The Treasury of Lives

Ngawang Trinle (ngag dbang 'phrin las) was born in 1717, the fire-bird year of twelfth sexagenary cycle, in Drongche ('brong lce), in Tso (gtsos) region of Amdo. He was the younger brother of the First Tranye Ngawang Gelek (pra nye 01 ngag dbang dge legs, d.1775); their father, named Namjam (gnam byams) is said to have been a local chieftain.

When he turned thirteen he matriculated at Drakkar Gyelmo (brag dkar rgyal mo) monastery where he studied under the direction of Jikgya Rabjampa Ngawang Jamyang (dbyig gya rab 'byams pa ngag dbang 'jam dbyangs, d.u). His brother, who later served as the first abbot Ngayul Gomang Monastery (rnga yul sgo mang) went to Lhasa on pilgrimage, and when he returned Ngawang Trinle left for Labrang Tashikhyil to join him; together they studied under a tutor named Rinchen Chozang (rin chen chos bzang, d.u).

He received teachings of basic philosophy and Prajñāpāramitā from the Second Jamyang Zhepa, Konchok Jigme Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 02 dkon mchog 'jigs med dbang po, 1728-1791), and Mādhyamaka, Vinaya, and Abhidharmakośa from the First Detri, Lobzang Dondrub (blo bzang don grub, 1673-1746). He was given the full ordination vow from the Second Gungtang, Ngawang Tenpai Gyeltsen (gung thang 02 ngag dbang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1727-1759).

At a public debate supervised by the Second Jamyang Zhepa he distinguished himself in front of a delegate of distinguished masters from Lhasa, earning the Dorampa (rdo ram pa) degree.

He served, in sequence, as the Tsokchen Zhelngo (tshogs chen zhal ngo), or chief monastic proctor; the abbot of the tantric college; and finally throne holder (khri 'dzin) of Labrang, in 1768, a post he served for five years.

During his tenure he sat up new monastic rules and made a significant contributions to the monastic education. He passed away at the age seventy-four in 1790.