Puchungwa Zhonnu Gyeltsen

Puchungwa Zhonnu Gyeltsen (phu chung ba gzhon nu rgyal mtshan) was born in 1031 and passed away in 1106. He studied with Atisha Dīpaṃkara (c.982-1054), and was one of Dromton Gyelwa Jungne's ('brom ston rgyal ba 'byung gnas, 1004/1005-1064) three main disciples, who together were known as the “three brothers” (sku mched rnam gsum). The other two were Potowa Rinchen Sel Chokle Namgyel (po to ba rin chen gsal phyogs las rnam rgyal, 1027/1031-1105) and Chennga Tsultrim Bar (spyan snga tshul khrims 'bar, 1038-1103).

Although he was said to have avoided gathering a large group of disciples, he founded one of the earliest Kadampa monasteries in Penyul, Puchung.

The masters who studied with him included Karma Drak (kar+ma grags, d.u.), and Janchub Gedzes (byang chub dge mdzes, 1084-1167).

Sources

Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, pp. 73, 235-236, 263, 267-268,

Roesler, Ulrike, and Hans Ulrich Roesler. 2004. Kadampa Sites of Phempo: A Guide to Some Early Buddhist Monasteries in Central Tibet. Kathmandu: Vajra Publications.

Mi nyag mgon po, et. al. 1996-2000. Gangs can mkhas dbang rim byon gyi rnam thar mdor bsdus. Beijing: Krung go'i bod kyi shes rig dpe skrun khang, v. 2, pp. 23-25.

Alexander Gardner
December 2009