Lost in transliteration of name (2) - Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso

There are some articles about the biography of Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso, the root Guru of Kunde Rinpoche written in Chinese using different transliteration in the name:
The link webpages:
1) http://gaozhibin69.blog.163.com/blog/static/3472097201341453431979/

2) http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4899c6180100g356.html
note: there is part II to this blog post being linked at the end of the post.

3) http://www.360doc.com/content/13/0819/16/6836745_308299774.shtml
a compilation of different blog posts related to the biography
another linked webpage: http://www.360doc.com/content/13/0819/16/6836745_308300768.shtml

4) People Tibet Culture website
http://people.tibetcul.com/dangdai/gsdd/200803/12070.html
Personal Note: there was a note indicated it was orally narrated by a Khenpo / Rinpoche (also one of the students of Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso.).

May all beings be well and happy
Tashi delek

Lost in transliteration of name - Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso

19 Aug. 2013, edited 21 Aug.13

In my little conventional scholarly research training of past years, it had somewhat become part of my habitual way to verify information received especially in regards to Buddhist Teacher(s) recommended to me, or I encountered via connection to the present Teacher. One of the most interesting Buddhist Masters whom I have not met is my Buddhist Teacher's root Lama - Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso. After assisting to publish the book "A Garland of Flowers: Q&A on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection " composed by Kunde Rinpoche, I had a few rounds of chats with the author about his root Lama, partly of my curiosity of his 'respectful devotion' towards his root Guru, and from the profound contents presented in Part II, though I could not really understand the actual practice due to lack of practical training in those meditation methods presented (in addition to the fact that I have not really study Vajrayana Buddhism), but I felt strongly the student's ability to compose such oral tradition reflected the depth of the mind's attainment of his root Teacher!
Thus I started my own 'research' of this Great Dzogchen Master who is the 40th lineage holder of the transmission of Lama Yangtig in Dzogchen lineage. Unfortunately, I could not find any translated text in English nor through Websites accessible written about his biography, published nor manuscript(s) in 2011. I could not help but felt the most enlightened Teachers are still remained 'secret' to many of us who do not read the native language, Tibetan.

In my impure perception, furthermore, I could not help but to ask myself a few 'sceptical' questions: Is the traditions grown out from Tibet after the 1950an becoming 'self-adorable', influenced by the culture of 'ego' exertion development? - within the enthusiasm to promote a lineage in the public space by the lay student(s) of many Buddhist Masters, had we forgotten the old traditional way of the past great masters who humbly learning and receiving Buddhist teachings (even empowerments etc.) from recognized Masters of various traditions of Vajrayana? May be the information had been ignorantly diminished/omitted, or is diminishing, or being marginalized? Have we forgotten the virtue of 'rejoice' in our way of seeing the 'accomplishment' of many Masters of the Masters left from Tibet due to political conditions who might be 'student' of the 'unpublicised' Yogis/Yoginis, and many great Lamas whose names may not had been translated (nor acknowledged in so called 'ethical' research manner) into the language we understand? In some publications or articles I had read, I am still curious about who is the Great Master (or root Lama) of the targeted described Great Master of the Master (in the description as respectful manner required by our samsara standard?) mainly I could not visualized any 'continuous' (continuity?) lineage in the description! As the word 'Lineage传承' from my little understanding, is the core of Vajrayana School though its origin was 'the third turning of Dharma Wheel of Sakyamuni Buddha' historically. But then - the big trunk tree had branches grown due to its richness of conditions - this is the problem of research, never ending if the questions remained unanswered questions!

Last year till this year, It was this curiosity of unfounded English biography of this Dzogchen Master in the published materials (or being mentioned thus far, except by Kunde Rinpoche's book*), I started the searches on the net (can we classified these personal blogs as semi-grey literature?).  After searching and reading through a maze of hay stacks of blogs and websites, in crossed-references based on the scattered oral history I gathered from my chats with Kunde Rinpoce, I would like to share one of the narrative writings in a blog written in Chinese language about Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso (which was re-posted in other sites without citation sometimes).
Until lately, as more information are emerging in different blog posts (written in Chinese), then only I realized the transliteration of the name was different or somewhat different in words! Though my transliteration of this great Master's name in the past posts at this blogspace I had edited in accordance to the Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery website (Chinese language) - 大成就者阿江多丹·洛珠将措.
Nevertheless, I thought it is good I compiled the variations of the transliterated name(s) presented by different writer(s) of some blog posts.

