Lhodrak Namkha Gyelpo

Lhodrak Namkha Gyelpo (lho brag nam mkha' rgyal po) was born into the Shupu (shud phu) clan in Lhodrak during the second half of the thirteenth century, the younger brother of Shubu Namkha Sengge (shub phu nam mkha' seng ge). Khuchen Namkha Sengge (khu chen nam mkha' seng ge, b. 12th c.), who later transmitted the Yogacara teachings to him, gave him tonsure at an early age and gave him his initial teachings in Vinaya.

Namkha Gyelpo later studied Vinaya, the Abidharmakosa, Madhyamaka, and other topics with Tsonawa Sherab Zangpo (mtsho sna ba shes rab bzang po, d.u.) and Montrapa Tsultrim Tashi (mon gra pa tshul khrims bkra shis, d.u.) and others.

Namkha Gyelpo received the Kadam scriptural teachings from Sanggye Wonton Drakpa Pel (sang gyas dbon ston grags pa dpal, 1215-1296), including the Lamrim, and the Kadam precept tradition from Khuchen Namkha Sengge. His mastery of the Kadam scriptures and precepts was such that he is considered the person in whom the two streams of transmission were merged.

He attracted a large number of disciples in the southern regions of Mon, many of whom went on to spread his teachings to future generations. Among the most prominent was Wonse Lhodrak Sengge Zangpo (dbon sras lho brag seng ge bzang po).

Sources

Grags pa 'byung gnas and Rgyal ba blo bzang mkhas grub. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su'u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 1887-1888.

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. 406-407. 'Bar khams: Rnga khul bod yig rtsom sgyur cus. Also published in Lam rim bla ma brgyud pa'i rnam thar, vol. 1, pp. 300-301. Lhasa: Bod ljongs mi dmangs dpe skrun khang.

Alexander Gardner
September 2010