The Treasury of Lives

The Forty-third Ganden Tripa, Jampa Tashi (dga' ldan khri pa 43 byams pa bkra shis) was born in Gyal (rgyal) in 1618, the earth-horse year of the tenth sexagenary cycle.

At a young age he was admitted to Dakpo Monastery (dwags po grwa tshang) and started his basic monastic education in reading and writing, and memorizing prayer texts and important philosophical texts. He also learned grammar, poetry, and related subjects. He then studied the various texts in the subjects of the Geluk monastic curriculum from the sutra section under eminent teachers in the monastery.

Jampa Tashi then matriculated in Gyuto College (rgyud stod grwa tshang) in Lhasa and studied Tantra and related topics such as rites and rituals, and maṇḍala drawings. Developing into a noted scholar, Jampa Tashi became an educator at Gyuto College and Jangtse College of Ganden Monastic University.

In 1675, the wood-hare year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle, Jampa Tashi was enthroned as the Forty-third Ganden Tripa, serving for seven years, until 1681. He gave extensive teachings on regular and special topics from both the sutra and tantra and led religious performances, events, and festivals of the Geluk tradition.

Trichen Jampa Tashi built a magnificent image of the Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (ta la'i bla ma 05, ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho, 1617-1682) in silver. He also commissioned the gold gilt roof of the Yangpachen temple at Ganden (dga' ldan yangs pa can).

After his retirement from the Golden Throne in 1681, Trichen Jampa Tashi settled in Lingyak (gling yags) to pursue his religious practice, and gave teachings to his disciples and followers. He also served as patron-lama to several monasteries including Sang-ngag Khar (gsangs sngags mkhar).

Trichen Jampa Tashi passed into nirvana at the age of sixty-seven in 1684, the wood-mouse year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle, and extensive nirvana-prayers were done as part of the funeral ceremonies.