Longchenpa facts for kids

A statuette of Longchenpa

Longchen Rabjam Drimé Özer (Tibetan: ཀློང་ཆེན་རབ་འབྱམས་པ་དྲི་མེད་འོད་ཟེར།, Wylie: klong chen rab 'byams pa dri med 'od zer), often called Longchenpa (1308–1364), was a very important Tibetan Buddhist teacher. His name means "The Vast Expanse." He belonged to the Nyingma school, which is the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Longchenpa's work helped make the Dzogchen (Great Perfection) teachings very popular. He also organized Dzogchen ideas within the larger Vajrayana tradition. Many people see his work as the clearest explanation of the Great Perfection teachings.

He wrote many books, including the famous Seven Treasuries. He also put together a collection of Dzogchen writings called the Nyingthig Yabshi. Some of his writings are considered terma, which are special hidden texts found by a terton (treasure revealer). Longchenpa's writings are key to understanding Nyingma Buddhist ideas. They connect the basic Buddhist teachings with the deeper, more secret ones.

Longchenpa was once the head of Samye monastery, Tibet's first Buddhist monastery. But he spent most of his life traveling or in retreat, focusing on his spiritual practice.

Biography

Early Life

Longchen Rabjam was born in 1308 in a village in the Dra Valley, Tibet. His father was a Nyingma lama (teacher) named Lopon Tsensung. Longchenpa's mother died when he was nine, and his father died two years later.

In 1320, he joined Samye monastery. He was a very eager student and had an amazing memory.

In 1327, Longchenpa moved to Sangpu Neutok, a famous learning center. He studied there for six years. He learned about Buddhist logic, philosophy, and poetry. During this time, he also received teachings from different Buddhist traditions. These included Kadam, Sakya, Kagyu, and Nyingma. One of his teachers was the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje.

After leaving Sangpu, Longchenpa went to practice alone in the mountains. He spent eight months meditating in complete darkness. During this time, he had important visions. Later, he met his main teacher, Rigdzin Kumaradza. Longchenpa traveled with Kumaradza and his students for two years. He learned all of Kumaradza's Dzogchen teachings.

After three years of retreat, Longchenpa was allowed to teach. He also had visions of many deities, including Padmasambhava.

Later Life

In 1340, Longchenpa started teaching Dzogchen to a group of eight students. During this time, he and his students had visions of dakinis (female spiritual beings). These experiences convinced him that he was meant to teach the Dzogchen Nyingthig tradition.

Longchenpa also began collecting and writing commentaries on important Dzogchen texts. He spent most of his later life at his hermitage (a quiet place for meditation) called Gangri Thokar. There, he meditated, studied, and wrote.

In 1350, Longchenpa had a vision of Vimalamitra, another important teacher. This vision asked him to fix the Zhai Lhakhang temple. While working on the temple, Longchenpa met a student who had political problems. To avoid conflict, Longchenpa moved to Bhumthang, Bhutan.

In Bhutan, he gave up his monastic vows, got married, and had a daughter and a son. He also started several small monasteries, including Tharpa Ling. His family line still exists in Bhutan today. After 10 years, he returned to Tibet. He made peace with the powerful leader Changchub Gyaltsen, who even became his student.

Legacy

Longchenpa's writings and collections had a huge impact. They were especially important for the Nyingma tradition.

You can learn more about Longchenpa's life and teachings in books like Buddha Mind by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche. Pema Lingpa, a famous terton from Bhutan, is believed to be Longchenpa's next life.

Worldview

Understanding Dzogchen

Longchenpa is considered the most important writer on Dzogchen teachings. He wrote many books and organized Dzogchen ideas. His work gave Dzogchen a clear structure, connecting it with other Buddhist philosophies.

Longchenpa's Dzogchen ideas come from ancient texts called tantras. His worldview says that everything we see and experience comes from an ultimate nature. This ultimate nature is called Dharmatā or Dharmadhatu.

Longchenpa describes this basic nature as being pure and empty. But it also has a subtle, self-arising awareness. This empty and bright awareness is the source of all appearances.

Longchenpa wanted to show that Dzogchen was a valid and important teaching. He also wanted to prove that Dzogchen was the highest path in Buddhism. He believed that without Dzogchen, other Buddhist teachings could not be fully understood. He compared it to seeing a whole mountain only from its peak.

He explained why Dzogchen (also called Atiyoga) is the highest teaching. He believed Dzogchen includes all other Buddhist paths. It also goes beyond them.

Dzogchen Practice

Longchenpa saw Dzogchen as a part of "secret mantra" (Vajrayana) teachings. He thought it was the most perfect stage of practice. He described this "great perfection phase" as "resting in the pure, natural, aware mind."

Longchenpa believed Dzogchen did not need the usual tantric practices. It did not require complex rituals or deity yoga. Instead, Dzogchen practice simply relies on a teacher showing you the true nature of your mind.

