3 years ago
Gyalwa Longchen Rabjam Drime Ozer' commonly abbreviated to Longchenpa, was the reincarnation of Princess Lhacham Pemasal. He was the daughter of King Trisong Deutsen, thus direct student of Guru Rinpoche.
He was born in the Tra Valley of Southern Tibet in 1308. He began his Dharma training at the age of seven, when he received empowerment and teachings from his father, a tantric yogi. At twelve, he took novice monastic vows at Samye monastery.
Longchenpa studied and practiced teachings from a variety of lineages and masters. He received and mastered so many teachings. As result he became known as Samye Lungmangwa, “the One of Samye with Many Transmissions.”
He was abbot of Samye, Buddhist monastery but he spent most of his life travelling or in retreat. He is associated primarily with the Nyingma lineage. He also studied many teachings of the Sarma, or New Schools eg. Kalachakratantra, Chöd, and the Lamdre teachings of the Sakya lineage.
Rigdzin Kumaraja was Longchenpa's most important master. Rigdzin Kumaraja empowered Longchenpa as the lineage holder for these teachings.
Longchenpa also reawakened a connection with the Heart Essence of the Dakinis, the Dzogchen lineage of Guru Rinpoche, and practiced these teachings for years in isolated mountain retreats.
Longchen Rabjam's influence upon the Nyingma lineage is unparalleled. He united and compiled teachings concerning the two main Dzogchen Heart Essence lineages in a work entitled Four Volumes of the Heart Essence, adding three commentaries of his own to the teachings of Guru Rinpoche and Vimalamitra.
He also wrote the famed Seven Treasuries, texts that present various aspects of the view, meditation, and conduct of the Nyingma school's nine yanas.
Longchenpa passed away at the age of fifty-six in 1364. He left over two hundred and fifty treatises. His works are comprehensive and authoritative works regarding the view and practice of the Great Perfection.
