Phajo Drugom Shigpo

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Phajo Drugom Shigpo (1184-1251) was a Tibtan Buddhist.

[edit] Biography

Just before he passed away, the First Gyalwang Drukpa Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje told his nephew and Regent, Onre Darma Sengye (1177 - 1237), "A Khampa son from Kham is coming. But he won't meet me. You look after him. Send him to the southern valley that has been visited and blessed by Orgyen Padma Jungne. He will be of great service to the Buddha Dharma."

Tharpa Gyaltsen was born at Babchu Tashigang in Kham, Tibet, in 1184, amidst many miraculous signs. Like Tsangpa Gyare, he is also said to be a descendant of the Gya (Chinese) clan. He began his studies under a Nyingma master at the age of 7. At the age of 12, he was ordained by a renowned master named Tharpalingpa and received instructions on Dzogchen Nyingthig. Then he did prolonged meditation at Lingkar Drak, a place blessed by Guru Padmasambhava.

One day he learnt of the spiritual reputation of Tsangpa Gyare from some traders of Jang Taklung. Merely hearing the name of Tsangpa Gyare generated a deep sense of devotion in him and tears came to his eyes. Moved with great devotion, he made up his mind to go to Ralung to see Tsangpa Gyare. He sought his teacher's permission to go on a pilgrimage to Lhasa and Samye. After receiving the remaining instructions from his teacher, he set off on his journey. It took him almost a year to reach the U-Tsang region of Tibet.

While in Samye, he heard the news of Tsangpa Gyare's passing away from two ascetics and he fainted. When he regained his senses, he heard about Onre Darma Sengye, the Regent of Tsangpa Gyare at Ralung, whose spiritual attainment was equal to that of Tsangpa Gyare. At the age of 33, Tharpa Gyaltsen arrived at Ralung. As instructed by Tsangpa Gyare, Onre Darma Sengye took him as his disciple and transmitted the teachings of the Drukpa tradition. After receiving the teachings for about a year, Tharpa Gyaltsen meditated at Jekar and Longdol for three years. He then went back to his master Onre Darma Sengye and related his experiences; after receiving the remaining teachings and empowerments, he again did extensive meditation and realized Mahamudra. Onre Darma Sengye was impressed by his realization and gave him the name Phajo Druggom Zhigpo.

At the appropriate time, Onre Darma Senye told Phajo about Tsangpa Gyare's prophecy and gave him instructions about his activities in Bhutan. In 1224, at the age of 40, Phajo left for Bhutan to carry out the prophecy of Tsangpa Gyare.

At the time of Phajo’s arrival at Lingzhi, in Bhutan, a cow belonging to a local rich man named Matong Gyi, had given birth to a calf with the head of a donkey and a snake as the tail. He approached Phajo for help. Phajo subjugated the evil spirit and it became a normal calf. All the nomads of Lingzhi joined together and offered Jagoe Dzong and all the surrounding land to Phajo.

Then Phajo meditated at Paro Taktsang for a month. In a vision during the meditation, Guru Padmasambhava instructed him to travel throughout the country and meditate at twelve places:

• Four Dzongs (fortresses) - Taktsang Sengye Samdrub Dzong, Tago Choying Dzong, Lingzhi Jagoe Dzong and Yangtse Thubo Dzong;
• Four Draks (rocks) - Gom Drak, Thukje Drak, Tsechu Drak and Dechen Drak
• Four Phugs (caves) - Tsedong Phug, Gawa Phug, Langthang Phug and Sengye Phug.

While staying at Darkar Latse, Phajo met Achog and took her as his consort. A son was born and given the name Dampa. When Phajo went to Wang Sinmo, he met Sonam Paldron, a girl with the signs of a Dakini, at Chagzam Bridge. Since meeting her had been prophesied to Phajo in a vision, he took her also as his consort. The bridge came to be known as Lungten Zampa, or the ‘Bridge of the Prophecy’. Phajo gave her all the instructions and empowerments of the Drukpa tradition. Then they went to meditate at the cave Dodena, where Tago monastery stands today. In a vision during the meditation, Hayagriva instructed Phajo to continue his line through children to spread the traditions of the Drukpa lineage. After nine months Sonam Paldron gave birth to a daughter.

Leaving his consort and daughter at Dodena, Phajo went to meditate at all the places prophesied. One day, while he was at the Dechen Drak, the string of his rosary broke and the beads scattered in all directions. This was an omen that his teachings would spread all over the country in the future.

Prior to the arrival of Phajo Druggom, Nyoe Gyalwa Lhanangpa, a disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon (1143 - 1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyud, had great influence and controlled a large part of western Bhutan. However, the growing reputation of Phajo began to threaten Lhanangpa's influence and power.

Sonam Paldron gave birth to seven sons. One day, Phajo took all seven sons to a bridge and, invoking the deities to decide which of his sons were demons and which would preserve his lineage, he threw all of them into the river. Three sons drowned and four remained unharmed. This story spread across the country and Lhanangpa became envious and hostile. Lhanangpa sent a letter to Phajo saying, "You cannot stay in this country without my permission. You should either look after the monastery of Jathel Dzong or serve as a stable-keeper. Else you will lose your life".

Phajo dismissed the threat and wrote back saying that he had been sent by Onre Darma Sengye in accordance with the prophesy of Tsangpa Gyare, to spread the teachings of the Drukpa lineage. Lhanangpa then hatched plans to kill Phajo, but failed in every attempt. Following these events the people of Paro and other areas began to lose faith in Lhanangpa's leadership and his influence waned. The local leaders who had been supporters of Lhanangpa pledged their allegiance to Phajo. Lhanangpa fled to Bemed in Gitagom valley, where he built the Tokha Dzong fortress. The influence of the Drigung Kagyud dwindled gradually. However, their antagonism towards the Drukpas lasted until the time of Shabdrung in the seventeenth century.

Phajo began to spread the teachings of the Drukpa lineage systematically. He firmly established the Drukpa lineage teachings as the main school in western Bhutan and exerted considerable political and spiritual influence in the rest of the country. He passed on the teachings to his sons and sent them to different areas. They ruled according to the principles of the Dharma. In 1251, at the age of 68, Phajo passed away at Tago.