not poetry, it is prose. Therefore, the translation
is written out as prose with the terma-break marks placed according to the
verse-lines of the original. This not only fulfills the need for the terma marks
but also gives the reader a guide to the rhythm used when reciting it in the
Tibetan. This is a bit of an experiment, I freely admit. However, Im quite
convinced that a little experimentation is in order these days, so that we could
have prayers in our own languages that really work for us as non-native Tibetan
speakers.. Ive made the terma-break marks small enough that they do not
detractat least not too muchfrom the text.
Lotsawa Tony Duff
Bauddha,

THE CONDENSED CHRONICLE

Kathmandu,
Nepal
December 22, 2004

ix

THE CONDENSED CHRONICLE

BY ORGYAN PADMA

In Oddiyana language: buddha dharma sanghadhya

In English language:

I take refuge always and respectfully

In the buddha, dharma, and sangha.

Padmasambhava, the being who guides shows this biography for the beings

to be tamed and so provides protection through informed faith for the fortunate

ones.

E MA HO

Then, prince Mutri Tsanpo invited the acharya of the tiers of three races1

and seated the acharya on a throne of five-coloured brocade nine deep, seated

the preceptor on a throne of five-coloured brocade five deep and, at the head

of the left and right rows on patterned seats seated the three lotsawas with

Vairocana as chief. He offered many specially fine jewels, presented many

gifts to go with his request, then politely said:

E MA HO

Great bodhisatva knowing the three times, you came into my father King

Trisong Deutsens realm. Lamp of the teachings, you came into the cannibal

lands. The Tibetan people have short lives distracted by haughtiness. From

THE CONDENSED CHRONICLE

now until the end of the kalpa for the sake of fortunate ones, embodiment

of the holy dharma, you, guru, because of my supplication please tell us the

story of your life in condensed form. Having been supplicated with those

words, the guru gave the following instruction:

Listen well, Mutri Tsanpo for the futures sake I will show it in condensed

form.

E MA HO

There are eight male fathers, eight birth mothers eight emanation sons who

descended into eight lands, eight places of residence and eight gurus attended,

eight signs of final accomplishment of yidams met face-to-face, eight charnel

grounds, eight dharmas, eight disciples, eight isolated places and eight ladies

come close to the heart, eight enlightened deeds and eight concealed treasures,

eight profound dharmas of practice and eight dharma-owning Lingpas.

E MA HO

The first one shows how the eight named gurus descended. Setting the sentient

beings of the three realms at ease is guru Padma Jungney. Sovereign of the

teaching, the dharma lord is guru Padmasambhava. The three pitakas without

flaws is Guru Padma Gyalpo. Every bliss complete in body is Guru Dorje

Trollo. All vehicles unfurled in the space of equality is Guru Nyima Ozer.

Eight arranged on one body is Guru Shakya Senge. Proclaiming the sound

of dharma to all six classes is Guru Senge Dradog. Who performs the knowing

of every knowable is Guru Loden Choksey. That was the first chapter, the

chapter of the eight named gurus.

E MA HO

The second one shows the eight male fathers. The father of expanse-rigpas

consciousness is dharmakaya Samantabhadra. The father of abandonment

of both showings of birth and death is the guardian Amitayus. The father

over all the aryas of the six classes is buddha Amitabha. The father, root

of dharma, bodhicitta is the sambhogakaya, The Great Compassionate One.

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The father, basis of the teachings, the sangha is the nirmanakaya Shakyamuni.

The father of the greater family line, royalty is the king Indrabodhi. The

father, the earliest human met2 is the dharma minister Trinadzin. The father

who is a friend with advice given out of love is the friend Ser Od Dampa.

That was the second chapter, the chapter of the eight male fathers.

