The Treasury of Lives

Nyakshul Khenpo Gyurme Wosel (nyag shul mkhan po 'gyur med 'od gsal) was born, around the year 1890, in a nomadic community in Kham to the Nyakshul (nyag shul) clan, who were known as warriors in their region.

As a young boy, Gyurme Wosel's paternal uncles took him on a pilgrimage to Dzogchen Monastery, Rudam Orgyen Samten Choling (rdzogs chen ru dam o rgyan bsam gtan chos gling), in Rudam (ru dam). According to his hagiography, when it was time for them to leave he refused to return home, instead insisting to be enrolled in the monastery. The Fifth Dzogchen Drubwang, Tubten Chokyi Dorje (rdzogs chen 05 thub bstan chos kyi rdo rje, 1872-1935) performed his tonsure ceremony and offered him land and a house as a gift.

The Fifth Dzogchen Drubwang give him his novice monk vows (śrāmaṇera), bodhisattva vows, and tantric vows. He became Gyurme Wosel's main teacher, with whom he studied the revealed treasure (gter ma) and spoken word (bka' ma) traditions within the Nyingma school, and received the full range of empowerments, transmissions, and instructions associated with advanced practice.

He studied a great range of topics from the sutras and tantras, as well as general subjects under a number of distinguished teachers including the nineteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College (shrI sing+ha bshad drwa), Zhenpen Chokyi Nangwa (gzhan phan chos kyi snang ba, 1871-1927); the sixteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha, Adro'i Khenchen Sonam Chophel (a gro'i mkhan chen bsod nams chos phel, d.u.); and the twentieth abbot of Śrī Siṃha, Pema Tekchok Loden (pad+ma theg mchog blo ldan, 1879-1955).  Gyurme Wosel assumed the role of the twenty-fourth abbot of Śrī Siṃha around the age of thirty, but passed away soon afterwards around 1920. Khedrub Ngawang Norbu (mkhas grub ngag dbang nor bu, 1886-1958) succeeded him as the twenty-fifth abbot of the college.