Guru Loden Chokse – The Supreme Knowledge Holder :The Path of Accumulating Wisdom through Study, Contemplation, and Vajrayana Lineage Transmission

Traditionally, the second of the eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava is Guru Nyima Özer whose name translates as “Ray of the Sun,” however, I think it is more useful to skip ahead and introduce the third manifestation because it will help you understand the second. And in turn, the second will help explain the third.

This third emanation is called Guru Loden Chokse, which means “supreme knowledge holder.” Guru Padmasambhava appeared in this world as a perfect buddha in order to benefit all beings. Even before he left the kingdom of Oddiyana, he was already totally enlightened.

Guru Loden Chokse is the emanation of Guru Rinpoche who deals with the removal of ignorance and the accumulation of wisdom through contemplation.

Although he was already an awakened buddha, he demonstrated the way to approach profound knowledge through study and practice for the sake of sentient beings.

After leaving the palace, he wandered throughout the eight great charnel grounds of India. On the external level, he stayed in real cemeteries, eating the offerings to the dead and wearing whatever clothes were available there.

In ancient times, the funerary tradition was to leave a year’s supply of food and some colorful clothing along with the bodies. So there was usually something available, although it was not exactly gourmet fare. It was actually akin to garbage or spoiled food.

While externally utilizing such materials, living in cemeteries, and practicing meditation, on the inner level he began to give elaborate instructions on the nine yanas to all classes of invisible beings. In particular, he gave extensive teachings on Dzogchen.

This period of Guru Loden Chokse’s wandering through all the great cemeteries of India shouldn’t be taken to mean that he was over here today and in that one next week. He could project a different emanation in all eight cemeteries at once or appear with a multitude of emanations in all of the cemeteries at the same time.

Geographically, these eight great charnel grounds do not exist side by side. It could take a few weeks or even a month to walk from one to the other.

According to the Vajrayana, they are located in eight special, secret spots which have natural power and geomantic energy. On the most secret level, these are the locations where the dakas and dakinis are always gathered, ceaselessly performing enlightened activities.

In the Vajrayana, these eight great sites work together like a mystic or esoteric compass. They are very special places where awareness is magnified and the energy is naturally intensified.

According to the inner tantras, these charnel grounds do not merely exist as places in India. Although reference is made to actual sites, some higher tantras indicate that these are not static locations but are spread throughout the world.

The eight great cemeteries are the primary power spots available to help us awaken to our enlightened nature.

As well as giving teachings to invisible beings, Guru Loden Chokse instructed visible beings. In ancient India, certain people of very low caste had the job of bringing the dead to the cemeteries and making any other relevant arrangements. Loden Chokse started teaching these laborers. He also travelled to many other places such as Bodhgaya, where Buddha Shakyamuni was enlightened.

While demonstrating some of the extraordinary signs of his realization near the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, an old lady asked him, “Who is your teacher? To which lineage do you belong?”

Guru Rinpoche replied, “I have no teacher and have no need of one. Neither do I belong to any particular lineage. I am a totally enlightened being, primordially aware.”

The old woman immediately responded by saying, “Oh, that’s not right. Without the blessings of a teacher, you cannot be enlightened. You must have a connection with a master. Lacking that, no one will accept your words.”

He quickly understood the import of the old woman’s statement in relation to making the teaching available to others. To demonstrate the supreme means of approaching the Dharma, “the Supreme Knowledge Holder” began to seek out lineage masters and followed teachings according to their instructions.

This indicates that even if you are already a highly enlightened being, it is still necessary to have lineage connections.

In order to communicate this truth, Guru Loden Chokse proceeded to contact many great masters and receive their teachings.

In ancient times, there was a traditional curriculum known as the ten sciences. One had to be knowledgeable about these to be considered an educated person. The five major sciences are language, art, logic, medicine and the science of mind and meditation.

Guru Loden Chokse went to Bengal in eastern India in order to begin studying. There he met a very old man, who was renowned as a scholar of language. With the exception of a little red in his mustache, his hair was all white.

When asked about the extent of his knowledge, the old man said, “I know all the languages spoken across India, but I am especially expert on the dialects spoken in the areas of eastern India.”

After requesting instruction, the old man accepted Guru Loden Chokse as his student.

At that time, there were four major language groups in India; Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa and Paisacika, as well as 160 local dialects. Although generally familiar with all of these, Guru Rinpoche became a language expert to demonstrate how this knowledge which can be of immense benefit in serving sentient beings.

Those who are seeking enlightenment should not ignore the importance of such learning.

After this, he went to the country of Padmavati in western India, where he met a very famous physician who taught him all about medicine.

Subsequently, he studied logic and reasoning, which are important subjects if we are trying to go beyond the state of direct perception. Analysis and inference are the keys that open knowledge beyond our immediate sense data.

Through reasoning, we can discover many things which are not evident to the five senses.

Guru Loden Chokse also studied esoteric astrology with Manjusri in China and art with Master Visvakarma. In Buddhism, aesthetic expression is divided into the arts of the body, the arts of speech and the arts of the mind. All the arts are contained within these categories.

The fifth science is known as the inner science, which mainly deals with the understanding, characteristics and identity of the mind. This science is the province of the Buddha’s teachings.

Guru Loden Chokse received ordination and instruction in the vinaya, sutra and abhidharma from Ananda, the cousin and attendant of Buddha Shakyamuni.

He received outer tantra teachings and quickly actualized all the realizations as they are described in the texts.

The renowned Master Gomadevi, daughter of King Jah was one of the human teachers who introduced Guru Loden Chokse to the Mahayoga teachings.

He then received the entire Mahayoga teachings from Buddha Vajrasattva in the Akanistha, the Pure Land of Vajrasattva.

Having manifested there in an instant, he heard Vajrasattva reciting. The moment he requested the Mahayoga tantras, also known as the eighteen great tantras, Vajrasattva transmitted them in their entirety.

Guru Loden Chokse received the thirteen Anuyoga teachings in the All-pervading Blue pure land from Buddha Vajradhara. These are also known as the five great sutras and the eight great points.

The first human Dzogchen master, Garab Dorje, was Guru Loden Chokse’s source for the Atiyoga teachings as well as the Buddha Samantabhadra, who resides in the pure land of the dharmadhatu realm, free from all complexity.

Finally, to complete his studies, Guru Loden Chokse went to the famous Master Manjusrimitra, the direct disciple of Garab Dorje.

After requesting instruction, Manjusrimitra told Guru Loden Chokse that he could not teach him. Instead, he was directed to a dark and frightening charnel ground in the west where there lived a great dakini known as Laygyi Wangmo, the Dakini of Deeds.

Manjusrimitra explained that she could give Atiyoga instructions.

🌿 To be continued…

📚 Source
The Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava
Teachings by Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche
English Translation by Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche

📖 English Article:
Guru Loden Chokse – The Supreme Knowledge Holder

📚 Read the complete series:
The Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava