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Rigpa

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{{About|the Tibetan Buddhist concept|the musical composition by Christopher Theofanidis|Rainbow Body}}
In [[Dzogchen]], '''rainbow body'''
({{bo|t=འཇའ་ལུས་|w=<nowiki>'</nowiki>ja' lus}}, '''Jalü''' or '''Jalus''') is a level of realization. This may or may not be accompanied by the 'rainbow body phenomenon'. The rainbow body phenomenon is a topic which has been treated fairly seriously for centuries, including in the modern era. Other [[Vajrayana]] teachings also mention rainbow body phenomena.

==Rigpa==
{{main|Rigpa}}
[[File:Dzogchen A.png|thumb|Tibetan letter "A" inside a thigle. The "A", which corresponds to the sound ‘ahh’,{{sfn|Norbu|2002|page=56}} represents kadag while the thigle represents ''lhun grub''.]]

The rainbow body phenomenon is a third person perspective of someone else attaining complete knowledge ({{bo|t=རིག་པ|w=[[rigpa]]}}). Knowledge is the absence of delusion regarding the display of the [[Ground (Dzogchen)|basis]].

Rigpa has three wisdoms, which are ''kadag'', ''lhun grub'' and ''thugs rje''. Kadag deals with ''[[Kadag Trekchö|tregchöd]]''.{{sfn|Garry|2005|page=296}} The ''lhun grub'' aspect has to do with esoteric practices, such as (but not limited to) [[Thödgal]], that self-liberate the human body into a [[Sambhogakāya]] (rainbow body phenomenon).{{sfn|Garry|2005|page=296}}{{sfn|Dalai Lama|2004|page=32}} The symbol of Dzogchen is a Tibetan "A" wrapped in a ''thigle''. The "A" represents ''kadag'' while the ''thigle'' represents ''lhun grub''. The third wisdom, ''thugs rje'' (compassion), is the inseparability of the previous two wisdoms.

In Dzogchen, a fundamental point of practice is to distinguish ''rigpa'' from ''sems'' (mind).{{sfn|Kunsang|2012|page=154}}

The ultimate fruition of the thodgal practices is a body of pure light, called a rainbow body ([[Wylie transliteration|Wylie]] '' 'ja' lus'', pronounced ja lü.){{sfn|Ray|2001|page=323}} If the four visions of thogal are not completed before death, then during death, from the point of view of an external observer, the dying person starts to shrink until he or she disappears. Usually fingernails, toenails and hair are left behind{{sfn|Norbu|1999|pages=158-161}} (see e.g. [[Togden Ugyen Tendzin]], [[Ayu Khandro]], [[Nyala Rinpoche|Changchub Dorje]]). The attainment of the rainbow body is typically accompanied by the appearance of lights and rainbows.{{sfn|Ray|2001|page=323}}

Exceptional practitioners are held to realize a higher type of rainbow body without dying. Having completed the four visions before death, the individual focuses on the lights that surround the fingers. His or her physical body self-liberates into a nonmaterial body of light (a ''[[Sambhogakāya]]'') with the ability to exist and abide wherever and whenever as pointed by one's compassion.{{sfn|Rangdrol|Matthieu|2001|page=153}}

==Eyewitness account==
[[Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen|Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen's]] ''Heart Drops of Dharmakaya'', a Kunzang Nyingtic Dzogchen meditation manual commentated on by Lopon Tenzin Namdak, contains an eyewitness account of his main students' bodies shrinking and rainbows appearing in the sky at death.{{sfn|Gyaltsen|2002|pages=135-137}}

