Chowang Drakpa

Zhangzhung Chowang Drakpa (zhang zhung chos dbang grags pa) was the second throne holder of the Gelug monastery Chamdo Jampel Ling (chab mdo byams pa gling). He was born in Zhangzhung, in Upper Ngari (stod mnga' ris zhang zhung) in the wood-monkey year of seventh sexagenary cycle, the year 1404. He was ordained in his childhood and was highly respected by the kings of Ngari because of his extraordinary intelligence in learning and scholarship even at the very young age.

Chowang Drakpa became one of the direct disciples of Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa (tsong kha pa blo bzang drags pa, 1357-1419) and also studied under a number of other lamas including Tsonkhapa's two chief disciples, Gyeltsab Darma Rinchen (rgyal tshab rje dar ma rin chen, 1365-1432) and Khedrubje Gelek Pelzang (mkhas grub rje dge legs dpal bzang, 1385-1438) in the Gelug monasteries in U and Tsang. He studied both sutra and tantra and became well known for his scholarship. He also received thorough verbal transmission of imparting sutra teachings and verbal and ritual transmissions of bestowing initiations and empowerments from Je Tsongkhapa and other chief lamas.

He was also an expert scholar of Sanskrit phonetics, logics, and poetry, and was considered one of the greatest poets of his era.

At Drepung monastery ('bras spungs) outside of Lhasa, where Chowang Drakpa served as instructor, he once planted a walnut tree to prove his virtue after being several monks accused him of violating his monastic vows. It is said that his prayers that the tree might grow stronger and faster than others as a testament to his purity were fulfilled.

At the age of thirty-seven, in 1440, Chowang Drakpa went to Naksho (nags shod) and established the Puda Namgyel Pelbar (spus mda' rnam rgyal dpal 'bar) monastery, which became a seat for his teaching and scholarship. Thereafter he was invited by the monasteries in the upper and lower regions of Gungru (gung ru) where he gave comprehensive dharma teachings. He also founded some other monasteries including Langling (glang ling), Wigcho Dzong (wig chos rdzong), Nguchu Gyutrido (rngu chu rgyud khri rdo), and a temple at Dza (dza) monastery.

In 1458, at the age of fifty-five, Chowang Drakpa went to Chamdo, in Kham, to the monastery of Chamdo Jampel Ling (chab mdo byams pa gling) and served as abbot for five years. While there he gave extensive teachings on commentaries of both sutra and tantra texts.

Chowang Drakpa returned to Puda in 1463, where he built a marvelous stupa with wall paintings of vajra-lineage mandalas. He gave teachings on sutra and tantra at length there to his followers.

Chowang Drakpa wrote many texts on tantra and also completed the Dukorkyi Tikchen (dus 'khor gyi Tik chen), the Comprehensive Commentary on Kalacakra, that was left incomplete by Khedrubje. There are about fifteen texts written by this abbot including dpal dus kyi 'khor lo'i rnam bzhag,  rten 'brel bstod pai 'grel ba, lta khrid, lo chen rin chen bzang po'i rnam thar tshigs bcad, mi la ras par bstod pa, rgyal po rA ma na'i rtogs brjod. Among these are a few interesting poetic works in praise of lamas and deities.

At the age of sixty-six, in the earth-ox year of the eighth sexagenary cycle, the year 1469, Chowang Drakpa passed away at Puda Namgyel Pelbar monastery. Among the signs that are said to have accompanied his death were images and syllables appearing to his students, and relics in the ashes of his cremation which were placed inside the golden reliquary that was built a Puda.

Sources

Grags pa 'byung gnas. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su'u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 1464-1465.

Byams pa chos grags. N.d. Chab mdo byams pa gling gi gdan rabs. Chamdo: Chab mdo par 'debs bzo grwa par btab, pp. 77-78, 515

Samten Chhosphel
April 2010