Ngagpa

Milarepa, wearing the distinctive white shawl (zen) of a Ngagpa

Ngagpa (T. sngags pa སྔགས་པ་; Skt. mantrī) is a Tibetan term that refers to a practitioner of mantra, a follower of the Mantra Vehicle.

The 84000 glossary states:

Literally “one who has mantra,” this term is used to refer to practitioners specifically engaged in mantra recitation and other esoteric practices.

This term is commonly used to refer to tantric lay practitioners, in distinction from tantric monastic practitioners.

Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche states:

There are two types of ngakpas – those of family lineage (rigs rgyud) and those of Dharma lineage (chos rgyud). Ngakpa family lineages are passed from father ngakpa to their sons from generation to generation. At present, these are family lineage holders such as the great lamas of the Nyingma tradition, Minling Trichen Rinpoche and Sakya Trizin, the throne holder of the Dharma Potrang lineage.

There are Dharma lineage nagakpas in both the Nyingma and Sarma traditions. Since one may enter the Tantric mandala by receiving empowerment, scriptural authorization and practical instructions from a qualified Lama, it is not necessary to be born into a ngakpa family lineage. Once one has properly received these transmissions, one must authentically enter into the sadhana practices of approach, accomplishment and activity.

Ngakpas such as these allow their hair too remain long and uncut. They dress in simple, white clothes. Their minds reside in the unfabricated, natural state. These are the three aspects of the ngakpa’s non-contrivance (ma bcos rnam gsum gyi sngags pa).

External links

• Nubchen Sangye Yeshe, Fountainhead of the Ngagkpa Tradition. [Excerpted from The Golden Letters by John Myrdhin Reynolds, Snow Lion Publications 1996.]