52848979.Odren Palgyi WangchukImage courtesy of Treasury of Lives.

Odren Pelgyi Wangchuk is another of Guru Rinpoche's twenty-five disciples, though not that much material on him is available in English. A short bio is available on the Treasury of Lives site. There is also a limited amount of resources on the TBRC site.

He is mentioned in some key texts, including Gyalwa Jangchup's Lady of the Lotus Born where Guru Rinpoche bestowed the outer, inner and secret root sadhanas of the Mamos and the Newap and Legye, and entreating him to practice in the caves of Yerpa.

In the Ri-me Philosophy of Jamgon Kongtrul, Ringu Tulku explains how Rongzompa and Jamgon Kongtrul identify him as being a key link in the Ma and Nyak lineage of transmitting the inner tantras from India, particlarly for Samyak Heruka.

Karma Chagme in Naked Awareness relates how Odren Pelgyi Wangchuk was liberated when Guru Rinpoche gave  the following advice:

"The spirit of awakening appears but is empty; it is empty, clear light; and it is without anything to modify or cultivate.  Rest in the state of self-arisen, great, primordial wisdom.  Not shifting away from this is called spiritual awakening."

Treasury of Lives is a biographical encyclopedia of all known past masters of Himalayan religion. We at Shambhala Publications are working with them to bring you this blog series to bring together our books and the art collected by the Treasury of Lives. This is the third installment. Past installments can be found in the Treasury of Lives category under From the Editors. TreasuryofLiveslogo