The Treasury of Lives

The Twenty-first Ngor Khenchen, Sonam Gyatso (bsod nams rgya mtsho) was born at Nartang Peljor Puntsok Ling (snar thang dpal 'byor phun tshogs gling) in Tsang, in 1617, the fire-snake year of the tenth sexagenary cycle. His father was named Gyelpo Tashi (rgyal po bkra shis) and his mother was named Pelmo Dronma (dpal mo sgron ma). His childhood name was Tsering Dorje (tshe ring rdo rje).

At the age of eight he was enrolled in Nartang monastery where he studied reading, writing and memorization of daily prayers under the tutorship of a teacher named Sonam Dorje (bsod nams rdor rje, d.u). This teacher granted him lay monastic vows and the name Sonam Gyatso.

He then matriculated at Tubten Serdokchen (thub bstan gser mdog can) Monastery where he mainly received teachings on the Five Books of Maitreya. While still a child be fell ill, and went to Peljor Ling (dpal 'byor gling) at Sakya to receive long life empowerments from Ngawang Chodrak (ngag dbang chos grags, 1572-1641), who advised him to study tantra in order to recover. He therefore enrolled in Ngor Pel Evaṁ Choden (ngor dpal e waM chos ldan) where he received teachings from Dorje Pelwa (rdor rje dpal ba, d.u.).

At the of thirteen he was given the novice monastic vows by the Seventeenth Ngor Khenchen, Namkha Sanggye (ngor mkhan chen 17 nam mkha' sangs rgyas, d.u). At the age of twenty five he received full ordination in the present of many masters including Namkha Sanggye; the Eighteenth Ngor Khenchen, Sherab Jungne (ngor mkhan chen 18 shes rab 'byung gnas, 1596-1653); the Twentieth Ngor Khenchen Ngawang Sonam Gyeltsen (ngor mkhan chen 20 ngag dbang bsod nams rgyal mtshan, 1598-1674); Tamcho Tashi (tam chos bkra' shis, d.u); and the Nineteenth Ngor Khenchen, Namkha Rinchen (ngor mkhan chen 19 nam mkha' rin chen, d.1669).

In addition to the above lamas, he studied under some thirteen prominent masters, including the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (ta la'i bla ma 05 ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho, 1617-1682); the Twenty-eighth Sakya Trichen, Ngawang Kunga Sonam (sa skya khri chen 28 ngag dbang kun dga' bsod nams, 1597-1659); the Twenty-ninth Sakya Trichen, Ngawang Sonam Wangchuk (sa skya khri chen 29 ngag dbang bsod nams dbang phyug, 1638-1685); Shakya Tashi (shakya bkra’ shis, d.u.), and Khedrub Pelden Dondrub (mkhas grub dpal ldan don 'grub, d.u.). He received Lamdre teachings fifteen times from Sherab Jungne.

At some point during his thirties he was given the abbacy of Zurkang (zur khang) college of Nartang monastic university. In 1658, at the age of forty-one, he was enthroned to the abbacy position of Ngor monastery. During his tenure, which lasted for about ten years, until his death, he gave teachings to a large number of students from all over Tibet. Among them were Zhalu Khenchen Sherab Gyatso (zhwa lu mkhan chen shes rab rgya mtsho, d.u.), Kunga Tsultrim (kun dga' tshul khrims, d.u.), Kunga Peljor (kun dga' dpal 'byor,d.u.), and Lama Tashi Pelden (bla ma bkra' shis dpal ldan, d.u.).

Sonam Gyatso passed away at the age of fifty one, in 1667, the fire-female sheep of the eleventh sexagenary cycle.