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A Modern-day Tertön: Sang Ngak Lingpa

Painted sa tsa image of Sang Ngak Lingpa. Photo credit: Himalayan Art Resources. himalayanart.org

Sang Ngak Lingpa, also known as Nyak Ter Sang Ngak Lingpa or Rikdzin Sang Ngak Lingpa, was born in 1865 CE in Nyak Shö Eastern Tibet. His father was Tsering Tashi and his mother was Pema Kyi. He became a great tertön, revealer of sacred hidden treasure, and was both a disciple and lama of Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen. The Hagiography of the A Tri Lineage Lamas written by Shardza Rinpoche contains a brief overview of his life and accomplishments.

From a young age he had a pleasant and gentle demeanor, and could read and write at the age of four. He went on to have many lamas and worked together with his companion Khandro Dechen Wanggi Dronma, also known as Khandro Dechen Wangmo, who was also a renowned tertön and lama. (See previous post https://ravencypresswood.com/2016/07/31/modern-day-khandro-treasure-revealer/ ) Both he and Khandro Wangmo were nonsectarian. Thus, they are associated with both the Yungdrung Bön and the New Bön religious traditions.

Tertön Lingpa met Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen at the latter’s hermitage, Dechen Ritro, and they had a profound influence upon one another’s life and works. Due to the advice and assistance of Sang Ngak Lingpa, Shardza Rinpoche created xylographic copies of his extensive compositions. Tertön Lingpa bestowed many teachings and empowerments upon Shardza Rinpoche, and also advised him regarding the finding and revealing of terma, or sacred hidden treasures. Many of the tertön’s revelations were made as a direct result of a personal request by Shardza Rinpoche to reveal a terma in order to benefit the multitude of suffering sentient beings.

Tertön Sang Ngak Lingpa

While staying in the meditation cave of Yudrang Chukmo, he had a spontaneous vision of the enlightened religious protector Sipé Gyalmo. In response to a fervent request by Khandro Dechen Wangmo regarding his vision, he composed a short exhortation for the sacred activity of Sipé Gyalmo.

“JO! Self-arising wisdom appears as Sipé Gyal, protector of the teachings within the boundaries of cyclic existence and nirvana.

To you, the principal deity, Single Mother, a goddess riding a black mule, and to your retinue; I present a vast expanse of pure clouds of offerings.

Having repaired and fulfilled my sacred commitments with you, thoroughly establish the accomplishment, without exception, of spontaneous, enlightened activity!

Liberate the antagonistic and malevolent enemies of the teachings!

Think of me like a mother for her child! Spread the teachings of the Yungdrung Bön!”

A brief list of Tertön Sang Ngak Lingpa’s textual terma includes:

  • Exoterical
    • A Rainfall of Nectar which is like an Ocean
    • Rites for the Lu
  • Esoterical
    • The Secret Mantra of Meri for Forceful Protection
    • Accomplishment of Takla for Subduing Phenomena
    • Peaceful and Wrathful Rites for the Lord of the Dead
    • Cycle of Practices for Red Mule Sipé Gyalmo
    • Cycle of Practices for Black Mule Sipé Gyalmo
    • Quintessential Instructions for Fixation and Agitation
    • General Collection of the Tantra of Sangwa Düpa
    • A Cycle of Longevity Practices
    • The Inner Essence of the Accomplishment of Longevity
    • Accomplishing Longevity for the Lama
  • Secret
    • Practices of the Great Completion for Accomplishing the Two Stages of the Three Bodies
    • Cycle of Instructions for the Chöd Practice of Tukjé Kündrol
    • Accomplishment of Mawé Sengé
  • Extraordinary
    • Hagiography of the Immortal and Great Tsewang Rikdzin
    • Hagiography of the Widely Known Drenpa Namkha

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Consecrating a Sacred image

statue with group photo of lamas

On September 1, 2014 in Amdo, Tibet, an official consecration ceremony was held for the newly erected statue of the Lord of the teachings, the Great Lama Drenpa Namkha.  The sacred image was erected at the Yungdrung Bön monastery of Gamal Gomchen which is the largest in the area.  The consecration was performed by the great abbot Sherap Yungdrung Wangyal Rinpoche, Ponlop Menri Geshe Sherap Tharchin, the supreme tulku of Dangri Do Ngak Shedrup Gyaltsen and many other lamas and monks from the five main monasteries and the thirteen branch monasteries.  Additionally, there were many well known and respected Yungdrung Bön practitioners present.

The supreme tulku of Dangri Do Ngak Shedrup Gyaltsen

The sacred statue was erected by the supreme tulku of Dangri, Do Ngak Shedrup Gyaltsen, for universal benefit and especially for the benefit of the Amdo region.  This is the first time that such a statue of the Great Lama Drenpa Namkha has been erected in this area of Tibet.

Official Consecration Ceremony for the Sacred Image of Lachen Drenpa Namkha

The sacred image was empowered with countless sacred and blessed objects from knowledge holders and superior beings of the past from both Zhang Zhung and Tibet.  In particular, these countless sacred objects included a collection of objects of support for enlightened Body, Speech, and Mind from the great masters of this area of Amdo.

Countless blessed and sacred items to be placed inside the sacred image

The original article appeared on the Tibetan language website Himalayan Bon.  You can read the full article and see more photos by following the link:http://www.himalayabon.com/news/2014-09-05/451.html#jtss-fb

 

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