scholar  called  Acarya Smritijnanakirti  came to Khams, and
translated several tantras.
 
　　　　　　　　　　  P.309
 
After his death, he was reborn as Rong Zom. Others say, that
a pandita  named  Acarya  Phra la Ring mo came to Khams.  He
also translated  a commentary  on the gSang sning rGyud (sk.
Guhya garbha Tantra),he further  taught  this tantra.  After
his death, he was reborn  as Rong Zom.  When lord Atisa  had
met Rong Zom he said: "This  Lord is the incarnation  of the
Indian Acarya Krisnapada  the Great.  How shall I be able to
discuss the Doctrine with him."
   Rong  Zom studied  the sutras  at the age of seven.  From
thirteen  onwards,  he  became  a  great  scholar,  who  had
completed   his  studies   and  became  known  as  the  "one
unobscured  in all branches of knowledge."  Endowed with the
faculty  of prescience, knowing the proper time and measures
(to be adopted) in the disciplining  of living  beings, with
the view of establishing  in Bliss in this and future  lives
ordinary  living beings, and those who had entered religion,
he  produced  well-written   treatises.   All  the  treatises
composed  by him did not contradict  scriptures, reason  and
the explanations given to him by his teacher. They were free
from blemishes  in words and meaning, and they were known to
be unrefutable  by other  famous  scholars.  In addition, he
also  was  a  great  translator.   He  translated  the:  Sri
Vajramahabhairava　　　　 nama　　　　 Tantra,　　　　 the
Sarvatathagatakayavakcittakrsnayamari  nama Tantra, the 'Jam
dpal sNgags don, the Abhidhana uttaratantra and other texts.
His commentaries  and translations  covered the entire range
of Buddhist  learning.  Of considerable  importance  was his
work on the rDzogs  pa Chen po entitled: rDzogs pa Chen po'i
lTa sgom Man ngag...  Precepts  on the Theory and Meditative
Practice of the Great Achievement.
   During  this period  there took place a religious  debate
attended by all of the scholars  from the four districts  of
Tibet. They intended to debate with him, holding the opinion
that it was improper  for persons  born in Tibet  to compose
treatises. After they had gone over one of his treatises and
after debating  the subject  matter  with him, they all felt
amazed, and each of them honoured  him and then listened  to
his exposition of the Doctrine.
   He  heard  the  secret  precepts   of  the  Acarya  Padma
(sambhava) transmitted through the Spiritual lineage of sNam
mKha rDo rje bDud Joms and mKhar  chen dPal gyi dBang  phyug
and so forth till Rong ban Rin chen Tshul  khrims.  Further,
the  (Lineage)  which  originated  with  Vairocana (was also
received).   This   is   one  of  the  Lineages of the "Mind
 
　　　　　　　　　　  P.310
 
Class  (Sems  sde)"(of the rDzogs  chen teachings).  At 1Dan
gLong thang sGron ma there appeared an ascetic named A ro Ye
shes 'Byung gnas, who possessed  the secret precepts  of the
seventh  link in the chain of the Indian Lineage, as well as
those  of the seventh  link  of the Chinese  lineage  of Hwa
shang (=ho shang).  He preached  the system  to Cog ro Zangs
dKar mDzod khur and to Ta zi Bon ston.  These two taught  it
to Rong Zom.  This (Lineage) is called the "(Lineage) of the
Great  Achievement  (rDzogs  chen)  according  to the  Khams
method."  Again, Vimala (mitra) taught the Doctrine to Myang
Ting dzin bZang po as well as bestowed  the secret  precepts
on rMa Rin chen  mChog  and gNyags  Jnanakumara.  These  two
transmitted them gradually to Rong Zom.
   Though  the dates  of birth and death  of this great  man
are, as stated  above, not  to  be found, it  is  said  that