The Treasury of Lives

Karma Tashi (karma bkra shis) was born in a place called Achok (a mchog), in the Pelyul (dpal yul) area of Kham, in 1728, the earth-snake year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle. He was born into the family, possibly a nephew, of the founder of Pelyul Monastery (dpal yul dgon), Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab (rig 'dzin kun bzang shes rabs, 1636-1698).

He received a basic education and entered Pelyul Monastery, where he was given tonsure by the third throne holder, the First Penor Rinpoche, Padma Norbu (pad nor 01 pad+ma nor bu, 1679-1757), who supervised his education.

Padma Norbu later chose him as his successor and, with the participation of the Thirteenth Karmapa, Dudul Dorje (karma pa 13 bdud 'dul rdo rje, 1733/1734-1797/1798) and the Tenth Zhamarpa, Chodrub Gyatso (zhwa dmar pa 10 chos 'grub rgya mtsho, 1741/1742-1792), enthroned him as the fourth throne holder of Pelyul

During his tenure he gave empowerments, transmissions and instructions, and he also established a hermitage site, named Pelyul Drubkhang Oma (dpal yul sgrub khang 'od ma)

He took the vows of fully ordinated monk from the Eighth Situ, Chokyi Jungne (si tu 08 chos kyi 'byung gnas, 1699/1700-1774), who gave him the ordination name Karma Chopel Zangpo (karma chos dpal bzang po).

He gave assistance to the Qing campaign in Gyarong against Rabten Gyelwo (rab brtan rgyal bo), the king of Gyarong Tsenlha (rgyal rong btsan lha), who was defeated in the early 1770s. In return he was awarded gifts and titles, including Imperial Preceptor (太师).

Soon after the military campaigns in Gyarong, Karma Tashi founded Yulkyong Monastery (yul skyong dgon) in Dartsedo (dar tshe mdo). This monastery is either no longer standing or its name was changed. There he took Dzogchen teachings from the First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Ozer (rdo grub chen 01 'jigs med 'phrin las 'od zer, 1745-1821), to whom he gave the teachings of the Pelyul traditions.

Among his close disciples were his relative Karma Lhawang (karma lha dbang), who was posthumously known as the First Dzongnang Lama (rdzong nang bla ma 01) and Karma Dondam (karma don dam, d.u.), both of whom are credited with serving as the and the fifth throne holder of Pelyul.

Karma Tashi passed away, in 1790, the iron-dog year of the thirteenth sexagenary cycle, at the age of sixty three. The Thirteenth Karmapa identified his reincarnation in Karma Gyurme Ngedon Tendzin (karma 'gyur med nges don bstan 'dzin, 1794-1851). The origin of the title Karma Kuchen (karma sku chen) is not clear.