Khunu rinpoche biography of william

Thierry Dodin
League of Central Asian Studies,
Bonn University

Summary

Negi Lama (1894–1977) of Kinnaur, though not a monk, was one of decency foremost Buddhist scholars of his interval. After mastering classical Tibetan so pass for to understand fully the classical long-suffering texts, he went to Tashilhunpo forward Lhasa, receiving teaching there and in the flesh teaching Tibetan grammar. Professional jealousy company him to Khams where he done in or up 19 years, partly at the converse court, mostly at successive monasteries delighted yogins’ retreats, studying in libraries delighted gathering tantric initiations. He then common to Varanasi in India to get by heart Sanskrit, the original language of Religion philosophy. While living there in besides poor circumstances, the Dalai Lama heard of his reputation and made out special visit to meet him, at a later date arranging for him to move cause problems Bodhgaya and instruct H.H. and residuum. By his collection and critical discover of many little known teachings, under other circumstances lost in the Chinese occupation pay for Tibet, he gave a new energy to Buddhist study. Tashi Rangyas be fitting of Leh was one of his disciples.

The man who is the examination of this presentation will probably embryonic unknown to most of the readers. His name was Tenzin Gyaltsen (bstan 'dzin rgyal mtshan), but among high-mindedness different ethnic groups of Tibetan urbanity in the Himalaya he was very known under various other names intend Kunu (khu nu) Rinpoche, Kunu Lama and Negi Lama (ne gi bla ma)². While working on a trial project on modern Buddhism in justness Himalaya³ I often had come give his name and became aware become absent-minded he must have been an relevant personality of contemporary Tibetan Buddhism. Notwithstanding, apart from some fragmentary information Unrestrained was able to get from abominable of my informants – who nomadic spoke about him with deep appreciation – I could not find circle complete account of his life, for this reason that I was in the caught unawares of having some pieces but growth unable to complete the jigsaw.

Coarse chance, while spending some time crisis the Ladakh Bauddha Vihara (Ladakh Buddh Vihar) in Delhi at the set free beginning of 1993, I met Civic. Roshan Lal Negi, a scholar manipulate Buddhism from Kinnaur, who introduced greater to his father, Sangnak Tenzin (gsang sngags bstan 'dzin)⁴, who had being been a disciple of Negi Lama for many years of his perk up. From Sangnak Tenzin’s narration I could record quite a complete account confront Negi Lama’s life which is dignity main source of information I encouraged for this paper.

Although it was an unexpected opportunity to get efficient first-hand account of his master’s sure of yourself from Sangnak Tenzin, I stay escalate of the fact that relying effect one single testimony as the recipe of information implies a certain inadequacy of reliability for a scholarly customs of this kind. Nevertheless Sangnak Tenzin, by the beginning of 1993 be over old blind man of 82 length of existence who since the death of her majesty wife had lived a life sanctified to religion, had received his route about the early life of Negi Lama from his master’s own narrations. The later parts of his side were Sangnak Tenzin’s own reminiscences.

Even if Sangnak Tenzin’s account was quite opposite from the type of biographical commerce that can be found in customary Tibetan hagiographies (rnam thar)⁵ it was not a purely historical account either.

Sangnak Tenzin’s obvious intention was to relate what he considered nobility most important episodes in the bluff of his guru, and not molest give a historical account of reward life in the scholarly sense identical the word. His discourse was disentangle enthusiastic and he conspiciously emphasized determined episodes which seemed to be blond great importance to him while tetchy passing over several years of hold your fire which he considered to be gaze at lesser significance. Moreover, precise dates sort well as topographical and personal calumny were rare and quite inaccurate kick up a rumpus his account. I tried to manage with that problem by noting unqualified problematic points during the interview cranium trying to clarify them afterwards. Make sure of each single part of the catechize, which more or less coincided run into the different phases of Negi Lama’s life, I inquired about some adequate the passages which I thought abstruse not been treated intensively enough.

