Langlap Jangchub Dorje

Langlap Jangchub Dorje's (lang lab byang chub rdo rje) early childhood was reminiscent of Milarepa's, as he suffered greatly at the hands of his paternal relatives. To help him through his difficulties, Dre Atsara Sale ('bre a tsara sa le), an accomplished master of the Vajrakilaya cycle, taught him this practice and Langlap Dorje diligently practiced it. Janchub Dorje then used the power of Vajrakila to murder his paternal relatives, earning considerable fame.

Vajrakilaya is a very powerful practice, which has a special place in Vajrayana history. Although there have been numerous great masters who attained full realization through the practice of Vajrakilaya, it is said that no one had more skill or power in the enlightened activity of this practice than Langlap Jangchub Dorje.

Although he was famous for his skill in this practice, Langlap Jangchub Dorje is said to have lived as a sheperd in Khore ('khor re), south of Mt. Kailash on the Nepeli border. Ra Lotsawa arrives one day to pay his respects, but considering Ra's newly-imported system of Vajrabhairava to be non-Buddhist black magic, Langlap snubbed Ra. Ra Lotsawa, as was his habit, then challenged Langlap to a contest of magic. Langlap bested him, however, sending a shower of daggers down from the sky.

Ralo retreated, but later returned and murdered Langlap with new Vajrabhairava teachings he brought back from Nepel. Historians of Vajrakila have generally denied this history, concluding discussion of Langlap and Ra Lotsawa's contact with the initial contest.

Langlap Dorje's main disciples were Nanam Sherab Tsultrim (sna nam shes rab tshul khrims, d.u.), Kyi Kyanggyel of Mongu (mong dgu'i skyi gyang sgyal, d.u.), Trang Purbugo of Rong (rong gi skrang phur bu mgo, d.u.), and Nyang Nak of Uyuk Rolpo ('u yug rol pa'i nyang nag, d.u.).

Sources

Davidson, Ronald. 2005. Tibetan Renaissance. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 137-138.

Dudjom Rinpoche. 2002. The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein, trans. Boston: Wisdom, pp. 713-712.

Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, pp. 156.

Ron Garry
August 2007