Muchen Sanggye Rinchen (mus chen sangs rgyas rin chen) was born in 1450. His father was called Kubon Konchok Lek (sku dbon dkon mchog legs), and his mother was Chokyong Gyelmo (chos skyong rgyal mo). When he was eleven years old he took monastic vows with Konchok Gyeltsen (dkon mchog rgyal mtshan, 1388-1469), the Second Ngor Khenchen, abbots of Ngor Ewaṃ Choden (ngor e waM chos ldan).
At age twenty-eight Sanggye Rinchen was fully ordained with Drubchen Konchok Lodro (grubs chen dkon mchog blo gros, b. 1428) and Pelden Gyelpo (dpal ldan rgyal po, d.u.) who was a well-known teacher of the Lamdre Lobshe (lam bras slob bshad). Relying on the guidance of these and many other great teachers, Sanggye Rinchen became highly accomplished and is said to have demonstrated all the qualities of a learned, virtuous, and noble practitioner. He taught Lamdre extensively was an active presence at monasteries throughout U and Tsang, including the monasteries in his home region of Mu (mus), Nalendra (na lendra) and Ngor, where he served as the Eighth Ngor Khenchen. His dates of service are not clear; either from 1501 to 1516, or 1513 to 1524.
Sanggye Rinchen had many illustrious teachers including the very young Seventh Karmapa, Chodrak Gyatso (chos grags rgya mtsho, 1454-1506); the Second Ngor Khenchen, Konchok Gyeltsen (dkon mchog rgyal mtshan, 1388-1469); Sherab Zangpo (shes rab bzang po, 1411-1475); Sanggye Pel (sangs rgyas 'phel, 1412-1485); the Fourth Ngor Khenchen, Kunga Wangchuk (kun dga' dbang phyug, 1424-1478); the Sixth Ngor Khenchen, Gorampa Sonam Sengge (go rams pa bsdo nams seng ge, 1429-1489), and the Seventh Ngor Khenchen, Konchok Pelwa (dkon mchog 'phel ba, 1445-1514), who enthroned him at Ngor in 1501.
Sanggye Rinchen's main students were Jamyang Kunga Namdrakpa Gyeltsen ('jam dbyangs kun dga' bsod nams grags pa rgyal mtshan, 1485-1533), the Tenth Ngor Khenchen, Konchok Lhundrub (dkon mchog lhun grub, 1497-1557), Karma Trinlepa (karma 'phrin las pa, 1456-1539) and Nawang Drakpa (ngag dbang grags pa, 1458-1515).
Sanggye Rinchen's collected writings include an instruction manual (khrid yig) for Lamdre practice and a biography of Gorampa Sonam Sengge. He died in 1524.
Images
Two Lineal Lamas
Two men, Kunkhyen and Jamyang Chokyi Gyalpo. This painting is from a set of compositions that appears based on similar paintings identified as a Sakya Lamdre Lineage set. The secondary lineage that starts at the top left and proceeds down the right and left registers is possibly the Prajnaparamita Lineage beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha.
Bibliography
Jackson, David. 1989. "Sources on the Chronology and Succession of the Abbots of Ngor E-wam-chos-ldan." Berliner Indologische Studien, vol. 4/5, pp 49-93.
Sangs rgyas phun tshogs. 1985 (17th c.) Dpal e waM chos ldan gyi gdan rabs nor bu'i phreng bzhes bya ba zhugs. Dehradun: Sakya Center, pp 15-16.