Naropa

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Nāropā (Tibetan; Sanskrit: Nādapradā, 956-1041) was an Indian Buddhist mystic and monk, the disciple of Tilopa and brother, or some sources say partner and pupil, of Niguma. Nāropa was the main teacher of Marpa.

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[edit] Biography

Nāropa was born a Brahmin and from an early age showed an independent streak, hoping to follow a career of study and meditation. Succumbing to his parents wishes, he agreed to an arranged marriage with a young brahmin girl. After 8 years they both agreed to dissolve their marriage and become ordained.

At the age of 28 Nāropa entered the famous Buddhist University Nalanda where he studied both Sūtra and Tantra. He gained the reputation as a great scholar and faultless debater, essential at that time as the tradition of debate was such that the loser automatically became a student of the winner. He eventually become Gatekeeper of the North; engaged in many debates, taught and won many students.

According to his hagiography, one day whilst studying, a dakini appeared to Naropa and asked if he understood the words of the dharma. He replied that he did and when she seemed so happy with his response, he added that he also understood their meaning. At this point the dakini burst into tears, stating that he was a great scholar, but also a liar, as the only one who understood the teachings was her brother Tilopa. On hearing the name Tilopa, he experienced an intense feeling of devotion, and realised he needed to find the teacher in order to achieve full realization. He abandoned his studies and position at the university and set out to find Tilopa.

Nāropa then underwent what is known as the twelve minor hardships in his quest to find his teacher, all hidden teachings on his path to enlightenment. When he finally met Tilopa, he was given the four complete transmission lineages which he then began to practice. While studying and meditating with Tilopa, he had to undergo a further twelve major hardships, trainings to overcome all obstacles on his path, culminating in his full realization of Mahāmudrā. Nāropa spent a total of twelve years with Tilopa.

Later in his life he stayed in Phullahari, where he died at 85. One of the few reliable historical accounts of him comes from a Tibetan translator named Ngatso Lotsawa, who made an effort to visit Naropa at Phullahari while waiting to visit with Atisha at Vikramashila:

“

Because I went alone as an insignificant monk to see the Lord Atisha—and because he tarried for a year in Magadha—I thought I would go see the Lord Naropa, since his reputation was so great. I went east from Magadha for a month, as I had heard that the Lord was staying in the monastery known as Phullahari. Very great merit arose from being able to go see him. On the day I arrived, they said some feudal prince had come to pay homage. So I went to the spot, and a great throne had been erected. I sat right in front of it. The whole crowd started buzzing, "The Lord is coming!" I looked and the Lord was physically quite corpulent, with his white hair [stained with henna] bright red, and a vermilion turban on. He was being carried [on a palanquin] by four men, and was chewing betel-leaf. I grabbed his feat and thought, "I should listen to his pronoucements!" Stronger and stronger people, though, pushed me further and further from his feet and finally I was tossed out of the crowd. So, there I saw the Lord's face, but did not actually hear his voice.[1]

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[edit] Legacy

He is remembered for his trust and devotion to his teacher, which according to his hagiography enabled him to attain enlightenment in one lifetime.

Nāropa is part of the 'Golden Garland', meaning a lineage holder of the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu lineage, and was considered an accomplished scholar. A great meditator, he is best known for having enumerated and developed the six yogas of Nāropa. These practices were designed to help achieve a more rapid attainment of enlightenment.

Many subsequent Kagyus Karmapas have been particularly adept at one or more of these six yogic practices, which were given by the Buddha, and have been passed on through an unbroken lineage via Tilopa to Nāropa to the present day.

He is considered one of the eighty-four mahāsiddhas, the 'saints' of tantric Buddhism. Naropa University was named in his honour.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Davidson, Ronald M. Indian Esoteric Buddhism. pg 317. Columbia University Press, 2003. ISBN-10: 0231126182.

[edit] Bibliography

  • The Life and Teaching of Naropa by Herbert V Gunther. Shambala Editions 1999 Massachusetts. ISBN 1-56957-110-4
  • The Life of Marpa the Translator, Seeing Accomplishes All. Tsang Nyon Heruka Translated by the Nalanda Translation Committee. Shambala 1995 Boston. ISBN 1-57062-087-3 (pbk.)
  • The Life Story of Naropa by Kenpo Chodrak Rinpoche. Published in Kagyu Life International No's 3 & 4,1995 San Francisco.
  • The Golden Kagyu Garland, A History of the Kagyu Lineage, adapted by Bruce Tarver. Published in Buddhism Today Issue 15, 2005
Preceded by
Tilopa		 Kagyupa school Succeeded by
Marpa