THE
GLORIOUS LINEAGE
Founder
of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage
Lord Jigten Sumgon
Om
Svasti
The victorious Shakya saw the Five Sights.
He showed the victorious path, and to expand the Teachings
Took birth as the victorious Regent, Ratna Shri.
I prostrate to Him.
H.H. The 36th Drikung Kyabgon, Chuntsang Rinpoche ( L) and
H.H. The 37th Drikung Kyabgon, Chetsang Rinpoche ( R)
Brief
summary of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage
The Drikung Kagyu
Lineage is one of the Kagyu lineages which was founded 852 years ago,
by the great spiritual master, Kyoba Jigten Sumgon. This lineage directly
came from Buddha Shakyamuni and the primordial Buddha, VajraDhara. All
their precious Dharma teachings came to Gampopa from three lineages, through
fully enlightened masters.
The first lineage
was called the Magnificent Blessing Realization lineage. From VajraDhara,
it was passed on to Tilopa, from Tilopa to Naropa, from Naropa to Marpa,
from Marpa to Milarepa, and then from Milarepa to Gampopa.
The second lineage
was called the lineage of Profound View. It came from Buddha Shakyamuni,
and it was passed to Nagajuna, then to Chanta Kirti and so forth, on to
Atisha, and then from Atisha to Gampopa.
The third lineage
was called the lineage of the Most Excellent Practice. It came from Buddha
Shakyamuni to Manjushri, from Manjushri to Maitreya, from Maitreya to
Ashanga and so forth, on to Atisha, and then from Atisha to Gampopa. Gampopa
received profound teachings, secret oral transmissions, blessings, and
so forth of all these three lineages.
Then all these teachings
were given to PhagmoDrupa by Gampopa. Although Kagyu came from the same
root, at that time the Kagyu lineage was divided into several different
branches, each carrying the complete teachings and enlightened blessings.
Like the wish-fulfilling tree, which comes from the same root, but is
divided into different branches, each giving many wonderful blossoms and
fruits.
Although PhagmoDrupa
had hundreds of thousands of disciples, Lord Jigten Sumgon was one of
his closest and chief disciples. PhagmoDrupa prophesied that the teachings
and blessings would be carried on by a Bodhisattva, (Jigten Sumgon), who
already attained the ten Bhumis. Jigten Sumgon received the complete teachings,
secret oral transmissions, explanations and initiations, and enlightened
realization blessings, and so forth from PhagmoDrupa. Jigten Sumgon gave
all the complete teachings, including the six Yogas of Naropa, to his
chief disciple, Gurawa Tsultrim Dorje. All these enlightened energies,
blessings and teachings have been handed down through the great spiritual
masters to the present 37th and 36th lineage holders, His Holiness Drikung
Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang.
These are among the most precious spiritual masters in the Drikung Kagyu
lineage and the direct lineage holder of Jigten Sumgon. Among his disciples,
Lord Jigten Sumgon prophesied again and again, "In the future my
teachings will flourish by the two Bodhisattvas, who are like the sun
and the moon, through their compassion and wisdom." His Holiness
Chetsang Rinpoche is like the sun. He is the emanation of Chenrezig, the
compassionate deity. His Holiness Chungtsang Rinpoche is like the moon.
He is the emanation of Manjushri, the wisdom deity.
The Drikung is known
for the Great Phowa Practice and great meditators. There are many stories
about those who have attained enlightenment in one lifetime. In the 1980's
the great Drikung yogis who taught in Tibet and India were Pachung Rinpoche
and Kungha Rinpoche, and other great teachers. Kungha Rinpoche has attained
the realization of the Yidam. He saw Chakrasamvara face to face in one
life time. He taught many three year retreats, including the six Yogas
of Naropa. During that time there were many wonderful inspirations given
by these great retreat masters. Even in these days, there are great Drikung
Meditation Masters such as GarChen Rinpoche, Bongtul enzin Nima Rinpoche,
and Druwang Rinpoche. Druwang Rinpoche has highly realized Mahamudra and
is known for going to town and singing spiritual songs like Milarepa.
Sometimes he offers a song of inner spiritual realization to His Holiness
the Dalai Lama and their Holinesses the Drikung Kyabgons, and other high
lamas. There are many great teachers who are in retreat in Tibet and India
attaining their goals. His Holiness Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche has established
the Drikung Kagyu Institute, JangChubling, in Dehra Dun, Northern India.
There are many monks attending school there and many engaged in the three
year retreat. His Holiness travels to the many Drikung monasteries in
Ladakh, India and Nepal, giving extensive teachings to monks, nuns, and
lay people from the east and from the west.
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