E MA HO

The third one shows the eight birth mothers. The mother, the lake of

Dhanakosha, is lotus stem and anther. The mother nothing-established

great bliss is no-outflow Samantabhadri. The mother who praises the

nirmanakaya is Vajrayogini. The mother of the Tsan3 who serve self-grasping

is the queen Od Chang Lhamo. The mother who performs charnel-ground

yogic discipline is glorious Vajravarahi. The mother who confers the four

empowerments complete is Bhikshuni Kunga Monlam. The mother entrusted

with the meaning of precepts is dakini Layki Wangmo. The mother who

plants the life pole of the teaching is Jetsun Arya Tara. That was the third

chapter, the chapter of the eight birth mothers.

E MA HO

The fourth one shows the eight emanation sons. The son who made the holy

dharma happen in Tibet is the dharma king Songtsen Gampo. The son who

caused the holy dharma to spread and flourish is the dharma king Trisong

Deutsen. The son who stabilized the holy dharma so that it would not wane

is the dharma prince Mutri Tsanpo. The son who held the teaching properly

is the commoner in the retinue Lui Wangpo. The son who pacified the fierce

ones is the Indian Acharya Krishna. The son who will revive the teaching

after it declines is the refuge-guardian of degenerate times, Jowo Lord. The

son who will tame whoever is to be tamed is Telo Prajnabhadra4. The son

who will uphold the teachings of meditators is the doctor Chandragomin.

That was the fourth chapter, the chapter of the eight sons.

E MA HO

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The fifth one shows the eight countries of descent. Born in a lake, I descended

into the country of Orgyan. Come as a kings son, I descended in the country

of Sahor. Come to defeat the four maras, I descended in the country of the

Tirthikas. Possessing magical abilities, I descended into Vaishali. Possessing

hearing and contemplation, I descended into the country of Kashmir.

Performing others benefit, I descended into the country of Li. Totally famed

as indisputable, I descended into Nepal. Through the force of prayers, I

descended into Tibet. That was the fifth chapter, the chapter of the eight

countries of descent.

E MA HO

The sixth one shows the eight places of residence. Planting the pitakas, I

resided in Magadha. Having the discipline of the Vinaya, I stayed in Vajrasana.

Renowned in the ten directions, I resided in the pleasant grove. Not falling

into extremes, I resided in Sosaling. Training in bodhicitta, I resided in Singha

la. Leaving off self-grasping, I resided in Changra Mugpo. Taking the three

realms under my control, I resided at Yanglaysho. Invited by the king, I resided

at tiered Samye. That was the sixth chapter, the chapter of the eight places

of residence.

E MA HO

The seventh one shows the eight gurus attended. I attended the great guru,

Shri Singha and requested the dharmas of Great Completion in their entirety.

I attended the Indian Preceptor, Prabhahasti, took ordination then did the

things of a monk. I attended the chief dakini Laykey Wangmo and requested

the dharmas of the peaceful and wrathful eight logos in their entirety. I attended

the Rigden King Padma Karpo and requested the dharmas of Kalachakra

in their entirety. I attended Vimamitra in Kashmir and requested the dharmas

of the peaceful and wrathful Amrita in their entirety. I attended Manjushmitra

in Singhala and requested the dharmas of the peaceful and wrathful Yamantaka

in their entirety. I attended Nagarjunagarbha in the country of Sahor and

requested the dharmas of the peaceful and wrathful Lotus in their entirety.

I attended Dharmasamtri at Nalanda and requested the dharmas of the peaceful

THE CONDENSED CHRONICLE

and wrathful Mamos in their entirety. That was the seventh chapter, the

chapter of the eight gurus attended.

