Ra Lotsawa - The Translator-Yogi Who Bested 13 Masters

Ra Lotsawa - The Translator-Yogi Who Bested 13 Masters

Ra Lotsawa, recognized as one of the most influential figures in the history of Tantric Buddhism, was known for his humility. Despite criticism from other masters who deemed his deity, Yamantaka with a bullhead, as non-Buddhist, he transformed from a humble seeker of relations to a formidable adept. Engaging in spiritual trials, he bested around 13 masters. Before delving further, let's explore the background of Lama Ra Lotsawa.

1. Ra Lotsawa History

Ra Lotsawa was born in 1016 near the town of Nyalam, 30 km from the Zhangmu border with Nepal and 150 km from Tingri. Legend has it that shortly after his birth, he was taken by a Dakini who revealed diverse realms to him. His father, a Ngakpa practicing Tantrayana Buddhism, imparted Buddhist teachings to Ra Lotsawa. Subsequently, driven by a vision and a dream, he pursued additional teachings in Nepal.

2. Traveling to Nepal to seek Dharma.

Located approximately 30 km from Nepal is the town of Nyilam, the hometown of Lama Ra Lotsawa. During this period, Tibetan masters would often travel to Nepal or India to gain Knowledge and understanding of Buddhism.

3. Heated dispute with a master and lost.

One such master, Lama Ra Lotsawa, journeyed to Nepal, where he had the opportunity to meet the renowned Master Baro. From him, Lama Ra Lotsawa received a wealth of teachings, which he took back to Tibet. Upon returning to Tibet, he engaged in a heated dispute with a master from the area and dared to question his spiritual abilities, leading to an unfortunate defeat.

4. Vision from a Tara Buddha Jetsun Drolma.

After some time, he had a special vision of Buddha Tara, a female deity, who encouraged him to seek more advanced teachings from his guru, Baro. Excited to learn more, he traveled back to Nepal to receive further guidance on the teachings of Yamantaka Buddha from his guru. This particular Buddha is known for his ferocity and represents the ultimate wisdom of Manjushri Buddha. Yamantaka Buddha is said to have defeated the lord of the dead, Yama.

Caution Reminder: We must receive an initiation from a lineage Guru before chanting this precious mantra. After receiving initiation from the Guru and cultivating compassion and wisdom, it is recommended to chant this mantra for the benefit of sentient beings.

If you're interested, the mantra for Yamantaka Buddha is Om Yamantaka Hum Phat.

Image: Yamantaka Diety, Yidam Dorje Jige Jey by Dakinis Art

5. The second heated dispute with a master.

The text states that Lama Ra Lotsawa came back with the Yamantaka Deity. On this occasion, the other master was not able to compete with him. Lama Ra Lotsawa defeated the other master by bestowing a blessing upon him in the realm of Buddha Jamphelyang Manjushiri.

6. The Gentleman, humble yet Powerful.

Upon reading a biography about Lama Je Ra Lotsawa, it is evident that he is a gracious individual who consistently pays visits to other masters while remaining humble and offering gifts. Certain masters expressed their disapproval towards his Yidam, the bullhead Buddha Yamantaka, claiming that it is not a Buddhist deity. Eventually, they attempted to conquer and bestow blessings upon him; it was Lama Ra Lotsawa who blessed them.

7. Passing away of 13 Bodhisattva Masters.

During the time of Lama Ra Lotsawa, it was written that some masters focused on using black magic. Unfortunately, thirteen masters, including Lama Je Marpa's son Je Dama Dhode, passed away while challenging Lama Ra Lotsawa.

These thirteen masters were said to be all bodhisattvas, which is an infrequent occurrence in Buddhist history. To fully understand why this happened, we need to achieve the spiritual attainment of the Lama Ra Lotsawa. That is why Lama Je Ra Lotsawa is one of the most influential masters in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. The masters who passed away are believed to be in the realm of Jamphelyang Manjushiri Buddha.

8. Why did Ra Lotsawa bested 13 masters?

When other masters criticized him for being involved with women and alcohol, he responded by singing a song to them, explaining that practicing the highest level of Yoga requires a consort. He pointed out that Yab-Yum deities are depicted together in tantric temples in monasteries. Some masters agreed with him after hearing his explanation and became his disciples, eventually becoming great masters themselves.

