The Treasury of Lives

The Seventh Kirti, Kunga Chopak Tubten Nyima (kirti 07 kun dga chos 'phags thub bstan nyi ma) was born in 1797 in Tsakhok (tsha khog) near Taktsang Lhamo Monastery (stag tshang lha mo dgon). His father was named Zopa (bzod pa) and mother named Tashi Kyi (bkra shis skyid). In 1802 he took novice vows from Yershong Gendun Dadrak (g.yer gshong dge 'dun zla grags, d.u.) from whom he received the name Kunga Chopak (kun dga chos 'phags). In the following year, Gendun Dadrak ordained him as a novice and added Tubten Nyima (thub bstan nyi ma) to his name.

In 1804, the Third Gungtang, Konchok Tenpai Dronme (gung thang 03 dkon mchog gung thang bstan pa'i sgron me, 1762-1823) identified him as the reincarnation of the Sixth Kirti, Gendun Chokyi Wangchuk (kirti 06 dge 'dun chos kyi dbang phyug, 1773-1796). He was enthroned at Kirti Monastery, Taktsang Lhamo, in that year.

At Kirti the chant leader of the tantric college named Lobzang Tenpa (blo bzang bstan pa) became his tutor. Under Lobzang Tenpa he started to learn how to read and memorized prayers. The Third Gungtang gave him empowerments of White Tara and other deities.

In 1805, he visited Tsakho (tsha kho) valley, the birthplace of the First Kirti, Gendun Gyeltsen (dge dun rgyal mtshan, 1374-1450). In 1807, he went to Labrang Tashikhyil (bla brang bkra shis 'khyil) to study. Two years later he went into retreat on Hayagrīva at to Kalari Kirti (ka la ri) Monastery, which the First Kirti had established in 1412. In 1811 he traveled to Tewo (the bo) where he gave teachings on karma and how to take refuge in the three jewels.

In 1816, he set off for U-Tsang. He arrived at Drepung Monastery ('bras spungs dgon) in Lhasa. He sought audiences with the Regent, the Eight Demo, Ngawang Tubten Jigme Gyatso (de mo 08 ngag dbang thub bstan 'jigs med rgya mtsho, 1778-1819), the Seventh Paṇchen Lama, Tenpai Nyima (paN chen 07 bstan pa'i nyi ma, 1782-1853) and other religious leaders, from whom he received teachings. The Paṇchen Lama gave him full ordination. The Sixty-ninth Ganden Tripa, Jangchub Chopel (dga' ldan khri pa 69 byang chub chos 'phel, 1756-1838), who was posthumously known as the First Trijang (khri byang 01), and a former abbot of Drepung Loseling ('bras spungs blo gsal gling), Ngawang Nyendrak (ngag dbang snyan grags) advised him to establish a philosophical college at Taktsang Lhamo Monastery.

After completing his activities in Lhasa, he returned to Taktsang Lhamo with Lobzang Puntsok (blo bzang phun tshogs, d.u.), a former abbot of Loseling, whom he appointed as the first abbot of the new college in 1818. The program of study was modeled on Loseling, with a standard Geluk curriculum focusing on Prajñāpāramitā, Madhyamaka, Pramāṇa, Abhidharma, and Vinaya. Within four years the blocks for the central texts had been carved. The first class of students completed their studies in 1844, and took the examination degree of rabjampa damcha (rab 'byams dam bca').

At the request of a Lama Gyeltsen (bla ma rgyal mtshan), in 1822 the Seventh Kirti laid the foundations for a new monastery in Hortsang (hor tshang), named Tashi Samten Ling (bkra shis bsam gtan gling). In 1826 he initiated the building of a grand stupa at Kirti, which was completed five years later.

The Seventh Kirti passed away in 1848.