The great Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, emanation of Lord Avalokiteshvara, embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas, emanation of Lord Manjushri, embodiment of the wisdom of all the Buddhas, was born in the Khön family to Khön Konchog Gyalpo and Sonam Kyid (known as Machig Shangmo). Shortly beforehand, the Lord of Mahadsiddhas, Namkha'upa Chokye Gyaltsen, was meditating on clear light. In his pure vision he saw a rainbow canopy in space over Kar Ghong Valley. In the centre of the rainbow canopy he saw Avalokiteshvara Kharsapani clearly in Bardo form, with one face and two hands in a standing position. His right hand was in the gesture of excellent giving, while between the thumb and ring finger of his left hand he held an utpala flower. He was adorned with rich cloths and precious jewels.

By this sign, Namkha'upa foresaw that an emanation of Avalokiteshvara was about to come into the world as the son of Khön Konchog Gyalpo. The next time he received one of his regular visits from Khön Konchog Gyalpo, Namkha'upa sent him away from his house at sunset, instead of asking him to stay the night. He suggested that Khön Konchog Gyalpo spend the night in the Kar Ghong Valley. This was because he foresaw that Sachen Kunga Nyingpo would be born from the union of Khön Konchog Gyalpo and Machig Shangmo. who was living in the Kar Ghong valley. It was there that Khön Konchog Gyalpo first saw Machig Shangmo, who offered him accommodation. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo was born in 1092, the Male Water Monkey year. His birth was heralded by many auspicious signs.

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo was an extraordinary child. From a very young age, he was skilled in reading, writing and the common sciences such as astrology, Sanskrit, poetry, rhetoric, medicine, gemology, zoology and psychology etc. Through his mastery of these fields of knowledge, he pleased all the people. His Noble Father was the upholder of many teachings and he imparted several to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo.

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo was only eleven years old when his Noble Father entered into parinirvana. According to astrological predictions, his future would be auspicious provided that three things were accomplished in one day: funeral rights were to be performed for his Noble Father, the foundation stone for a new shrine was to be laid and a throne-holder of Sakya was to be appointed as a successor. All three tasks were accomplished accordingly. Bari Lotsawa, a great and respected scholar, was appointed to the throne. Bari Lotsawa told Sachen Kunga Nyingpo that first of all he needed to study. In order to study, he needed to acquire wisdom. In order to acquire wisdom, he needed to practise Manjushri, the wisdom deity. Then Bari Lotsawa gave Sachen Kunga Nyingpo the initiation of Manjushri Arapatsa (one type of Manjushri practice). Sachen Kunga Nyingpo followed Bari Lotsawa's instructions faithfully. However, while practising, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo experienced many obstacles. His Holy Guru told him that in order to pacify these obstacles, he should practise Achala first. When he gave him the initiation of Achala, all Sachen Kunga Nyingpo's obstacles were pacified. Following that, he practised Manjushri. After practising for six months in all, he had a pure vision of Lord Manjushri and obtained infinite wisdom. It was at this time that Manjushri imparted to him the teachings on Parting from the Four Attachments:

If you have attachment to this life, you are not a Dharma practitioner.
If you have attachment to samsara, you do not have renunciation.
If you have attachment to your own purpose, you do not have Bodhichitta
If grasping arises, you do not have the view.

This sacred verse of only four lines contains the pith essence of the Mahayana teachings. It became very famous throughout the Land of Snows and to this day is studied and practised by many great masters. When Sachen Kunga Nyingpo had received this teaching, seven swords connected in a continuous line emanated from the heart of Manjushri and were absorbed into Sachen Kunga Nyingpo's heart. This signified that initially there would be seven outstanding emanations of Manjushri in the Khön family and that subsequently there would be many more emanations of Manjushri in the Khön lineage.

