K
a r m a . K a g y u . T r a d i t i o n
Pomdragpa Sonam Dorje (1170-1249)
Excerpts from The Garland of Moon Water Crystal by Situ Chokyi Jungnay and Belo Tsewang Kunkhyab
Pomdragpa Sonam Dorje was born at Drikung in Central Tibet. He was a gifted child who mastered reading and writing by the age of five. When he was nine years old he started studying Buddhism with Lama Lhakang Gang.
At fourteen he heard of Drogon Rechen and felt an intense desire to see him, sensing that Drogon Rechen was his destined teacher.
At their meeting Drogon Rechen clearly saw that the child was very gifted and that he would become the next lineage holder. Thus he imparted all the teachings to Pomdragpa who put them into practice and became a great Kagyu master.
His principal disciple was the second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi.
