Great Disciples of Atisha: Khuton Choje and Pandita Akaramati
Aside from Dromtonpa, Khuton Choje was also a close disciple of the Indian master Atisha.
During his lifetime, the great Indian master Jowo Je Atisha travelled to Tibet and had many students who went on to become erudite masters. However, his three foremost disciples were Drom Gyalwai Jungne who is also known as Dromtonpa, Ngok Lekpai Sherab and Khuton Tsondru Yungdrung, who is included within the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives.
Khuton Tsondru Yungdrung
Khuton Tsondru Yungdrung (1011-1075 CE) was also known as Khuton Choje. Before meeting Jowo Je Atisha, Khuton Choje was already a great Buddhist master of the highest repute and also the abbot of Solnak Thangpoche Monastery in the Yarlung Valley of central Tibet. The monastery itself was founded in 1017 CE by a group of monks from the Eastern Vinaya tradition who were Lume Sherab Tsultrim’s students. The group were known as ‘seven and a half monks’.
The great Indian master Dipamkara Srijnana Atisha travelled to Tibet and revitalised the Buddhist teaching there.
Solnak Thangpoche Monastery became famous for having been visited by Atisha upon the invitation of Khuton Choje. However, it is said that due to an inauspicious reception, the Indian master left after just one month’s stay, during which time he gave teachings at the monastery. Khuton Choje went after his guru and pleaded with him to return to the monastery. In response, Atisha threw him his ceremonial hat, which eventually became an object of worship at the monastery.
Khuton Choje is perhaps most famous for the special teachings he requested of Jowo Je Atisha, which have since been included within the text known as Book of the Kadam. This treatise contains special instructions that were bestowed by the Indian master to his three heart sons, Dromtonpa, Khuton Choje and Ngok Lekpai Sherab, at a retreat estate in the upper region of Lhari Nyingpo in Yerpa. The book is divided into the Father and Son Teachings, the Father Teachings being those requested by the ‘father’ Dromtonpa and the Son Teachings being the teachings requested by Khuton Choje and Ngok Lekpai Sherab.
Khuton Choje eventually played a significant role in the fusion of the old Buddhist curriculum existing in Tibet, with the new Kadampa materials brought to Central Tibet in the mid to late 11th Century.
Pandita Akaramati
The pandit Akaramati was a great Indian scholar and disciple of Atisha.
Within the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives, there is an Indian master by the name of Akaramati who lived during the lifetime of Jowo Je Atisha in the 11th Century. He was a scholar of the ancient monastery of Vikramashila and was one of the five foremost Indian disciples of Atisha.
We know little else about this great master except that his name in full was Dharmakaramati and he was associated with the epithet ‘Lion of Madhyamaka’, which was undoubtedly given to him due to his unparalleled mastery of Madhyamaka philosophy. He is also notable for having composed a commentary to Atisha’s Satyadvayavatara or ‘Entrance to the Two Truths’, which is a treatise dealing with a core aspect of Madhayamaka philosophy.
Vikramashila was one of the most important monastic universities of ancient India alongside the great Nalanda monastery.
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Both Khuton Tsondru Yungdrung (1011-1075 CE) known as Khuton Choje and Pandit Akaramati was two foremost disciples the great Indian master Jowo Je Atisha . Khuton Choje a great Buddhist master and also the abbot of Solnak Thangpoche Monastery in the Yarlung Valley of central Tibet. Khuton Choje is famous for the special teachings which was included within the text known as Book of the Kadam. This treatise contains special instructions that were bestowed by great Indian master Jowo Je Atisha. Khuton Choje eventually played a significant role in the fusion of the old Buddhist curriculum existing in Tibet. While Pandit Akaramati a great Indian scholar was within the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives. Pandit Akaramati was a scholar of the ancient monastery of Vikramashila. He is well known for having composed a commentary to Atisha’s a treatise dealing with a core aspect of Madhayamaka philosophy. Vikramashila was one of the three most important Buddhist monasteries in Bihar,India. Interesting read of these two great scholars.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this sharing.
Khuton Choje was already a great Buddhist master of the highest repute and also the abbot of Solnak Thangpoche Monastery in the Yarlung Valley of central Tibet. Khuton Choje is perhaps most famous for the special teachings he requested of Jowo Je Atisha, which have since been included within the text known as Book of the Kadam. Khuton Choje eventually played a significant role in the fusion of the old Buddhist curriculum existing in Tibet, with the new Kadampa materials brought to Central Tibet in the mid to late 11th Century.
Within the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives, there is an Indian master by the name of Akaramati who lived during the lifetime of Jowo Je Atisha in the 11th Century. He was a scholar of the ancient monastery of Vikramashila and was one of the five foremost Indian disciples of Atisha. He is also notable for having composed a commentary to Atisha’s Satyadvayavatara or ‘Entrance to the Two Truths’, which is a treatise dealing with a core aspect of Madhayamaka philosophy.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this interesting write up. 🙏😀
Khuton Choje and Pandita Akaramati were both great disciples of Atisha. Pandita Akaramati was a great Buddhist master, scholar and also the abbot of Solnak Thangpoche Monastery in the Yarlung Valley of central Tibet. He did played a significant role in the fusion of the old Buddhist curriculum existing in Tibet. While Khuton Choje who is well known for the special teachings he requested of Atisha. He is known to have composed a commentary to Atisha’s Satyadvayavatara.
Thank you Pastor David for this sharing of GREAT Lamas.
Purely beautiful, powerful and illustrious masters, May I understand and practice the teachings of your lineage perfectly. Please grant your holy presence soon.