Bengarwa Jampel Zangpo was born some time in the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century. His father was a brother of a lama Wanggyawa Chokyi Rinchen (dbang rgya ba chos kyi rin chen, d.u.), who was a disciple of both Rolpai Dorje, the Fourth Karmapa (kar ma pa 04 rol pa'i rdo rje, 1340-1383) and of Tishri Kunga Lodro (ti shri kun dga' blo gros, d.u.). His mother was named Chokyi Dolma (chos kyi sgrol ma).
His uncle Chokyi Rinchen gave him empowerments and transmission of the Vajramala (the explanatory tantra of the Guhyasamāja) and other tantric cycles. He later gave him the full transmission of the Tsurpu tantric teachings.
He ordained with a lama named Samten Zangpo (bsam gtan bzang po, d.u.), who gave him the name Jampel Zangpo.
He received teachings from Rongton Sheja Kunrik (rong ston shes bya kun rig, 1367-1449) and Lhapuwa (lha phu ba, d.u.). Je Donden Zhab (rje don ldan zhabs, d.u.) gave him teachings on the Naro Chodruk (na ro chos brug) over a period of four years. Jampel Zangpo was also a close disciple of Tongwa Donden, the Sixth Karmapa (karma pa 06 mthong ba don ldan, 1416-1453).
Among his disciples were Peljor Dondrub, the First Tsurpu Gyeltsab (mtshur phu rgyal tshab 01 dpal 'byor don grub, 1427-1489), and Minyak Dorje Sengge (mi nyag pa rdo rje seng+ge, b. 1462), to whom he transmitted the Vajraratna teachings.
Images
Karma Kagyu Refuge Field
Karma Kagyu Field of Accumulation painting with the Fifteenth Karmapa, Kakyab Dorje, as the last lineage holder at the time of the compositions creation.
Bibliography
Si tu paN chen chos kyi 'byung gnas, and 'Be lo tshe dbang kun khab. 1972.Kun mkhyen 'jam dpal bzang po. In Sgrub brgyud karma kaM tshang brgyud pa rin po che'i rnam par thar pa rab byams nor bu zla ba chu shel gyi phreng ba. New Delhi: D. Gyeltsen & Kesang Legshay, vol. 1, pp. 527-530.TBRC W23435
A biography of Jampel Zangpo is listed in Sonam Dondrub's catalog of Tibetan biographies, no. 1399. See: Bsod nams don grub. 2000.Bod kyi lo rgyus dpe tho. Lhasa: Bod ljongs Mi dmangs Dpe skrun khang.