The Treasury of Lives

The Twenty-second Ganden Tripa, Gendun Tenpa Dargye (dga'  ldan khri pa 22 dge ' dun bstan pa dar rgyas) was born in Lungsho Una in Uto (dbus stod klung shod dbu sna) in 1493, the wood-ox year of the eighth sexagenary cycle.

Gendun Tenpa Dargye was said to have been a considerably intelligent youth with a marked interest in religion. He matriculated in Sera Me College of Sera Monastery (se ra smad grwa tshang) and studied the traditional texts. Following his studies he served as the abbot of Meldro Chakar Monastery (mal gro cha dkar dgon), also known as Kargya Gon (dkar rgya dgon). He was forced to flee due to an attack on the monastery by Drigung forces, and reluctantly transferred to Drakwar (brag dbar) where he served as abbot.

Gendun Tenpa Dargye later moved to Ganden (dga' ldan) and served as lobpon in the Jangtse College (dga'  ldan byang rtse grwa tshang). At the age of seventy-three, in 1565, the wood-ox year of the ninth sexagenary cycle, He was enthroned to the seat of the Twenty-second Ganden Tripa. He served for four years, giving teachings on both sutra and tantra, and leading the important religious activities and events and festivals including the annual Great Prayer Festival, the Lhasa Monlam Chenmo. He gave special attention to the development of the traditional monastic education in Geluk tradition.

Among the texts written by Trichen Gendun Tenpa Dargye, the texts on Prajñāpāramitā and Madhyamaka were in the standard curricula of Sera Me, Tsang Shelkar Chode (gtsang shel dkar chos sde), Tsang Gangchen Gonpa (gtsang gangs can dgon pa), Tsang Rinpung Jamchen Gonpa (gtsang rin spungs byams chen dgon pa), and also Choni Monastery, the great seat for learning in Amdo (mdo smad co ne dgon chen) follow the teachings of this Trichen in their monastic curriculum. His collected works are in five volumes.

Of his presumed numerous disciples the only known name is Sherab Ozer (shes rab 'od zer, 1518-1584).

Trichen Gendun Tenpa Dargye passed into nirvana either at the age of seventy-six in 1568, the year of earth-dragon in the tenth sexagenary cycle, or in 1569, the year of earth-snake at the age of seventy-seven. Because the Twenty-third Ganden Tripa, Trichen Tseten Gyatso (dga' ldan khri pa 23, tshe brtan rgya mtsho, 1520-1576) assumed his office in 1568, it is almost certain that the first date is correct.

A silver reconciliation stupa (dbyen ' dum mchod rten) was erected and installed as the main object of faith in the Lima Lhakang in Ganden Monastery.