==List of those reported to have attained the rainbow body==
* [[Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen]] (1935){{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
* Sodnam Namgyal (1952){{sfn|Rabjam|Thondup|Talbot|1996|pages=137–139}}
* [[Ayu Khandro]] (1953){{sfn|Allione|2000}}
* Kenchen Tsewang Rigdzin (1958){{sfn|Nyoshul Khenpo|2005|pages=472–474}}
* Togden Ugyen Tendzin (1962){{sfn|Norbu|2012}}
* Khenpo A-chos (1998){{sfn|Holland|2002}}
* Drubchen Namkha Gyaltsen (2020)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bonpo.com.cn/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=1379 |website=Bonpo.com.cn |title=作者：红尘法远文章来源：本站原创点击数：1407 更新时间 |date=2020-02-21 |accessdate=2020-06-14}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{cite book |first=Tsultrim |last=Allione |authorlink=Tsultrim Allione |year=2000 |title=Women of Wisdom |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |location=Ithaca, New York |isbn=9781559391412 |ref=harv |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/womenofwisdom000alli }}
*{{cite book |author=Dalai Lama |authorlink=14th Dalai Lama |year=2004 |title=Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |isbn=978-1-55939-219-8 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last=Garry |first=Ron |authorlink=Dudjom Rinpoche |title=Wisdom Nectar: Dudjom Rinpoche's Heart Advice |location=Ithaca, New York |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |year=2005 |isbn=9781559399517 |quote=The practice is that of Cutting through Solidity (khregs chod), which is related to primordial purity (ka dag); and Direct Vision of Reality (thod rgal), which is related to spontaneous presence (Ihun grub). |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last1=Gyaltsen |first1=Shardza Tasha |title=Heart Drops Of Dharmakaya: Dzogchen Practice Of The Bon Tradition |year=2002 |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |isbn=978-1559391726 |edition=2nf |ref=harv}}
*{{cite journal |last=Holland |first=Gail |title=Christian Buddhist Explorations: The Rainbow Body |work=Institute of Noetic Sciences Review |publisher=Institute of Noetic Sciences |number=59 |date=March–May 2002 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last=Kunsang |first=Erik Pema, tr. |title=Perfect Clarity: A Tibetan Buddhist Anthology of Mahamudra and Dzogchen |publisher=Ranjung Yeshe Publications |year=2012 |isbn=978-9627341697 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last=Norbu |first=Chögyal Namkhai |authorlink=Chogyal Namkhai Norbu |year=1999 |title=The Crystal and The Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen |location=Ithaca, New York |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |edition=New |isbn=1-55939-135-9 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last=Norbu |first=Chögyal Namkhai |title=Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |edition=Rev. Exp. |year=2002 |isbn=978-1559391610 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last=Norbu |first=Chögyal Namkhai |title= Rainbow Body: The Life and Realization of a Tibetan Yogin, Togden Ugyen Tendzin|publisher=North Atlantic Books|year=2012 |isbn=978-1583944912 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last=Nyoshul Khenpo |authorlink=Nyoshul Khenpo |title=A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems: Biographies of Masters of Awareness in the Dzogchen Lineage |publisher=Padma Publications |year=2005 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last1=Rabjam |first1=Longchenpa |last2=Thondup |first2=Tulku, tr. |last3=Talbot |first3=Harold, ed. |title=The Practice of Dzogchen |location=Ithaca, New York |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |year=1996 |edition=2nd |isbn=1-55939-054-9 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last1=Rangdrol |first1=Shabkar Tsogdruk |last2=Matthieu |first2=Richard, tr. |year=2001 |title=The Life of Shabkar: The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin |location=Ithaca, New York |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |isbn=978-1559391542 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |authorlink=Reginald Ray |last=Ray |first=Reginald |title=Secret of the Vajra World: The Tantric Buddhism of Tibet |publisher=Shambhala Publications |year=2001 |isbn= 9781570627729 |ref=harv}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |editor=Blackman, Sushi |year=1997 |title=Graceful Exits: How Great Beings Die: Death Stories Of Tibetan, Hindu & Zen Masters |location=New York |publisher=Weatherhill, Inc. |isbn=0-8348-0391-7 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last=Norbu |first=Chögyal Namkhai |editor=Shane, John |year=1988 |title=The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen: The Teachings of Namkhai Norbu |publisher=[[Routledge & Kegan Paul]] |edition=1st |isbn=0-14-019084-8 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |authorlink=John Myrdhin Reynolds |last=Reynolds |first=John Myrdhin |year=1996 |title=The Golden Letters |edition=1st |location=Ithaca, New York |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |isbn=978-1559390507 |ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |authorlink=Sogyal Rinpoche |author=Sogyal Rinpoche |editor1=Harvey, Andrew |editor2=Gaffney, Patrick |year=1993 |title=Tibetan Book of Living and Dying |edition=Rev. and Updated |publisher=HarperSanFrancisco |isbn=978-0-06-250834-8 |ref=harv |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/tibetanbookofli00sogy }}
