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Marpa Lotsawa

A traditional depiction of Marpa painted on a

rock on Holy Isle, Firth of Clyde

Marpa Lotsawa (10121097), sometimes known fully as Lhodak

Marpa Choski Lodos or commonly as Marpa the Translator, was a

Tibetan Buddhist teacher credited with the transmission of many

Buddhist teachings to Tibet from India, including the teachings and

lineages of Vajrayana and Mahamudra.

Biography

Born as Marpa Chkyi Lodr, in Lhodrak Chukhyer in the southern

part of Tibet, to an affluent family, he began studying at a young age

but was wild and untamed compared to other children. Marpa first

received instruction for three years at Mangkhar with Drokmi Shakya

Yeshe and mastered Sanskrit. He decided to travel to India to study

with renowned Indian Buddhist masters. Marpa returned home to

Lhodrak and converted his entire inheritance into gold to fund his

travel expenses and to make offerings to teachers.

Marpa journeyed first to Nepal where he studied with Paindapa and

Chitherpa, two famous students of Naropa. Paindapa later

accompanied Marpa to Pullahari, near Nalanda University, where

Naropa taught. Marpa spent twelve years studying with Naropa and other great Indian gurus, most prominently

Maitripada. After twelve years he set forth on his journey back to Tibet to teach and continue his dharma activities.

Marpa was to travel to India twice more and Nepal three more times and studied with Naropa and other great

teachers including Maitripa. On his third visit to India, Naropa, who was engaged in tantric practices, proved

difficult to find. However eventually Marpa found him and received the final teachings and instructions from

Naropa. It was then that Naropa prophesied that a family lineage would not continue for Marpa, but that his lineage

would be carried on by his disciples. Marpa now had received the full transmission, so Naropa formally declared

Marpa to be his successor although he had other major disciples including Paindapa, Chitherpa, Shri Shantibhadra or

Kukuripa, and Maitripa.

Upon his return to Tibet, Marpa spent many years translating Buddhist scriptures and made a major contribution to

the transmission of the complete buddhadharma to Tibet. Marpa continued to practice and give teachings and

transmissions to many students in Tibet. After his second visit to India Milarepa became his disciple, who inherited

his lineage in full. Marpa lived with his wife Dakmema and their sons in Lhodrak in the southern part of Tibet.

Marpa is said to have founded Stongdey Monastery in Zanskar in 1052 CE.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zanskarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stongdey_Monasteryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Milarepahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddhadharmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naropahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dharmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maitripadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nalanda_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naropahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chitherpahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paindapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drokmi_Shakya_Yeshehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drokmi_Shakya_Yeshehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mangkharhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tibethttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lhodrak_Chukhyerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mahamudrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vajrayanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tibethttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddhismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tibetan_Buddhismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lotsawahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AMarpa_painting_Holy_isle.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Holy_Isle%2C_Firth_of_Clyde

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References

[1] (http://www.buddhist-temples.com/buddhist-monastery/ladakh/stongde. html)

Further reading

The Life of Marpa the Translator. By Nalanda Translation Committee, Shambhala Publications, Inc. 1982. ISBN

1570620873, ISBN 1569571120

External links

Biography at kagyu office.org (http://www.kagyuoffice.org/kagyulineage.marpa.html)

Marpa - His Life, Teachings and Images (http://www.kagyu-asia.com/l_marpa_1_index.html) The most

extensive biography of Marpa available online.

http://www.kagyu-asia.com/l_marpa_1_index.htmlhttp://www.kagyuoffice.org/kagyulineage.marpa.htmlhttp://www.buddhist-temples.com/buddhist-monastery/ladakh/stongde.html

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Article Sources and Contributors 3

Article Sources and ContributorsMarpa Lotsawa Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=469175535 Contributors: Andres rojas22, Baodo, Billlion, Booladc, CFynn, Dakinijones, DiHri, Ekajati, Eu.stefan,

FeanorStar7, Good Olfactory, Hottentot, IPSOS, John Hill, JonHarder, KittenKlub, LilHelpa, Orgyen108, Rich Farmbrough, RogDel, Sandover, Seemagoel, Sylvain1972, Technopilgrim,

TheNeon, Tibetan Prayer, Wikifarzin, 10 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:Marpa painting Holy isle.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Marpa_painting_Holy_isle.jpgLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Contributors: Dieter

Schuh, Mistvan, RHaworth

License

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