The Treasury of Lives

Konchok Gyepai Lodro (dkon mchog dgyes pa'i blo gros) was born in 1773, the water-snake year of thirteenth sexagenary cycle. His father's name was Ngawang (ngag dbang). When he was a young child the Second Jamyang Zhepa, Konchok Jigme Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 02 dkon mchog 'jigs med dbang po, 1728-1791) recognized him as the reincarnation of the eleventh throne holder (khri chen) of Labrang Tashikhyil (bla brang bkra shis 'khyil), Ling Dondrub Gyatso (gling don grub rgya mtsho, 1702-1769) and gave him renunciation and novice vows. His first tutor was named Zangpo Tashi (bzang po bkra shis, d.u).

At the age of twelve he matriculated at Labrang and studied under a teacher named Rabten Gyatso (rab brtan rgya mtsho, d.u) and later the Second Jamyang Zhepa; the Third Gungtang, Konchok Tenpai Dronme (dkon mchog bstan pa'i sgron me, 1762-1823); the twentieth throne holder of Labrang, the Third Hortsang Sertri, Jigme Rigpai Sengge (hor tshang gser khri 03 'jigs med rig pa'i seng+ge, 1747-1816). He finished his studies with the Monlam Rabjampa (smon lam rab 'byams pa) and Dochel Rabjampa (rdo bcal rab 'byams pa) degrees. In addition to the standard monastic curriculum he also studied astrology, grammar, medicine, and poetics. He is said to have engaged in the study of other Tibetan religious traditions, including the Bon.

At some point he visited Lhasa and offered the compositions of the Second Jamyang Zhepa to the Eighth Tatsak, Tenpai Gonpo (rta tshag 08 bstan pa'i mgon po, 1760-1810), a teacher to the Eighth Dalai Lama, Jampel Gyatso (tA la'i bla ma 08 'jam dpal rgya mtsho, 1758-1804). Among the lamas from whom he received teachings were the Sixty-sixth Ganden Tripa, Ngawang Nyendrak (dga' ldan khri pa 66 ngag dbang snyan grags, 1746-1824).

After his return from Lhasa he was appointed first as the abbot of the Tantric College and later to the throne of Labrang monastery. The dates of his tenure are not recorded. Following his service at Labrang he undertook a pilgrimage tour of China and taught at monasteries there and in Amdo such as Tsagen Beshing (tsha gan be shing) and Urge Dratsang (urge grwa tshang).

He passed away in 1837 or 1838, after giving empowerment of Vajramāla at Muge monastery. Jigme Lodro Gyatso ('jigs med blo gros rgya mtsho, b.1839) was identified as his reincarnation.