The Treasury of Lives

Lama Dribdel (bla ma sgrib bral) was born around 1946 in Utsak (dbu chags), near Serta, Amdo. His clan name was Gyuta (rgyu tha), after the name of Gyukhok (rgyu khog), the area in which he was born. His father was Khordong Gyurme Dorje ('khor gdong 'gyur med rdo rje, 1887–1966) and his mother was Haza Dzomlu (ha bza' 'dzom lu). His father was his first and main teacher, but he died when Lama Dribdel was eleven. He then joined Khordong Monastery ('khor gdong dgon), a Nyingma monastery in the Trehor region.

During the religious persecution in the region at the time of the Cultural Revolution, and despite the hardships, abuse, and beatings he suffered, Lama Dribdel always insisted on wearing his monk robes. During the many years he resided at Khordong he practiced, among others, the Yamantaka Razor (gshin rje ra zor), taking charge of the protector practices of averting negativities related to death. He is said to have used the donations received for such practices to restore the houses and statues at the monastery and also to contribute for the dharma activities of Jadrel Choying Rangdrol (bya bral chos dbyings rang grol, 1872–1952), who established Yagye Gar (yak ye sgar) in lower Serta. It is commonly said that he finally managed to meet Yukhok Jadrel and received Dzogchen teachings from him but the currently accepted dates make this impossible.

He entered retreat in Chuwar Tare (chu dbar ta re), the birthplace of Jadrel Choying Rangdrol in the valley of Yukhok (g.yu khog) in Kham. 

He received full ordination from Horshul Khenchen Sherab (hor shul mkhan chen shes rab), who was the regent (rgyal tshab) of Jadrel Pema Choying Khyabdel (bya bral bla ma pad+ma chos dbyings khyab brtal, 1920–1997). Around 2000 he went to Adzom Gar (a 'dzom sgar) to receive the entire transmission and detailed instructions of the Dzogchen cycles from the Second Adzom Drukpa Tubten Pema Trinle (a 'dzom brug pa 02 thub bstan pad+ma 'phrin las, 1926–2001). He also received Dzogchen teachings from Khenpo Jigme Puntsok (mkhan po 'jigs med phun tshogs, 1933–2004) and from the Nenang Tulku Chokyi Nyima (gnas nang sprul sku chos kyi nyi ma), as well as from the Minyak Tulku Lobdro Rabsel (mi nyag sprul sku blo gros rab gsal) who was the regent of Adzom Drukpa. Among the Dzogchen transmissions and instructions he received were Jigma Lingpa's ('jig med gling pa, 1730–1798) Longchen Nyingtik (klong chen snying thig), Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo's ('jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse'i dbang po, 1820–1892) Chetsun Nyingtik (lce brtsun snying thig), and revelations of the First Adzom Drukpa, Drodul Pawo Dorje (a 'dzom 'brug pa 01 'gro 'dul dpa' bo rdo rje, 1842–1924).

Lama Dribdel spent nearly his entire life in retreat. He spent fifteen years retreat in a cave in Horkok (hor khog); several years retreat in Khordong; many years retreat in Samye Chimpu (bsam yas mphyims phu), Yarlung Sheldak (yar klung shel brag) and Lhodrak Karchu (lho brag mkhar chu); then several more years in Nenang, and, finally, fourteen years at Chuwar Tare (chu dbar ta re) and the famous mountain retreat of Dolho Dungkar (rdo lho dung dkar) in Chumar Uktsang Dewa (chu dmar 'ug tshang sde ba) on Gyelmo Murdo (rgyal mo dmu rdo).

Lama Dribdel passed away on December 16, 2018, in Dungkar. The day before his passing, he is said to have told his sponsors, who came to see him at his retreat cabin, "Now, I am going to die. Thank you very much for your support. Forgive me if I have ever spoken harsh words to you." The next morning, after taking a light breakfast, he asked to have his heavy robes (rtsag 'gag) removed and to be covered with the yellow religious robes (chos gos). He sat in the upright meditation posture and asked to be left in this position. He passed away in the meditation pose with hands joined together and legs crossed. Witnesses reported seeing rainbows and other signs of the death of an accomplished practitioner. Day by day, Lama Dribdel's physical body shrank from the height of about 1.70m down a measure known as trugang tsam (khru gang tsam), the equivalent of a cubit, or about 40cm. This phenomenon is known in Tibet as attaining the "small rainbow body" or jalu chung ngu ('ja' lus chung ngu), the mark of a supreme accomplishment in Dzogchen practice.  

Lama Dribdel's remains (sku dung) are preserved in Dolho Dungkar where they are considered an earth treasure (sa gter).