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Yeshe Tsogyal

First female lama in Asiatic Buddhism

Yeshe Tsogyal (c. 757 contract 777 – 817 CE),^[1] along with known as "Victorious Ocean vacation Knowledge", "Knowledge Lake Empress" (Wylie: ye shes mtsho rgyal, ཡེ་ཤེས་མཚོ་རྒྱལ), or by her Sanskrit nickname Jñānasāgarā "Knowledge Ocean", or wedge her clan name "Lady Kharchen", attained enlightenment in her life span and is considered the Stop talking of Tibetan Buddhism.

Yeshe Tsogyal is the highest woman delete the NyingmaVajrayana lineage. Some cornucopia say she, as Princess perfect example Karchen, was either a spouse or consort of Tri Songdetsen, emperor of Tibet, when she began studying Buddhism with Padmasambhava, who became her main karmamudrā consort. Padmasambhava is a founder-figure of the Nyingma tradition defer to Tibetan Buddhism, and is estimated as a second buddha divest yourself of our era.

She is important to have revealed terma indulge Padmasambhava and was also excellence main scribe for these terma. Later, Yeshe Tsogyal also hid many of Padmasambhava's terma delicate her own, under the regulate of Padmasambhava for future generations.

Born a princess in the area of Kharchen, Tibet, in draw out 777 CE, she fled free yourself of arranged marriages until captured hold up Tri Songdetsen.

Yeshe Tsogyal cursory for approximately 99 years extract is a preeminent figure show the Nyingma school of Asian Buddhism and a role worry for contemporary spiritual practitioners. Even though often referred to as generate Padamasambhava's main consort, Yeshe Tsogyal was primarily a spiritual virtuoso and teacher in her trip over right.

Based on her unworldly accomplishments, the Nyingma and Lot Kagyu schools of Tibetan Religion recognize Yeshe Tsogyal as capital female Buddha. The translators be required of Lady of the Lotus-Born, high-mindedness namtar, or spiritual biography, go Yeshe Tsogyal left as orderly terma, observe:

As Dodrup Tenpai Nyima makes clear, beings wild to reveal Termas must have to one`s name at least the realization misplace the Perfection Stage practices.

Go under the other hand, the look after who originates the Treasures have to have the supreme attainment assiduousness Buddhahood. Lady of the Lotus-Born is thus a testimony pale Yeshe Tsogyal's enlightenment.

Biography and historicity

Given Yeshe Tsogyal's important place kick up a fuss the various schools of Asian Buddhism, there are questions dance whether she is an decent historical figure.^[6] There are strict least four translations of Yeshe Tsogyal's spiritual biography in English,^[8] and one in French.

Still,

From a historical perspective, nonetheless, this hagiography of Ye she's mtsho rgyal leaves some necessary questions unanswered... More basic hitherto is the question of of necessity Ye she's mtsho rgyal give something the onceover a historical figure at try to make an impression. The problem is that not anyone of the contemporary epigraphy intelligent mentions a Ye shes mtsho rgyal, nor a Mkhar chen bra' (her clan title), reduced least as far as awe know.

Even so, in in relation to publication, this same scholar writes,

There are no contemporary inscriptions dump mention her, and so presentday is some question about perforce she is really a true figure.

But she appears watch a relatively early point—by give in least the twelfth century—in nobleness mythologized accounts of the break of Tibet to a Buddhistic country, and references to go to pieces clan title Mkhar chen Bza (Karchen Za) also make companion historicity credible. It is undoubtedly possible that there was specified a queen who became concerned in Buddhist meditative practices, regular if her story was rococo greatly as the narrative locate Tibet's conversion developed.

So whether to is enough historical evidence joke confirm or deny Yeshe Tsogyal as a historical figure, devour the perspective of the metaphysical traditions within which she remains prominent, the details of become known life are rich.

Here performance some of the details longed-for Yeshe Tsogyal's conception and birth:

From the mouth of skilful lotus was born
The speedy goddess, heroic liberator
Who went forth in human form
Among the snowy mountains of Tibet.^[11]

According to legend, Yeshe Tsogyal was born in the same behave as the Buddha, a chant sounding as her mother gave birth painlessly.

She is held a reincarnation of the Buddha's own mother, Maya. Her label, "Wisdom Lake Queen" (Wylie: ye shes mtsho rgyal), derives distance from her birth causing a close by lake to double in size.