However, some masters continued to challenge him and later passed away. One of the masters even called upon the God of Wealth, Namsay, to take away Ra Lotsawa’s heart, but the God of Wealth failed. This prompted the lama to comment, “Your name is famous, but your abilities are inadequate.”Another master transformed himself into Vajrapani, as huge as a mountain, while Ra Lotsawa transformed himself into Yamantaka and attacked with his horn. The lama was defeated and brought to the land of Manjushri Buddha.

9. The Tantrayana consorts of Ra Lotsawa.

I recently revisited Jetsun Ra Lotsawa's biography and found out that he had five consorts, some were teenagers. In his later years, all five consorts indicated that their time on earth was ending and transformed into light after giving birth to two boys and three girls with him. These children played crucial roles in spreading the Dharma.

10. Ra Lotsawa's biography says he lived 180 years.

In Jetsun Ra Lotsawa’s biography, it is written that he lived to be 180 years old. Even in his 90s, his hair was black, and his skin was in excellent condition. During his lifetime, Ra Lotsawa imparted dharma teachings to Ling Repa, an esteemed master from the Drukpa Kagyu school. Ra Lotsawa was born in 1016, and Ling Repa was born in 1128. When Ling Repa was 20 years old (1148), Ra Lotsawa was 132 years old. Further research is needed to determine Ra Lotsawa’s exact age at that time.

11. Whose emanation is Ra Lotsawa?

Some claim he is a manifestation of Buddha Manjushri because the Yamantaka Deity is the emanation of Manjushri, Jamphelyang Buddha, conquering the lord of Yama in a furious form. In contrast, others assert that he is a manifestation of Guru Rinpoche, as he devoted his later years to renovating the entire Samye monastery.

Image: Ra Lotsawa

12. Day trip to Nyima Tang Monastery.

Nyima Tang is a small village located approximately 30 km from Lhasa. The name "Nyingma Tang" means "sun on the ground."

One day, a local Doctor approached Je Ra Lotsawa for blessings and requested to see a spiritual act that he had never witnessed before. In response, Je Ra Lotsawa presented the sun on the ground, and the village and monastery were named accordingly. The main chapel in the monastery is dedicated to the Medicine Buddha, as it was once a medical college.

13. Powerful Deity Yamantaka.

Yamantaka, also known as the Conqueror or Destroyer of Death, is a significant deity in the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition. Lama Ra Lotsawa brought the teachings of the Yamantaka deity to Tibet from a master named Baro in Nepal. These teachings are considered highly advanced in Tantra. One Yamantaka practice involves 13 deities, including Yamantaka and his consort, Vajra Bhairava. This deity is known to be an emanation of Manjushri Buddha Jamphelyang, conquering the lord of death, Yama. Je Tsongkhapa and his disciples constructed two magnificent statues of Yamantaka in Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery Tantric College using pea-sized mud. They chanted the Yamantaka Buddha Mantra more than 100 thousand times on each piece of mud. According to some, the statue in Sera Monastery is believed to be blessed as it is said to emit heat from the heart.

14. Practicing Bodhichitta is immense.

Centuries ago, a monk would recite countless Yamantaka Mantras but miss practicing Bodhicitta. Despite his power, even the dogs would whimper and flee from him. His teachers advised him to stop chanting and prioritize cultivating Bodhichitta, since all tantric practices depend on it for success. Without bodhicitta, these practices can be harmful, like a snake entering a pipe, only going in one direction. Reading Lama Ra Lotsawa is inspiring, but cultivating Bodhichitta is crucial for optimal results in Tantra.

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16. Conclusion.

The legacy of Lama Ra Lotsawa endures, and simply by hearing his name, may all beings achieve enlightenment. It is not a matter of the Yamantaka deity being the supreme force. Each deity holds immense power, and it's all about how one practices with that deity. This is why it is essential to honor the memory of the remarkable master, Lama Ra Lotsawa. "The Humble yet the Powerful master."

Thank you so much for reading! Writing about a figure of such mastery intimidates me as someone with limited knowledge. However, I have written this article to gain merit by mentioning this great master's name. If there are any mistakes in my writing, I humbly request forgiveness from the Dakinis. Ra Lotsawa Khenno!

According to the biography, during a visit to Nepal in his later years, he observed Rechungpa, a disciple of Milarepa, journeying to Nepal while he was soaring through the sky. They then traveled together to Nepal. Additionally, check out my other article on Milarepa and his final teachings, which are of great value. Feel free to engage in friendly discussions about Lama Ra Lotsawa on Quora. Also, comment if you have any suggestions for improving the article.