The Fourth Zhabdrung Karpo, Lobzang Tubten Gelek Gyatso (zhabs drung dkar po 04 blo bzang thub bstan dge legs rgyal mtshan) was born into a family named Arik Sanggye (a rig sangs rgyas) near Mount Amnye Machen in 1729. The Seventh Dalai Lama, Kelzang Gyatso (skal bzang rgya mtsho, 1708-1757) identified him as the reincarnation of the Third Zhabdrung Karpo, Lobzang Tenpai Gyeltsen (blo bzang bstan pai rgyal mtshan, 1660-1728).
He studied with the Seventh Dalai Lama; the First Amdo Zhamar Ngawang Trinle (a mdo zhwa dmar 01 ngag dbang 'phrin las, 1661-1726); a lama with the title of Trichen (khri chen) named Tenpai Nyima (bstan pa'i nyi ma); and an Arik Geshe Chenmo (a rig dge bshas chen mo), presumably a relative.
He rose quite high in the civil administration of the region, earning the title of Tsakan Nominhan (tsha kan no min han), which his previous incarnations also enjoyed, and administered a large region of southern Amdo.
He built a large Śākyamuni Buddha statue in Magur Namgyel Ling (rma mgur rnam rgyal gling) Monastery, which the Second Zhabdrung Karpo had founded. He also built there a four-storey Nampar Gyelwai Khangzang (rnam par rgyal ba'i khang bzang) temple with exquisite tiling and with a copper and gold Chinese-style roof.
He passed away in 1796. A reliquary was constructed at Lamo Monastery; it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
Bibliography
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