Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje
Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje (Wyl. smin gling gter chen 'gyur med rdo rje) aka Terdak Lingpa (Wyl. gter bdag gling pa) (1646-1714) — a great tertön and the founder of Mindroling Monastery.
Biography
His father was Sangdak Trinlé Lhundrup (1611-1662) and his mother was Yangchen Drolma. He was born on the tenth day of the second month of the Fire Dog year. Together with Lochen Dharmashri, he played an important role in the transmission of the Nyingma Kama, bringing together the Rong lineage of Central Tibet and the Kham lineage of Eastern Tibet. The two brothers also compiled the terma collection known as the Döjo Bumzang, which was a precursor of the Rinchen Terdzö. Terdak Lingpa established Mindroling Monastery in 1676.
His final words (Wyl. 'da' ka'i zhal chems), which were quoted by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo at the moment of his own parinirvana were:
- May appearance, sound and awareness in the state of deity, mantra and dharmakaya
- Merge boundlessly as the display of kayas and wisdoms,
- In the profound and secret practice of the Great Yoga,
- And may they be of one taste, indivisible with the tiklé of the wisdom mind.
His students included the Fifth Dalai Lama, Rigdzin Pema Trinlé of Dorje Drak, Sakya Trizin Kunga Tashi, his own younger brother Lochen Dharmashri and his own daughter Jetsün Mingyur Paldrön.
Further Reading
- Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorjee, The Jewel Ladder: A Preliminary Nyingma Lamrim, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1990