Lobzang Chokyi Gyatso (blo bzang chos kyi rgya mtsho) was born in 1851, the iron-pig year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle, in Gartse Gongma (mgar rtse gong ma), Amdo. His father was named Risar Chole (ri sar gcod le) and his mother, named Bolokyi (bo lo skyid), was the daughter of the Gartse Chieftain (mgar rtse dpon po). He was taken to Ragya Monastery (ra rgya dgon) after his birth.
He was identified as the incarnation of the Third Maṇipa, Gendun Konchok Lobzang Tendzin (ma Ni pa 03 dge 'dun dkon mchog blo bzang bstan 'dzin, 1796-1851), and was enthroned at the age of seven, presumably at Dzongkar Kadam Podrang Tashi Dargye Ling Monastery (rdzong dkar bka' gdams pho brang bkra shis dar rgyas gling). He received his novitiate vow from the Third Shingza, Lobzang Tenpai Wangchuk (shing bza' 03 blo bzang bstan pa'i dbang phyug, 1825-1897).
When he was ten years old, Dzongkar Drubwang Jigme Samten (rdzong dkar grub dbang 'jigs med bsam gtan, 1814-1881) gave him empowerment of Vajrabhairava, and he continued to receive tantric teachings through to the age of eighteen.
He then enrolled at Rongwo Tosam Namgyel Ling (rong bo thos bsam rnam rgyal gling) where his main teacher was named Jampa Tenpa Dargye ('byams pa bstan pa dar rgyas). Lobzang Chokyi Gyatso also invited the Third Shingza, Tenpai Wangchuk (shing bza' 03 bstan pa'i dbang phyug, 1825-1897) to Rongwo. The Third Shingza served as the forty-seventh abbot of Rongwo starting in 1873, after serving as the abbot of Kumbum (sku 'bum) for three years, 1861-1864. The Third Shingza gave him, among other teachings and transmissions, the empowerment of the Kālacakra. Lobzang Chokyi Gyatso was also devoted to the study of poetics, Sanskrit grammar, divination and herbal medicine.
He passed away in 1896, the fire-monkey year of the fifteenth sexagenary cycle, at the age of forty-five.
Bibliography
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