Sakya Drakpa Gyaltsen

Born like a prince of Sakya yet left the great comfort life and wandered in the mountains of Sakya as a Yogi. In his whole life, he has never shown his back of the body to his Lama as a sign of true devotion. 

Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen is one of my favorite masters from the Sakya sect. The root Lama of the first Pandit in Tibet Jetsun Sakya Pandita. When Jetsun Sakya Pandita asked: Uncle, I have practiced everything as you have said but why does my spiritual attainment have no progress?

Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen: You have taken me as your Uncle so the blessings are little. Later Jetsun Sakya Pandita became one of the wisest masters of Buddhism in Tibet. 

Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen was born in the year 1147; he was the 5th great throne holder of Sakyapa. Ordained as a monk at the age of eight and a great admirer of monastic life, he used to tell the monks to take the vows strictly, and he will serve them with tea.

He received many precious teachings from his father great Yogi Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, his brother, and great master Nyen Phulwa. At the age of tenth, he has taken the Bodhisattva Vow and took diligence in learning the Tantric. 

At the age of eleventh, became his own master and taught the Dharma to a vast group of monks. Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen practiced the Buddha Dharma diligently throughout his life and later received the name as an emanation of Jamphelyang wisdom Buddha. Praised by the Kache Pandita Shakya Shiri as the Tantric holder Guhyasamaja. ( One of the major Tantras and Yidams)

Buddhism flourished during the time of King Genghis Khan in Mongolia through the kindness of the great Yogi Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen. 

In short, he was very generous and he never kept anything with him. Always dedicated to offering spiritual materials to benefit sentient beings. Even when he passed away, there was only one cloth and nothing else. 

Photo: Buddha Vajradhara is the tantric form of Buddha Shakyamuni

Proverbs from Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen

The egg came first or the chicken?

The cause came first or the effect? 

Buddha came first or the Dharma?

1. If can't stay alone, won't attain Siddhi. 

2. Not following an Authentic Lama, what's the point of leaving the hometown?

3. Not practicing the teachings of Buddha, what's the point of only hearing the teachings? 

4. At the time of death, other than Buddha Dharma, nothing can help. 

5. I have heard that it's hard to attain a precious human body. I have heard that it's hard to find an Authentic Lama. I have heard that you have to leave everything and go. I have heard that Samsara is suffering. I have heard that Nirvana is happiness. 

6. I am not a person with merits but having attained the human body and Buddha Dharma prevailed on the world, happened at the same time. The moment I left my hometown and I have found an Authentic Lama, happened at the same time.  The moment I saw the sufferings of Sentient Beings and great compassion has arisen from my heart, happened at the same time. 

7. Put your mind on the Buddha Dharma, even if you are born in hell, there is nothing to regret.  

8. Put your whole life on the Buddha Dharma, even if death comes, there is nothing to regret.

9. In order to acquire merit, you have to take the vow, even if your friends are unhappy, there is nothing to regret.

10. You have to make sure to do things that are not regretful, even if others talk bad about you, there is nothing to regret. 

Conclusion

The biography of Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen is very much different from the other ancestors from the land of snow.  

Every day he will practice Samadhi meditation and compose the Dharma teachings. To please his Lamas, he will always make sure to accomplish the tasks from the Lama. Never showing his back to his Lama. Never do anything to unpleased Lama. Whenever he had doubts about teachings, he will always offer Mandalas to Lama to clear the doubts.

Maha Siddha Drakpa Gyaltsen passed away at the age of 70 during the year 1216 in Sakya town. He passed away at the same place where he was born and it is different from other ancestors. Thank you for reading the short biography of the great Maha Siddha Drakpa Gyaltsen. May everyone get the blessings.