Ngok Kunga Dorje

Ngok Kunga Dorje (rngog kun dga' rdo rje) was the son of Jotsul (jo tshul) and his wife Dardze (dar mdzes), born  in a Wood Ox year (1145). His father died when he was only seven months old. At age six it is said he could recite the Names of Manjushri. When he was ten his famous grandfather Ngok Dode (rngok mdo sde), with whom he had studied, died, so his remaining training was done under Ngok Joro (rngok jo ro).

Although Kunga Dorje wanted to become a monk, it was considered most important that he, being an only son, would continue the family line. He was over twenty-five when he married a woman named Zhigmo (zhig mo). They had three sons: Rinchen Gyelpo (rin chen rgyal po, 1181-1248), Ziji Drakpa (gzi brjid grags pa, 1190-1269), and Gyelpo Ga (rgyal po dga', 1193-1272).

At Zhung Treuzhing (gzhung spre'u zhing), the birthplace of his great-grandfather Ngok Choku Dorje (rNgok chos sku rdo rje), he founded a monastic educational institution. This became be an important center for tantric teachings for many subsequent generations of Kagyupas.

Sources

Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, p. 409, has a brief biography.

Tshe dbang rgyal. 1994. Lho rong chos 'byung. Lhasa: Bod ljongs bod yig dpe rnying dpe skrun khang, pp. 59-60.

Dan Martin
August 2008