Gyalwa Ensapa (1505 - 1566) was a great Kadampa master born in Ensa, at Hlaku near the Tsang River in Tibet. He achieved enlightenment in one brief lifetime like the famous yogi Milarepa. Unlike Milarepa, Gyalwa Ensapa achieved enlightenment without having to endure such hardship.
At a very young age Gyalwa Ensapa had a vision of the whole of samsara being a limitless fire blazing without end. From that time he developed the wish to become ordained. He took vows when he was 11 years old with Abbot Drakpa Dondrub of Chokor Uding Monastery. He felt nothing but revulsion towards every situation he saw in the world, while also feeling overwhelming compassion for every being. He met each one with the thought, “How can I rescue this poor being from the prison of uncontrolled rebirth in cyclic existence?”
Gyalwa Ensapa went to Pema Chan to practise samadhi (concentration). He practised in deserted foothills and isolated ravines and did not think about how long it would take nor about the tremendous effort that would be required. Before he was 21 years old he achieved the ability to remain in samadhi day and night. As a result, whenever he did any activity he experienced bliss.
Gyalwa Ensapa gave this teaching:
“When hearing, pondering and practising the Dharma one’s aim should be first of all to subdue one’s own mind. Then one should carefully investigate the path using stainless reasoning as an antidote to the defiling emotions.
“Moreover, anyone who claims to study the Dharma without thoroughly investigating all of the traditions of the Mahayana and who likes to bicker over the slightest points of language saying, ‘You say this, but I say that’ completely misses the point.”
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