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Khenchen
Ngawang Palzang
(Khenpo Ngaga,
Khenpo Ngakchung,
Khenpo Ngagi Wangpo)
(1879-1941)
 Amidst
“positive, marvelous omens” the holy guru Khenchen
Ngawang Palzang was born
into a humble nomadic family known as Nyoshul near the mountain range
of Shampo
Rong in Katok, one of the twenty-five principal holy sites in eastern
Tibet.
From a very early age he excelled in learning, Dharma activities, and
was
recognized as a tulku. Ngawang Palzang’s first mentor was
Lungtok Tenpai Nyima
Gyaltsen Palzang. Fulfilling his guru’s prophecy, Lungtok
came to to Ngawang
Palzang’s region and established his principal monastic seat
in this verdant
valley. Lungtok took the boy under his care making him his heart son.
For six
years Lungtok conferred on Ngawang Palzang all of the tantras,
explanatory
commentaries and pith instructions of the secret Nyingtik teachings of
utter
lucidity in their entirety, including The Four Higher
Collections of the
Heart Drop. Ngawang Palzang became his
guru’s
single inner heart son and a master of the ultimate lineage of
realization.
Lungtok
encouraged Ngawang Palzang to continue his studies so that he might
benefit others, and to that end, insisted that he go to Katok Monastery
where he held the office of Abbot for thirteen years. He was a source
of learning and spiritual attainment, having trained thirty-seven great
khenpos and presided over thirty thousand ordinations during his
tenure. He founded shedras at Palyul and Dralak Monasteries,
institutions that continue to uphold their traditions of teachings
today. Thus Ngawang Palzang was truly Vimalamitra returning in
accordance with that master’s promise to come back to Tibet
once
every century. During Ngawang Palzang’s lifetime he had three
visions of the Omniscient King of the Dharma, Longchenpa, who passed to
him the enlightened intent of the ultimate lineage, the realization of
great perfection, so that he attained the most sublime siddhi. |
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