Padmasambhava's Cave @ Drak Yerpa, Tibet

the approach to drak yerpa

the approach to drak yerpa II

"the glimpse" ~ from guru rinpoche's cave, drak yerpa

"approaching the view" ~ the cave's vivid caretaker monk

unspeakable the blessings of this cave

images by michael ash @ www.oddiyansgate.com

Oddiyan's Gate ༃ ~ Michael Ash 2011
http://www.facebook.com/OddiyansGate

General statement by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol

The Great Master expressed the real essence of this in his advice named the Precious Garland of Gold:

I, Padmakara, came to benefit Tibet.

By miraculous displays, I have tamed the vicious spirits

And established many destined people on the path of ripening and liberation.

The profound terma teachings shall fill Tibet and Kham with siddhas.

Pass and valley, mountain and cave, everywhere down to the size of a hoof,

I have consecrated to be a place of sadhana.

Creating the auspicious coincidence for lasting peace in Tibet and Kham,

I shall nurture beings with an unceasing stream of emanations.

My kindness to Tibet is great but it will not be appreciated.

From the introduction to The Lotus-Born: The Sanglingma Life Story of Padmasambhava-

The five principal caves of Guru Rinpoche

     The principal meditation caves of Guru Rinpoche are known as The Five Power Places of the Guru. Together with three additional power places they are Eight Solitary Places of Realization, located in Central Tibet, Lhodrak and Bhutan.
     All these cave-hermitages are all places where Guru Rinpoche concealed important terma treasure troves). They all have prophecies associated with treasure that predict the coming of tertons (treasure-finders) who would meditate there and discover the treasures that the Guru concealed. Also, they are power-places that induce dream and vision, and to that extent they are places where Guru Rimpoche had prophecies revealed to him and where he asserted that yogins would attain realization. 

      The Guru's consort , Yeshe Tsogyal, stayed for some time in all of these caves and concealed treasure-texts therein. Some of the Guru's Twenty Five Disciples meditated in these caves after their final initiation, and attained siddhi there. Since the 8th century these caves have been the residence of many important Dzogchen practitioners. 

The Five Guru Rinpoche Power Places:

1. Drak Yongdzong, Power-place of the Guru's Body
2. Samye Chimpu, Power-place of the Guru's Speech
3. Lhodrak Karchu, Power-place of the Guru's Mind
4. Yarlung Shetak , Power-place of the Guru's Qualities
5. Monka Nering Senge Dzong, Power-place of the Guru's Action 

The Eight Solitary Places of Realization:

• above five power-places

     6.  Drakmar Yamalung 
     7.  Monka Sridzong 
     8.  Paro Taktsang Puk

(Based on "The Power-places of Central Tibet" by Keith Dowman)