The Treasury of Lives

Bipa Mipam Dawa (bis pa mi pham zla ba) was born in 1767 in Bitang (bis thang), Karang, near the home of the Seventh (or Tenth) Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Trinle Lhundrub Chokyi Gyeltsen  (paN chen 10 blo bzang phrin las lhun grub chos kyi rgyal mtshan, 1938-1989), and of Alak Lakho Jigme Trinle Gyatso, (a lags bla kho 'jigs med 'phrin las rgya mtsho, 1886-1948), a teacher of the Seventh Paṇchen Lama. He was later recognized as the incarnation of Bipa Geshe Sherab Tendzin (bis pa dge bshes shes rab bstan 'dzin, d. c.1766).

When he turned thirteen he matriculated at Geting Ganden Choling (sge sting dga ldan chos gling) and later moved to Rongwo Monastery (rong bo dgon), the largest Geluk monastery in Rebkong, where he studied Tibetan grammar and writing with Sherab Ozer (shes rab 'od zer, d.u.) and poetics and metrics with Akhyung Ngawang Khyenrab (a khyung ngag dbang mkhyen rab, d.u.). He received novice vows from the Third Rongwo Drubchen, Gendun Trinle Rabgye (rong bo grub chen 03 dge 'dun 'phrin las rab rgyas, 1740-1794).

At Rongwo Monastery, Mipam Dawa received advanced teachings from the fourteenth abbot, Gendun Tendzin (rong bo khri 14 dge 'dun bstan 'dzin, 1716-1790), Tsegon Lama Gendun Khyenrab (tshe mgon bla ma dge 'dun mkhyen rab, 1736-1815), and the Second Setsang Lama, Ngawang Jamyang Tashi (bse tshang 02 ngag dbang 'jam dbyangs bkra shis, 1738-1813).

Later, at Gonlung Monastery (dgon lung dgon), he studied with the Third Tukwan, Lobzang Chokyi Nyima (thu'u bkwan 03 blo bzang chos kyi nyi ma, 1737-1802), Gonlung Wang Kelzang Yeshe Dargye (dgon lung wang skal bzang ye shes dar rgyas, d.u.), and Lobzang Lama (blo bzang zla ma, d.u.). The Third Tukwan praised him to the Third Gungtang Lama, Konchok Tenpai Dronme (gung thang 03 dkon mchog bstan pa'i sgron me, 1762-1832).

He was appointed to the abbot at Kālacakra college at Rongwo, and, in 1807, as he turned forty years old, he was appointed to the abbot of Rongwo Monastery. Unfortunately he passed away that year.

His writings, particularly the biography of Shar Kelden Trinle Namgyel (shar skal ldan 'phrin las rnam rgyal), his texts on grammar, the Lekshe Drangtsi Nyingpo (legs bshad sbrang rtsi'i snying po), and the Trinyikgi Namzhak Lodro Goche ('phrin yig gi rnam gzhag blo gros sgo 'byed), are studied by contemporary students of at Tibetan universities. All his writings were collected and edited into three volumes.