The Treasury of Lives

Ngawang Tubten Kelzang Tenpai Dronme (ngag dbang thub bstan skal bzang bstan pa'i sgron me) was born in 1888, the earth-mouse year of fifteenth sexagenary cycle, in Chakri Pedong (lcags ri spas sdong), U (dbus). His father was named Chakshar Tsewang Yugyel (lcags shar tshe dbang g.yu rgyal), and mother was named Dawa Butri (zla ba bu khrid). As an infant he was recognized as the rebirth of the Tenth Tatsak Jedrung, Ngawang Pelden Chokyi Gyeltsen (rta tshag rje drung 10 ngag dbang dpal ldan chos kyi rgyal mtshan, 1850-1886). The Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso (tA la'i bla ma 13 thub bstan rgya mtsho, 1876-1933) performed the monastic tonsure ritual and named him Ngawang Tubten Kelzang Tenpai Dronme.

In 1895 he received the primary monastic vow from Third Purchok, Lobzang Tsultrim Jampa Gyatso (phur lcog 03 blo bzang tshul khrims byams pa rgya mtsho, 1825-1901), and enrolled in Gomang College (sgo mang grwa tshang), at Drepung ('bras spungs) monastic university. His teachers there included the Thirteenth Dalai Lama; the Third Purchok; the Ninth Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Tubten Chokyi Nyima (paN chen 09 blo bzang thub bstan chos kyi nyi ma, 1883-1937); the Fifth Lingtrul, Lobzang Lungtok Tendzin Trinle (gling sprul 05 blo bzang lung rtogs bstan 'dzin 'phrin las, 1850/1856-1902); Khyenrab Tenpa Chopel (mkhyen rab bstan pa chos 'phel, 1840-1907/1908), who was then the abbot of Gomang; Lobzang Yeshe Tenpai Gyeltsen (blo bzang ye shes bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 19th century); the Fifth Rakra, Ngawang Tendzin Tsultrim (ra kra 05 ngag dbang bstan 'dzin tshul khrims, b. 20th century); Lobzang Donden (blo bzang don ldan, d.1950), and many others.

He gained a considerable scholarly reputation and graduated with the top monastic academic degree of Lharampa (lha rams pa). Around this time he was fully ordained by the thirteenth Dalai Lama. Following his graduation he taught in various locations in U. Among his students was Dobi Geshe Sherab Gyatso (rdo sbis dge bshes shes rab rgya mtsho, 1884-1968), who later wrote his biography.

In 1917, he made a trip to his estate monastery, Pasho Samdrub Dechen Ling (dpa' shod bsam grub gling), outside of Chamdo, Kham. The monastery, which had been established by Baso Chokyi Gyeltsen (ba so chos kyi rgyal mtshan, 1402-1473), who was considered to have been the First Tatsak Jedrung. The monastery had been damaged during recent fighting with the Chinese.

He passed away on his return to central Tibet in 1918.