E MA HO

The eighth one shows the eight yidam deities met face-to-face. The faces

of the eight logos of practice were distinguished then the great siddhi of each

ones precepts was attained in the eight fearsome charnel grounds. In Cool

Grove Charnel Ground, I practised Amrita and attained face-to-face meeting

with Amritakundalins deity assembly. In Great Hum Resounding, I practised

Yangdag and attained face-to-face meeting with mind Yangdaks deity

assembly. In the Fearsome Grove, I practised Yamantaka and attained face-to

face meeting with body Manjushris deity assembly. In Stacked Lotuses, I

practised Hayagriva and attained face-to-face meeting with speech Lotuss

deity assembly. In Corpse Littered Grove, I practised Kilaya and attained

face-to-face meeting with activity Kilayas deity assembly. In Stacked

Spontaneous Presence, I practised the Mamos and attained face-to-face meeting

with Mamo Sorcerys deity assembly. In Spread of Great Bliss, I practised

Worldly and attained face-to-face meeting with Worldly Offerings and Praises

deity assembly. In Stacked Worlds, I practiced Wrathful Mantra and attained

face-to-face meeting with Curses Wrathful Mantras deity assembly. That

was the eighth chapter, the chapter of gaining accomplishment in the eight

charnel grounds.

E MA HO

The ninth one shows the eight signs of final accomplishment. When the

Orgyan King tried to exile me, I showed the sign of accomplishment of control

over the dakinis. When the Indian King tried to impale me on a stake, I

showed the sign of accomplishment of limbs unaffected. When the Tirthika

King tried to drown me, I showed the sign of accomplishment of not being

carried off by water element. When the Sahor King tried to burn me, I showed

the sign of accomplishment of not being burned by fire element. When acting

as the kings priest at Samye, I showed the sign of accomplishment of controlling

the eight classes. When the sovereign king grandly insisted on prostration

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to his eminence, by emanating fire that burned his clothes, I showed the

sign of accomplishment saying, I am greater; I rule! The demonic ministers

snickered and laughed so I showed the sign of accomplishment of paralyzing

and crumpling Zha Zhing. When the rakshasas of the south-west tried to

annex us to their territory, I showed the sign of accomplishment of setting

the rakshasas into dharma. That was the ninth chapter, the chapter of the

eight signs of final accomplishment.

E MA HO

The tenth one shows the eight disciples holding the eight dharmas. Namkhai

Nyinpo rode the suns rays. Sangyay Yeshe stuck a phurba into solid rock.

Nganlam Gyalchog could make the voice of a horse. Yeshe Tshogyal brought

a murdered corpse back to life. Drogmi Pal enslaved mamos. Langchen

Senge brought the haughty ones under his control. Vairocana really is equal

to Orgyan. The sovereign king was able to produce manifestations. That

was the tenth chapter, the chapter of the eight disciples sending out emanations.

E MA HO

The eleventh one shows the eight isolated places of prediction: Samye Chim

phu, Lhodrag Kharchu, Drag Kyi Yang Dzong, Yarlung Shel Gyi Phug,

Dragmar Yama, Mons5 Shri Dzong, Senge Dzong, and Paro Tagtsang Cave.

That was the eleventh chapter, the chapter of the eight isolated places.

E MA HO

The twelfth one shows the eight ladies taken to heart. The Indian wife is

Mandarava. The suitable vessel is Yeshe Tshogyal. The one of outstanding

service is Chogro Zadron. The one of outstanding faith is Margyan Zatso.

The one of outstanding manifest realization is Shelkar Tsedron. The kings

daughters are the four related wives. After gaining them, the outstanding

one is wife Tromgyan. The kings delight is wife Padma Say. The queens

delight is Nujen Sa lay. That was the twelfth chapter, the chapter of the eight

ladies.

E MA HO

The thirteenth one shows the eight enlightened activities. Unattached to

samsara, various playful acts were performed. Equal to all buddhas, various

miracles were performed. A corpse was brought back to life by yogic activity.

Dharma was shown to migrators as if they were father and mother. Through

defeating the host of maras, the buddhas bodhicitta was enacted. To turn

the wheel of dharma, I set foot in Tibet. To make dharma flourish and spread,

precious treasures were concealed. As for the rakshasas attempt at annexation,

I set this world at ease. That was the thirteenth chapter, the chapter of the

eight enlightened activities.

