The Treasury of Lives

Karma Gyurme Ngedon Tendzin Zangpo (karma 'gyur med nges don bstan 'dzin bzang po) was born in 1794, the wood-tiger year of the thirteenth sexagenary cycle, into the Khangleb family (khang leb) of the Mechugang (rme chu sgang) area of Mesho (rme shod), in Kham. His father was named Dondrub (don grub) and his mother was called Sonamkyi (bsod nams skyid).

In his youth he was recognized as the rebirth of the fourth Pelyul throne holder, Karma Tashi (karma bkra shis, 1728-1790) by the Thirteenth Karmapa, Dudul Dorje (karma pa 13 bdud 'dul rdo rje, 1733/1734-1797/1798) and enthroned at Pelyul Monastery (dpal yul dgon). Karma Tashi was posthumously given the title of First Karma Kuchen (karma sku chen). The Thirty-third Sakya Trichen, Wangdu Nyingpo (sa skya khri chen 33 dbang sdud snying po, 1763-1809), the Ninth Situ, Pema Nyinje Wangpo (si tu 09 pad+ma nyin byed dbang po, 1774-1853) and Dudul Gyelse Pema Wanggyel (bdud 'dul rgyal sras pad+ma dbang rgyal, d.u.) all sent confirmation of the identification. He was then enthroned at the seat of his predecessor, Pelyul Namgyel Jangchub Choling (dpal yul rnam rgyal byang chub chos gling.)

At Pelyul his education was supervised by Karma Donden (karma don dan), one of two men to hold the title of fifth throne holder. He received complete ordination from the Ninth Situ, who instructed him in Vinaya. He also studied with Serlha Tsewang Pema Jinpa (gser lha rtse dbang pad+ma sbyin pa), who gave him the name Rinzin Wanggi Gyalwo(rin ‘dzin dbang gi rgyal bo). Katok Nyintrul (kaH thog nyin sprul) gave him the transmissions of Dudul Dorje's (bdud 'dul rdo rje, 1615-1672) treasure revelations. Jigme Gyelwai Nyugu ('jigs med rgyal ba'i myug gu, 1765-1842) and the Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang, Mingyur Namkhai Dorje (rdzogs chen 04 mi 'gyur nam mkha'i rdo rje, 1793-1870) transmitted to him the Longchen Nyingtik (klong chen snying thig) tradition of Jigme Lingpa ('jigs med gling pa, 1729-1798).

During his tenure at Pelyul he initiated the performance of a medical ceremony each sheep year, and monastic dances in the tradition of Guru Chowang (gu ru chos dbang, 1212-1270), a tradition he brought from Pelpung. To create the masks and costumes he used silks given to Karma Tashi from the Qianlong Emperor of China. He also built a new copper roof for the Chakdra Temple (lcags 'dra lha khang) at Pelyul. He spent much of his time in retreat, practicing Vajrakila from the Dudul Dorje revelations.

He traveled to branch monasteries in the Washul (wa shul), Gyarong (rgyal rong) and Golok (mgo log) regions. In Gyarong he identified the reincarnation of Pelyul's founder Kunzang Sherab (kun bzang shes rab, 1636-1698), Dongak Tendzin (P6169 do sngags bstan 'dzin, 1830-1892), to whom he gave the title Gyatrul (rgya sprul). He also identified Jigme Rangdrol ('jigs med rang grol, b. 1820) as the reincarnation of Lama Wangchuk (bla ma dbang phyug), a nephew of Karma Tashi (karma bkra shis), the fourth throne holder of Pelyul, and gave him the title of Second Wonpo Wangchuk (dbon po dbang phyug 02).

Among his other disciples were Shukgang Terton Pema Dupatsel (shug sgang gter chen pad+ma 'dus pa rtsal, 1870-1932) and Gyelka Lama Sanggye Yeshe (rgyal kha bla ma sangs rgyas ye shes, d.u.). 

In 1850, at the request of the chief of Golok Akyong (mgo log a skyong), Ngawang Tendzin (ngag dbang bstan 'dzin), he founded Dartang Dongak Shedrub Chokhor Dargye Ling (dar thang mdo sngags bshad sgrub chos 'khor dar gling) and served as the first throne holder for one year. In 1851, he passed the abbacy to his disciple Pema Dongak Tendzin, who later served as the seventh throne holder of Pelyul monastery as well. He died at Pelyul Monastery that year at the age of fifty-eight.