The Treasury of Lives

Drokmi Pelgyi Yeshe ('brog mi dpal gyi ye shes) was born at Yamdrok Gang (yar 'brog sgang) into the Drokmi ('brog mi) clan.

According to legend, when he received the empowerment of the Eight Pronouncement Heruka deities (sgrub pa bka' brgyad) from Padmasambhava, his flower landed on the Lamay Heruka (bla med he ru ka) maṇḍala. Subsequently, when the full maṇḍala spontaneously appeared before him, all restless tendencies of body, speech, and mind were consumed in the great fire of intrinsic awareness. He became an adept of the maṇḍala and subdued worldly spirits, especially the indigenous mamo (ma mo) deities, and bound them as servants.

Pelgyi Yeshe became a learned translator of many tantras, in particular those of Matarah, or Mamo Botang (ma mo rbod gtongs), and trained many disciples while practicing meditation on the snow-covered peaks of the mountains in the southern Yarlung Valley.

It is said that once, while Pelgyi Yeshe was meditating at Mt. Yarlha Shampo (yar lha sham po) the life-stones of the mountain god appeared, comprised of fifteen “lha lu mi” (lha klu mi) substances that were warm to the touch. These he concealed as treasure, which were to be later revealed by Kelden Dorje (skal ldan rdo rje).

Later figures who claimed to be his reincarnations include the treasure revealers Rashak Chenpo Chowar (ra shag chen po chos 'bar) and Karak Dechen Lingpa (kha rag bde chen gling pa).