The Treasury of Lives

Langlab Jangchub Dorje's (lang lab byang chub rdo rje) life is heavily shrouded in legend, closely wrapped in the lineage history of the Vajrakīla tradition.

He is said to have suffered greatly at the hands of his paternal relatives. To help him through his difficulties, Dre Atsara Sale ('bre a tsara sa le), an accomplished master of the Vajrakīla cycle, taught him this practice, which he diligently practiced. He used the power of Vajrakīla to murder his paternal relatives, earning himself a considerable reputation as the most powerful master of Vajrakīla.

Langlab Jangchub Dorje is said to have lived as a sheperd in Khore ('khor re), south of Mt. Kailash on the Nepali border, and he attracted a number of disciples. Ra Lotsāwa arrived one day to pay his respects, but considering Ra's newly-imported system of Vajrabhairava to be non-Buddhist black magic, Langlab snubbed Ra. Ra Lotsāwa, as was his habit, then challenged Langlab to a contest of magic. Langlab bested him, however, sending a shower of daggers down from the sky.

Ralo retreated, but later returned and murdered Langlab with new Vajrabhairava teachings he brought back from Nepal. Tibetan historians of Vajrakīla have generally denied this history, concluding their accounts of Langlab and Ra Lotsāwa's contact with the initial contest.

Langlab Dorje's main disciples were Nanam Sherab Tsultrim (sna nam shes rab tshul khrims, d.u.), Kyi Kyanggyel of Mongu (mong dgu'i skyi gyang sgyal, d.u.), Trang Purbugo of Rong (rong gi skrang phur bu mgo, d.u.), and Nyang Nak of Uyuk Rolpo ('u yug rol pa'i nyang nag, d.u.).