The first Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, Karma Tashi, recalled that he was a manifestation of Terton Migyur Dorje. In some prophecies, Karma Tashi was predicted as the incarnation of the condensed essence of Sangdag Dorje Cho, Kungawo, Lotsawa Vairotsana, Shudpu Palkyi Senge, the Yogi of Riwo Palbar, Minling Terchen, Gaden Tripa, the Throne Holder of Gaden, Ngawang Chogden, the tutor to the seventh Dalia Lama, and the Vidyadhara Migyur Dorje. Specifically, he is said to be the mind emanation of Terton Dudul Dorje with Gyarong Wontrul Pedma Kundrol Namgyal as the body emanation and Kathog Drimed Shing Kyong as the speech emanation. A prophecy in the Vidyadhara Terton Jatson Nyingpo’s revelations says: “In the Drichu River valley, a child with the name Karma will be born.”
In accordance with these prophecies, in the year 1728, the Earth Monkey year corresponding to the twelfth Rabjung of the Tibetan calendar, the first Kuchen Rinpoche, Karma Tashi, was born into the ancestral heritage of Kunzang Sherab, in the town of Ahchog. From the first Drubwang Padma Norbu, he received the Vows of Refuge and the entire ocean like empowerments and teachings of the golden dharma lineage of the Palyul Tradition. In particular, as Drubwang Padma Norbu’s closest heart disciple, he received the experienced-based teachings on the Non-dual Great Seal Mahamudra and Great Perfection Ati Yoga, Nam Cho teachings of Buddha in the Palm of the Hand, including secret oral instructions on practising the clear light awareness as the path. Karma Tashi was enthroned as the fourth throne holder of the Palyul tradition by Drubwang Pedma Norbu, thirteenth Karmapa Dudul Dorje and the tenth Zharmapa Chodrup Gyatso. He then took the vows of full ordination from Situ Chokyi Jungney and received the name Karma Chopal Zangpo.
Realizing that this doctrine of realization must be upheld through the experience of actual practice, he built a new traditional retreat centre in the monastic complex, below the existing retreat centre. These new facilities were complete with private water passageways and doors plastered with mud. With immense compassion Kuchen Rinpoche bestowed major empowerments, transmissions and teachings to his disciples. Karma Tashi strictly enforced the rules at the monastery and made many new improvements. His miraculous ability to uphold, protect and increase the doctrine of the great secret vehicle was phenomenal.
It is prophesied in the termas that “China and Gyarong will be at war for thirteen years. In the end, a powerful adept of tantra will put the war to the end.” During the war between the China and the king of Gyarong – Tsenlha Rabten, Karma Tashi was invited to China. King Tsenlha Rabten’s Guru was a powerful Bonpo lama and by the power of black magic, this Bonpo lama caused a storm of stones to descend upon the Chinese troops. Karma Tashi gazed at the storm of stones and suddenly the storm was reversed. For the sake of protecting the Chinese soldiers, Karma Tashi produced many special protection cords which were so potent that they shook with energy. Not even a single soldier was harmed after receiving the cords, which protected both body and mind from the fear of weapons. King Tsenlha Rabten of Gyarong and his Bonpo priest lost the war and, by the force of karmic results, the flag of China flew victorious in all directions.
The Chinese emperor, Chan Lung was overwhelmed with faith and gratitude, and to honour Karma Tashi, an official palanquin and a certificate written in gold, proclaiming his great achievements were offered to him. The palanquin was exceptionally beautiful, engraved with golden letters in his honour and adorned with silken banners. The emperor also offered eight precious seals made of gold, silver, ivory, jade, and other gems to Karma Tashi, which were placed inside a sandalwood and ivory box with eight partitions; each seal having hand carved snow lion handles that were to be worn on the body, and an additional gold lettered document of praise. He authorized Karma Tashi as the Royal Guru of China and bestowed the title Tai Shree upon him. Other offerings that the emperor made to Karma Tashi included the yearly harvest of an entire field of rice, priceless riches such as gold, silver, precious royal treasures and hand-woven gold brocade.
When Karma Tashi returned from China, he offered a great amount of the hand-woven gold silk brocade and other precious riches to the Kathog monastery. By this time, all the great lamas of Kham were disciples of Karma Tashi, of whom the two foremost disciples were Karma Lhawang and Karma Dondam.
At the age of sixty three, having completed his enlightened activities for the sake of sentient beings, he dissolved his mind in the great sphere of truth. The stupa containing his precious bone relics was exquisitely crafted out of Chinese bronze and placed inside the Chag-dra-Khag temple of Palyul monastery. This completes the biography of the Fourth Throne Holder of the Payul Tradition, the first Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, Karma Tashi, also known as Chopal Zangpo.
Enhancing the pleasure garden of accomplishment
Is the glorious supreme dharma sun,
Whose radiance unfolds the excellent petals
In the lotus garden doctrine of statement and realization.
By Rigzod Editors
