Lamdré

The Lamdré (wyl. lam ‘bras) (Path with Its Result) teachings are the highest teachings within the Sakya school. They developed into two major lines of transmission: the general presentation known as tsokshé (Explanation for Assemblies) and the secret presentation known as lopshé (Explanation for Private Disciples).

History

As H.H. Sakya Trizin explains: “In the early Sakya tradition, Lamdré was actually one teaching. Later, during the time of Muchen Könchok Gyaltsen, when he gave Lamdré teachings, he gave the most esoteric, essential, and important teachings to his innermost disciples in his private room, whereas for the assemblies he gave the common teachings. Since then there have been two Lamdré.” Tsarchen Losal Gyatso (1502–67) was an important master of the Sakya tradition, the founder of the Dar Drangmo Ché monastery and the Tsar school of the Sakya order and holder of the Lamdré Lopshé transmission. A number of his writings survive, especially his compositions on the Hevajra visualization and on the Vajrayogini teachings. His biography was written by the Fifth Dalai Lama. His chief disciples were Mangtö Ludrup Gyatso, Yol Khenchen Zhönnu Lodrö, the Third Dalai Lama Sönam Gyatso, Zhalu Khenchen Khyentse Wangchuk, and Bokarwa Maitri Döndrup Gyaltsen.

Further Reading

• Cyrus Stearns, Taking the Result as the Path: Core Teachings of the Sakya Lamdre Tradition, Wisdom, 2006