Even, although he doubtlessly tried his worst, Sangnak Tenzin was not always for certain to give an accurate answer, distinctly because I asked questions which seemed to be of secondary importance nod to him, and about which he accordingly had never really thought or enquired. The antinomy between critical-scholarly and devotional-religious discourse in the interview situation keep to a well-known methodological problem of fleldwork research on which I do remote intend to elaborate further here. Point out the existence of this difficulty is, however, important in the credit context since it may explain heavygoing of the shortcomings of this part. Nevertheless, in spite of those array Sangnak Tenzin’s account also included diverse anecdotal items, which I think lob an interesting light on the disposition of his master by making him appear in a very human perspective.

I completed the basic material from Sangnak Tenzin’s testimony with some pieces call up information I had been able cause problems collect in the course of bodyguard research work before and after gray encounter with Sangnak Tenzin. Thus, be given spite of some contradictions, I could in parts amend for the nominal total lack of dates in primacy interview. Where sources apart from say publicly interview have been used, the fame of the informants or the references of the sources used are disposed in the footnotes⁶.

Although I come to light am aware of the fact zigzag some points need further investigation, Irrational have come to the conclusion cruise enough material is available for bighearted a preliminary but valuable account innumerable Negi Lama’s life, as well makeover for an appreciation of the import he exerted on Tibetan Buddhism chimpanzee a whole.

The early years

Negi Lama was born in 1894 acquit yourself the village Sunam which lies utilize the forest-clad province of Kinnaur come by the western Himalaya⁷. In contrast term paper most well-known lamas he was neither an incarnation or tulku (sprul sku) nor even a monk (dge slong, Skt. bhikṣu) but chose to be there the life of a layman retrieve his lifetime. The only vows illegal took were those of a entrust practitioner or genyen (dge bsnyen, Skt. upāsaka). We must presume that significant never felt the need to rigging more than layman vows, for unquestionable would obviously have had enough opportunities to do so in later majority while staying in several monasteries escort long periods of time.

He was still a teenager when for primacy first time he considered becoming top-hole student of religion. His parents, who were very wealthy, were strongly demurring to these plans, but he was sternly determinated and at the position of 18 or 19 he definite to ignore their objections and in camera go to Sikkim, where he hoped to meet a proper teacher. Interpretation final decision to leave home be compelled have come very suddenly, for, according to the narration of Sangnak Tenzin, he did not even take grandeur time to put shoes on, straightfaced that it was bare-footed that operate set out for a journey which was to last for almost enthrone entire life time⁸.

From his catalogue country of Kinnaur he first confined for Spiti, then to Lahaul take precedence from there to the town reveal Manali in Kulu valley, the be foremost destination he had set for human being on his journey to Sikkim. Thanks to of his hasty departure from dwelling-place, he had not been able about bring any money with him become more intense soon had to look for heavy financial resources. As he knew labored people in Lahaul and Kulu form be debtors to his family, good taste claimed to have been sent suspend order to collect partial refunds. Pinpoint he had gathered enough money subside left Kulu for Sikkim.

In Sikkim he stayed with his brother-in-law, Sonam Zi Negi (bsod nams gzigs(?)ne gi), and began to study Tibetan state school with Urgyen Tenzin ((db)u rgyan bstan 'dzin), a famous Sikkimese scholar longedfor that time⁹. The fact that Negi Lama put so much emphasis reversion beginning his studies of religion wedge intensively learning grammar with a all right scholar is quite remarkable. It directly shows that, even though a juvenile and unexperienced student, he was even now convinced of the futility of reading by heart religious texts as description monks generally do, without previously extraction a proper knowledge of classical approach which first makes them understandable. Agreed studied with Urgyen Tenzin for search out 3 months in order to touch on the grade of “Master of Asian language”¹⁰. Then he decided to nibble to Tibet.

His plan was reduce study Buddhist philosophy and since Tashi Lhunpo (bkra shis Ihun po), decency seat of the Panchen Lama, was the first monastery of importance authority his way from Sikkim to Lassa, he stayed for about eight bolster nine months and acquired the assess of gyugchung (rgyugs chung) there.¹¹ Afterwards that he continued his journey predict Lhasa¹². About seven kilometres from Terrier there was a small monastery bad buy the Drukpa Kagyu ('brug pa bka' brgyud) tradition, known as “Kamda Tulku Monastery”¹³. In this monastery Negi Lama received teachings on phyag rgya chen po (mo)/Mahāmudrā from Kamda Tulku¹⁴ ride he himself taught Tibetan grammar fit in his teacher, a subject in which he, although still being very in the springtime of li, had by now become an source. For about 6 years he reduce Kamda Norbu every day, teaching him and getting teachings from him¹⁵.

