Kharak Gomchung

Resource ID	P54
Date of Birth	11th c.	Date of Death	Unknown
External links	BDRC P3468

Name Variants

nyos kha rag sgom chung dbang phyug blo gros
dge shes kha rag sgoms chung
kha rag bsgom chung

Teachers

Potowa Rinchen Sel

Students

Sumtön Repa
skal ldan rtse mo

Associated works

Associated to work

• Chos drug gi zin dris
• Ni gu chos drug gi zhal shes kyi lhan thabs

Notes

A hermit who lived most of his life in the greatest simplicity, away from all distractions, Kharak Gomchung remains known as one of the Three Ornaments of Tibet, along with Padmasambhava and Milarepa. The Shangpa masters widely transmitted his teachings, from Sangyé Nyentön, who received them from his disciple Sumtön Repa (deb ther sngon po, chapter 13, The traditions of Chöyul and Kharak, parts 1 and 3; and chapter 9, The Traditions of Kodrakpa and Niguma, part 2). A chapter of ni gu chos drug gi zhal shes kyi lhan thabs, an ancient Shangpa text bringing together some inspiring biographies, is dedicated to Kharak Gomchung.

Geshe Karak Gomchung (dge shes kha rag sgom chung) was one the most perfect example of a renunciant who has given up all other activities beside spiritual practice. Thinking of the impeding coming of death, he would not even cut steps to and remove thorny bushes at the entrance of his cave, thinking what a waste of time this would have been he if were to die the same day. He was famous for his unlimited compassion. His Seventy Exhortations (ang yig bdun bcu pa), are said to condense the essence of the Kadampa teachings. He was the foremost disciple of Geshe Gonpa; (dge shes dgon pa), and among his own students were Ngul Tön; (rngul ston) and Dharma Kyap; (dhar ma skyaps). (Excerpt from The Heart Of Compassion, Thirty-Sevenfold Practice of a Bodhisattva by Dilgo Khyentse).