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Dorje Rabten

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
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Kangtsa Khenpo Dorje Rabten (rkang tsha'i mkhan po rdo rje rab brtan) was born to a nomadic community in Rudam (ru dam) in 1842, the water-tiger-year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle. The Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang, Mingyur Namkhai Dorje (rdzogs chen grub dbang 04 mi 'gyur nam mkha'i rdo rje, 1793-1870) performed his tonsure ceremony. Dorje Rabten then enrolled at Dzogchen Monastery, Rudam Orgyen Samten Choling Monastery (rdzogs chen ru dam o rgyan bsam gtan chos gling), and Mingyur Namkhai Dorje gave him empowerments for the Jatson Konchi ('ja' tshon dkon spyi), the Nyingtik Tsasum (snying thig rtsa gsum), and the Zabpa Pozhi (zab pa pod bzhi).

He received vows of full ordination (bhikṣu) from the eighth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College (shrI sing+ha bshad drwa), Khenchen Pema Vajra (mkhan chen pad+ma badz+ra, c.1807-1884), who also gave him teachings on the Vinaya, commentaries and instructions on the spoken word (bka' ma) and treasure (gter ma) traditions of the Nyingma school, and a reading transmission of the entire Kangyur. Additionally, he studied astrology, astronomy, Sanskrit grammar and orthography, poetry, and composition with numerous distinguished teachers including Paṇchen Gyurme Tutob Namgyel (paN chen 'gyur med mthu stobs rnam rgyal, b. 1787) of Zhechen Monastery, the third abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Nyidrak Rigdzin Zangpo (nyi grags rig 'dzin bzang po, d.u.); and Dza Patrul Orgyen Jigme Chokyi Wangpo (rdza dpal sprul o rgyan 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po, 1808-1887).

Dorje Rabten served for many years as Pema Vajra's attendant, and continued to study tantra including teachings on generation and completion stage practices of tsalung (bskyed rdzogs rtsa rlung). Additionally, he was known for his skills in making tormas, (gtor ma) drawing and assembling sand Maṇḍalas, playing religious instruments, and monastic ritual dance (gar 'cham). He later composed an extensive notated outline of the ritual dances entitled Zindri Chenmo Dorab Zingyenma (zin bris chen mo rdo rab zin rgyan ma), which became the primary reference manual for Dzogchen Monastery's dance performances.

Dorje Rabten was eventually enthroned as the tenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College. He remained in this position for many years, teaching general subjects such as grammar and poetry as well as topics from the sūtras and tantras.

Some of his prominent students included the sixteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Adro Khenchen Sonam Chopel (a gro'i mkhan chen bsod nams chos 'phel, d.u.), the fourteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Tsering Norbu (tshe ring nor bu, d.u.), and the seventh abbot at Pelyul monastery, Gyatrul Pema Sangnak Tendzin (rgya sprul pad+ma sangs sngags bstan 'dzin, 1830-1892).

Later in life, Dorje Rabten traveled to many of the branch monasteries of Dzogchen, where he gave instructions on rituals and performance, and promoted the 'Three Basic Practices' (gzhi gsum) of the Mahāyāna monastic tradition: the confession-ceremony, the summer retreat, and conclusion ceremony. Khenpo Dorje Rabten passed away around 1901 around the age of sixty. He was succeeded by Purtsa Khenpo Akon (phur tsha'i mkhan po a dkon, c.1837-c.1897) as the eleventh abbot of Śrī Siṃha College.


Source


Bstan 'dzin lung rtogs nyi ma. 2004. Rkang tsha'i mkhan po rdo rje rje rab brtan (mkhan rabs 10). In Snga 'gyur rdzogs chen chos 'byung chen mo. Beijing: Krong go'i bod rigs dpe skrung khang, pp. 423-424. TBRC W27401


Samten Chhosphel September 2012

Source

www.treasuryoflives.org