The Treasury of Lives

The Fifty-second Ganden Tripa, Ngawang Tsepel (dga' ldan khri pa 52 ngag dbang tshe 'phel) was born in a nomad family in a place called Yakshol in the region of Dakpo Tsari (dwags po rtsa ri'i g.yag zhol) in 1668, the earth-monkey year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle. His mother was called Kunzang Dolma (kun bzang grol ma) but the name of father is not known.

At a young age he was admitted to Ganden Rabtenling Monastery (dga' ldan rab brtan gling) where he was presumably granted the vows of primary and novice monks (rab byung and dge tshul) and was taught reading, writing, and memorization of prayer and other important texts. Subsequently he was enrolled in Dakpo Dratsang (dwags po grwa tshang) and commenced his studies starting with logic and epistemology. He then studied Abhisamayālaṃkāra, Madhyamaka, Abhidharmakośa, Pramāṇavārttika, and Vinaya the five major subjects of the Geluk monastic curriculum. At Dakpo Monastery he studied under a number of scholars including Lobzang Rinchen (mkhas grub chen po blo bzang rin chen, d.u.), the thirtieth abbot, and Lobzang Chozin (blo bzang chos 'dzin, d.u.), the thirty-first abbot of the monastery. He successfully stood for many levels of tests and traditional examinations on all the five great texts of studies.

Ngawang Tsepel was then granted the vows of full ordination (dge slong) by Khenchen Ngawang Lobzang Khetsun (mkhan chen ngag dbang blo bzang mkhas btsun d.u.) who also later granted initiations, empowerments, and a variety of teachings and transmissions. After satisfactorily completing studies in the sutra section of the teachings he enrolled in Gyume College and studied the traditional courses in advanced tantra and trained in all related practical materials and rituals.

At the age of forty-two, in 1709, Ngawang Tsepel was enthroned to the seat of abbot of Dakpo Monastery and shortly thereafter served as the chant leader and then abbot of Gyume College, where he gave courses on tantra. In the meantime he received transmissions, commentarial teachings, and empowerments on Yamāntaka, Cakrasaṃvara, Guhyasamāja, and other tantric deities from many eminent lamas, including the Fiftieth Ganden Tripa, Trichen Gendun Puntsok (dga' ldan khri pa 50 khri chen dge 'dun phun tshogs, 1648-1724) and Drubkhangpa Gelek Gyatso (sgrub khang pa dge legs rgya mtsho, 1641-1713).

In 1728, the earth-monkey year, Ngawang Tsepel was enthroned as the Fifty-second Ganden Tripa, a post that he served for four years, until 1732. As was customary for Ganden Tripas, Trichen Ngawang Tsepel gave teachings on both sutra and tantra, performed important religious activities, and led the important events and religious festivals of Geluk tradition. He was widely known for both his scholarship and humility, and he attracted a large number of devotees, including leaders such as Polhane Sonam Topgyel (pho lha nas bsod nams stobs rgyal, 1689-1747) the ruler of the Tibet at the time.

Trichen Ngawang Tsepel retired in 1732, the water-mouse year, but continued his teachings until his nirvana in 1734, the wood-tiger year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle. Relics of his heart, tongue and eyeballs were found in the ashes of his cremation; an image of Tsongkhapa on his skull, various images of buddhas and bodhisattvas, and some letters were also found on the bones that were all carefully collected. A stupa of enlightenment (byang chub mchod brten) was built in silver as his reliquary to contain his remains and installed in Ganden Monastery in his memory.