Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s1.t7.6

v1.c7.s1.t7.6

Zhang tshal pa brtson vgrus grags, also known as Bla ma Zhang, was born in skyyi shod (present-day Caibazhu Village) in Lhasa, Tibet, with original name of “dar ma”. Because Bla ma Zhang’s father was a layman Buddhist who practiced Tantric Buddhism, Bla ma Zhang was edified by his father and obtained insight into Buddhism. At the age of nine, he began to study esoteric Buddhism and toured mdo khams. At the age of 26, he received Bhikshu precepts and was given the name of zhang tshal pa brtson vgrus grags. In 1153, he was granted an opportunity to meet sgam po ba tshul khrims snying po, nephew and disciple of Dog polha-rje and became his disciple to study the tantra of dwags po bkav brgyud including Mahamudra. In 1175 CE, bla ma zhang built tshal pa dgon in Caigongtang Village nearby Lhasa and developed disciples to teach Buddhist doctrine with the support of Tibetan aristocratic descent Gar Family. In 1187, he built tshal gung thang dgon in the vicinity of tshal pa dgon and both tshal gung thang dgon and tshal pa dgon were well-known temples of tshal pa bkav brgyud.