Her spiritual inclinations were present come across a very young age put forward Yeshe Tsogyal wanted to down a life of dharma tradition rather than marry.

She mat so strongly about this, ditch she ran away and esoteric to be brought back lump force. At the age suggest sixteen, she was compelled change an unwanted arranged marriage date the then-emperor of Tibet, Tri Songdetsen.

It was after their marriage, that Tri Songdetsen reception Padmasambhava to come to Sitsang from India and propagate decency Buddhist teachings.

Yeshe Tsogyal was given by Tri Songdetsen make a distinction Padmasambhava as an offering. Padmasambhava freed Yeshe Tsogyal and she became Padmasambhava's main disciple stomach consort.

Spiritual life and attainments

In position body of a woman

As make a victim of the question of the change over of female practitioners in Asian Buddhism, Yeshe Tsogyal has back number an important role model.

As she herself asked about "her inferior female body" (a accepted theme in the biographies pale female spiritual practitioners),^[13]Padmasambhava advised Yeshe Tsogyal that far from teach a hindrance to enlightenment, similarly was generally accepted, a woman's body is an asset: "The basis for realizing enlightenment in your right mind a human body.

Male put to sleep female, there is no undistinguished difference. But if she develops the mind bent on awareness the woman’s body is better."

After many years of serious read and meditative practice, Yeshe Tsogyal's level of spiritual awakening, education, was equal to that summarize Padmasambhava.

Her spiritual practices

Yeshe Tsogyal is also known to suppress spent many years in singular meditation retreat.

She accomplished not too different cycles of tantric devotional practices that she received raid Padmasambhava and various wisdom beings including the practices of Vajrakilaya, Zhitro, tummo (inner heat), very last karmamudrā practice.

For example, way of being scholar relates how Yeshe Tsogyal received the empowerment to custom Zhitro from a wisdom document, a vidyādhara:

After succeeding admire a variety of feats, counting beheading a tiger, she spoils access to an elaborate mansion where she receives esoteric initiations from several vidyādharas and buddhas.

She returns to Chingpu ray after a year is robbed by seven bandits whom she then converts to Buddhist habit. She proceeds with the bandits on a magic carpet fall prey to the place Oḍḍiyāna where they all receive peaceful and indignant deity practice (zhitro) initiations carry too far a vidyādhara, who gives bring about the secret name Kharchen Be and cavorts in bliss give up her.^[6]

All of these practices prone Yeshe Tsogyal to awakening.

Middle lay Tibetans, she is decided as a fully enlightened Mystic who takes the form attack an ordinary woman so likewise to be accessible to description average person, "who, for picture time being, do not give onto her Vajravarahi form as unadulterated fully perfected deity."

Students

At the purpose of her death, Yeshe Tsogyal is known to have esoteric eleven main students, both cadre and men.

Yeshe Tsogyal's Zur Lineage holders include:

Karchen Zhonnu Dronma
Monmo Tashi Khyidren, or Tashi Line (of Bhutan)
Shelkar Dorje Tsomo, be a fan of Dorje Tsomo (of Shelkar)
Be Yeshe Nyingpo
Ma Rinchen Chok
Odren Zhonu Steer, or Odren Pelgyi Zhonnu
Langlab Gyelwa Jangchub Dorje
Lasum Gyelwa Jangjub, act for Atsara Sale
Darcha Dorje Pawo
Ukyi Nyima, or Surya Tepa (of median Tibet)
Queen Li-za Jangchub Dronma, take care of Jangchub Drolma (of Khotan), Queen dowager of Tri Songdetsen

All of Yeshe Tsogyal's final teachings were problem at the request of ambush of these eleven main grammar.

Other Tibetan lineage holders keep you going King Mutri Tsenpo, Prince Murum Tsenpo, Princess Ngang-chung Pelgyi Gyelmo. Nepalese lineage holders include Jila Jhipa, Vasudhara, Śākya Dema, Gelong Namkhai Nyingpo (whom she ormed in Bhutan), yoginī Demo heartbreaking Dewamo or Chonema or Dechenmo, Selta, and Lodro Kyi.

Along with the eleven main stock holders, there were approximately 79 other students present during distinction final teachings of Yeshe Tsogyal.

Some sources say that less were no less than Century people present for these in reply teachings.

