The Lineage of Zurmang Kagyud

Trung Mase is the very first incarnation of the glorious Lord of Refuge known as Zurmang Gharwang.
He is also the omniscient emanation of the glorious Siddha, Tilopa who was
destined to become the unequivocal holder of the incomparable Zurmang Kagyud Lineage.

 

“The Precious Jewel of Wisdom"

The unbroken line of Gharwang incarnations began in the 14th century. Since then, there has always been a close link between the Karmapa and Gharwang incarnates.


When Rinpoche’s mother was about six months pregnant with him, she attended an important religious ceremony that was presided by the head of the Kagyud Tradition, 16th Gyalwa Karmapa at Rumtek Monastery. During the part of the ceremony of the traditional Tilopa Dance, a jewel offering was made to the Karmapa. Breaking with tradition, he declined and pointed to Rinpoche’s surprised mother, requesting instead that the offering be made to her. He then announced that she was carrrying the 12th Gharwang Rinpoche.

Rinpoche was born in the early morning. His parents dispatched a messenger to inform H.H. 16th Karmapa of his imminent arrival. Before the messenger could leave the house, Saljay Rinpoche (the Karmapa’s emissary) with a party of monks were already at the door with an offering scarf from the Karmapa to ceremonially welcome the child at the time of birth and a letter containing H.H.’s blessings for Rinpoche’s well-being.

The 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche was officially installed on the Lion Throne shortly after his 11th birthday. Thereafter, known as “Karma Gharwang Chochung Tenpa Namgyal Thinley Kunkhyab Pal Zangpo" which means The Victorious Protector of Buddha Dharma with Excellent Qualities and All-Pervasive Auspicious Activities, a name given by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa himself. A worthy name which seems to describe Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche's activities from Tilopa's era.

Tilopa was the first to receive The Dakini Hearing Lineage teachings, from Vajrayogini – the principle dakini and consort of Cakrasamvara. Naropa received the teachings from Tilopa. Then transmitted the essence of Cakrasamvara and Vajravarahi(Vajrayogini) orally to Marpa and restricted this teaching to a single lineage holder for 13 generations. Naropa had documented the teachings and that was passed on for generations to the 5th Karmapa.

The 1st Gharwang was the 13th generation after Tilopa pledged to return upon obtaining teachings from the Celestial Buddha Vajradhara. Known as Trung Mase, he had displayed characteristics of a spiritually advanced person. Having received Kagyudpa and Nyingmapa teachings - including Six Yogas of Naropa, Khandro Nying-Thig (The Innermost Essence of the Dakinis), he went to Tsurphu where the 5th Gyalwa Karmapa was giving teachings.

Whilst approaching the 5th Gyalwa Karmapa (Deshing Shegpa) for blessings at Tsurphu, His Holiness recalled the ancient prophecy of the great Indian Guru Mahasiddha Tilopa and recognised Trung Mase as Tilopa's reincarnate. His Holiness bestowed the name of Mas Lodroe Rinchen Pal - "The Precious Jewel of Wisdom" upon Trung Mase as if in anticipation of Trung Mase's future wondrous incarnations.

Lodroe Richen Pal received the complete oral instructions of the Zurmang Kagyud tradition and many other empowerments from his root lama. The teachings on Kagyudpa and Nyingmapa formed the core of the Whispering Lineage (also known as The Dakini Hearing Lineage). An avid student, Trung Mase engaged in strict retreat for 10 years. After which, he emerged as the most spiritually evolved student of the 5th Gyalwa Karmapa.

Having a learning and insight so extraordinary, he became widely known as Dubchen Mase - "Great Saint" in Tibetan and is equivalent to Mahasiddha in Sanskrit. At the 5th Karmapa's instruction, Dubchen Mase proceeded to Kham and established a monastery at an auspicious site where two great rivers converge before flowing steadily downhill. "A place with many corners" - Zurmang Monastery. Zurmang literally means "Many corners". Since then, Trung Mase became the supreme leader of Zurmang Kagyud, the supreme essential lineage of Drupgyud Karma Kamtsang also known as Khandro Nyengyud. ('Nyen' literally means whispering and 'gyud' refers to lineage.)

Trung Mase predicted that he would gain enlightenment in the Pureland of Bon Nyen Dang with air filled with wondrous fragrance and miraculously dissolved into light and leaving only his hair and fingernails.

All through his future incarnations, Zurmang Gharwang has demonstrated infinite compassion, scholarly characteristics and the occasional artistic personality which produced many fine Buddha images during the time of the 3rd Gharwang. Unfortunately, many of these treasures were lost or destroyed over the long, turbulent years.

The present 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche received many personal empowerments, textual as well as oral transmissions from the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. He also received various teachings from the late Kalu Rinpoche, the late Tulku Urgen Rinpoche, late Khenpo Pema Pedtse, the late H.E Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, ShaMarpa, Tai Situpa, Gyaltsapa and HH Sakya Trizin. In addition, he has studied under the guidance of renowned Buddhist scholars such as Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso and Khenchen Chodak Tenphel. Rinpoche was a top scholar at the Nalanda Buddhist Institute between 1982 and 1991. Since 1987, he has taught extensively in dharma centres all over the world in Europe, America and Asia. The first Kagyudpa Dharma Centre in Indonesia was founded by Gharwang Rinpoche in Jakarta, in 1996.

On completing his formal Tibetan Buddhist studies and English language at 26, Rinpoche left Rumtek to begin the task of establishing his new seat in Sikkim as well as re-establishing its original seat in Tibet and also the setting up of several Zurmang Centres in Singapore, Hongkong, Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Pakan Baru, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur.

Rinpoche’s great humility and unpretentiousness have endeared and awed many who have been fortunate to meet him. In 1990, the Governor of Los Angeles (California, USA) honoured him with the Keys of the City, making him an honorary citizen of the country, with the aim of promoting a better understanding and practice of the Buddha Dharma. With an understanding of the Western culture, and his fluency in English, Rinpoche is able to expound the Dharma clearly and directly, showing how an ancient philosophy is still surprisingly relevant in this modern world, perhaps even more so.

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