There were also some articles I found the narrative stories were written based on oral history given by the Lamas/Tulkus/Rinpoches/Khenpos who were the students, or related grand student(s) of His great student(s), but I have not kept those sites' information, which I believe interested readers could locate them through many other links.

Thus far, the below-mentioned first blog post on the short biography of Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso was my pick mainly it tallies much information given by my Teacher, Kunde Rinpoche who had learned directly under this compassionate Token Lama Lodoe Gyatso for nearly a decade. Also the writer acknowledged it was compiled from the oral narration of a Khenpo (name mentioned in the post) who was a student of this Dzogchen Master, at Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery. the name was transliterate and addressed in a well mannered, refined words:

 - 圣者大圆满金刚上师阿琼多丹罗珠嘉措仁波切略传

source: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_564b08a101009ln7.html (Note: posted Jun 20, 2008)

 - other transliteration & sources:
阿琼多丹罗珠嘉措仁波切
http://www.fjwhlt.com/fmcc/2012/0615/2.html (Note: a re-post of the above site, and expanded, 2012/06/15)

大成就者阿炯多丹罗珠嘉措仁波切
阿炯多丹仁波切 简介
http://www.fgdym.cn/ajiang/ (posted 2013)

May the information helps the readers here, just as it cleared my clouds of doubts, and arising of confidence in this vehicle on the importance of having a Teacher receiving mind training, teachings etc. from a rooted tradition, especially learning from the learned to unveil our precious inner Bodhicitta - wishing all Sentient Beings to attain Enlightenment!

May All Beings be Well and Happy, May the world be Peaceful!
Tashi delek
* Note: "A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection" / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; translated by Geshe Lhakdor & Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam. pp.i,x,6,10,68.

Impure Perceptions - so near yet so far?

One of my obstacles learning via serving my Vajrayana master, Kunde Rinpoche when he was visiting here was my impure perceptions towards his many encounters...In many occasions, i would view his 'compassionate acts' as lack of 'wisdom', may be worldly intelligence arising from my impure perceptions. Among others:

- In 2011, after persevering in getting the Dzogchen (Great Perfection) practice which Kunde Rinpoche la had spent about a decade composing the oral transmissions he received primarily from his Root Lama,Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso, the 40th in the lineage of transmission of Lama Yangtig of the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection*, the translation process from Tibetan to English had taken about three years from the esteemed LTWA.  Finally, we got it published, cutting through all weeds of conditional obstructions!
I read this published book "A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection" * in first round, having little understanding except partially of Part I of this profound book, personally i consider, after many live chats with the author.  May be secretly, i perceive this is a 'blessing' book! (also with some personal experiences of being blessed from the 'blown of karmic winds' in many unexpected accidents?).
It was a reader from Canada who had ordered to get this book via email to us last year (which had taken us months to respond to her request), upon receipt of the book, he/she sent a brief message to us 'the wondrous book arrived' that first struck me! - but unfortunately no light from the simple but thundering words. Further to our communications happened last month, in a short message, one of the sentences was written "the book itself is truely gem" (translation to Chinese:真 宝)  – this Dharma ‘Friend’ we met via virtual space, the precise sentence made me contemplated: are we ready (accumulated enough merits) to receive or understand such ‘Transcendental Teachings’of this Great Perfection practice book let alone to appreciate it?  - i felt like my head being knocked by a vajra from space!
Thus, i started re-reading this book*, and found this compendium of Dzogchen tradition presented via the method of Q&A are indeed pitch instructions.  while reading this Q2:
Q:2. What should you be thinking when you engage in the Dharma practices:
A: In the beginning when you engage in the Dharma practices, you should think that in the case of all sentient beings there is not even one who had not been your parents in your past lives in time without beginning.....(p.12).
This is really hard! i/we are such conditioned (programmed) while growing up - many things if not all the things, we performed, the 'self' come first! As i was contemplating on this verse for nearly a week, together with daily preliminaries practices, and dedication of merits after each session brought me much tears and deep feeling - this mother earth belongs to all beings...
May All Beings be Well and Happy, May the mother earth be Peaceful!
Note:
*p.67-68, A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam, 2011. (ISBN: 978-967-10552-0-5)

