Jamgon Kongtrul

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye (1813-1899)

Jamgön Kongtrül ('jam mgon kong sprul). (1813-1899). Also known as Lodrö Thaye, Yönten Gyamtso, Padma Garwang and by his tertön name Padma Tennyi Yungdrung Lingpa. He was one of the most prominent Buddhist masters in the 19th century and placed special focus upon a non-sectarian attitude. Renowned as an accomplished master, scholar and writer, he authored more than 100 volumes of scriptures. The most well known are his Five Treasuries, among which are the 63 volumes of the Rinchen Terdzö, which contains key texts from the terma literature of the one hundred great tertöns. The picture, from a series of Karma Kagyu lineage thangkas, shows him together with Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

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Literary Works

The Five Treasuries (mdzod lnga):

• Shecha Dzo, Treasury of Knowledge (shes bya mdzod)
• Kagyu Ngagdzo, (bka' brgyud sngags mdzod)
• Rinchen Terdzo, (rin chen gter mdzod) - Full text online at Tsadra Foundation Rinchen Terdzo Catalog
• Dam Ngag Dzo, ((gdams ngag mdzod)) - Full text online at Tsadra Foundation Damngak Dzo Catalog
• Gyachen Kadzo, (rgya chen bka' mdzod) or ((thung mong ma yin pa'i mdzod)

Main Teachers

• 14th Karmapa
• 9th Tai Situpa
• Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
• Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Main Students

• 15th Karmapa Khakhyab Dorje
• Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
• Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
• Khenchen Tashi Öser
• Lama Norbu Döndrub
• Drongpa Lama Tendzin Chögyal

Main Lineages

• Karma Kagyu
• Shangpa Kagyu
• Chokling Tersar

Alternate Names & Spellings

• 'jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas [primary name]
• kong sprul yon tan rgya mtsho [primary title]
• ngag dbang yon tan rgya mtsho, kong sprul [personal name]
• yon tan rgya mtsho, kong sprul [personal name]
• karma ngag dbang yon tan rgya mtsho, Kong sprul [personal name]
• 'jam mgon kong sprul yon tan rgya mtsho [title]
• padma gar gyi dbang phyug rtsal [secret initiatory name]
• padma gar dbang phrin las 'gro 'dul rtsal [secret initiatory name]
• 'chi med bstan gnyis g.yung drung gling pa [gter ston title]
• bstan gnyis g'yung drung gling pa [gter ston title]
• blo gros mtha' yas [bodhisattva vow name]
• ngag dbang blo gros mtha' yas, kong sprul [bodhisattva vow name]
• padma gar dbang blo gros mtha' yas [bodhisattva vow name]
• Jamgon Kongtrul names in Chokling Tersar

Translated Works by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye

• Buddha Nature, The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra with Commentary Arya Maitreya, with commentary by Jamgon Kongrul Lodro Thaye and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Snow Lion, 200. ISBN 1559391286
• Cloudless Sky commentary by Jamgon Kongrul the Third. Shambhala, 2001. ISBN 1570626049
• Creation and Completion: Essential Points of Tantric Meditation translated by Sarah Harding. Wisdom Publications, 2002. ISBN 0861713125
• Enthronement: The Recognition of the Reincarnate Masters of Tibet and the Himalayas Snow Lion Publications, 1997. ISBN 1559390832
• Essence of Benefit and Joy Siddhi Publications, 2000. ISBN 0968768954
• Jamgon Kongtrul's Retreat Manual translated by Ngawang Zangpo. Snow Lion Publications, 1994. ISBN 1559390298
• Light of Wisdom, Vol. 1 by Padmasambhava, commentary by Jamgon Kongtrul, translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 1999. ISBN 9627341371
• Light of Wisdom, Vol. II by Padmasambhava, commentary by Jamgon Kongtrul, translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 1999. ISBN 9627341339
• Sacred Ground: Jamgon Kongtrul on Pilgrimage and Sacred Geography Snow Lion Publications, 2001. ISBN 1559391642
• The Autobiography of Jamgön Kongtrul: A Gem of Many Colors. Translated by Richard Barrons. Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion Publications, 2003. ISBN 1559391847
• The Great Path of Awakening : The Classic Guide to Using the Mahayana Buddhist Slogans to Tame the Mind and Awaken the Heart translated by Ken McLeod, Shambhala, 2000. ISBN 1570625875
• The Teacher-Student Relationship Snow Lion Publications, 1999. ISBN 1559390964
• The Torch of Certainty Foreword by Chogyam Trungpa. Shambhala, 2000. ISBN 1570627134
• The Treasury of Knowledge, Book Five: Buddhist Ethics Snow Lion Publications, 2003. ISBN 155939191X
• The Treasury of Knowledge, Book One: Myriad Worlds Snow Lion Publications, 2003. ISBN 155939188X
• The Treasury of Knowledge, Book Six, Part 4: Systems of Buddhist Tantra Snow Lion, 2005, ISBN 155939210X
• Timeless Rapture : Inspired Verse from the Shangpa Masters Snow Lion, 2003. ISBN 1559392045

Other Reference Sources

Excerpts from The Varicoloured Jewel (nor bu sna tshogs mdog can), the autobiography of Jamgon Lodro Thaye:

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye (1813-1899) was born in Ranggyab village in the Derge province of Eastern Tibet. The Buddha predicted the coming of Lodro Thaye in the Samadhirajasutra. It is recorded that the Buddha spoke of him as an outstanding individual who would truly benefit many beings. His coming has also been predicted in many of Padmasambhava's termas (secret teachings that were hidden to be revealed later by his followers). Lodro Thaye was the guru of the 15th Karmapa, Khakyab Dorje. He transmitted the Kagyu lineage and its teachings to the Karmapa. Lodro Thaye passed away in his eighty-seventh year.

Internal Links

• see also The Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoches
• Namtar Soldeb, biography supplication: dpal ldan bla ma la gsol ba 'debs pa kun tu bzang po'i sgra dbyangs

External Links

• Jamgön Kongtrul on Treasury of Lives
• Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang
• A Brief Biography of Jamgön Kongtrul by Alak Zenkar Rinpoche
• Jamgön Kongtrul on Buddha-Nature