Dzeng Dharmabhodhi

Dzeng Dharmabodhi was born in the Thangchung (thang chung) region of Yarlung (yar klung). His mother, whose name was either Tshargu Kyide (mtshar dgu skyid bde) or Tshargu Zakyi ('tshar dgu gza' skyid), was a nun at Thangchung monastery (thang chung dgon). She was seduced – possibly raped – by the eldest son of the ruler of Thangchung, Tashi Yungdrung (bkra shis g.yung drung). He took novice vows as a young man, receiving the name Tsultrim Gyeltsen (tshul khrims rgyal mtshan) but never fully ordained.

After moving around among maternal relatives in his youth, Dzeng went to Dolpo Tsartsur (dol po 'tshar 'tsur) with a servant of the family and met the renowned Chod master Dampa Sanggye (dam pa sang rgyas). Dzeng remained with Dampa Sanggye for fourteen months, after which the master sent the young man home with a blessing and a prophesy that he would be a lineage holder of the teaching for which he is primarily known, The Vajra Bridge (rdo rje zam pa). Dampa Sanggye also predicted that Dzeng would meet his root teacher.

After taking a transmission on the six-syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara from Dampa Sanggye, Dzeng Dharmabhodi left for Tibet, receiving teachings on a variety of Buddhist topics from a number of teachers.

When Dzeng Dharmabodhi was thirty-five years old he met his principle lama, Bagom Yeshe Jangchub (sba sgom ye shes byang chub) at Phugboche (phug po che). Briefly taking up the chores of an attendant who was away, Dzeng impressed the master enough to prompt him to grant him several Dzogchen teachings. By the time the previous attendant returned, Dzeng had developed faith in Bagom and remained with him as a disciple, making alms rounds to support his and his lama’s practice. Ultimately Bagom gave Dzeng the complete transmission of The Vajra Bridge, a teaching of the Vast Expanse Class (klong sde) of the Dzogchen.

Dzeng Dharmabhodi continued to train with other teachers as well, Machig Labdron (ma gcig lab sgron), with whom he studied including Chod, and Gampopa (sgam po pa), who gave him the Six Dharmas of Naropa (na ro chos drug) and the Yoga of co-emergence (lhan cig skyes sbyor), and to whom he taught The Vajra Bridge in return.

For the remainder of his life Dzeng Dharmabhodi lived the austere life of a yogin, once going naked for 5 years, and wandering Tibet with his consort, Jomo Chale (jo mo phya le), performing miracles and teaching The Vajra Bridge.

Dzeng Dharmabodhi is said to have lived to the age of 117 years. His numerous students included Dzeng Josay ('dzeng jo sras) and Tsentangpa Nyang Dharmasiddha (btsan thang pa myang dharma simha), who taught acarya Kunzang (kun bzang). Acarya Kunzang's son Tulku Obar (sprul sku 'od 'bar) continued the lineage.

Sources

Dudjom Rinpoche. 2002. The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. Translated by Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein. Boston: Wisdom.

Tarthang Tulku. 1975. Bringing the Teachings Alive. Cazadero, CA: Dharma Publishing.

Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, p 175 ff.

Ron Garry
August 2007