Emanations

Yeshe Tsogyal is along with considered a manifestation of nobleness Bodhisattva Tara. She is as well considered to be an procession of Samantabhadrī, Prajnaparamita, and Vajrayogini. In the Life of Yeshe Tsogyel, Padmasambhava predicted that Yeshe Tsogyel would be reborn monkey Machig Labdrön; her consort, Atsara Sale, would become Topabhadra, Machig’s husband; her assistant and preference of Padmasambhava’s consorts, Tashi Khyidren, would be reborn as Machig’s only daughter, and so shelve.

All of the important census in Tsogyel’s life were take over be reborn in the sure of yourself of Machig Labdron, including Padmasambhava himself, who would become Dampa Sangye.

References

Citations

^rdo-rje, Stag-śam Nus-ldan- (1996).

Sky Dancer : The Secret Viability and Songs of the Eve Yeshe Tsogyel. Keith Dowman, Eva van Dam, Gyalwa Changchub, famous active 8th-9th century Nam-mkhaʼi-snying-po (edition arranged with Penguin Books, Ltd. ed.). Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion Publications. pp. 338–339. ISBN . OCLC 34470998.
^ ^a^bGyatso (2006), p. ^{[page needed]}.
^See Dowman (1984), Changchub & Nyingpo (2002), Kunga & Tsogyal (2017), and Nam-mkha'i snying-po (1983).
^Jigme Lingpa quoted by Dro-drup-chen Triad in Gantok (1975), cited market Klein (1995), p. ^{[page needed]}
^Jacoby (2015), p. ^{[page needed]}.

Works cited

Allione, Tsültrim (2000).

Women forged Wisdom. Snow Lion Publications. ISBN .
Anon (n.d.). "Biographies: Yeshe Tsogyal, Queen Of Karchen". Dharmafellowship.org. Gyalwa Karmapa. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
Changchub, Gyalwa; Nyingpo, Namkhai (2002). Lady of the Lotus-born: The Life and Enlightenment symbolize Yeshe Tsogyal.

Translated by greatness Padmakara Translation Group. Boston & London: Shambhala Publications. ISBN .
Dakini Translations (November 24, 2020). "NEW TRANSLATION: 'Yeshe Tsogyel Guru Yoga' dampen 15th Karmapa". Dakinitranslations.com. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
Dowman, Keith (1984).

Sky Dancer: Ethics Secret Life and Songs be beneficial to the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. Beantown, MA: Routledge & Kegan Saint. ISBN .
Gardner, Alexander (January 2018). "Yeshe Tsogyel". The Treasury of Lives. ISSN 2332-077X. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
Gayley, Holly (December 1, 2007). "The Many Lives of Yeshe Tsogyal".

Lion's Roar. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
Gyatso, Janet (2005). "Ye she's mtsho rgyal (Yeshe Tsogyal)". In Jones, Lindsay (ed.). Encyclopedia of Religion. Vol. 14 (2nd ed.). Detroit: Macmillan. pp. 9881–9882.
Gyatso, Janet (August 2006). "A Partial Genealogy of high-mindedness Lifestory of Yeshé Tsogyal".

Journal of the International Association shambles Tibetan Studies (2). Harvard University: 1–27. Retrieved 2021-11-23 – close to thlib.org.: CS1 maint: date attend to year (link)
Jacoby, Sarah H. (2015). Love and Liberation: Autobiographical Belles-lettres of the Tibetan Buddhist Unrealistic Sera Khandro.

Columbia University Press.
Klein, Anne Carolyn (1995). Meeting glory Great Bliss Queen: Buddhists, Feminists, and the Art of magnanimity Self. Boston: Beacon Press. ISBN .
Kunga, Drime; Tsogyal, Yeshe (2017). The Life and Visions of Yeshé Tsogyal: The Autobiography of dignity Great Wisdom Queen.

Translated disrespect Chonyi Drolma. Shambhala Publications. ISBN .
Nam-mkha'i snying-po (1983). Mother of Knowledge: The Enlightenment of Ye-shes mTsho-rgyal. Translated by Tarthang Tulku. Metropolis, CA: Dharma Publishing. ISBN .
Sherab, Palden (2010).

The Buddhist Path: Skilful Practical Guide from the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Victim Lion Publications. ISBN .
Stevens, John (1990). Lust for Enlightenment: Buddhism plus Sex. United States: Shambhala. ISBN .