He explained that Dzogchen methods are simple and natural. They are based on recognizing the mind's true nature. He argued that Dzogchen is better than other methods that require a lot of effort.

Longchenpa also critiqued some tantric methods. These methods focus on controlling the body's subtle energies. He saw them as difficult and possibly leading to confusion. He said that in Dzogchen, these energies naturally calm down on their own.

Works

Longchenpa wrote over 270 works.

Seven Treasuries

The Seven Treasuries (mdzod bdun) are his most famous books. They explain the Nyingma school's ideas and Dzogchen.

The Seven Treasuries are:

• The Wish Fulfilling Treasury (Yishyin Dzö): This book talks about general Buddhist topics.
• The Treasury of Pith Instructions (Mengak Dzö): A short book with advice for meditation.
• The Treasury of Philosophical Systems (Drubta Dzö): This book explains different Buddhist philosophies. Longchenpa places Dzogchen at the top.
• The Treasury of Word and Meaning (Tsik Dön Dzö): A shorter overview of Dzogchen ideas and practices.
• The Treasury of the Supreme Vehicle (Tekchok Dzö): A large book that explains all Dzogchen topics in detail.
• The Treasury of the Dharmadhatu (Chöying Dzö): A poetic work about Dzogchen. It is like a hymn to the enlightened mind.
• The Treasury of the Natural State (Neluk Dzö): This book discusses the four main commitments of Dzogchen.

The Tsik Dön Dzö and Tekchok Dzö are Longchenpa's main scholarly works on Dzogchen.

Nyingthig Yabshi

Longchenpa collected many Dzogchen scriptures into a collection called the Nyingthig Yabshi (The Inner Essence in Four Parts). This collection includes important texts like the Seventeen Tantras. He also added his own explanations to these texts.

This collection helped organize the many Dzogchen texts. It made them much clearer and easier to understand.

Other Works

Some of his other important original books include:

• The Trilogy of Natural Freedom (rang grol skor gsum): Focuses on Mind Series meditations.
• The Trilogy of Natural Ease (ngal gso skor gsum): Provides a step-by-step guide to Dzogchen practice.
• The Trilogy of Dispelling Darkness: Three books that explain the Guhyagarbha Tantra.

English Translations

Seven Treasuries

• The Precious Treasury of Pith Instructions (Translated by Richard Barron).
• The Precious Treasury of Philosophical Systems (Translated by Richard Barron).
• Precious Treasury of Genuine Meaning (Translated by Light of Berotsana).
• The Basic Space of Phenomena (Translated by Richard Barron).
• The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding (Translated by Richard Barron).

Trilogy of Natural Ease

• Kindly Bent to Ease Us (Translated by Herbert V. Guenther).
• Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind (Translated by Padmakara Translation Group).
• Mind in Comfort and Ease (Translated by Adam Pearcey).
• Finding Rest in Meditation (Translated by Padmakara Translation Group).
• Kindly Bent to Ease Us. Part Three: Wonderment (Translated by Herbert V. Guenther).
• Finding Rest in Illusion (Translated by Padmakara Translation Group).

Trilogy of Natural Freedom

• The Natural Freedom of Mind (Translated by Herbert V. Guenther).
• Naturally Liberated Mind, the Great Perfection (Translated by Tulku Thondup).

Trilogy of Dispelling Darkness

• Extensive Commentary on the Guhyagarbha Tantra called Dispersing the Darkness of the Ten Directions (Translated by Light of Berotsana).

Other Translations

• The Excellent Path to Enlightenment (Translated by Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche and Gerry Winer).
• Now that I Come to Die (Translated by Herbert V. Guenther and Yeshe De Translation Group).
• You Are the Eyes of the World (Translated by Kennard Lipman and Merrill Peterson).
• The Four-Themed Precious Garland (Translated by Alexander Berzin).
• Longchenpa's Advice from the Heart (Translated by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu & Elio Guarisco).
• Looking Deeper: A Swan's Questions and Answers (Translated by Herbert V. Guenther).

Name and Titles

Longchenpa is sometimes called the "Second Buddha." This shows how highly people think of him and his teachings. This title is usually given to Guru Padmasambhava. Longchenpa also had the title "Kunkhyen," which means "All-Knowing."

His full name, Longchen Rabjam, means "vast infinite expanse" or "great cosmic expanse."

Here are some of his names and titles:

• Longchen Rabjam
• Longchenpa Drimé Özer (meaning "Immaculate Splendour")
• Künkhyen Longchenpa (meaning "Omniscient Longchenpa")
• Gyalwa Longchen Rabjam (meaning "The Conqueror Longchen Rabjam")

See also

In Spanish: Longchenpa para niños

• Eleven vajra topics