Due to receiving this direct blessing, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo effortlessly mastered many kinds of knowledge. However, in order to comply with the conduct of noble beings and that of the common people, he undertook extensive formal training. At the age of twelve he went to Rong Ngurmik to receive the Abhidharma from Geshe Drang Ti Dharma Nyingpo. Much to everyone's amazement, he immediately understood both the words and the meanings.

Instead of continuing to study Pramana from Kyung Rinchen Drag, the leader of Sakya insisted that he return to Sakya and receive teachings from Bari Lotsawa, who was then advanced in age. So Sachen Kunga Nyingpo returned and received a vast range of teachings of both Sutra and Tantra from Bari Lotsawa. Then, shortly before he entered into parinirvana, in year 1111 Bari Lotsawa passed the throne of Sakya to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo when he was twenty years old. After this, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo continued to receive extensive teachings and empowerments from many great teachers.

He visited his teacher, Namkha'upa, and received teachings on the four classes of Tantra from him. He also received further Sutra teachings, including Shiccasamuccaya, the Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life and the Sutrasamuccaya, etc. After that some senior Sakya people decided that it was time for Sachen Kunga Nyingpo to study the teachings that were held by his Noble Father. Thus he went to receive teachings from Khön Gi Chu Wa Dra Lha Bar, who was in the same lineage as the Khön family. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo proved to be the most intelligent of all Khön Gi Chu Wa's students. He understood each and every meaning of the teachings thoroughly after hearing them only once.

One day he and some other students of Khön Gi Chu Wa Dra Lha Bar attended a public teaching by Lama Seton Kunrig (Sekar Chungwa). Lama Seton asked each of the students where they came from, etc. When Sachen Kunga Nyingpo was asked, he replied that he was from Sakya. Lama Seton observed that his own Lama had once lived there, but had since passed away. When Sachen Kunga Nyingpo told him that he was the son of Khön Konchog Gyalpo, Lama Seton replied in disbelief, saying that Khön Konchog Gyalpo had no son. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo's Dharma friends explained that he was the son of his Noble Father's later years. When Lama Seton finally realized who Sachen Kunga Nyingpo was, he said that although it is said that the living cannot meet the dead, this had happened. Then he sat Sachen Kunga Nyingpo on his lap and told him that he was an old man who carried within him precious Dharma teachings which he must pass on to him without delay, because he knew that he would enter into parinirvana in the following year. However, circumstances did not permit Sachen Kunga Nyingpo to return and receive teachings from Lama Seton.

Some time later, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo made preparations to invite Khön Gi Chu Wa to give teachings in Sakya. Then he received the news that his Lama was gravely ill and had summoned him to his bedside. When Sachen Kunga Nyingpo reached there, his Holy Guru had already entered into parinirvana. Afterwards he visited Khön Gi Chu Wa's teacher, Mal Lotsawa, and received extensive teachings of both Sutra and Tantra from him. After hearing the teachings only once, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo could master teachings which took most people a lifetime to understand. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo could accomplish the Dharma activities swiftly, while the other students of Mal Lotsawa were still struggling. During this time, Lama Mal Lotsawa was delighted and said that he saw a very auspicious sign which showed that Sachen Kunga Nyingpo would be a great practitioner.

After receiving teachings from Lama Mal Lotsawa, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo left and travelled homewards, giving teachings on the way. He received offerings of seventeen gold coins, which he sent with a yogi to offer to Lama Mal Lotsawa. Later Lama Mal Lotsawa announced that Sachen Kunga Nyingpo was an 'inconceivable' samaya holder and asked Sachen Kunga Nyingpo to return for more teachings. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo later returned to Lama Mal Lotsawa and received many further teachings from him. Lama Mal Lotsawa also bestowed upon Sachen Kunga Nyingpo holy objects along with the sacred mask of a Dharma Protector. This was special mask with the power of communicating with human beings and flying through space. He then spoke to the mask, saying that now that he was so old he didn't need him any more. He instructed the mask to follow the Khön Sakyapa and to obey his instructions and those of his descendents.

