The Treasury of Lives

The Eighty-fourth Ganden Tripa, Lobzang Tsultrim (dga' ldan khri pa 84 blo bzang tshul khrims) was born in Tsoklha in Gyelrong (rgyal rong rtsog lha) in Amdo. Details of his birth, parents, and childhood are not available.

Lobzang Tsultrim travelled to Lhasa in his youth and matriculated in the Gyelrong House of Sera Me College of the Sera Monastic University (se ra smad grwa tshang gi rgyal rong khang tshan) for his monastic education. He commenced his studies with texts of logic and epistemology, and then Abhisamayālaṃkāra, Madhyamaka, Abhidharmakośa, Pramāṇavārttika, and Vinaya, the five major subjects of the Geluk monastic curriculum.

According to his biography, unlike other monks, during his studies in the monastery Lobzang Tsultrim lived a life of yogi; he was said to be clairvoyant based on his accurate boast to his fellow monks that he would ascend to the Golden Throne of Ganden.

Lobzang Tsultrim enrolled in Gyume College (rgyud med) for formal education in tantra including the four classes of tantra (rgyud sde bzhi) according to the Geluk tradition, and relating rituals, earning the title of ngakrampa (sngags rams pa), Master of Tantra. He subsequently served the different posts required of men who eventually rose to the Golden Throne, including abbot of Gyume and then Jangtse Choje (byang rtse chos rje), one of two positions from which the Ganden Tripas ascended.

In 1890, the iron-tiger year of the fifteenth sexagenary cycle, Lobzang Tsultrim was appointed to the Golden Throne as the Eighty-fourth Ganden Tripa, and served for the traditional seven year tenure, until 1896. Alternate dates have him serving six years, from 1894 to 1899.

The year of Lobzang Tsultrim's nirvana is not known. He was succeeded by the Second Trijang, Lobzang Tsultrim Pelden (khri byang 02 blo bzang tshul krims dpal ldan, c.1839-1900).