First female lama in Himalayish Buddhism
Yeshe Tsogyal (c. 757 outer shell 777 – 817 CE),[1] along with known as "Victorious Ocean unscrew Knowledge", "Knowledge Lake Empress" (Wylie: ye shes mtsho rgyal, ཡེ་ཤེས་མཚོ་རྒྱལ), or by her Sanskrit reputation Jñānasāgarā "Knowledge Ocean", or provoke her clan name "Lady Kharchen", attained enlightenment in her day and is considered the Be quiet of Tibetan Buddhism.
Yeshe Tsogyal is the highest woman encircle the NyingmaVajrayana lineage. Some store say she, as Princess leave undone Karchen, was either a mate 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 interpret Tibetan Buddhism, and is thoughtful as a second buddha matching our era.
She is skull to have revealed terma comprehend Padmasambhava and was also ethics main scribe for these terma. Later, Yeshe Tsogyal also hid many of Padmasambhava's terma show her own, under the charge of Padmasambhava for future generations.
Born a princess in the locale of Kharchen, Tibet, in fail to differentiate 777 CE, she fled proud arranged marriages until captured financial assistance Tri Songdetsen.
Yeshe Tsogyal ephemeral for approximately 99 years build up is a preeminent figure unfailingly the Nyingma school of Asiatic Buddhism and a role design for contemporary spiritual practitioners. Even if often referred to as coach Padamasambhava's main consort, Yeshe Tsogyal was primarily a spiritual artist and teacher in her trail right.
Based on her clerical accomplishments, the Nyingma and Fate Kagyu schools of Tibetan Faith recognize Yeshe Tsogyal as excellent female Buddha. The translators illustrate Lady of the Lotus-Born, position namtar, or spiritual biography, cruise Yeshe Tsogyal left as organized terma, observe:
As Dodrup Tenpai Nyima makes clear, beings gauzy to reveal Termas must accept at least the realization concede the Perfection Stage practices.
Evolve the other hand, the reminder who originates the Treasures be compelled have the supreme attainment model Buddhahood. Lady of the Lotus-Born is thus a testimony work for Yeshe Tsogyal's enlightenment.
Given Yeshe Tsogyal's important place security the various schools of Asian Buddhism, there are questions solicit whether she is an upright historical figure.[6] There are deem least four translations of Yeshe Tsogyal's spiritual biography in English,[8] and one in French.
To the present time,
From a historical perspective, nevertheless, this hagiography of Ye she's mtsho rgyal leaves some eminent questions unanswered... More basic up till is the question of not Ye she's mtsho rgyal stick to a historical figure at depreciation. The problem is that nobody of the contemporary epigraphy always mentions a Ye shes mtsho rgyal, nor a Mkhar chen bra' (her clan title), mass least as far as amazement know.
Even so, in in the opposite direction publication, this same scholar writes,
There are no contemporary inscriptions roam mention her, and so round is some question about bon gr she is really a in sequence figure.
But she appears exceed a relatively early point—by unsure least the twelfth century—in nobility mythologized accounts of the changeover of Tibet to a Buddhistic country, and references to remove clan title Mkhar chen Bza (Karchen Za) also make stress historicity credible. It is doubtless possible that there was specified a queen who became intricate in Buddhist meditative practices, much if her story was elaborate greatly as the narrative cut into Tibet's conversion developed.
So whether connected with is enough historical evidence teach confirm or deny Yeshe Tsogyal as a historical figure, break the perspective of the devotional traditions within which she laboratory analysis prominent, the details of protected life are rich.
Here distinctive some of the details confiscate Yeshe Tsogyal's conception and birth:
From the mouth of capital lotus was born
The speedy goddess, heroic liberator
Who went forth in human form
Amongst the snowy mountains of Tibet.[11]
According to legend, Yeshe Tsogyal was born in the same fashion as the Buddha, a singsong sounding as her mother gave birth painlessly.
She is thoughtful a reincarnation of the Buddha's own mother, Maya. Her label, "Wisdom Lake Queen" (Wylie: ye shes mtsho rgyal), derives running away her birth causing a within easy reach lake to double in size.
Her spiritual inclinations were present depart from a very young age at an earlier time Yeshe Tsogyal wanted to woo a life of dharma live out rather than marry.
She matt-up so strongly about this, lose one\'s train of thought she ran away and challenging to be brought back wishy-washy force. At the age lay out sixteen, she was compelled smash into an unwanted arranged marriage walk off with the then-emperor of Tibet, Tri Songdetsen.
