Ananda
Ananda (Tib. Küngao), the Buddha's cousin, was the son of Amritodana (Skt. Amṛtodana), the brother of Buddha Shakyamuni's father, king Shuddhodana. He became Buddha’s attendant and is renowned for remembering all the sutra teachings of Buddha, which he recited at the first council.
The second of the seven patriarchs, Ananda, among the disciples of the Buddha Shakyamuni, is esteemed for his exceptional memory and for his active compassion for women, as he persuaded the Buddha to establish the nun's order.
Péma Dégyal, a direct student of Düdjom Lingpa, is considered an emanation of Ananda. This might be a reference to him also diligently supporting the Dharma practice of nuns.
Since the early 8th century, Tibetans and Himalayan people have treasured "Namtars" as written or spoken narratives that demonstrate the realization of the Buddhist path by exceptional practitioners. These namtars, or spiritual biographies, serve as inspirational guides on the path to enlightenment.
Today, Namtars Foundation aims to record, preserve, and freely offer the world a written and electronic treasury of the oral wisdom of Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism.
