Duldzinpa Takmapa Kawa Darseng

Duldzinpa Takmapa ('dul 'dzin thag ma pa) was born in the early 12th century in Tsang. His name at birth was Kawa Darseng (ka ba dar seng). He ordained at an early age, and studied with Duldzin Chenpo Shami Monlam Tshultrim ('dzul 'dzin chen po sha mi smon lam tshul khrims, 1085-1171). Under this teacher's guidance he mastered the four divisions of the Vinaya ('dul ba lung sde bzhi), thus earning the epithet of Duldzinpa, meaning "one who upholds the Vinaya."

Kawa Darseng studied next with Neusurpa Yeshe Bar (sne'u zur ba ye shes 'bar, 1048-1118), from whom he received the entire transmission of the Kadam Lamrim teachings. These included a Yogacara lineage that he later transmitted to his disciple Shubu Namkha Sengge (shud bu nam mkha' seng ge, d.u.). He also studied with Dorje Pel (rdo rje dpal)

Kawa Darseng settled at Tolung Takma (stod lung thag ma), attracting a large number of disciples, after which he became known as Takmapa.

Among his most prominent disciples were Lhodrak Khenchen  Namkha Sengge (lho brag mkhan chen nam mkha' seng ge, d.u.), Won Pelchen Dorje Zhonnu (dbon dpal chen rdo rje gzhon nu, d.u.) and Belti Jose (sbal ti jo sras, 1129-1215).

Sources

Grags pa 'byung gnas. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su'u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 889-890.

Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, p. 267.

Yongs 'dzin ye shes rgyal mtshan. 1980. 'Dul ba'i sde snod kun 'dzin thag mar pa'i rnam thar. In Lam rim bla ma brgyud pa'i rnam thar, vol. 1, pp. 298-299. 'Bar khams: Rnga khul bod yig rtsom sgyur cus. Also published in Lam rim bla ma brgyud pa'i rnam thar, vol. 1, pp. 222-223. Lhasa: Bod ljongs mi dmangs dpe skrun khang.

Alexander Gardner
September 2010