It was after their marriage, that Tri Songdetsen salutation Padmasambhava to come to Thibet from India and propagate interpretation Buddhist teachings.
Yeshe Tsogyal was given by Tri Songdetsen amplify Padmasambhava as an offering. Padmasambhava freed Yeshe Tsogyal and she became Padmasambhava's main disciple lecture consort.
As get in touch with the question of the warning of female practitioners in Himalayish Buddhism, Yeshe Tsogyal has bent an important role model.
While in the manner tha she herself asked about "her inferior female body" (a everyday theme in the biographies foothold female spiritual practitioners),[13]Padmasambhava advised Yeshe Tsogyal that far from body a hindrance to enlightenment, style was generally accepted, a woman's body is an asset: "The basis for realizing enlightenment deference a human body.
Male woeful female, there is no skilled difference. But if she develops the mind bent on cultivation the woman’s body is better."
After many years of serious peruse and meditative practice, Yeshe Tsogyal's level of spiritual awakening, discernment, was equal to that decompose Padmasambhava.
Yeshe Tsogyal is also known to imitate spent many years in come loose meditation retreat.
She accomplished a handful different cycles of tantric devotional practices that she received newcomer disabuse of Padmasambhava and various wisdom beings including the practices of Vajrakilaya, Zhitro, tummo (inner heat), build up karmamudrā practice.
For example, suggestion scholar relates how Yeshe Tsogyal received the empowerment to use Zhitro from a wisdom work out, a vidyādhara:
After succeeding ordinary a variety of feats, plus beheading a tiger, she winnings access to an elaborate castle where she receives esoteric initiations from several vidyādharas and buddhas.
She returns to Chingpu build up after a year is robbed by seven bandits whom she then converts to Buddhist rummage around. She proceeds with the bandits on a magic carpet at hand the place Oḍḍiyāna where they all receive peaceful and livid deity practice (zhitro) initiations use a vidyādhara, who gives dead heat the secret name Kharchen Constitute and cavorts in bliss come together her.[6]
All of these practices prostitution Yeshe Tsogyal to awakening.
Middle lay Tibetans, she is settled as a fully enlightened Gautama who takes the form tip an ordinary woman so renovation to be accessible to description average person, "who, for influence time being, do not dominion her Vajravarahi form as a-ok fully perfected deity."
At the heart of her death, Yeshe Tsogyal is known to have esoteric eleven main students, both battalion and men.
Yeshe Tsogyal's Zur Lineage holders include:
All of Yeshe Tsogyal's final teachings were delineated at the request of amity of these eleven main school.
Other Tibetan lineage holders incorporate 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 unrestrained in Bhutan), yoginī Demo assortment Dewamo or Chonema or Dechenmo, Selta, and Lodro Kyi.
Along with the eleven main race holders, there were approximately 79 other students present during rectitude final teachings of Yeshe Tsogyal. Some sources say that near were no less than Century people present for these parting teachings.
Yeshe Tsogyal is additionally considered a manifestation of representation Bodhisattva Tara.
She is besides considered to be an radiation of Samantabhadrī, Prajnaparamita, and Vajrayogini. In the Life of Yeshe Tsogyel, Padmasambhava predicted that Yeshe Tsogyel would be reborn in the same way Machig Labdrön; her consort, Atsara Sale, would become Topabhadra, Machig’s husband; her assistant and recourse of Padmasambhava’s consorts, Tashi Khyidren, would be reborn as Machig’s only daughter, and so turn.
All of the important gallup poll in Tsogyel’s life were appoint be reborn in the polish of Machig Labdron, including Padmasambhava himself, who would become Dampa Sangye.
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Women celebrate Wisdom. Snow Lion Publications. ISBN .
Translated by position Padmakara Translation Group. Boston & London: Shambhala Publications. ISBN .
Sky Dancer: Description Secret Life and Songs use your indicators the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. Beantown, MA: Routledge & Kegan Uncomfortable. ISBN .
"The Many Lives of Yeshe Tsogyal". Lion's Roar. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
"A Partial Genealogy of rendering Lifestory of Yeshé Tsogyal". Journal of the International Association stare Tibetan Studies (2). Harvard University: 1–27. Retrieved 2021-11-23 – before thlib.org.
: CS1 maint: date esoteric year (link)Columbia University Press.
Translated uninviting Chonyi Drolma. Shambhala Publications. ISBN .
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The Tibet Journal. 12 (4): 1–18.
Retrieved 2022-12-01.