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THE
SIX ORNAMENTS OF NAROPA
The Priceless Treasures of the
Drukpa Lineage
H.H. the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa in
the Six Bone Ornaments of Naropa (1992)
The
origin of the Six Ornaments of Naropa goes back to the
eleventh century. At this time, the Tibetan translator
Marpa Choekyi Lodro of Lhodrak visited India three times
and Nepal four times, encountering hundreds of erudite and
accomplished Masters.
His
principal Gurus were the learned Naropa and Lord Maitripa
from whom he received the complete empowerments, and the
essential instructions that contain the ultimate meaning
of all the Sutras and Tantras. Under these Masters, he
also studied the extraordinary teachings of Mahamudra and
the Six Yogas of Naropa. By perfectly accomplishing those
practices, he obtained full and ultimate realization.
Finally,
Lord Naropa declared to Marpa: "The blessings of
Master Krishnacharya breathed life into the lineages of
Eastern regions, the Master Aryacharya has blessed the
lineage of the South, and the King Indrabhodi transmitted
his spiritual influence to the Western lineages. I bestow
the waves of grace to the lineages of the North, the Lands
of Snow. You have nothing more to do here - return to
Tibet. I impart to you the power of my legacy; I appoint
you my regent on the Roof of the World. The Land of Snow
abounds in potential disciples, worthy vessels for my
teachings."
Following
this declaration, Lord Naropa offered to Marpa the bone
ornaments, which he was wearing and his rosary of rubies,
as well as other ritual objects. Lord Naropa laid his
noble hands upon the head of his regent Marpa, blessed him
and gave him more instructions and then left to engage in
victorious activity in all directions, beyond mundane
existence.
Thus
the Lord Marpa returned to Tibet. He released there the
essence of the teachings, turning the wheel of ultimate
truth for innumerable amount of students. Amongst his
disciples were 'The Four Major Spiritual Sons' to whom he
fully transmitted the four streams of oral instructions
which he held.
One
of these four great disciples was a sage inclined to give
harmoniously flowing and ample explanations, like pearls
of a necklace. His name was Ngokton Choku Dorje
(1036-1102) and to him Marpa gave the particular
transmission of the four classes of Tantras: root texts,
sadhanas, essential commentaries and instructions. Marpa
also entrusted him with the ritual objects which were the
supports for the practice of Naropa and his Six Ornaments,
announcing to Ngokton in a prophetic manner, " Keep
these. Now for your forthcoming descendents, until the
seventh generation, simply knowing how to hold vajra and
bell will be sufficient for the Master himself to bestow
the waves of grace."
As
he had prophesized, the Six Sacred Ornaments remained the
possession of the Masters of the lineage of Ngok until the
advent of the seventh generation, and they were venerated
as devotional support.
Then
came the time when the Seventh Ngok, Ngokton Jangchub
(1360-1446), encountered the Gyalwang Drukpa - Kunga
Paljor, the Second Incarnation. Ngonton Jangchub then
granted the Gyalwang Drukpa the totality of the teachings
transmitted in the lineage of Ngok, and offered him the
Six Ornaments and the initiation vase of Lama Ngok,
amongst other treasures. By proclaiming him holder of his
teachings, he finally declared: "The Dharma returns
in the hands of its Sovereign!" and he then announced
that the Victorious Dragon was the Incarnation of the Lord
Naropa.
Since
then the Incarnations of the Gyalwang Drukpa have
successively inherited the Ornaments, which they kept as
devotional support. The Gyalwang Drukpa offered them for
viewing so that those fortunate beings who see them may
accumulate merit.
Extracted
from "The Wand that Opens the Eyes and Dispels the
Darkness of Mind", prepared by Drukpa Plouray
(France) for the Grand Naropa Ceremony in July 2004. To
obtain a copy of this wonderful collection of carefully
compiled biographies of the Gyalwang Drukpas, please write
to Drukpa Plouray at dttl@club-internet.fr.
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