Yeshe Tsogyal
Enlightened female Buddha and Mother of Tibetan Buddhism.
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Yeshe Tsogyal (c. 757 or 777 – 817 CE), also known as "Victorious Ocean of Knowledge", "Knowledge Lake Empress", or by her Sanskrit name Jñānasāgarā, attained enlightenment in her lifetime and is considered the Mother of Tibetan Buddhism. She is the highest woman in the Nyingma Vajrayana lineage. Born a princess in Kharchen, Tibet, she fled from arranged marriages until captured for Emperor Tri Songdetsen. She later studied Buddhism with Padmasambhava, who became her main karmamudrā consort. Yeshe Tsogyal revealed terma with Padmasambhava and was the main scribe for these terma. She also hid many of Padmasambhava's terma on her own, under his instructions for future generations. She lived for approximately 99 years and is a preeminent figure in the Nyingma school and a role model for contemporary spiritual practitioners.
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- Tibetan Buddhism
Facts from the source article.
Biography and historicity
At least four English translations and one French translation of her spiritual biography exist. According to legend, she was born in the same manner as the Buddha, with a mantra sounding as her mother gave birth painlessly, and is considered a reincarnation of the Buddha's own mother, Maya. Her name, meaning Wisdom Lake Queen, derives from her birth causing a nearby lake to double in size. From a young age she wanted to pursue dharma practice rather than marry, and she ran away but was brought back by force. After the marriage, Tri Songdetsen invited Padmasambhava to Tibet and gave Yeshe Tsogyal to him as an offering. Padmasambhava freed her, and she became his main disciple and consort.
Spiritual life and attainments
Yeshe Tsogyal asked about her inferior female body, and Padmasambhava advised that a woman's body is an asset for enlightenment, saying the basis for realizing enlightenment is a human body with no great difference between male and female, but if she develops the mind bent on enlightenment the woman's body is better. After many years of study and meditative practice, her level of spiritual awakening equaled that of Padmasambhava. She spent many years in isolated meditation retreat and accomplished several cycles of tantric practices including Vajrakilaya, Zhitro, tummo, and karmamudrā practice. She received the empowerment to practice Zhitro from a wisdom being. Among lay Tibetans, she is understood as a fully enlightened Buddha who takes the form of an ordinary woman to be accessible. At her death she had eleven main students, both women and men. All her final teachings were given at the request of one of these eleven disciples. Other lineage holders include King Mutri Tsenpo, Prince Murum Tsenpo, Princess Ngang-chung Pelgyi Gyelmo, and several Nepalese figures.
Emanations
Yeshe Tsogyal is considered a manifestation of the Bodhisattva Tara and an emanation of Samantabhadrī, Prajnaparamita, and Vajrayogini. Padmasambhava predicted she would be reborn as Machig Labdrön, with her consort Atsara Sale becoming Topabhadra, and her assistant Tashi Khyidren reborn as Machig's only daughter.
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