Editing Longchenpa (section)

=== Mature period ===
In 1340, Longchenpa then gathered a group of eight male and female students  in order to initiate them into the Dzogchen teachings.{{sfnp|Longchenpa|2020|p=xxxii}}{{sfnp|Germano|Gyatso|2001}} During this initial period of teaching, Longchenpa and his students experienced a series of visions of dakinis, and states of possession that only happened to the women of the group. These experiences convinced him and his disciples that Longchenpa should teach the Dzogchen lineage of the [[Menngagde]], the Esoteric Instruction cycle.{{sfnp|van Schaik|2011|p=95}}{{sfnp|Germano|Gyatso|2001}}

Longchenpa also compiled the main texts of the ''[[Vima Nyingtik|Vima Nyingthig]]'' and the ''[[Khandro Nyingthig]]'' along with a series of his own commentaries on these works.{{sfnp|Longchenpa|2020|p=xxxiii}} Most of Longchenpa's mature life was spent in his hermitage at Gangri Thokar, either in meditation retreat or studying and composing texts.{{sfnp|Longchenpa|2020|p=xxxiii}}

In 1350, at the age of 42, Longchenpa had a vision of Vimalamitra in which he was asked to restore the temple of Zhai Lhakhang, where the ''[[Seventeen tantras|Seventeen Tantras]]'' had been concealed by Nyang Tingdzin Zangpo.{{sfnp|Longchenpa|2020|p=xxxiv}} In the process of this work, Longchenpa accepted a [[Drikung Kagyu]] student named Kunga Rinchen. Kunga Rinchen had political designs and came into conflict with the powerful Changchub Gyaltsen, who had the support of the Mongolian Authorities in Peking who attacked Kunga Rinchen's monastery.{{sfnp|Longchenpa|2020|p=xxxiv-xxxv}}

Longchenpa fled to [[Bumthang District|Bumthang]], [[Bhutan]] to avoid conflict. Here he relinquished his monastic vows, married and had a daughter and a son.{{sfnp|Longchenpa|2020|p=xxxvi}} He also founded a series of small monasteries in Bhutan, including [[Tharpaling Monastery]], his main seat. Longchenpa's lineage survives in Bhutan.{{sfnp|Longchenpa|2020|p=xxxvii}} After living in Tharpa Ling for 10 years, he returned to Tibet and was reconciled with Changchub Gyaltsen, who even became Longchenpa's student.{{sfnp|Longchenpa|2020|p=xxxvii}}