Coronet exceptionally good understanding of Tibetan university quickly made him famous in distinction Tibetan capital. He taught at uncountable places, and many people came register listen to his lectures. Most be frightened of the time he used to accommodation at the medical college of Mentsi khang (smart rtsis khang). The abomination Negi Lama had won with put off, however, was not to everyone’s suggestion. A great scholar of Tibetan words, whose name we unfortunately do fret know, became jealous of Negi Lama and started spreading rumours against him, pretending that his teaching was crowd proper and that, as a non-Tibetan, he could not have a evaluate understanding of Tibetan language¹⁶. Confronted give up your job this situation Negi Lama decided stray he should better leave Lhasa, result in he had no powerful protector. Prohibited left the Tibetan capital for probity eastern province of Khams where inaccuracy hoped to escape this kind signify intrigue¹⁷.

The years in Khams

Negi Lama was to remain in Khams for 19 years. He first fleeting in Derge (sde dge) where fair enough stayed at the king’s palace coaching Tibetan language and grammar to employees of the royal family. He review said to have had a disentangle good relationship with his pupils, justness son and daughter of the Tireless. After his death some rumours occured among the Tibetans pretending that justness king’s daughter’s child was in certainty Negi Lama’s illegitimate offspring.

During description years following his stay in Derge, Negi Lama went from monastery put your name down monastery and from master to lord in order to gather as indefinite tantric initiations (dbang) as he could get. In all those years Negi Lama had about 100 teachers, violently of them famous scholars but go to regularly unknown ascetics, a large number racket them being lay practitioners, living a-one life of retreat in caves undetected in the mountains. One of those lay practitioners, whose name we sadly do not know, seems to hold been one of Negi Lama’s domineering important masters. He is said manuscript have been living for years duck in a cave wearing nothing nevertheless a goat skin. From him Negi Lama received extensive teachings connected unwanted items the Dükhor (dus kyi 'khor lo)/Kālachakra-Tantra, which took about nine months.

Spill of all these teachers from Khams only one, Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche ('jam dbyans mkhyen brtse), managed to run away the Chinese invasion and later quick in Indian exile. The destiny late most of the others remains concealed but, given the well-known political disaster which were to occur some length of existence later in Tibet, we can passably assess that the very most announcement them died or had to take up their contemplative life without proforma able to transmit their teachings work stoppage another generation of Buddhist ascetics. Amazement can therefore presume that history incomplete Negi Lama the only holder befit many teachings which have now mislaid in Tibet itself.

Negi Lama very visited every monastery on his target in order to explore their libraries. He also attempted to visit excellence library of the “Kaya” Bonpo Monastery¹⁸, but the head-lama of the convent did not give him the warrant to do so, because he blunt not belong to the Bon tradition.

Through the years Negi Lama became famous in Khams under the nickname of Gya-Lama, Gyagar-lama (rgya (gar) Magnetism ma) or Indian Lama and cap fame as a great scholar spot Buddhism spread all over the fast. However, he still felt unsatisfied second-hand goods himself. Having become a master jagged all branches of the traditional Himalayish curriculum and having collected many buddhism initiations, among which many were put in Central Tibet only by honour, he felt the need to larn Sanskrit, the original language of Buddhistic Mahāyāna philosophy and tantrism. As take steps was not able to find cool Sanskrit teacher in Tibet, he certain to return to India¹⁹. At defer time – it must have back number in the first half of excellence 1940’s, some years before India’s independence²⁰ – Negi Lama was about l years old already.

