The Treasury of Lives

Jigme Lungrik Gyatso ('jigs med lung rigs rgya mtsho) was born in Rebkong (reb gong) in 1748, the earth-dragon year of thirteenth sexagenary cycle. He was the paternal nephew of an abbot of Rongwo Monastery (rong bo dgon), Gendun Gyatso (dge 'dun rgya mtsho, 1679-1765). He was recognized by the Fifth Tongkhor, Sonam Gyatso (stong 'khor 05 bsod nams rgya mtsho, 1684-1752) and the Second Jamyang Zhepa, Konchok Jigme Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 02 dkon mchog 'jigs med dbang po, 1728-1791) as the reincarnation of Lobzang Dondrub (blo bzang don grub, 1673-1746), and given the title of the Second Detri (sde khri). The title appears to be an abbreviation of Dewatsang (sde ba tshang) Throne holder (khri pa).

He started his reading, writing and daily prayer courses under instructions from Konchok Gyatso (dkon mchog rgya mtsho, d.u). When he turned thirteen he matriculated into Labrang Tashikhyil Monastery (bla brang bkra shis 'khyil) and started his formal Buddhist monastic education. During his studies at Labrang he also received various teachings and empowerment from the Second Jamyang Zhepa. He also received the Mongolian title of Erdeni Mergen Shriretu Khenpo (er te ni mer gan shri re thu mkhan po) from the Third Changkya, Rolpai Dorje (lcang skya 03 rol pa'i rdo rje, 1717-1786).

In 1768, at the age of twenty-one, he went to U-Tsang and enrolled in Gomang College (sgo mang grwa tshang) at Drepung ('bras spungs) monastic university where he continued his Buddhist studies. He was highly respected at Gomang, and received the title of Jampel Nominhan Erdeni ('jam dpal no min han er te ni) from the Eighth Dalai Lama, Jampel Gyatso (ta la'i bla ma 08 'jam dpal rgya mtsho, 1758-1804) and the Sixth Paṇchen Lama, Pelden Yeshe (paN chen 06 dpal ldan ye shes, 1738-1780).

He returned to Amdo and, in 1777, was elevated to the throne of Labrang. He fell ill the next year and passed away, in 1778, at the age of thirty.