Live Story from the Oral Tradition (14): Dzogchen Master - Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso (5) 大成就者阿江多丹•洛珠将措

Posted by sonam yeshi

Chat with H.E. Kunde Rinpoche.(herein address as Tulku) on 1 March 2013

Q= sonam yeshi, A=Kunde Rinpoche, Bracket ( ) – notes added for clarity, [ ] – expression

Q: Tulku， Thus far I had yet found any written document about the auspicious spiritual life of Master’s Root Lama, Tokden Lodoe Gyatso (should be ‘our’ Root Lama) written in English. Can Tulku kindly narrate some biographical history of this accomplished Great Dzogchen Master perfected the Lama Yangtig transmission from Jigme Yonten Gonpo (no. 39 in the lineage transmission)?

A:  My Dzogchen Master, Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso , our Root Lama, hails from Golok (Tibet), when he was very young age, he knew whom he was! He left home himself and walked to Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery to study! Master narrated to us that along the journey, he received offering of ‘zamba’ food, He eat it with natural water (sea, rivers) once a day!

 Q: wow, such right effort?

A: It was said that this Great Master was able to remember perfectly whatever Dharma Sutras and Trantra transmitted to him once by His root Lama, Jigme Yonten Gonpo and His Teachers (Khenpos) in Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery!

Q: : Sounds a genius in modern time!

A: During the early 50an when religion was being prohibited by the communists, all monks had to disrobe and put to do hard labourous works such as building roads, bridges etc., many famous monks were put into jail! Master was one of them (early twenties). But He taught the Great Perfection to the jail mates secretly.

Q: Wasn’t him be discovered and life threatening?

A: yes, the jail officer had ransacked his jail cell where He was staying with Bano Wangtrul (his first student in the jail) but could not find the pitch instructions written on the empty tea pack papers and cigarette wrappers!

Q: How did he get writing tools such as pencil or chalk?

A: It was narrated that He mentioned able to find writing tool to His students, no one knew how he got it. But they believed it was given by the Dzogchen Dharma Protector, Ekajati (the One-Eye Dharma Protector)

Q: His attainment was such inconceivable?

A: Yes, Master was given a name by the jail officers – Stone Man, someone who was hit and wacked but showed no pain!

Q: What was your personal experience with this Dzogchen Master?

A: He is a Buddha to me! I knew He did not sleep in lying down posture, He sat in Meditation posture throughout resting time! He seems not sleeping, meditating throughout the nights!!! Daily at 4.00A.M., He started reciting the texts of Dzogchen Great Perfection practices.

Q: Was Master been recognized as any reincarnation of any Great Master of the Past in Vajrayana Tradition?

A: Before He entered into Nirvana, He informed us while teaching us Yeshi Lama (those receiving Great Perfection teachings oral transmission from the Master, less than 30 senior Khenpos and Rinpoches), He is the ‘Dharmakaya of Bodhisattva, Shantarakshita’.

(note: later, cross reference information was found from Chinese blogs written by  students of His student such as Bano Wangtrul and others mentioned this and more details，please see below referred weblink)  

Q: Can we say He reveals the Truth only before His Body Dissolved?

A: Even one has mundane level of doubt , Master had reached the age after 70, there was not any point for such senior Lama who held no material possessions offered to Him from the beginning till He enter Nirvana said anything untrue!

Q: [laughter] agree! My personal observation and reading from life history of Great Masters, one amazing ‘authentication’ was the way they passed away, and the Relics from physical body.

A: Yes! We had shared this in earlier conversation. Master announced the date He was physically dissolving, and before His Vajra Body diminishing completely, it was cremated. During the cremation, dew-like misty smoke surroundings like dizzling, and Relics were fallen from the sky!

Q:Wow, what other quality of the Bodhisattva that impressed you till today?