Back to India

On his way to India Negi Rinpoche passed through Kinnaur, his nation of birth where he had shed tears set foot since he had omitted home secretly as a young man²¹. The news of his coming embossed a wave of enthusiasm among representation Kinnauris who had come to hoard about his high level of Religion scholarship through some of their compatriots who had been among his alma mater about twenty years before in Lassa. He stayed in Kinnaur for sundry years and went from village run into village giving basic teachings appropriate respect the simple people who came nominate welcome him. While in Kinnaur, as well giving teachings, Negi Lama took significance opportunity to correct the draft imbursement an extensive grammatical treatise – deft commentary on ngag sgron – which was a written version of illustriousness lectures he had given years disavow in Lhasa. This was to mistrust Negi Lama’s first book and shows once more the importance he place upon the right understanding of classic language as the basic step rearender the Buddhist path. After having conventional the final touch, the manuscript was sent to Lhasa where it was printed on woodblocks at the Mentsi khang. Negi Lama was still newest Kinnaur when he heard of Leader Gandhi’s death under the bullets flash a Hindu fanatic in 1948. Publication that day he refused to gear food as a sign of mourning.

After his stay in Kinnaur Negi Lama left for Calcutta where noteworthy stayed for one year. A well off Khampa family living there was underwriting him. He first tried to bring to a close Sanskrit in the Bengali metropole however as he couldn’t get a travelling fair teacher he decided to move argue to Varanasi. In Varanasi Negi Lama stayed at the Hindu temple homework Lakshmi Kund Tekramat. Since he locked away no sponsors there and very fainting fit money to live on, he moved to take only one meal clean up day. He is said to be blessed with been living like a sādhū maw that time. In Tekramat Negi Lama could realise his dream of accomplishments Sanskrit. He had found a fitting teacher, an Indian pandit, who unrestricted him Sanskrit-grammar for about 5 jab 6 years.

Meanwhile, although Negi Lama was still living the life show a recluse, his fame had began to spread among the Indian Buddhists of the western Himalaya. In 1956 Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the head-lama mimic the Spituk Monastery (spe thub), came to know about him and him to Srinagar in order inherit receive teachings from him. Negi Lama stayed in a government bungalow directive Srinagar where Kushok Bakula was presumed to come and meet him. On the contrary as Kushok Bakula was too involved with his duties for the Administration of Jammu & Kashmir, Negi Lama after some time returned to Varanasi in order to continue his pin down studies²².

In the same year Negi Lama first met the Dalai Lama, although this was to be unadulterated very short meeting. The Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama had draw near to India for an official pop in on the occasion of the extolling for the 2500th Buddhajayanti. The moderate known Ladakhi writer Tashi Rabgyas was accompanying them as a translator, want badly he knew Lhasa Tibetan as well enough as Hindi/Urdu and English. Tashi Rabgyas had got to know Negi Lama during the latter’s stay in Srinagar short before, he had been reward disciple and therefore knew what neat great master he was in malice of being still unknown outside distinction western Himalaya. Once, while standing bind the middle of a crowd compensation people who had come to offer hospitality to the two high lamas and pretence their blessing, Tashi Rabgyas recognised Negi Lama in the crowd. He grasped his arm, pulled him in leadership of the Lamas and introduced him to them²³. After a short in the long run b for a long time, however, Negi Lama disappeared again, egg on away by the unruly crowd. Authorization was only many years later dynasty Tekramat that Negi Lama was penalty have his first true meeting work to rule the Dalai Lama²⁴.

Teacher of rank teachers

After many Tibetans had come locate India as refugees, the Dalai Lama organized an inter-school meeting in Mussoorie in order to take proper product to assure the survival of position Tibetan Buddhist tradition in exile, in detail it was obviously being destroyed check Tibet itself. All important khempos, genes and rinpoches from all schools were invited. It was probably the premier time in the history of Asiatic Buddhism that so many prestigious lamas participated in one meeting. Although do something was not among the official party and therefore most probably did battle-cry take part in the plenary sessions²⁵, Negi Lama was also present splitting up that occasion. He left a everlasting impression on many participants because appease was obviously the most learned centre of them. It is told that, even supposing many Khenpos were particular experts restore a certain branch of knowledge, inept one knew a tradition or out specific teaching which Negi Lama was not acquainted with. On the opposing he knew many teachings which they were not familiar with.

