The Treasury of Lives

Pema Lhundrub Gyatso (pad+ma lhun drub rgya mtsho) was born in the Senggang (seng sgang) region of Pelyul (dpal yul), Kham, in 1660, the iron-mouse year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle. His family's name was Gyanak Rawa (rgya nag ra ba). His childhood name was Gongyel (mgon rgyal). His uncle was Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab (rig 'dzin kun bzang shes rab, 1636-1698), the founder of Pelyul Monastery (dpal yul dgon).

At the age of eight he received blessings and empowerments from Mingyur Dorje (mi 'gyur rdo rje, 1645-1667), and, at sixteen, he entered Pelyul monastery as a novice.

He took full ordination at Pelyul under his uncle Kunga Sherab and Nyene Tashi Tseten (nye gnas bkra shis tshe bstan), who gave him the name Pema Lhundrub Gyatso. He also studied under a teacher named Pelmo Sherab Gyatso (dpal mo shes rab rgya mtsho). His uncle declared his education complete when he reached the age of thirty-eight, at which point he began teaching others.

In 1698, before his death, Kunga Sherab is said to have named Lhundrub Gyatso his successor to the throne of Pelyul. However, according to Pelyul histories, he was not formally enthroned until the age of fifty-four.

During his tenure he supervised the expansion of the monastery and the installation of sacred objects. Among his students was Pema Norbu (pad+ma nor bu, 1679-1757), the first of a line of incarnations that took his name and the third throne holder of Pelyul.  

Lhundrub Gyatso passed away in 1727, the fire-sheep year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle, at the age of sixty-eight.