The Treasury of Lives

Toru Khenpo Kelden Gyatso (rdzogs chen mkhan rabs 09 gto ru mkhan po skal ldan rgya mtsho) was the ninth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College (shrI sing+ha bshad drwa) at Dzogchen Rudam Orgyen Samten Choling Monastery (rdzogs chen ru dam o rgyan bsam gtan chos gling). He was born in the middle of fourteenth sexagenary cycle, around 1837, near Dzogchen Monastery in Rudam (ru dam). His family, the Toru A-ge Tsang (gto ru a ge tshang), had sponsored the First Dzogchen Drubwang, Pema Rigdzin (rdzogs chen grub dbang 01 pad+ma rig 'dzin, 1625-1697) and his three principal disciples when they had newly arrived in Rudam Valley to establish Dzogchen Monastery.

The Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang, Mingyur Namkhai Dorje (rdzogs chen grub dbang 04 mi 'gyur nam mkha'i rdo rje, 1793-1870) presided over the boy's hair cutting ceremony (gtsug phud phul). Kelden Gyatso began his basic education by studying reading and writing; when he reached a suitable age, he received his novice monk vows (śrāmaṇera) from the eighth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Pema Vajra (pad+ma badz+ra, c.1807-1884) and enrolled at the college.

There, Kelden Gyatso studied and debated foundational Mahayana texts under many teachers, including the third abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Nyidrak Rigdzin Zangpo (rdzogs chen mkhan rabs 03 nyi grags rig 'dzin bzang po, d.u.); Dza Patrul Rinpoche (dpal sprul rin po che, 1808-1887); and the seventh abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Lingtrul Tubten Nyinje Gyeltsen (rdzogs chen mkhan rabs 07 gling sprul thub bstan nyin byed rgyal mtshan, d.u.). These studies focused on the Bodhisattvacharyāvatāra, Madhyamaka, Prajñāpāramitā, Vinaya, Upper and Lower Abhidharmas, Pramāṇavārtika, and the Guhyagarbha Tantra.

He received more advanced teachings, commentaries, empowerments, and instructions on the Dzogchen tradition from Mingyur Namkhai Dorje and the second abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Gyelse Zhenpen Taye (rdzogs chen mkhan rabs 09 rgyal sras gzhan phan mtha' yas 'od zer, 1800-1855), specifically focusing on the Dzogchen Nyingtik  (rdzogs chen snying thig), which he then put into practice.

Kelden Gyatso was enthroned as the ninth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College around the age of forty and maintained the college's tradition of teaching primarily based on classical texts of the Indian and Tibetan masters.

It is said he produced a number of scholars among his disciples, some of whom include Gyelse Rigpai Reltri (rgyal sras rig pa'i ral gri, 1830-1896); the third Gurong, Orgyen Jikdrel Choying Dorje (dgu rong 03 o rgyan 'jigs bral chos dbyings rdo rje, 1875-1932); the great scholar Minyak Kunzang Sonam (mi nyag kun bzang bsod nams, 1823-1905); and Jewon Orgyen Tendzin (rje dbon o rgyan bstan 'dzin, d.u.).

He entered a strict retreat during his later life at Gangtro Dewa Chenpo (gangs khrod bde ba chen po), a cave near Dzogchen Monastery and remained in meditation there until he passed away.