E MA HO

The fourteenth one shows the eight concealed treasures. Knowing the points

in time, mind treasure was concealed. Producing certainty through seeing

and hearing, secret treasures were concealed. In code on gold paper, profound

treasures were concealed. Amazing, wondrous treasures of treasures were

concealed. To aid the poor, jewel treasures were concealed. Variously taming

beings, minor treasures were concealed. Not any one thing in particular,

two treasures were concealed. To preserve the precious, heart treasures were

concealed. That was the fourteenth chapter, the chapter of the eight concealed

treasures.

E MA HO

The fifteenth one shows the eight dharmas that were practiced. There are

four summations and four ancillaries. First, there are the four summations:

guru summed up in the eight logos, yidam summed up in the eight logos,

dakini summed up in the eight logos, and dharmapala summed up in the eight

logos. Then, there are the four ancillaries. There is Great Completion,

the Sun. There is secret mantra, the graded path to entering the conduct.

There is the Wrathful Gurus vidyamantras. There is the Arya Black Wrathful

Lady. That was the fifteenth chapter, the chapter of the eight profound

dharmas practised.

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THE CONDENSED CHRONICLE

E MA HO

The sixteenth one shows the eight dharma-owning Lingpas. They are the

emanations of eight, great beings: in the centre, Orgyan Lingpa; in the east,

Dorje Lingpa; in the south, Rinchen Lingpa; in the west, Padma Lingpa;

in the north, Karma Lingpa; Samten Lingpa and Nyida Lingpa; Zhigpo

Lingpa and Terdag Lingpa will appear as the eight, great treasure-revealing

Lingpas and definitely will be my, Padmas, emanations. That was the

sixteenth chapter, the chapter of the eight dharma-owning Lingpas.

emanation Lozang Dragpa will descend and the great beings descent will

bring happiness to Tibet. At that time, those of the white side will gain

confidence of the upper hand. In Nyangmey Nyima Do, a fortress will arise;

at Red Hill in Lhasa, a temple will arise; my emanation Orgyan Lingpa will

descend; and twenty-five treasures will be recovered at that time.

E MA HO

Great King, listen well! I, Padmasambhava, have the ordinary five extra

perceptions future five extra perceptions past five extra perceptions present

five extra perceptions and unmeasured five extra perceptions. The five extra

perceptions are how I know! Before came Amitayus, Amitabha, and, at Mount

Potala, Avalokiteshvara, then at lake Dhanakosha, I, Padmasambhava appeared

as such but this is merely a show where there appear to be three kayas in

fact, they are inseparable, not different individuals. Abiding in dharmadhatu,

Samantabhadra, and in Densely Arrayed, great Vajradhara, and at Vajrasana,

the great sage himself are non-dual spontaneously present as Padma, myself.

In this way I receive a stream of supplications.

In the one hundred-and-thirteenth generation of the kings lineage a king

ruling over a vast area will wage war on Tibet and all the subjects of Tibet

will become impoverished. My temples also will be destroyed. At that time,

my emanation known as Sakya will be born as the son named Drogon Phagpa

Gyaltsen of a father named Jampal from Upper Tibet and mother named

Drolma. He will restore my destroyed temples and cause the secret mantra

to spread and flourish. Tibetan subjects and sentient beings will have ease

and happiness. After that, Tibetan kings will appear in a hotch-potch way,

some as dharma kings and some as evil kings. The dharma kings will act to

establish the discipline of dharma. The evil kings will act to destroy the

discipline of dharma. In those times, the fortunes of men will rise and fall.

Predicted by the sage, in one of the Confluence Kham Highlands Atishas

When these words were spoken, the king wept. Once more he prostrated

and offered a mandala. Great acharya, being who guides, what will happen

to my family lineage after this? What sort of happiness will the subjects and

sentient beings of Tibet have? Please speak great guru. With that request

he paid homage by repeatedly baring his head. Then the great guru gave

this instruction:

King, your royal line from now will disappear from Western Tibet like a mirror

huffed on. After that, Tibetan kings will come by turns. Especially, a

bodhisatva emanation named Dode Kalpa Zangpo will appear and with a

mole on his face, will assume the royal seat of Tibet, and the sun of happiness

will flicker fleetingly, like shade under an awning6. In three yearshorse,

sheep, and monkeythere will be war with China. In the Water Male Monkey

year, Yarlung will be an army camp. Finally, this Tibet will be under China.

