The Life of the Last Rin Spungs pa Ruler and his Guide to Śambhala. A study based on the 16th century manuscript, Vidyadhara – The Messenger (Rig pa’dzin pa’i pho nya) by Ngag dbang ’jig grags of Rin spungs (translation and comparative text analysis)

Monografia Thuptena Kungi Chashaba jest pierwszym opracowaniem przechowywanego w Bibliotece Jagiellońskiej w Kolekcji Pandera A unikalnego tybetańskiego rękopisu autorstwa Ngag dbang ’jig grags z królewskiego rodu Rin spungs, rządzącego Tybetem środkowym w latach 1435-1565. Rig pa ’dzin pa’i pho nya jest cennym źródłem historycznym zawierającym opis królestwa Rin spungs oraz wyjątkowy przewodnik wiodący do mitycznej buddyjskiej krainy Śambhala, związanej z praktyką tantry Kalaczakra. Utwór tybetański, po raz pierwszy przetłumaczony tu w całości na język obcy i skomentowany naukowo, jest także rzadkim przykładem poezji kunsztownej opartej na indyjskiej Kawjadarśi Dandina z VII-VIII wieku wprowadzonej w Tybecie w wieku XIII. Zachęcamy do zapoznania się z bogatą tybetańską historią, kulturą i literaturą w pracy Thuptena Kungi Chashaba.

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The presented work is based on the manuscript Rig pa ’dzin pa’i pho nya by Ngag dbang ’jig grags, the 16th century last ruler of Rin spungs in Central Tibet. The manuscript is very rare and interesting for Tibetan literature, not broadly known and studied by Tibetologists both outside and inside Tibet. Two main themes of the manuscript are discussed in detail in the book: the itinerary of Śambhala and the life of the author, Ngag dbang ’jig grags. The volume includes chronological presentation of the manuscript with a commentary: the life of the author, Ngag dbang ’jig grags (second part of the text) and the guide to Śambhala (first part of the text), as well as its complete English translation. In the appendices discussion on the literary aspects of the manuscript is presented, accompanied by different glossaries and the index.

Thupten Kunga Chashab – is a Tibetan born in Sollu Khumbu, Nepal. After completing primary and secondary education he joined a monastery and obtained a monastic education. He was admitted to the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, India in 1982 where he completed studies on Buddhist philosophy (B.A. and M.A.) as well as learn on Tibetan history, grammar and poetry.
In 1994 he was invited to teach Tibetan at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the University of Warsaw. He joined the Tibetan Studies program at the University of Oslo in 1999-2001 where he completed M. Phil degree in 2001. In 2003 he obtained his Ph.D degree from the University of Warsaw. His publications include studies on Si tu Panchen’s Tibetan grammar and Catalogue of Tibetan Pander collection at the Jagiellonian Library which he co-authored.

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