The Treasury of Lives

The Second Purchok Lobzang Jampa (phur lcog 02 blo bzang byams pa) was recognized as the reincarnation of the First Purchok, Ngawang Jampa (phur lcog 01 ngag dbang byams pa, 1682-1762) by the Sixth Paṇchen Lama, Pelden Yeshe (paN chen 03, dpal ldan ye shes, 1738-1780). The long life rituals for the infant were performed by Tsechok Ling Yongdzin Yeshe Gyeltsen (tshe mchog gling yongs 'dzin ye shes rgyal mtshan, 1713-1793). During the rites, the child is said to have exhibited signs of recognizing some of the members of his former household.

He was tonsured by the Sixth Paṇchen Lama and enthroned at Purchok Hermitage (phur lcog) at age five, receiving the name Lobzang Jampa. The Sixth Paṇchen Lama also gave him the Yamāntaka initiation at this time. The young boy then began memorizing the ritual texts that would be necessary to be formally admitted into Sera Je College (se ra byes grwa tshang).

In 1770, together with the Eighth Dalai Lama, Jampel Gyatso (tA la'i bla ma 08 'jam dpal rgya mtsho, 1758-1804) who was five years his senior, he received the Oral Transmission of Wensa (dben sa snyan brgyud) and other teachings and initiations from the Sixth Paṇchen Lama, who also bestowed on him novice ordination at this point. He entered the Je College of Sera at age twelve and began the study of the five scholastic subjects. In the inter-terms – that is, between debate periods – he continued to receive teachings from Paṇchen Pelden Yeshe. Lobzang Jampa took full ordination from the Eighth Dalai Lama. According to the standard hagiography, this took place in 1781, although this seems unlikely, as Geluk lamas of this period were fairly scrupulous about keeping to the Vinaya proscription that candidates for full ordination not be received into the order until after their twentieth birthday. He sat for examinations at the Great Prayer festival in Lhasa in 1787 at the age of twenty-four. He then went into retreat at Purchok hermitage, where he remained for many years in intensive practice.

At age thirty-seven, Jampel Gyatso was invited to teach in several northern areas of Tibet, such as Otog (o tog). Around that time the Eighth Dalai Lama bestowed on him a seal with the title of "Conqueror, Protector Maiterya, Elucidator of the Teachings of the Kadam" (bka' gdams bstan pa'i gsal byed byams gdon rgyal). He is known to have performed the funerary rituals for Longdol Lama (klong rdol bla ma, 1719-1794) and for Yongdzin Yeshe Gyeltsen. In 1816 he traveled to Tashilhunpo (bkra shis lhun po) to perform a long-life empowerment for the Seventh Paṇchen Lama, Tenpai Nyima (paN chen 04, btsan pa'i nyi ma, 1782-1853).

Purchok Lobzang Jampa was not known for giving extensive teachings, initiations and oral transmissions. Nor did he leave behind any written work. But, fulfilling a prophecy made by Yongdzin Yeshe Gyeltsen, he became one of the principal sources of monastic ordination in his generation, ordaining hundreds and perhaps even thousands of monks during his lifetime. He is said to have died with his hands clasped in prayer while listening to some of his students recite the "Offering to the Master," the Lama Chopa (bla ma mchod pa). Remaining in meditative equipoise for seven days, his body is said to have become more radiant each passing day.