Play of the Omniscient
Subtitle: Life and Works of Jamgön Ngawang Gyaltshen. An Eminent 17th -18th Century Drukpa Master
Publisher: National Library of Bhutan
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Thimphu Bhutan
Description: Yonten Dargye, Per K Sorensen with Gyönpo Tshering, Play of the Omniscient, Life and Works of Jamgön Ngawang Gyaltshen, an eminent 17th-18th century Drukpa Master, National Library & Archives of Bhutan, 2008. pp. 294, 95 figures, map, appendices, bibliography and glossary. This is an amazing book, published by Dr Yonten Dargye and Gyönpo Tshering of the National Library and Archives of Bhutan, with Professor Per Sorensen, a well-known Danish scholar.

The main title of the book “Play of the Omniscient” is a literal translation of the title in Choekey (thams cad mkhyen pa’i rol mo) and is typical of the flowery title of great masters’ biographies. The book is a reader-friendly English adaptation of the biography of the great Drukpa master Jamgön Ngawang Gyaltshen (1647-1732), whose main seat was Se’ula monastery above Punakha dzong. His biography was written in 1735 by his disciple Shakya Rinchen (1710 1759) before he became the 9th Je Khenpo in 1744.

The life story of Jamgön is fascinating and, at times, tragic. It takes the reader from Bhutan to Derge in eastern Tibet and to Ladakh via Mount Kailash; from the religious pursuits of Jamgön to the arcane politics and bloody feuds of that time; from the subtleness of Himalayan politics to the incursions of Tibeto-Mongol troops. The biography is probably one of the most important historical works of Bhutan. It is an immersion into Bhutanese life and religious culture, which was then not separated from politics. It covers an encyclopaedic range of subjects: Drukpa lineages and transmissions, construction and restoration of temples, foreign relations as well as diseases, earthquake, drought, customs, and rituals. Besides the politico-religious history of Bhutan, the biography provides an insight on the socio-economic history, including what would be called today good governance. Jamgön Ngawang Gyaltshen, is depicted as a selfless, energetic, highly learned and respected master, much more inclined to religious and artistic pursuits than to mundane politics. The book has minor flaws, typos or inconsistencies, which are unavoidable in such a complex work. Two points are more annoying: There is no index of personal names and places, which would have been useful, given their great number, and the map of Jamgön ‘s trips is far from accurate.

However, these comments can be considered as details. The clear layout and high quality printing of Kuensel press have to be noticed. The biography is put in historiographical and literary perspective by Prof. Sorensen’s excellent introduction. The scholarly notes provide information that extends the scope of the biography; the photos from Bhutan, Tibet and Ladakh lead the reader in the footsteps of Jamgön. This vivid adaptation of Jamgön’s fascinating life, as well as thorough research done by the three authors are to be commended, as well as Felicity Shaw’s painstaking editorial assistance, without forgetting the pioneering works of Dr John Ardussi on the subject.

The book reads like a novel, while giving a deep Buddhist message and is also relevant to contemporary Bhutan. It provides an in-depth understanding of the Amorimu Choeje and the Jamgön reincarnations, among the most respected Drukpa lineages in Bhutan to this day.

This short review cannot do justice to the scholarly work and fascinating story of a religious master, who had to become, to his Annoyance, but with a sense of duty, a high official and special envoy.

An extraordinary and historically influential figure, Jamgön Ngawang Gyaltshen is the subject of many outstanding works of art, including a large appliqué and embroidered thangka appearing in “The Dragon’s Gift” exhibition (catalogue no. 87).
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