Pema Lingpa was hailed as the fourth of the five kingly tertons, or treasure-finders. He was the last of the five pure incarnations of King Trisong Deutsen's daughter, the royal princess Pemasel. His father was Tondrup Zangpo of the Nyo clan; his mother was Trongma Peldzom. Since, in his previous life, he had been the omniscient Longchen Rabjam, his birth, in 1450 C.E. at Mon Bumthang, in Bhutan, was attended by many omens, and he came into this world fully enlightened. Thus, he learned various texts, crafts, and much else, without instruction.

On the tenth day of the seventh month of the Monkey year, 1476, in his 26th year, in the place called Yige Trukma, Padmasambhava appeared to Pema Lingpa. Guru Rinpoche blessed him and placed in his hands an inventory of 108 great treasures. The following year, he brought forth from the famous Lake Mebar the first of the profound treasures of this inventory: the Cycles of the Luminous Expanse of the Great Perfection (dzogchen longsal-gyi kor). Surrounded by a multitude of people, he entered the lake without hesitation, holding a burning lamp in his hand. When he reemerged from the lake, the lamp in his hand still burned, and he carried under his arm a great chest that contained the treasure. Everyone was amazed, and, convinced of his extraordinary qualities, became firmly established in the faith. After that, Pema Lingpa's reputation covered the land of snow like the sun and the moon.

In a similar miraculous way, he discovered the Great Perfection, the Gathering of Samantabhadra's Intention (dzogchen kunzang gong-dü) at Samye Chimpu, a holy area near Samye Monastery. From these two treasure sites, he subsequently brought forth numerous other treasures that form the essential practices of the Nyingma lineage to this day.

Pema Lingpa discovered a profusion of sacramental objects, such as images, books, and stupas. He discovered the flesh of one born seven times as a Brahman, which liberates when tasted. And he discovered images of Guru Padmasambhava. He also unearthed the temple of Lho Kyercu, which had not previously been visible, and which was similar to the temple of Peltsap Sumpa at Samye. The temple he unearthed can still be seen today.

Among the riches Pema Lingpa discovered were the life-supporting turquoise gems of the Dharma King, Trisong Deutsen, the seamless robes of the Princess, a clairvoyant mirror, and many other sublime riches of the royal dynasty.

But although Guru Rinpoche had placed in his hands an inventory of 108 treasures, Pema Lingpa revealed fewer than half of them. And so, when the terton was approaching death, his son asked permission to find others. The master replied, "It will be hard for you to find the treasures, but if you purely guard your commitments and pray to me, you may perhaps find a few minor ones." Accordingly, his spiritual son, Dawa, brought forth some of the treasures.

The vast and wonderful deeds of Pema Lingpa, of liberating and benefiting immeasurable beings, were inconceivable. He prophesied that he would become the Buddha named Vajragarbha in the Buddhafield of the Lotus Array, and that all those presently associated with him would be reborn in that realm as well, and become the disciples of that Buddha.

There is a prophetic declaration among Pema Lingpa's revealed treasures concerning the host of disciples who became his spiritual sons:

Ten thousand will be associated by [the force of] past deeds.
One thousand two will be associated by aspiration.
Those associated through the profound essential point will be eleven.
Seven will be mandala-holders.
And three will be spiritual sons, dear to his heart.

In fulfillment of this prophecy, an inconceivable number of disciples appeared. Among them, the foremost included six treasure-finders who were emanations, six greatly accomplished masters, and six great sons who manifested the signs of accomplishment. Tsultrim Paljor, the great preceptor of Conangpa residence, Nangso Gyelwa Tondrup, and Tulku Chokden Gonpo were the three spiritual sons whose realization was the same as that of Pema Lingpa himself. And among his four sons, his spiritual son, Dawa, who was the emanation of Avalokitesvara, had inconceivable expressive powers of blessing, and his enlightened activities were very extensive. He became one of Pema Lingpa's main lineage holders, and was honored by numerous great masters throughout Tibet.

The transmission of Pema Lingpa's profound doctrines was gradually passed down and propagated by Tulku Natsok Rangdrol and Umdze Tondrup Pelbar, renowned as incomparable doctrine-masters; and by Sungtrul Tsultrim Dorje (also known as the emanation of his spiritual son, Dawa), who occupied a seat at the Lhalung Monastery in Lhodrak. Pema Lingpa's lineage has spread throughout Bhutan and Tibet. Thus, the entire stream of its empowerments, transmissions, and guidance from a number of great masters has continued, unbroken, up to the present.

History & Background