The Treasury of Lives

The Zhije (zhi byed) and Chod (gcod) lineages weave in and out of almost all institutionally independent traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, although they themselves never became the established dominant tenet system of any monastery. The Zhije lineage in Tibet originated with the Indian master Padampa Sanggye, who is said to have visited Tibet five times. He had a number of disciples in the Tingri area of Tibet, to whom he taught his method of pacifying suffering. Padampa Sanggye also taught a method for cutting through demonic obstruction to his relative Kyoton Sonam Lama, who transmitted it to Machik Labdron. Her lineage of Chod, which she passed down to her children, came to be known as “Mother Chod” in contrast to the lineage stemming from Padampa Sanggye, which is known as “Father Chod.” Additional Chod developed, including one stemming from treasure revelations (“Treasure Chod”), the Gyeltang Chod, stemming from Machik Labdron’s disciple Gyeltang Samten Ozer, and the Zurmang Chod, transmitted by Rangjung Zhabla Ngawa.

The Rechung Nyengyu is a lineage of the Kagyu tradition that is traced to Rechungpa's "Aural Transmissions" (snyan rgyud), which he received from Milarepa. Rechungpa also received teachings from Tipupa in India. The lineage draws heavily from the Cakrasaṃvara Tantra and includes liturgies, ritual manuals and tantric commentaries. Tsangyong Heruka, the fifteenth century "Mad Yogin," famous for his biography of Milarepa, codified Rechungpa's teachings, along with those of Gampopa and Ngendzong Repa.

There are two lineage of the Kālacakra, the Ra lineage (rva lugs) and the Dro lineage (bro lugs). The Dro lineage was established in Tibet by a Kashmiri disciple of Nalendrapa named Paṇḍita Somanatha, who traveled to Tibet in 1027, and his translator Dro Lotsāwa Sherab Drak, from which it takes its name. The Ra lineage was brought to Tibet by another Kashmiri disciple of Nalendrapa named Samantaśrībhadra, and translated by Ra Lotsāwa Chorab. These two lineages were absorbed by the dominant religious traditions of Tibet, particularly the Sakya and Geluk, but their transmission can not be said to be tied to any one of those traditions, and some historical figures are best understood as Kālacakra masters above any other affiliation they might have enjoyed.

An unusual Kagyu lineage -- possibly the Shri Sahaja Hevajra -- painting, which includes one of the earliest known image of a Karmapa.

A painting of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo.

Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo, the founder of the Ngor Branch of the Sakya tradition.

Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo at the left and his successor Muchen Sempa Chenpo Konchok Gyaltsen sitting on the right, surrounded by lineage teachers.

An ivory statue of Lhachok Sengge. The inscription on the base of the statue reads "rgyal ba lha mchog seng ge."

A portrait of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo in the classic Beri style. Based on stylistic comparison, it is likely from the fourteenth or fifteenth century.

Shangton Chobar with Sachen Kunga Nyingpo on the middle left, Sonam Tsemo on the right.

An important early Kagyu painting, possibly the earliest known depiction of the First Karmapa. The lineage depicted is likely the Shri Saraha Hevajra that passed into Tibet through Zhang Yudrakpa.

Chakrasamvara, Sahaja Heruka, with the footprints of Drigungpa Rinchen Pel.

Sakya Lotsawa Jampai Dorje, the twenty-third Sakya Tridzin.

The Seventh Dalai Lama, Kelzang Gyatso, along with a selection of the previous incarnations according to the Kadam Lekbam.

This eighteenth century painting of Namkha Pelzang, the twelfth abbot of Ralung Monastery, belongs to a set of Ralung patriarchs. Two other paintings belonging to the set can be seen on Himalayan Art Resources.

This sixteenth century painting shows the Drigung founder, Jikten Gonpo, with two men who stood at the beginning of the two main incarnation lines at monastery, the Drigung Chetsang and the Drigung Chungtsang.

An eighteenth century painting of Puchungwa Zhonnu Gyeltsen with Rinchen Zangpo.

Surkhang Wangchen Tseten and his first wife Lhagyari Tseten Chodzom, circa 1926. 

Surkhang Wangchen Gelek, who became a Kalon of the Tibetan government at the age of 33. 

Surkhang Wangchen Gelek is pictured with His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to the right. This is clearly at some sort of ceremonial event in Lhasa. 

A cast bronz sculpture of the 15th-16th century Ngor master Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub

This painting shows major sites of Lhasa including the Jokhang, Potala Palace and Lukhang. The monasteries of Sera, Drepung, and Sangpu Neutok are also pictured. It is possible that the image depicts activities during Losar festivities.

An eighteenth century painting of The Fifth Dalai Lama pictured with major scenes from his life. 

This drawing shows Lhasa before 1950 from an elevated perspective. The highly detailed representation shows many major monasteries and landmarks of Lhasa.

Rinchen Sadutshang, a fifth rank official at the Tibetan foreign ministry, with his colleague Takla Phuntsok Tashi, a brother in law of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in front of the Potala in 1952. Sadutshang would later become a Kalon in India in 1978 and would become the Representative at the Bureau of the Dalai Lama in Delhi, his last post before retirement. 

Surkhang Wangchen Gelek with wife Dekyi Lhaze and daughter in Lhasa city with the Potala Palace in the background. The photo was taken by Heinrich Harrer. 

This nineteenth century painting depicts Machik Labdron with tantric deities and mahasiddhas. 

This 18th century painting depicts Padmasambhava as a monk surrounded by several disciples and Jigme Lingpa above his head.

A group of Tibetan army officers with Tsarong Dasang Damdul seated in the center. The photo was likely taken in Lhasa. Tsarong, a commoner who rose to become Commander-in-Chief, created the first modern Tibetan army. 

A fifteenth century painting of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, the Third Sakya Trizin and son of Khon Konchok Gyelpo.

19th Century painting of Machig Labdron as a wisdom dakini.

Mid-20th century painting of Machik Labdron and the Chod refuge field displaying teachers and deities. 

This prayer card dating to around the year 1000 is from Toling in Western Tibet. It depicts Śākyamuni Buddha in a preaching posture. 

A letter certifying Lobsang Phunstok Lhalungpa's employment and exemplary service as a teacher at St. Joseph's College in Darjeeling.

A receipt dated September 9, 1965 documenting the dispersal of funds to the Sakya Trizin and the Sakya Settlement at Dehra Dun, by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa on behalf of the Tibet Society of United Kingdom.

A receipt dated from1965 documenting the dispersal of funds to the Tibet Bonpo Foundation by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa on behalf of the Tibet Society of United Kingdom. The Tibet Bonpo Foundation was registered at the Lhalungpa residence in Delhi.

Officials at Hastings House in Calcutta, 1910.

Panchen Lama and Bakula Rinpoche photograped in Kathmandu, Nepal, 1986.

Lobzang Chokyi Gyeltsen, the first person to hold the title of Paṇchen Lama, is pictured in this eighteenth century painting, with Maitreya to the right enveloped in a rainbow. The upper left depicts Cakrasaṃvara and to the right is Paṇchen Lama's teacher Khedrub Sanggye Yeshe. The lower left shows Vaiśravaṇa, with Begtse Chen to the right.

Lama Gyurdrak and LP Lhalungpa photographed with Canadian High Commisioner James George and family, Delhi, late 1960's. 

Dudjom Rinpoche with lamas in Kalimpong,