The Fifth Gyara Tulku, Kelzang Chodrak Pelden

The Fifth Gyara Tulku, Kalzang Chodak Pelden (rgya ra sprul sku 05 kal bzang chos drags dpal ldan), was born into the family of Dhase Lhazo Chungtsang (mda' sad lha bzo chung tshang) at Wendo, in the north-west of Chamdo (chab mdo'i nub byang dben mdo) in 1681, the wood-tiger year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle.

The Sixth Pakpa Lha Jigme Tenpai Gyatso ('phags pa lha 06 'phags pa 'jigs med bstan pa'i rgya mtsho, 1714-1754), the twenty-first abbot of Chamdo Jampel Ling, identified the boy as the reincarnation of the Fourth Gyara Tulku, Lobzang Tendzin Trinle (rgya ra sprul sku 04 blo bzang bstan 'dzin 'phrin las, 1681-1731). The boy was brought to Chamdo Jampel Ling where the Pakpa Lha cut his crown-hair and named him Gelek Tenpai Gyeltsen (dge legs bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan). Subsequently he was given basic education and training at the monastery. Thereafter he travelled to U-Tsang and joined Drepung Loseling Monastery ('bras spungs blo gsal gling) for further studies. He studied the five great traditional texts of Geshe studies for many years and received teachings, initiations, empowerments, transmissions, and instructions on tantra from distinguished masters there.

After completion of studies at Drepung, Chodak Pelden returned to Drugu (gru gu) monastery, the main seat of Gyara lineage that was founded by the First Gyara Tulku Drubchen Sherab Puntsok (rgya ra 01 grub chen shes rab phun tshogs, 1566-1632) in 1622. There he spent most of his time in meditation. He had immense interest in practicing tantra especially Yamāntaka. Year later he announced to his disciples: “I took twelve years to complete a single recitation of the text guide to transforming oneself into Yamāntaka. Now I do not need to recite it again!” The disciples understood this to be a statement of his fulfilment of Yamāntaka practice, and of his accomplishment of a high level of tantric path.

In 1791 Kalzang Chodak Pelden went for pilgrimage to the sacred mountain of Khawa Karpo (gnas chen kha ba dkar po) where he is said to have performed displays of his tantric power. According to the hagiography, when he and his companions were camping on a mountain pass called the Jepe Latse (bye phad la rtse), everyone saw white rays of light emerge from the lama's tent and instantly pass up in the sky. They discovered that the lama had passed away, believing that he had applied the yoga of phowa ('pho ba'i rnal 'byor), or "transference". Chodak Pelden was fifty-eight years old.

Lobzang Chophel (blo bzang chos 'phel, 1792-1841), born in Chamdo, was identified as his reincarnation, the Sixth Gyara Tulku.

Source

Byams pa chos grags. N.d. Chab mdo byams pa gling gi gdan rabs. Chamdo: Chab mdo par 'debs bzo grwa par btab, pp. 452-53.

Samten Chhosphel
August 2010