The Treasury of Lives

Damcho Pekar, who served as the Fourth Je Khenpo of Bhutan, was born into the lineage of Paro Zarchen Choje (spa gro zar chen chos rje) in 1639, the earth-hare year. His father, whose name is not known, was forty-six years old at the time of his birth.

From the age of five until he was thirteen, Damcho Pekar was given transmission of the Zarchen Choje tradition. Although he wanted to join the monastery, his father did not allow him to become monk until 1642, when he was fourteen. He received ordination from The First Je Khenpo, Pekar Jungne (rje mkhan po 01 pad dkar 'byung gnas, 1604-1672).

He received instruction on sutra and tantra and on the teachings of the Fourth Drukchen, Pema Karpo ('brug chen 04 pad+ma dkar po, 1527-1592) under Damcho Gyeltsen (dam chos rgyal mtshan, d.u.) and Khenchen Pekar Jungne. He devoted his time in practice at the Chenri Monaster (lcags ri).

There are differing reports of Damcho Pekar’s activities in Nepal. Some sources make no mention of the legendary meeting with the Gorkha king, but it seems he was already in Jumla, part of the Gorkha kingdom. Migyur Tenpa, the Third Druk Desi ('brug sde srid 03 mi 'gyur bstan pa), is said to have sent him to build political relations in Kathmandu valley and he may have already been in Yambu (Kathmandu), possibly on pilgrimage, when he was invited to the court of the Gorkha king Ram Shah (r. 1609-1633, d. 1636).  According to legend, the king was desperate for a son, and following a prophetic dream by one of the queens, invited Damcho Pekar to conduct pujas and blessings. The queen subsequently gave birth to a son, and, crediting him with saving the dynasty, the king granted Damcho Pekar lands and villages in the Nepal Himalaya.

King Ram Shah further entrusted Damcho Pekar with the responsibilities of leading the Nepali Buddhist community. The tradition became popular, and Bhutanese culture flourished in Nepal. According to tradition, the community established monasteries such as Langdrang Monastery (bla brang/glang byang dgon pa) and Namkha Ling (nam mkha' gling), among others, which were founded as affiliates of Bhutanese monasteries. However, the historical record is not clear that these monasteries were in fact established during Damcho Pekar's lifetime. Damcho Pekar requested the Bhutanese government to send a capable assistant, and in response the government sent Choze Rechungpa (chos mdzad re chung pa) who later became guardian of the monasteries.

Members of the Geluk tradition in Nepal, then seeking to become the dominant religious community of the country, spoke out against Damcho Pekar and his disciples, and they attempted to drive him and the Drukpa Kagyu teachings out of the country. Despite their efforts, including bribes made to the king, Damcho Pekar and his tradition flourished in Nepal.

When Damcho Pekar returned to Bhutan he stayed at Chodrak (chos brag) in Bumthang (bum thang) and Taktsang (stag tshang) in Paro. In 1697, the fire-ox year, at the age of fifty-nine, he was enthroned as the Fourth Je Khenpo of Bhutan. He served for ten years.

He stepped down from the throne at the age of sixty-nine, in 1707, the fire-hog year, and stayed for a few months at Tashichoedzong (bkra shis chos rdzong) teaching to his remaining disciples. He finally chose to pass into Nirvana at the age of seventy in 1798, the earth rat year.