On the second day (7th February 2025) of the 39th Kagyu Monlam teachings on the life of Jowo Je Atisha, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa (repeating most of the teaching he gave in 2023 on the topic), explained the following:
- Reasons/signs why the tantric yogi Atisha took monastic ordination after years as a secret mantra yogi practitioner, and from whom.
- Atisha’s names and their meaning.
- Atisha’s three main gurus he studied the Mahayana texts with, and the three main gurus he studied Bodhicitta with, and reasons for his most beloved one, Serlingpa (Suvarṇadvīpa).
There was some additional information in this year’s teaching, but generally the content was very similar to the 2023 one.
In sum, Atisha took ordination as a monk around the age of 29 after spending many years practicing secret mantra and engaging in unconventional yogic conduct with consorts in undisclosed/fixed places, and so on. About how he had signs and dreams that led him to think that he would not progress on the path to enlightenment unless he took monastic ordination and vows. The 17th Karmapa observed that this was different from other Indian Mahasiddhas who had generally taken ordination first as monks, then left the monasteries to practice secret mantra yogic conduct.
However, before taking ordination, Atisha sought advice from his very knowledgable landlord about which Vinaya school he should become a monk in. The landlord asked Atisha if he intended to continue the secret mantra practice even as a monastic, and when Atisha responded affirmatively, the layperson advised him to take ordination in a less strict Vinaya tradition, the Mahāsāṃghika School. Atisha then took ordination at the age of 29 years old in a temple near or at Bodh Gaya.
After becoming a monastic, the 17th Karmapa taught that Atisha had twelve main gurus, although he got teachings from many gurus in total, some say hundred of teachers (at least thirty teachers). There were three main gurus who taught him the Mahayana texts, at the great centre of learning of Vikramashila, such as Adhutivipa, and Shantipa.
These gurus were proponents of the Mind-Only/Yogacara school, contrary to the oft-repreated notion in Tibet that almost all the Indian Mahasiddhas were Prasangika Madhyamika (as the 17th Karmapa observed in 2023). Even Je Atisha himself said he was a proponent of the Yogacārā view, which he stated had helped him much better understand the Prasangika Madhyamaka school view.
Here is a video clip from this year’s teaching of 17th Karmapa speaking about the causes and conditions that led to the Secret Mantra yogi practitioner of many years, deciding at the age of 29 to take full ordination as a monk:
It was interesting to note how Atisha intended to keep practising Secret Mantra as a monastic, epsecially as Atisha himself stated in his text Lamp on the Path to Enlightenment, that monastics should not take the second and third empowerments of Highest Yoga Tantra, due to their celibacy vows, never mind practice with an actual consort! More on that later in Days 3 and 4.
May it be of benefit!
Written and compiled by Adele Tomlin, 8th February 2025.