Prophesies regarding Jikten Sumgön

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

Like many great beings of the past, Jikten Sumgön's birth and subsequent activities was prophesied in many different sources. Although his future root-lama, the glorious Phakmo Drupa was renowned as having five hundred monk disciples "with white parasols" (a sign of great accomplishment and teachers in their own right), he repeatedly told his assembly that his successor would be a practitioner with lay-vows (Tib. genyen) from Kham. Although outwardly this successor will appear to be merely an ordinary lay-follower, in reality he will become a bodhisattva on the Tenth Ground. 

Furthermore, in the Perfectly Increasing Wisdom Sutra the Buddha prophesied, "In the degenerate age, north of the Vajra-throne (i.e. Bodhgaya), in the northern snow ranges there will appear a being called 'Ratna Śrī.' He will benefit my teachings and be renowned in the three worlds." In the Gongdü Prophecy (part of the massive 13-volume Lama Gongdü cycle of termas revealed by Sangye Lingpa (1340-1396)), it is stated that, "At a place called 'Dri,' the source of Dharma, Ratna Śrī will appear in the Year of the Pig. He will gather a hundred thousand fully ordained monks. After that, he will go to the eastern Abhīrati Buddha-field and there he will be called 'Stainless White Buddha' and will have a large retinue."

Furthermore, in the Gyalpo Kathang, it was predicted, "From glorious Samyé, to the northeast, at a place called 'Drigung,' the source of Dharma, the Lord-King Trisong Detsen will be born in the Year of the Pig as the Buddha Ratna Śrī. He will gather a hundred thousand bodhisattvas. He will go to the Abhīrati Buddha-field and be called Stainless White Buddha. In that Buddha-field, he will become the Fully Perfected King." 

As Nāgārjuna, Jikten Sumgön taught the Mahāyāna sutras and in particular taught the Middle Way teachings. During the Buddha's lifetime, he was Vimalakīrti ("Stainless Glory") who was inseparable from the Buddha himself. In yet an earlier time, many kalpas ago, he was a complete Buddha by the name of "Lamp of Nāga Lineage" (Lurik Drön).

Return to Timeline