Phakmo Drupa Passes Away

 
"The Serkhang Chojé," a most blessed statue of Kyobpa Rinpoché enshrined in the Golden Temple at Drikung Thil Monastery.

Finally, in 1170, Phakmo Drupa began to manifest signs of illness. Although his disciples attempted to restore their Lama back to health, Phakmo Drupa left for the pure Buddha-fields. A radiant golden vajra with a garuda in the center was seen emanating from Phakmo Drupa’s heart and dissolving into Jikten Sumgön’s heart. This indicated that the lineage and blessings were completely passed on to Jikten Sumgön.

After the Phakmo Drupa’s funeral rites were completed, Jikten Sumgön doubled his efforts in meditation practice. When obstacles started to arise in his practice he decided to consult one of Phakmo Drupa’s senior disciples, Tsilungpa. Together with Tsilungpa, Jikten Sumgön consulted the Lamdré texts (which Phamodrupa himself was not only Gampopa's foremost disciple but also an expert on the Lamdré system) but to no avail. Jikten Sumgön also studied and meditated on the Lamdré text of Jomo Lharjema (i.e. Machik Zhama) and later requested teachings from other Lamdré masters. He continued to travel around and receive teachings from various teachers. Of particular note were Dakpo Gomtsül (1116?-1169, the nephew of Gampopa) and Lama Zhang (1123-1193, founder of Tselpa Kagyü and disciple of Dakpo Gomtsül). From Dakpo Gomtsül, Jikten Sumgön received the teachings on “Four Yogas of Mahāmūdra.”

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