*{{cite book |authorlink=Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche |last=Wangyal Rinpoche |first=Tenzin |year=2002 |title=Healing with Form, Energy, and Light |location=Ithaca, New York |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |isbn=1-55939-176-6 |ref=harv}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120420114819/http://www.zhaxizhuoma.net/SEVEN_JEWELS/HOLY%20EVENTS/RAINBOW%20BODY/A-chos.html Account of Khenpo A-Cho's Rainbow body attainment] <small>archived</small>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rainbow Body}}
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist terminology]]
[[Category:Chinese mythology]]
[[Category:Tibetan mythology]]
[[Category:Dzogchen]]
[[Category:Taoism]]
[[Category:Tantric practices]]
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist practices]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{About|the Tibetan Buddhist concept|the musical composition by Christopher Theofanidis|Rainbow Body}}
 In [[Dzogchen]], '''rainbow body'''
 ({{bo|t=འཇའ་ལུས་|w=<nowiki>'</nowiki>ja' lus}}, '''Jalü''' or '''Jalus''') is a level of realization. This may or may not be accompanied by the 'rainbow body phenomenon'. The rainbow body phenomenon is a topic which has been treated fairly seriously for centuries, including in the modern era. Other [[Vajrayana]] teachings also mention rainbow body phenomena.
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 The rainbow body phenomenon is a third person perspective of someone else attaining complete knowledge ({{bo|t=རིག་པ|w=[[rigpa]]}}). Knowledge is the absence of delusion regarding the display of the [[Ground (Dzogchen)|basis]].
-Rigpa has three wisdoms, which are ''kadag'', ''lhun grub'' and ''thugs rje''. Kadag deals with ''[[Kadag Trekchö|tregchöd]]''.{{sfn|Garry|2005|page=296}} The ''lhun grub'' aspect has to do with esoteric practices, such as (but not limited to) [[Thödgal]], that self-liberate the human body into a [[Sambhogakāya]] (rainbow body phenomenon).{{sfn|Garry|2005|page=296}}{{sfn|Dalai Lama|2004|page=32}} The symbol of Dzogchen is a Tibetan "A" wrapped in a ''thigle''. The "A" represents ''kadag'' while the ''thigle'' represents ''lhun grub''. The third wisdom, ''thugs rje'' (compassion), is the inseparability of the previous two wisdoms.
+Rigpa has three wisdoms, which are ''kadag'', ''lhun grub'' and ''thugs rje''. Kadag deals with ''tregchöd''.{{sfn|Garry|2005|page=296}} The ''lhun grub'' aspect has to do with esoteric practices, such as (but not limited to) Thödgal, that self-liberate the human body into a [[Saṃbhogakāya|Sambhogakāya]] (rainbow body phenomenon).{{sfn|Garry|2005|page=296}}{{sfn|Dalai Lama|2004|page=32}} The symbol of Dzogchen is a Tibetan "A" wrapped in a ''thigle''. The "A" represents ''kadag'' while the ''thigle'' represents ''lhun grub''. The third wisdom, ''thugs rje'' (compassion), is the inseparability of the previous two wisdoms.
 In Dzogchen, a fundamental point of practice is to distinguish ''rigpa'' from ''sems'' (mind).{{sfn|Kunsang|2012|page=154}}
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 The ultimate fruition of the thodgal practices is a body of pure light, called a rainbow body ([[Wylie transliteration|Wylie]] '' 'ja' lus'', pronounced ja lü.){{sfn|Ray|2001|page=323}} If the four visions of thogal are not completed before death, then during death, from the point of view of an external observer, the dying person starts to shrink until he or she disappears. Usually fingernails, toenails and hair are left behind{{sfn|Norbu|1999|pages=158-161}} (see e.g. [[Togden Ugyen Tendzin]], [[Ayu Khandro]], [[Nyala Rinpoche|Changchub Dorje]]). The attainment of the rainbow body is typically accompanied by the appearance of lights and rainbows.{{sfn|Ray|2001|page=323}}
-Exceptional practitioners are held to realize a higher type of rainbow body without dying. Having completed the four visions before death, the individual focuses on the lights that surround the fingers. His or her physical body self-liberates into a nonmaterial body of light  (a ''[[Sambhogakāya]]'') with the ability to exist and abide wherever and whenever as pointed by one's compassion.{{sfn|Rangdrol|Matthieu|2001|page=153}}
+Exceptional practitioners are held to realize a higher type of rainbow body without dying. Having completed the four visions before death, the individual focuses on the lights that surround the fingers. His or her physical body self-liberates into a nonmaterial body of light  (a ''[[Saṃbhogakāya|Sambhogakāya]]'') with the ability to exist and abide wherever and whenever as pointed by one's compassion.{{sfn|Rangdrol|Matthieu|2001|page=153}}
 ==Eyewitness account==

