THE FIRST INCARNATION

RITRÖ RIGDZIN GYATSO

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The first incarnation Ritrö Rigdzin Gyatso (b. 18th cent)[11] was born in the land of Nak Shö.[12] He completed his studies [relying upon] many spiritual friends such as the great treasure revealer Nyidrak Tülku. Thereafter, due to the ripening of his aspirations to acquire students at the appropriate time in Upper Dza in Do Kham, he was greatly inspired to firmly plant the victory banner of practice at Kilung Gödam Hermitage,[13] where he stayed for a long while.

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During this period Getsé Lama Jigmé Ngotsar (18th cent.)[14] and [Ritrö Rigdzin Gyatso] mutually taught one another as guru and student. With a single intention, they built a monastery together and established the single monastic seat [of Kilung Hermitage, which later became known as Kilung Monastery]. Furthermore, the newly built the famous great stone edifice known as the Mura Maṇi Wall for the common splendour and merit of the beings in the Snowy Land of Tibet—which can [still] be seen to this day.

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After Getsé Lama Jigmé Ngotsar passed into the pure lands, the First Lord Mura maintained the seat [of Kilung Monastery] by himself. Innumerable students congregated there as he turned the wheel of the doctrine. [During his life] he extensively spread the teachings of the theory and practice, [eventually] passing away in peace.

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THE SECOND INCARNATION  

PÖNPO GYURMÉ CHÖDAR

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The second lineage incarnation Pönpo Gyurmé Chödar (18th cent.)[15] was born in the Gotsa Dragen home,[16] which was part of the Getsé settlement. The Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang [Mingyur Namkhé Dorjé] (1793–1870)[17] recognised and installed him on the dharma throne of the monastic seat. As he reached a respectable age, he had an extreme dislike of watching over the monastic preparations, which were fraught with distractions. [Rather], he would single-pointedly practice [meditation].

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Since he had completely enveloped his mind with bodhicitta, even habitually sinful and pernicious people would instinctually adopt beneficial and altruistic conduct simply by meeting this lord or hearing his voice.

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[Furthermore] wherever he resided, the vicious animals living around that region would not engage in anything harmful to [any] sentient being. In these ways, he attained mastery, living the liberating life of a conqueror’s heir.

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At the end of his life and the completion of his practice, he actually passed into the primordially pure inner space, the royal capital of the dharmakāya.

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THE THIRD INCARNATION

MURA PEMA DECHEN SANGPO

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In concordance with what was mentioned earlier [regarding] emanations appearing as one or many, simultaneously or instantaneously[18] in accordance with the specific dispositions and inclinations of sentient beings, the third incarnation the kind and glorious Mura Pema Dechen was the last to arrive. Once again, he intentionally took birth as a spiritual friend of all vajra holders possessing the three [vows], as in the latter half of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle (18th cent.) in a Getsé settlement situated in Dzachuka, Do Kham, he took birth into a divine house where many sublime beings had been born.

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As soon as he spoke, he recited the six-syllable [Maṇi] mantra. He possessed the nature [of someone] totally beyond that of an ordinary person as his heart was filled with immeasurable love, compassion, and various other [qualities]. Drubwang Dzogchenpa Mingyur Namkhé Dorjé [recognised] and decided that he was the unmistaken incarnation of the previous [Mura] and installed him on the monastic seat.

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Having arrived at Rudam Orgyen Samten Chöling (Dzogchen Monastery),[19] the source of scholars and accomplished ones, he received teachings from many virtuous friends such as Dzogchen Yishin Norbu, Gyalsé Shenpen Tayé (1800–1855),[20] Patrül Jigmé Chökyi Wangpo, Khenchen Pema Vajra, etc. He received prātimokṣa, bodhisattva, and tantric vows,[21] instructions and guidance on the great scriptures of sūtra and tantra, the maturation and liberation instructions of the oral traditions and treasure traditions of the old and new schools, and the instructions and advice on the Dzogchen Heart Essence (Nyingtik) cycles. He became a lord of scholars and adepts through completing his studies.

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He particularly served Khenchen Pema Vajra as his special lord of the [tantric] family. Even after the Lord [Pema Vajra] passed into the pure land, [Pema Vajra’s] wisdom body protected and blessed Pema Dechen. He made a profound, powerful, and truthful aspiration to never be separated from [Pema Vajra] for many lives to come. This apparent aspiration can be inferred as it is contained in his supreme secret biography. 

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The signs of Mura’s attainment include squeezing stones with his bare hand, possessing unobstructed clairvoyance, and other such marvels for which all sentient beings bowed down at his feet. At his monastic seats of Kilung Monastery and Rudam [Dzogchen Monastery’s] Śrī Siṃha College, he turned the wheel of the doctrine of the limitless ripening instructions of both the oral and treasure teachings. In particular and from time to time [he taught]: Yeshé Lama, or The Unexcelled Wisdom, the instructional guide of the secret Dzogchen Heart Essence teachings, and Purifying the Six Intermediate States of the completion stages. 

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His direct disciples and holders of his lineage included: The Fifth Drubwang Tubten Chökyi Dorjé (1872–1935),[22] Khentrül Déga,[23] Chadral Künga Palden (1878–1944),[24] Jamgön Mipam Rinpoche (1846–1912),[25] Abu Lhagyal or Pema Tekchok Loden (1879–1955),[26] Khen Sécho, Jigmé Yönten Gönpo (1899–1959),[27] Khen Chimé (19th cent.–20th cent.),[28] and many great beings who hold the Dzogchen teachings. Many spiritual friends came including Shechen Gyaltsab Pema Namgyal (1871–1926),[29] Khenchen Yönten Gyatso,[30] Takla Könchok Gyaltsen (1859–1943),[31] Khenchen Künzang Palden (1862–1943),[32] Khenchen Tubga Rinpoche, Ngawang Palsang or Ngakchung (1879–1940),[33] Mewa Khenchen Tséwang Rigdzin (1883–1958),[34] and Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentsé (1910–1991).[35]

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In the present age, [as for] all the lineage of the six bardo transmissions, it appears that there is nothing that is not connected with this lord. He is featured in various supplications for the lineage gurus of our own Heart Essence tradition. He came to be an unrivalled tradition holder of the greatly secret Heart Essence.

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He encouraged all the men and women from higher and lower Dzachuka up to north Golok to give up negative deeds and engage in virtuosity, and he turned the wheel of the doctrine for Maṇi [recitation] and practice. Thus, he transformed the entire area into a land of complete virtue. [Furthermore] he extensively renovated the Maṇi Stone Wall that his previous incarnation had built becoming one hundred-fold more extensive. [Lastly] he built many [virtuous structures] including stupas in the surrounding area.

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The continuation of his activity for the spontaneous accomplishment of the two-fold benefit will never diminish [and instead] will continue throughout his future lives. [Finally] he temporarily displayed the manner of peacefully passing away into the primordial inner space, the expansive wisdom mind of Samantabhadra.