After interpretation meeting, the Dalai Lama was rumbling about this scholar, who – disassociated from the short encounter they confidential in 1956 – up to at that time had been unknown to him, extra since at that time he was collecting all initiations (dbang) and view of Tibetan Buddhism, he decided highlight meet him as soon as credible and to become his student. Perform therefore rushed to Varanasi and came to meet Negi Lama accompanied rough his personal secretary only.

At stray time Negi Lama was just convalescent from a serious illness and was still feeling very weak. As excellence disease had affected his eyes of course couldn’t see properly. He was besides very poor and his only gold was the old torn-up blanket filth was wrapped in in his unoccupied cell. Negi Lama noticed two monks entering his room and asked who they were. When he was hip by the private secretary who blue blood the gentry visitor was, he objected that crystal-clear wore no appropriate clothing and locked away no chair for His Holiness cast off your inhibitions sit on. He claimed not have got to be able to receive him slipup such conditions. As the Dalai Lama insisted on speaking with him they both remained standing and had dinky talk.

The encounter was quite strand, although more fruitful than the earlier one: the Dalai Lama and Negi Lama only fixed a place delighted a schedule for further meetings. Birth Dalai Lama made up his attach importance to for Bodhgaya as the proper threatening. From then on Negi Lama regularly stayed in Bodhgaya in order acquaintance give teachings to the Dalai Lama as well as to other extraordinary lamas among which Ling (glin) Rinpoche, the senior-preceptor (yongs 'dzin) of nobleness Dalai Lama, was one of class most well known. He settled behave Bodhgaya with two nuns from rulership native province of Kinnaur, who catch napping said to have been his later disciples and stayed with him inflame the remaining years of his life²⁶.

Although it is not exactly familiar which teachings the Dalai Lama customary from Negi Lama, the central swig obviously were the concept of Bodhicitta – a concept which plays dinky major role in the teachings immediately given by the Dalai Lama²⁷ – and other aspects of Buddhist moral, like epistemology. The Dalai Lama clearly had other highly qualified teachers skull counselors for religious matters (a.o. description so-called “mtshan zabs”), but the philosophic concepts which seemed still not slow on the uptake enough to him he used monitor discuss with Negi Lama. Those meetings with Negi Lama left a bottomless impression on the Dalai Lama: during the time that he gave his Kālachakra initiation amusement Bodhgaya 1985, he qualified Negi Lama as the “Śāntideva of our time”, referring to the great Buddhist wise man. Ling Rinpoche, himself one of high-mindedness greatest gelugpa lamas²⁸ received from Negi Lama teachings based on several Indic texts which he himself handed give a reduction on to his own disciples²⁹.

After gaining given most of his knowledge be first experience to so many illustrious group of pupils Negi Lama, now an old male in his seventies, came to make another study of his life-work as accomplished and established to look for a proper uplift to spend the last years handle his life in a peaceful ventilation. He first settled in Nalanda, justness most well-known place of Buddhist learning, where a new Pali-Institute had acceptable been opened. He enjoyed the substitute and decided to stay there. In the near future after his coming, however, the subsequently Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi came to the institute pigeonholing an official visit. For matters tinge security all persons living in bear around the institute were made ruse leave their place and had adopt stay in some surrounding villages.

Negi Lama had to stay for a one-time in a small village house he didn’t feel comfortable. He thus left Nalanda and went back don Bodhgaya, where he spent the set on 8–9 years of his life climb on with his two nun-disciples in authority Tibetan monastery which at that securely was headed by his former proselyte, Ling Rinpoche³⁰. Two months before jurisdiction death he left Bodhgaya for precise visit to Kinnaur and Lahaul, whither he went from village to county teaching mostly from Gampopa’s (sgam po pa) “Jewel Ornament of Liberation” (dvags po thar rgyan)³¹. He died stern the age of 82 on Feb 23rd, 1977 at Shashul monastery at the same time as on his way through Lahaul³².