A: The unwavering confident and perfect diligent in Dzogchen Meditation, He had lived an example that this modern time it is difficult for many to emulate even with many facilities and right conditions to study and practice. He advised us that with the facilities of butter lamps, we could study the Sutras at night; comparatively, He could only afford to burn an incense and read under that little dim bright. Master even made used of Moonlight to study, it was said he followed the Moon and study till he reached the top of the hill during the time He was receiving all the Sacred Teachings in Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery!

Q: Thanks for sharing, Tulku. There has been a common concerned: How to recognize a Vajra Master?

A: The ‘Lineage of Transmission’ (传承) is the Key (golden chain) in Great Perfection. The ‘Lineage’ has not been stained by broken Samaya lapses! (note: Example for Dzogchen Masters, please refer the book, p.68, A Garland of Flowers / Kunde Rinpoche). Further, the quintessential is the ‘Bodhicitta’ (菩提心) of a Teacher – one’s activities benefit all Sentient Beings

Q: Did our great Grand-Master, Lama Tokden Lodoe Gyatso left any pitch instructions before His Nirvana?

A: Yes! I was informed that He said nothing more to teach, but Two Things He had lived throughout his life: He Venerated His Dzogchen Master, Jigme Yonten Gonpo like a Buddha with no broken Samaya; secondly, He lived with Bodhicitta through His life!

Q: It is very moving, Tulku. You are such lucky! Thank you very much for sharing the live experiences of Dzogchen Master, Lama Tokden Lodoe Gyatso.

A: [smiling], Thank you

Tashi Delek扎西德勒！

Thus have i heard… posted by sonam yeshi in 2013

(Note: Translated & Transcribed by Sonam Yeshi. Any mistakes herein were the ignorant of the translator and transcriber, kindly feedback and notify at sonamyeshi09@gmail.com – posted by Sonam Yeshi

Other Resources for references [Chinese]:

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4899c6180102dx1y.html

 

Lost in Translation (2) - personal names

posted by sonam yeshi

Lost in Translation (2) – Names of Tibetan Ethnics

翻译名字之迷离？- 翻译藏名

随喜！自上师贡德仁波切之大圆满书从藏文翻译为英语，于2011年出版，最近终于在网上找到贡德仁波切根本上师 (root Lama), Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso之正译!

“格龙呼图克图·大成就者阿江多丹·洛珠将措”（no. 94, 堪布晋美彭措如意宝法王之前），贡德仁波切及堪布更尕扎西仁波切另一位主要上师Khenpo Chuchap译名“苦修者堪布曲恰”(之前读到堪布更尕扎西仁波切分享的另一个法名 ‘堪钦曲永葜达仁波切’照片属同一人。

请浏览参阅：http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4fd3b48d01019xqy.html

“承继佐钦法脉的高僧”一文 (2012-11-14 13:45:42)

Finally I had found a translation text on the names of Great Khenpos (Ph.D) & Dzoghen Great Masters of Dzogchen Lineage Practitioners, the text listed 100 names which were based on documentary records. It was translated by practitioner(s) who command both Tibetan & Chinese languages.  It is indeed joyful to find the translated names of H.E. Kunde Rinpoche’s root Lama, Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso (p. 68, A Garland of Flowers by Kunde Rinpoche), also his main mentor in Dzogchen practice while he was studying & practicing at Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery, and another Great Khenpo, Khenpo Chuchap, till Rinpoche la completed the Sutras & Tantras transmission, including required solidtary retreat (3 years,3  months & 3 days) & required teaching years at the renowned monastery.

Webpage link: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4fd3b48d01019xqy.html (accessed 12 Feb. 2013)

Reflection : traning & education are very important aspects for any Buddhist practitioner to spread the Dharma effectively, including conducting spiritual rituals, prayers & mind training. The Vajrayana School of Buddhism placed the same importance of the Teacher (Guru) as the Three Jewels, logically, without Teacher(s), the knowledge transmission process is hindered!

