Dakpo Duldzin

Dakpo Duldzin (dwags po 'dul 'dzin) was born in 1134 in Dakpo Zekar (dwags po zas dkar) to Bon parents. He was given the name Khenpo (mkhan po) at birth. His two elder brothers, Nyelde (gnyal sde) and Sherab Jungne (shes rab 'byung gnas) were both disciples of Gampopa Sonam Richen (sgam po pa bsod nams rin chen, 1079-1153), and through them Khenpo encountered Gampopa when he was ten years old, receiving from him that same year an empowerment of white Tara and Mahakala and a preliminary practice for Mahamudra.

He received novice and full ordination at Nekhar monastery (gnas mkhar) from Dakpo Gomchung Sherab Jangchub (dwags po sgom chung shes rab byang chub, 1130-1173), his primary teacher. He studied Prajnaparamita with Dokarwa (mdos khar ba, d.u.), the Vinaya with Shami Duldzin (sha mi 'dul 'dzin, 1085-1171). Gomchung also gave him the complete transmission of Gampopa’s teachings, and Khenpo served him for a long time as an attendant.

When Gomchung tired of serving as abbot of Daklha Gampo he assigned the position to Khenpo, who thus became the fourth abbot of the monastery, around the year 1171. Retiring to retreat for eight years, Dakpo Duldzin attracted a large community of disciples. He was poisoned by Nyalpa Jangchub Bum (gnyal pa byang chub 'bum, d.u.) and went to Tsurpu ('tshur phu) for treatment. After recovering from the attempt on his life, Dakpo Duldzin moved to the Changtang (byang thang) region, settling in a place called Drol (grol). There Drigung Kyobpa Jigten Gonpo ('bri gung skyob pa 'jig rten mgon po, 1143-1217) requested that he return to Daklha Gampo and resume the office of abbot.

Back at the monastery Dakpo Duldzin set about building a new temple, apparently aspiring to one with sixteen columns but laying the foundation for one with forty instead, completed in three years.

Dakpo Duldzin passed away in 1218, at the age of seventy-five. His successor as abbot of Daklha Gampo was his nephew, Drigung Lingpa Sherab Jungne ('bri gung gling pa shes rab 'byung gnas, 1187-1241).

Sources

Grags pa ’byung gnas. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su’u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 842-843.

Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, pp. 466 ff.

Alexander Gardner
December 2009