The Treasury of Lives

Khenchen Choying Khyabdel was born in Serta (ser thal), Kham in 1920. His father was Mel Toblo (mal stobs blo) and mother was Tongza Norbu Kyi (thong bza' nor bu skyid).

He began his studies with Shukchung Tulku Tsultrim Zangpo ( shug chung sprul sku tshul khrims bzang po, 1884-1957), a Northern Treasures lineage holder from Shukchung Monastery (shug chung dgon). From this teacher he received the name Purba Dorje (phur ba rdo rje). He also received Northern Treasures teachings from two renowned Khordong lamas: Khordong Gyurme Dorje ('khor dong rgyud med rdo rje, 1887-1966) and Khordong Terchen Chime Rigdzin ('chi med rig 'dzin, 1922-2002), known in contemporary circles as C.R. Lama. Khordong Gyurme Dorje gave him initiations and transmissions for the teachings of Nuden Dorje (nus ldan rdo rje 'gro phan gling pa, 1802/1791-1864), a Northern Treasures lineage holder based at Khordong Monastery ('khor dong dgon) in Drango (brag 'go). Khordong Terchen Chime Rigdzin gave him secret teachings on Vajravārāhī and other Northern Treasures teachings. 

Starting in 1942 he studied Dzogchen under Yukhok Jadrel Choying Rangdrol (g.yu khog bla ma chos dbyings rang grol, 1872-1952). Choying Rangdrol was pleased with him and sent him to study under Botrul Dongak Tenpai Nyima (bod sprul mdo sngags bstan pa'i nyi ma, 1898-1959), who at that time was regarded as one of the greatest lineage holders of the teachings of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo (rong zom chos kyi bzang po, 1042-1136), Longchen Rabjam Drime Wozer (klong chen rab 'byams dri med 'od zer, 1308-1364) and Ju Mipam Gyatso ('ju mi pham rgya mtsho, 1846-1912). Jadrel Choying Rangdrol said to him, "If you study under [Botrul] then you will be a lineage holder of the Nyingma Tradition."

Choying Khyabdel spent the next fifteen years as Botrul's student, based at Gegong Monastery (dge gong dgon pa) in Dzachuka (rdza chu kha). He focused on the works of Rongzom, Longchenpa, Lochen Dharmaśrī (lo chen d+harma shrI, 1654-1717), Jigme Lingpa ('jigs med gling pa, 1730-1798), and Mipam. Botrul eventually declared him to be a reincarnation of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo. 

He received additional empowerments and transmissions of Nyingma Kama and Terma from many other teachers. Shechen Kongtrul Rinpoche (zhe chen kong sprul pad+ma dri med, 1901-1960) gave him the oral transmissions on the collected works of Mipam. Gangshar Khenpo (mkhan po gang shar, 1925-1959/1960) gave him teachings on Sakya Paṇḍita's Treasure on the Science of Valid Cognition, Mipam's commentary on Śāntarakṣita's Madhyamakālaṃkāra, Mipam's Immaculate Crystal Rosary: Commentary on the Madhyamakāvātra, and Katok Khenpo Nuden's Commentary on The Sutra which Gathers All Intentions. From Dralak Khenpo Drime Wozer (bkra legs mkhan po 'dri med 'od zer), he received teachings on Three Words that Strike at the Vital Point, and Rigdzin Godemchen's (rig 'dzin rgod ldem chen, 1337-1409) Penetrating Wisdom revelation. Ngaza Lama Tsultrim Dorje (rnga bza'i bla ma tshul khrims rdo rje) gave him further instructions on Mipam's Dzogchen writings and  Yakshul Khenpo Lodro gave him teachings on Longchenpa's The Wish Fulfilling Precious Treasury (yid bzhin rin po che mdzod).

In 1959, Choying Khyabdel entered retreat in a remote area of the Serta region where he stayed for more than twenty years, meditating and reading Longchenpa's Seven Treasuries, and lived under austere conditions with minimal sustenance. He engaged in the practice of  "extracting the essence" (bcud len), a process that is said to enable retreatants to survive with little food. According to his hagiography, he became as thin as Milarepa.

According to his student Pema Rigtsel (pad+ma rig rtsal rin po che, b. 1963), founder of Namkha Khyung Dzong Monastery (gnam mkha' khyung rdzong) in Humla, Nepal, Choying Khyabdel carefully adhered to monastic standards, avoiding eight worldly concerns. He had no personal items except for a single eating bowl, one cooking bowl, one wooden cup, monks robes (one set for summer and one set for winter); he lived in a small wooden hut his entire life. 

In 1979, Choying Khyabdel began teaching at a site that he named Ngedon Dongak Chokhor Ling (nges don mdo snags chos 'khor gling), located in the lower Serta valley at the confluence of the Serchu (gser chu) and Lichu (li chu) rivers.  Easily attracting many followers and students, the location was said to have been prophesied in earlier times as one where the Nyingma teachings would flourish. Initially Ngedon Dongak Chokhor Ling was not a formal building with a permanent structure, though his followers would later construct a monastery. 

Choying Khyabdel continued to focus his teachings and studies on the works of Mipam and Longchenpa that he received from Botrul, teachings that Botrul had received from his teacher, Khenpo Kunzang Pelden (mkhan po kun bzang dpal ldan, 1860/2-1943). According to Pema Rigtsel, Choying Khyabdel himself was known to have said "I am the greatest lineage holder of Mipam and Botrul of these times." According to Khenchen Choying's biography, great lamas such as Khenpo Jigme Puntsok (mkham po 'jigs med phun tshogs, 1933-2004), the Third Penor Rinpoche, Lekshe Chokyi Drayang (pad nor 03 legs bshad chos kyi sgra dbyangs, 1932-2009), the Third Zenkar Rinpoche, Tubten Nyima (a lags gzan dkar 03 thub bstan nyi ma, b. 1943), and Khenpo Pema Tsewang Lhundrub (mkhan po padma tshe dbang lhun grub, 1931-2002) all praised him as the equal of Milarepa.

Choying Khyabdel passed away in 1997, in his native Kham. It is said that the valley was full of rainbows for more than one week and that his body shrank to the size of a two-year old. His wooden hut was reportedly covered by a rainbow for more than one month, and the local community said that an unusual sweet, perfume-like smell wafted through the air. 

Choying Khyabdal had many prominent students, including Horwa Khenchen Sherab (hor ba mkhan chen shes rab), Khenpo Dawang (khen chen zla dbang), Pema Rigtsel, Gyurme Rangjung ('gyur med rang byung), Khenpo Kunzang Tendzin (mkhan po kun bzang bstan dzin), and Choktrul Tubten Lungtok (mchok sprul thub bstan lung rtogs). 

Khenchen Sherab, with support from Tarthang Tulku (dar thang sprul sku rin po che, b. 1935), assumed control of Serjong Lido Ngedon Dongak Chokhor Ling. It was formally re-established on October 29, 2010  (the 22nd day of the ninth month in the year of male iron tiger). Six days later, the heart son of Choying Khyabdel, Khenchen Dawang, began teachings on Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakośa. Disciples Khenchen Dawang, Khenpo Kunzang Tendzin and Choktrul Tubten Lungtok continue to teach there and have attracted several hundred monks to the monastery.