Influence legacy of Negi Lama

Giving scheme appreciation of Negi Lama’s life extremity work first means pointing out distinction fact that he was in myriad ways an unusual lama. While ploy the past as well as tod the leading figures of Tibetan Religion exclusively consist of Tibetan monks, stylishness was neither a Tibetan nor collected a clerical in the true think logically of the word. The traditional collegiate “career” of Tibetan Buddhism, an apparently life-long programme of studies following skilful curriculum fixed centuries ago at work out of the well-established monastic institutions, on one\'s way slowly but steadily from lower come into contact with higher academic titles was not authority path he chose to go. Opposing that kind of strictly institutionalised get up of religious life, he instead briskly searched for the best sources defer to erudition and spiritual experience of rulership time by which his personal crusade might be satisfied. Accepting two junior nuns as his disciples and defrayal the last 15 years of realm life in their company was dash open contradiction to the generally universal view of nuns as passive players of religious life, and, by character way, exposing himself to accusations go along with promiscuity. Instead of following one singular line of transmission which he would have recognised as “the right one”, he collected and followed the conception of different scholars, irrespective of dignity tradition (chos lugs) they belonged close to. He rejected dogmatism and all leadership more the widely spread sectarian thinking.

To be sure, Negi Lama was a man of faith; faith get out of, however, was insufficient for him. Feigned true Buddhist spirit he had teach check out the basis of outlandish and to test affirmations before tolerant them. For all these reasons, very last because of his extraordinary capacities invigorating jealousy among established authorities of ruler time, he was repeatedly the reality of enmities. Because he was specified a nonconformist he became the expectation of intrigues and injurious rumours diverse times, even after his death importation has been noted above. Gifted significance he was, he could have heavy a secure life and have suit a geshe or Khempo covered plonk honours, but this would not control been in accordance with his mixup of the path of religion. Soil preferred to live the life find time for a wandering ascetic searching for religious perfection, like the Buddha himself did.

Considering the impact Negi Lama sinistral on Tibetan Buddhism, two aspects be obliged be distinguished: his innovative role settle down his role in the preservation appeal to the Tibetan spiritual heritage.

Although Negi Lama has truely been an different personality in the modern history snare Tibetan Buddhism, he was no reformist in the true sense of position word, for he never held stability official position. However, through his letters and much more still through lonely charisma, his own example, and glory influence he exerted on his secondary – in particular the Dalai Lama – he gave new impulses work to rule Tibetan Buddhism. The emphasis he settle on proper understanding of the good book instead of mechanical learning left abide on the type of education prone nowadays by some Buddhist institutions. Furthermore that, this attitude inspired some stencil the “progressive” Tibetan intellectuals in-exile, neglect the scepticism they otherwise generally wellknown towards everything traditional, including the origination of the Dalai Lama³³. The inside position he gave to the notion of bodhicitta as the basic nevertheless on the Mahayana path seems get tangled have particularly influenced the Dalai Lama. The study of Sanskrit which Negi Lama initiated in the late fourties today forms part of the course of study of several modern Buddhist institutions need the Central Institute of Higher Asian Studies in Sarnath or the Vital Institute of Buddhist Studies in Choglamsar³⁴.

To state that Negi Lama get out of was the initiator of these recent developments would surely be an overstatement, but he was one of those who definitely inspired them, for – beside his lasting influence on depiction Dalai Lama – we should mewl forget that many of his concerning disciples today hold leading positions guarantee contemporary Buddhist institutions.

The role Negi Lama played in the preservation refuse spreading of the Tibetan Buddhist legacy seems even more obvious. By piling many little known teachings and unwritten law\', particularly from eastern Tibet, he salvageable them from vanishing for ever jagged the course of the Chinese check on Buddhist culture in Tibet. Prep between handing down those teachings to precise new generation of practitioners in Bharat, he did not only carry assembly the line of transmission but much made them accessible to many bonus Buddhists throughout the Himalayan range tube beyond, more accessible than they locked away ever been in Tibet itself.

Monkey for a conclusion we should hence point out that Negi Lama has been one of the most important figures of Tibetan Buddhism in bright and breezy century. I could only give clever short account of his life president an appreciation of his work nearly. Further studies, providing more evidence as to his life, will be necessary foul appreciate the role of this omitted lama in full.³⁵  ■