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo continued to receive many more teachings and empowerments from other great masters. Then the time came when he wished to receive the full Lam Dre teachings. He inquired which of the disciples of Lama Sekar Chungwa was best qualified to bestow the precious Lam Dre teachings. He was told that the best qualified disciples were the two Shangton brothers. Although the younger brother had died, the older brother, Lama Shang Gonpawa, who was highly learned in the Lam Dre teachings, was alive and living in Sag Thang. Accordingly, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo traveled to Sag Thang. When he arrived, he saw a group of people spinning and asked them where he might find Lama Shang Gonpawa. One of them pointed out a man who was wearing robes and a goatskin vest. This man was spinning and talking idly with others. When Sachen Kunga Nyingpo greeted him and prostrated to him, Lama Shang Gonpawa told him that he looked like he was from a noble family and asked him whether he had mistaken him for somebody else. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo replied that he had not made a mistake, and had come to ask to receive the precious Lam Dre teachings from him. Lama Shang Gonpawa replied that he knew only some Dzogchen teachings which he sometimes imparted, but these would not suit one who was obviously a follower of the new Tantra, such as Sachen Kunga Nyingpo appeared to be. As for the Lam Dre teachings, he knew nothing about them.

From what Lama Shang Gonpawa had said and also judging from the Lama's general appearance and demeanor, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo concluded that he probably really did not have the Lam Dre teachings, after all. Jho Say Odchog's father asked Lama Shang Gonpawa whether it was all right to refuse him like that, since he looked like the son of his Holy Guru's Lama Khön Konchok Gyalpo. Lama Shang Gonpawa replied that if that were so, then there would be a danger of breaking his Samaya by refusing to give the teachings to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. Then he sent him to call back Sachen Kunga Nyingpo and examine his history. After speaking to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, Lama Shang Gonpawa was satisfied that he was the son of Khön Konchok Gyalpo.

He then admitted that he held the precious Lam Dre teachings, but said that as he had never taught them before, he would need time to reflect upon them. He asked Sachen Kunga Nyingpo to return the following spring. When Sachen Kunga Nyingpo returned, Lama Shang Gonpawa discussed with him the three major Tantras related to the precious Lam Dre teachings and was pleased with the answers he gave. He then bestowed the empowerment and preliminary instructions upon him, but on the eve of giving the actual Lam Dre teachings, Lama Shang Gonpawa found that his tongue had become swollen. Therefore he was unable to start giving teachings on the next day. He told Sachen Kunga Nyingpo that there was a breakage of Samaya between them and that Sachen Kunga Nyingpo would need to recite the Hundred Syllable Mantra and make mandala offerings to repair this breakage.

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo thought that there had been no breakage of samaya apart from thinking that Lama Shang Gonpawa did not have the Lam Dre teachings. So he did these practices. When the Lama recovered, he began to bestow the complete Lam Dre teachings and many other teachings also. This was done slowly, over four years, during which time Sachen Kunga Nyingpo thoroughly understood the teachings. Towards the end, Lama Shang Gonpawa told Sachen Kunga Nyingpo that he should not even mention the name of the precious Lam Dre teachings over the next eighteen years. After that, he would be the owner of these teachings and he would then be free to teach them or write them down. He told him that if he decided to concentrate mainly on teaching others, he would benefit countless sentient beings. Specifically, three of his disciples would reach the state of Mahamudra in their present life, seven would attain the state known as 'patience,' which is close to the sate of Mahamudra and many others would attain high realizations.

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo promised to reflect constantly on the precious teachings. At the completion of eighteen years, Lama Aseng requested Sachen Kunga Nyingpo to bestow the Lam Dre teachings upon him. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo regarded the timing of this request as very auspicious. Accordingly, he imparted the Lam Dre to Lama Aseng. From that time onwards he gave Lam Dre teachings many times and wrote many commentaries on the Lam Dre teachings in addition to composing many other religious texts and commentaries.

{ part 2: The Good Qualities of his Realization }