The Treasury of Lives

The twelfth abbot of Katok Monastery (kaH thog), Jangchub Lodro (kaH thog khri rabs 12 byang chub blo gros) was born in fourteenth century; details of his birth, parents, and early life are not known.

Presumably he was admitted in Katok Monastery and received his basic education and training in monastic life after ordination there. From a young age he studied Sūtra and Tantra, with a concentration, as was traditional at Katok, on the Guhyagarbha Tantra, the main tantra of the Mahāyoga class according to Nyingma doxography. He also studied some of the new Treasure teachings. He became a highly noted teacher of tantra according to the Katok tradition and also a reputed practitioner.

Jangchub Lodro became the successor of the eleventh abbot of Katok Lodro Sengge (kaH thog khri rabs 11 blo gros seng ge, 1371-1430) assuming the monastic seat in 1430, the iron-dog year of the seventh sexagenary cycle. During his tenure he taught extensively the subjects of their monastic curriculum focusing on the main tantric system of their hereditary practice. He gave detailed teachings on the four sections of Guhyagarbha as well as commentarial teachings on the other tantras of the Nyingma tradition.

Jangchub Lodro founded several meditation centers (sgrub sde) at Ritseb (ri rtsib) and Bartro (bar khrod) and arranged for their support over time.

Bubor Jangchub Sengge (bu 'bor ba byang chub seng+ge 1377-1439), who later became an outstanding teacher at Katok and Dzogchenpa Sonam Rinchen (rdzogs chen pa bsod nams rin chen, d.u.), a noted Dzogchen practitioner were among the large number of disciples of Jangchub Lodro.

Though the length of tenure of this abbot is not known the year of death of his predecessor (1430) and that of his successor, Bubor Jangchub Sengge (1439) suggest that he served for a few years only; together he and the thirteenth abbot served the abbacy for not more than nine years, from 1430 to 1439.

The year of Jangchub Lodro's death is not known.