The Treasury of Lives

The Second Belmang, Konchok Gyeltsen (dbal mang 02 dkon mchog rgyal mtshan) was born in 1764 in Sangzhung (bsang gzhung) near Labrang. The Second Jamyang Zhepa ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 02, dkon mchog 'jigs med dbang po, 1728-1791) recognized him as the reincarnation of the First Belmang, Lobzang Dondrub (dbal mang blo bzang don grub,1696-1756), who had been the ninth throne holder of Labrang. Following his enthronement at the age six, he matriculated to Labrang Tashikhyil and was given the name Konchok Gyeltsen.

He began his education studying Tibetan reading and writing and prayers from Samten Sengge (bsam gtan seng+ge, d.u.). From the age of eleven he spent seven years in various courses in Buddhism and monastic codes. Despite his status as an incarnate lama, during his studies he was challenged with procuring sufficient food and clothing. He frequently had to resort to eating torma offerings, which later became model of austerity for young students. At the age of nineteen he received the complete monastic ordination from the Second Jamyang Zhepa.

At Labrang he studied relevant courses from dozens of scholars, including, Dorampa Tsultrim Sengge (rdo rams pa tshul khrims seng ge, d.u.), Jigme Rikpai Sengge ('jigs med rig pa'i seng+ge, 1747-1816), Sonam Wanggyel, the fifteenth throne holder of Labrang (bsod nams dbang rgyal, 1726-1793), and others. Besides his training in Buddhism, he also studied poetics, Sanskrit grammar, metrics, divination and astrology. In 1793, when he turned thirty, he successfully passed the examination for the Geshe Lharampa (dge bshes lha ram pa) degree, and that year started teaching and corrected some of the tantric ritual practices at the monastery.

Soon after completing his studies, Konchok Gyeltsen went on pilgrimage to U to participate in the selection process of the reincarnation of the Second Jamyang Zhepa; the Third Jamyang Zhepa, Lobzang Tubten Jigme Gyatso ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 03 blo bzang thub bstan 'jigs med rgya mtsho, 1792-1855) was enthroned at Labrang in 1798.

While in Lhasa Konchok Gyeltsen studied with a number of teachers, receiving from them certain lineages that had died out in Amdo. They included Trewo Lobzang Tashi, the sixty-fourth Ganden Tripa (dga' ldan khri chen 64 tre bo blo bzang bkra shis, 1739-1801); Drongtse Lobzang Tsultrim ('brong rtse blo zang tshul khrims, 1769-1845), who was a teacher of the Seventh Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Tenpai Nyima (paN chen 07 blo bzang bstan pa'i nyi ma, 1782-1854); and Guge Lobzang Tendzin (gu ge blo bzang bstan 'dzin, d.u.).

He gave teachings to various students in the region, and was asked by Zangri Desi Lobzang Tutob (zangs ri sde srid blo bzang mthu stobs, d.u.) to take up residence at Gyume College (rgyud smad grwa tshang), and Demo Nominhan Tubten Jigme Gyatso (de mo no mon han thub bstan 'jigs med rgya mtsho, d.u.) invited him to Tengyeling (bstan rgyas gling); he declined both offers.

Konchok Gyeltsen arrived back to Labrang in 1798. There he completed his history of the monastery, the Labrang Denrab (bla brang gdan rabs) in 1800, at the age of thirty-six. As he turned forty-one, he was enthroned as the twenty-fourth throne holder of Labrang, and served for six years.

In addition to his heavy teaching activities, during his tenure he monitored some of temple constructions, correction of ritual practices, creation of monastic rules and other relevant activities. He also gave teachings and set monastic rules at the branch-monasteries of Labrang, especially in Dzoge (mdzod dge). He trained dozens of Buddhist scholars in Amdo, including Sherab Gyatso (shes rab rgya mtsho, 1803-1875); Jamyang Tubten Nyima, later the thirtieth throne holder of Labrang ('jam dbyangs thub bstan nyi ma, 1779-1862); Konchok Norbu, later the thirty-fifth throne holder of Labrang (dkon mchog nor bu, 1770-1839), Konchok Tenpai Rabgye, later the forty-ninth throne holder of Labrang (dkon mchog bstan pa rab rgyas, 1801-1866); Ngawang Tubten Gyatso, later the fifty-first throne holder of Labrang (ngag dbang thub bstan rgya mtsho, 1836-1877/1889), and many others.

Konchok Gyeltsen passed away in 1853 at the age of ninety. His writings were collected and edited into ten volumes, and kept at Amchok Monastery.