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ==List of those reported to have attained the rainbow body==
 * [[Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen]] (1935){{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
-* Sodnam Namgyal (1952){{sfn|Rabjam|Thondup|Talbot|1996|pages=137–139}}
+*[[Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen]] (1935){{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
-* [[Ayu Khandro]] (1953){{sfn|Allione|2000}}
+*Sodnam Namgyal (1952){{sfn|Rabjam|Thondup|Talbot|1996|pages=137–139}}
-* Kenchen Tsewang Rigdzin (1958){{sfn|Nyoshul Khenpo|2005|pages=472–474}}
+*[[Ayu Khandro]] (1953){{sfn|Allione|2000}}
-* Togden Ugyen Tendzin (1962){{sfn|Norbu|2012}}
+*Kenchen Tsewang Rigdzin (1958){{sfn|Nyoshul Khenpo|2005|pages=472–474}}
-* Khenpo A-chos (1998){{sfn|Holland|2002}}
+*Togden Ugyen Tendzin (1962){{sfn|Norbu|2012}}
-* Drubchen Namkha Gyaltsen (2020)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bonpo.com.cn/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=1379 |website=Bonpo.com.cn |title=作者：红尘法远 文章来源：本站原创 点击数：1407 更新时间 |date=2020-02-21 |accessdate=2020-06-14}}</ref>
+*Khenpo A-chos (1998){{sfn|Holland|2002}}
 ==Notes==
@@ Line 33: / Line 34: @@
 ==References==
 *{{cite book |first=Tsultrim |last=Allione |authorlink=Tsultrim Allione |year=2000 |title=Women of Wisdom |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |location=Ithaca, New York |isbn=9781559391412 |ref=harv |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/womenofwisdom000alli }}
 *{{cite book |author=Dalai Lama |authorlink=14th Dalai Lama |year=2004 |title=Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |isbn=978-1-55939-219-8 |ref=harv}}
@@ Line 48: / Line 50: @@
 ==Further reading==
 *{{cite book |editor=Blackman, Sushi |year=1997 |title=Graceful Exits: How Great Beings Die: Death Stories Of Tibetan, Hindu & Zen Masters |location=New York |publisher=Weatherhill, Inc.  |isbn=0-8348-0391-7 |ref=harv}}
 *{{cite book |last=Norbu |first=Chögyal Namkhai |editor=Shane, John |year=1988 |title=The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen: The Teachings of Namkhai Norbu |publisher=[[Routledge & Kegan Paul]] |edition=1st |isbn=0-14-019084-8 |ref=harv}}
@@ Line 55: / Line 58: @@
 ==External links==
 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120420114819/http://www.zhaxizhuoma.net/SEVEN_JEWELS/HOLY%20EVENTS/RAINBOW%20BODY/A-chos.html Account of Khenpo A-Cho's Rainbow body attainment] <small>archived</small>