Interpreting Lama Teacher Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo

Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo was born in  1012. Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo is known as a great translator of the early Nyingmapa Tradition. Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo traveled extensively and studied in India with many teachers.

The life of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo

In this portion, we are going to learn about the life of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo. After that, we will learn about the short etymological description of the word Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo itself.

Etymology of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo

Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo is known as Dharmabhadra in Sanskrit. Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo is also known as rong Zom Cho’s Kyi Bzang PO in Tibet. He translated many works on the secret mantra, some of which are preserved in the Tengyur and some of which did not survive.

Previously, we learn about the life of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo with Go Lotsawa.

 Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo with Go Lotsawa Thangka

The thangka of Rangzom Chokyi with Go Lotsawa is from Tibet. It is made in between 1600 – 1699 AD. Rangzom Chokyi with Go Lotsawa is from Jonang (Sakya) and Buddhist Lineage. The size of the painting is 99x56cm. The base of the painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn about Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo.

Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo is widely known as Rongzom Mahapandita, Rongzom Dharmabhadra, or simply as Rongzompa. Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo was one of the most important scholars of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Together with Longchenpa and Ju Mipham, he is often considered to be one of the three omniscient writers of the school.

Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo’s elder contemporary Atisa considered Rongzompa to be an incarnation of the Indian Acarya Krsnapada the Great. The Tibetan historian Go Lotsawa said of Rongzom that no scholar in Tibet was his equal.

A.W. Barber writes that Rongzom was the first to receive the entire Dzogchen teachings of both Vimalamitra and Vairotsana after the time of those two masters. According to the Blue Annals, Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo received the Semde teachings of the Dorje Dudjom transmission line.

Previously, we learn about the life of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo and the representation of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo with Go Lotsawa. Now, we are going to learn about Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo with Amitabha Buddha.

Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo with Amitabha Thangka

The thangka of Rangzom Chokyi with Amitabha is from Tibet. It is made in between 1700 – 1799 AD. Rangzom Chokyi with Amitabha is from Nyingma and Buddhist Lineage.  The base of the painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. This painting is from a private collection.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn about Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo with Guru Dragpo, Shri Devi Dudsolma, and Marpa Chokyo Lord, etc.

At the top center of the Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo, there is the presence of is Amitabha Buddha.

Guru Dragpo

Guru Dragpo is at the left of the Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo in the thangka. Guru Dragpo is also known as a meditational form of Padmasambhava.

Shri Devi Dudsolma

Shri Devi Dudsolma is at the bottom right of the Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo in the thangka.

Marpa Chokyo Lord

Marpa Chokyo Lord is known as the founder of the Kagyu Tradition. This teacher does not have any attributes that can positively identify him as Marpa. In fact, there are many attributes and iconographic features in the composition that point, to the identification as Marpa Chokyo Lord who is called a previous incarnation of Tantra.

Marpa typically has his hands in the double earth touching gesture. Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo is not typically or ever depicted sporting a kila peg in his belt. Marpa is also not normally associated in any special way with Amitabha Buddha situated in the sky above.

The deity in the upper left corner, Guru Dragpo, is specific to the Nyingma Revealed Treasure’ Tradition and not associated with Marpa in any way. The protector deity in the lower right corner is associated with the Kagyu Tradition but also common to the Jonang Tradition of Taranata.

Previously, we learn about the life of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo,  the representation of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo with Go Lotsawa, and the presentation of Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo with Amitabha Buddha. Now, we are going to learn about Rangzom Chokyi Zangp with Sadhu Bhagwan Mahakala.

Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo with Sadhu Bhagavan Mahakala Thangka

Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo with Sadhu Bhagwan Mahakala is from Buddhist lineage. This thangka is from a private collection.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn about Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo.

Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo with Mahakala Thangka

In the thangka, at the top of the Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo, there is the presence of Vajrakila. At the bottom center of the Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo, there is the presence of Sadhu Bhagavan Mahakala.

Previously, we learn about the life of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo,  the representation of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo with Go Lotsawa, and the presentation of Rangzom Chokyi Zangpo with Amitabha Buddha. Finally, we learn about Rangzom Chokyi Zangp with Sadhu Bhagwan Mahakala.

Vajrakilaya Thangka

Vajrakilaya is the wrathful Heruka Vajrakilaya is the yidam deity. This Thangka is handpainted in Bhaktapur Nepal by Master Thangka Artist.

Buy Vajrakilaya Thangka