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Beginning from the time when the Tibetan King Trisong Deutsen in the year 761 AD, invited the Indian teacher Padma Sambhava to Tibet. Later, many Indian Pandits came to Tibet and also many Tibetan scholars studied Buddhism in India. Their teachings slightly differed due to the different schools of thought that were prevalent in India. This naturally generated many traditions of Buddhist teachings in Tibet.
The earliest pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet was Bon. At the time of Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, the most popular traditions of Buddhism in Tibet are Nyingma, Kagyud, Sakya and Gelug in the order of the chronology. When Tibet became Autocratic State, some of the traditions lost importance even to the extent of extinction. Bodong tradition falls in this category.
Bodong Tradition:
To give a short historical background, it is said that in the year 1025 AD Nyen Lotsawa, a Buddhist scholar translator who studied in India invited an eminent Indian pundit named Sthapala or Khenchen Bumthaksumpa to Tibet. As they traveled towards central Tibet, on the way at a place called Bodong Chief Lama of the monastery, Shenyen Muta Chhenpo was so impressed by the Indian Pandit that he not only offered his services, but also offered his monastery to be used as the seat of his teaching. The name and fame of the Pundit spread far and wide. He has attracted many followers from all over Tibet. Bondong and later Sangphu thus became two main centers of learning of Buddhism in Tibet.
A host of scholars and translators emerged from Bodong. To mention a few, Panglo Lodoe Tenpa (1276-1345) is one of the greatest translators of his time. Lama Sonam Gyaltsen (1312-1375) who authored one of the earliest historical books of Tibet “Gyalrab Salvai Melong “was a great teacher and author. Lochhen Changchup Tsemo (1303-1380), Lochhen Dakpa Gyaltsen (1345-1405) and Bodong Panchen Jigdral Chhogle Namgyal (1375-1451) are some of the most eminent scholars who studied or “held the seal” of Bodong at one time or the other.
Life and works of Bodong Panchen Jigdral Chhogle Namgyal needs special mention here. Infect it was due to his teachings and works on Buddhism that Bodong assumed the name of a distinct of commentary on Buddhism (Denyi Duechen), which is internationally and indisputably recognized as the greatest volume of written work ever by a scholar. Besides this, he was a translator, a painter and a doctor. During his time, rulers used to invite scholars from different monasteries and organize debates on Buddhist Philosophy, which naturally brought name and fame to the participants, especially the winner. The word “Chhogle Namgyal” means “Victorious in all directions. Bodong Panchen received this title when he defeated any one coming from any direction in Buddhist philosophy during his time.
He is also well known as a contemporary teacher of the first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drup and the first Panchen Lama, Khedup Gelek Pasang. Infect Gedun Drub went to his remote retreat, Porong Pema Chholing and received many teachings and empowerment. The title “Thamche Khyenpa” (All Knowing) which the Dalai Lamas still carry was conferred to Gedun Drub by Bodong Panchen as a result of the young Dalai Lama’s success in “Answering all the questions asked by Bodong Panchen.”
Bodong Chhogley Namgyal’s teaching spread far and wide. Besides Bodong, he taught at Langkhor, Shelkar Chhode, Gungthang, and Gyam Phuri etc. During his life, he had followers and monasteries, form the remote Nyen Jora of South Tibet. He taught and had followers from all traditions of Buddhism. The list reads in tens of thousands. He is therefore sometimes known as “Rime” or a teacher who crossed all borders of tradition. Towards the later part of his life, he built Porong Pema Chhoding monastery near Palkhu Lake in West Tibet.
In 1959, some of the monks escaped to Nepal with 125 of the 135 volumes of his teachings and some statues including the miraculous “Jigdral Nga-drama.” Many of the elderly monks could not cope with the sudden change in climate and died. Then the time has come that the remnants of this tradition and the Monastery was threatened of extinction for want of proper conservation. It was at this critical juncture that the lay community of Porong in Nepal and else where in exile gathered some fund to house and maintain the monastery. Eventually, after a very long period, in the year 1990, the community came up with this small monastery which now houses 12 monks, most of who are young students. Efforts are being made to preserve the existing treasures and revive the lost ones.
In March 1997,H.H.the Dalai Lama recognized five-year-old Sonam Dhondup as the reincarnation of Bodong Lama Sonam Gyaltsen and named him Tenzin Thutop Jigdral or Bodong Chhoktrul.
Bodong was not properly institutionalized, especially after the death of Bodong Panchen. This was one of the reasons that the lineage of lamas was not traced or known popularly. It is said that as of 1959, there were four lamas who originally belonged to Bodong tradition.
Porong Pema Chholing Monastery
(Monastery of Bodongpa)
Buadha Tinchuli, GPO 4229, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: 00977-1-475573, 478092
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