Tashi Delek 吉祥如意！

Dreaming in the Nights

Last year i asked Kunde Rinpoche of Dream State Practice in his newly published book (Q26, p.54-p.60), A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; Translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam

In some kind of self-satire, laughingly i said that i have been sleeping a lot in my life thus far, and i think may be i have the affinity for Dream State Practice.  Kunde Rinpoche briefly explained the overview of this practice, and requested me to read his book, Q26 - What is the manual of instruction of clear light dream practice of the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection?
Later, i did read once, and i found it is such a high end mental cultivatin method that it probably take me another life time to learn? But i have been rather curious with dreams, especially those auspicious narrations i heard and read about dreams of those respectful and recognized Buddhist Masters and Practitioners.

Last month on 12 March 2012, i received 3 missed calls from India, later followed by a text message from Kunde Rinpoche. I returned call, and he said that he dreamt of me.  i informed him i was safe, and take the opportunity to requested him to do Smoke Puja to transfer merits to all Sentient Beings as 13 March 2012 was the third year memorial service for my late mum. I was very moved of his compassion towards his student always, i bowed down to the Guru, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha in tears of joy.
I contemplated and curiously asked myself: 'was there anything happening to me lately',and jokingly i narrated to a Buddhist friend that mentally i tried to recall lately was there any obvious near-danger in experience? (especially i had a rather 'miraculous' road accident before and a few near and missed ones). The next few days, something did happen. I sailed through calmly in human unneccessary confrontations - it was the Blessings of the Guru and the Three Jewels.
Later i joined the Naga Puja conducted at the Dzogchen Samten Chokling Centre by Khenpo Kunga Tashi Rinpoche with 2 Lamas from Nepal Dzogchen Monastery.  When i returned, i drove and sent one of the Lamas to another Buddhist Centre at Kuala Lumpur - i had a breakthrough of my fear to drive to the congested city of somewhere i had no sense of its direction (may be it is time i get a good GPRS to save time in going round and round like samsara).
After I read the book of Kunde Rinpoche in last July, daily i make an effort to do short practices at my little space of a Buddhist shrine. Lately, one day after my Buddhist Puja late evening session, i went to my belcony and watch the sky - no moon, but i see the right-side sky space facing outside the window of my Buddhist shrine little room which was rather bright compared to the other side of the belcony, before 12.00AM.  Curiously, i photographed the 2 sides of the sky space.  The pictures were beautiful, with many blue orbs. The next day i read a news that there was a Tsunami alarm in South-East Asia, Indonesia last night.  In my pious feeling, i thanked the Buddhas & Bodhisattvas for their Blessings of calming the vibrating earth!

Dreaming in the Night (1)
One day in half-asleep, neither dreaming nor not dreaming, many spicious orbs appearing in my mental state while i was sleeping.  i woke up as if i had not been sleeping.  i thought may be i was in Bodhigaya for the Kalachakra 2012, after the 10-day festival, we spent long hours in the Mahabodhi Temple and some of the photographs we have taken were delightedly auspicious and spacious.

[Bodgaya, Photographed by Sonam Yeshi, 11 Jan. 2012] 

[Bodgaya, Photographed by Kunde Rinpoche, 11 Jan. 2012]

Dreaming in the Night (2)
This week, one day incidentally i found this picture which i had forgotten the location of my storage  drive after it was given to me in 2009.  This is a beautiful picture of Dzogchen Master in the lineage of transmission of Lama Yangtig, Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso 罗珠仁波切 [p. 67-68] (i had also uploaded this picture to Kunde Rinpoche's blog under the page of 'My Root Lama').

That night i dreamt of this image smiling to me in white smoke dues, i woke up feeling neither sleeping nor not sleeping - was i dreaming? :)-D) :

[Photograph provided by Kunde Rinpoche in 2009

(Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso 罗珠仁波切) ]

There is a Chinese saying '日有所思，夜有所梦'[translation: Your thoughts in day time would be manifested in night dream]. But my heart was joyful after the seemingly dream, as if this highly attained Dzogchen Master had touched my head compassionately!

May the merits of this auspicious dream be shared with all who have affinity with Dzogchen Practice (Great Perfection Practice), and May the merits be dedicated to All Sentient Beings to be Peaceful.

Tashi Delek 吉祥如意

(written after the Buddhist Puja prayer on the 1st Day of Lunar Calendar in the month of April 2012)