The Treasury of Lives

Lobzang Chodrak (blo bzang chos grags) was born in the early seventeenth century in Loncho (blon chos), Rebkong (reb kong), Amdo. He received lay vows from Lobzang Tenpai Gyeltsen (blo bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1581-1659), the elder brother of Shar Kelden Gyatso (shar skal ldan rgya mtsho, 1607-1677), who was the founder of Tosam Namgyel Ling (rong bo dgon chen thos bsam rnam rgyal gling), the debating college at Rongwo Monastery (rong bo dgon chen). This likely occurred after 1630, the year Shar Kelden Gyatso converted the previously Sakya institution to the Geluk tradition.

He began his monastic education at Rongwo as one of the first monks to join the community. He later went to Lhasa where he enrolled in the Jangtse College (byang rtse grwa tshang) at Ganden (dga' ldan) monastic university. His diligent habits earned him a solid reputation in his studies of Madhyamaka and of Prajñāpāramitā.

After his return to Amdo, in 1641, he was assigned to the abbatial throne of Rongwo monastery. He served this post for thirty years, developing the monastic education system and expanding the reach of Geluk activity in the region.