Kunpang Thukje Tsondru
The founding father of the Jonangpa tradition. Kunpang Thukje Tsondru (1243-1313) received the Rwa transmissions for the Kalachakra at an early age and the Dro transmissions from his primary teacher, Choku Odzer. Eventually he gathered together, by way of receiving empowerments, oral transmissions and instructions, all 17 traditions of Kalachakra that had been transmitted from India to Tibet. He trained as a ritual master at Jamyang Sarma's Kyang Dur Monastery and studied at Sakya and Ngor monasteries.
While in meditation at the Se Karchung cave, he began to condense the practice instructions on the Kalachakra's "Six-limbed Vajra-yoga" (six yogas; sbyor drug) and the root tantra, synthesizing the 17 distinct lineages of the Kalachakra transmissions. According to tradition, the female protector deity Jomo Nagmen Gyalmo visited him and invited him to live in the valley of Jomonang.
After 3 years in retreat, in 1294, Kunpang Thukje Tsondru arrived at Jomonang. There he settled in Khacho Dedan, the "Bliss Infused Enjoyment of Space" meditation cave at Jomonang. At this time, he composed his essential commentary (snying 'grel) on the Kalachakra Tantra, and recorded the oral transmission lineages (snyan brgyud) of the pith instructions on the Kalachakra's perfection process, the "Six-limbed Vajra-yoga". These were the 1st extensive guidance texts on the vajrayoga of the Kalachakra in Tibet.
Kunpang-pa taught his essential commentary on the Kalachakra along with the Vimalaprabha twice a year while he lived at Jomonang. He then passed the lineage onto his disciple, Changsem Gyalwa Yeshe, the 2nd throne-holder at Jomonang.
Primary Teachers[edit]
Choku Odzer
Primary Students[edit]