There will be strife within families and strife outside the stable doors7. The

Bumthang area will be annexed to the throne. An emanation of mine will

descend and assume secular power as a protector of dharma. There will be

strife between the country of Nepal and Indian8 cities. In Tibet, the sun of

happiness will only shine a little. Because you do bad acts it will be called

a bad time but the time will not have changed, the beings will! At that

time, there will be no merit or fame for men.

I, Padma, will receive a stream of supplications. During the day, meditate

on the Great Compassionate One and for sentient beings sakes recite the

mani; it will repay the kindness of the mothers and fathers of the six classes.

During the night, meditate on me, Padma Jungnay and for your own sake,

recite the Vajra Guru. I will protect all beings of the degenerate times. I

10

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look on continuously through the three times. Even though born in the three

bad migrations, ease can come. Although my kindness has been greatest for

Tibet, this kindness is not understood. If you can supplicate me continuously,

then even in the bad era of ten year life-span, I have the means to end

difficulties. An emanation of Maitreya called Seven Cubits will appear

and will relieve the sufferings of the unfortunate time of the bad kalpa and

once again the kalpa will go up and there will be happiness. The buddhas

faces will be seen again and again. Day in and day out there will be assistance

for Tibet. For the faithful, Padma Jungnay will always be close to hand.

My form will not see birth and death again. Prince called Mutri, from here

on you will act for the benefit of migrators through seventeen births then

will descend into Orgyan, the land of the dakinis. Great Lotsawa Vairocana

you must conceal this profound, holy dharma of myself, Padma in the top

level of glorious Samye. It will be passed to a future, karmically-connected

being, he said.

I will not be staying but am leaving to tame the rakshasas. I am leaving to

enter all rakshasas into the dharma. I am leaving to arrange ease for the subjects

of Tibet. Having said that, he faced and looked to the south-west.

SAMAYA ITHI SEAL! SEAL! SEAL!

The treasure revealer Orgyan Lingpa brought this treasure out from its treasure
place at Samye Chimpu. Hold this profound treasure of Guru Padmas life
story in your hearts, fortunate, karmically-connected beings! Reading it one
time with the three facets of clear, correct, and pleasant pronunciation will
be equivalent to reading the full Chronicle one time. For sentient beings of
degenerate times of short life and much sickness; the times of the nastiest
infectious diseases that, due to planets, nagas, and Gyalpo spirits, take or obstruct
life, and so on; the times ruled by strife because the support of the gods has
vanishedif this life story is made into a personal deity and recited one hundred
or one thousand times, the dark side will be defeated and the white side will
prevail. All suddenly-appearing negative influences, obstructors, and obstacles

11

having been alleviated, may your body and life become an vajra of iron; and
in this life may any obstacles of adverse circumstances be alleviated for you
and, in future ones, may you be born in Lotus Light.

NOTES

1. One name for Samye. It is a three-tiered building with one tier built according
to the design of each of Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan cultures. The acharya of
Samye is Padmasambhava..
2. This was the first person met after Padmasambhava took miraculous birth on
the lotus.
3. One kind of problematic spirit.
4. The Tibetan says prajnapara but this is Telo Prajnabhadra, the source of the
Kagyu lineage.
5. Mon was a large area below Tibet that was very barbaric in those times; several
centuries later much of what was called Mon became modern-day Bhutan. The
last three Dzongs mentioned are in Mon.
6. The shade under an awning placed on a deck comes and stays only fleetingly
as the sun passes over head.
7. Meaning inside the family and everywhere outside, too.
8. It could be India or China because the text uses an abbreviation that means
either one. These days there are problems between Indian border towns and Nepal,
which is most likely what this refers to.given the chronology of the text.

13

PADMA KARPO TRANSLATION COMMITTEE

P.O. Box 4957
Kathmandu
Nepal
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