Dongak Tendzin (mdo sngags bstan 'dzin) was born in a place called Tsakho Gyakha Bhoto Pentak (tsha kho rgya kha b+ho stod phan btags), in the Gyarong (rgyal rong) region, in 1830, the iron-tiger year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle.
The Second Karma Kuchen, Karma Gyurme Ngedon Tendzin (karma sku chen 02 karma 'gyur med nges don bstan 'dzin, 1794-1851), then the sixth throne holder of Pelyul Monastery (dpal yul don), identified him as the rebirth of Pelyul's founder, Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab (rig 'dzin kun bzang she rab, 1636-1698) while traveling in Gyarong. At the age of ten he received the Namcho (gnam chos) teachings of Mingyur Dorje (mi 'gyur rdo rje, 1645-1667) from a Lama Sanggye Yeshe at a place called Sadu Pema Oling (sa 'du pad+ma 'od gling).
At the age of twelve he entered Pelyul Monastery. Multiple prominent lamas from the region are said to have confirmed his identification, including the Fourth Dzogchen Tulku, Mingyur Namkha Dorje (rdzogs chen mi 'gyur nam mkha' rdo rje, 1793-1870) and the Ninth Situ, Pema Nyinje Wangpo (pad+ma nyid byed dbang po, 1774-1853).
At Pelyul he studied mainly under the guidance of the Second Karma Kuchen, who further transmitted the Namcho teachings. The Second Wonpo Wangchuk, Jigme Rangdrol (dbon po dbang phyug 02 'jigs med rang grol, b.1820) taught him Kagyu traditions, and two lama named Yeshe Peljor (ye shes dpal 'byor) and Dorje Rabten (rdo rje rab brtan) taught him grammar. He studied tantra with Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo ('jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse dbang po, 1820-1892), and astrology with lamas named Khechok Gonsung (mkhas mchog mgon srung) and Shenyen Donchok (bshes gnyen don mchog). He studied Kālacakra with Pema Donyo (pad+ma don yod). He is also recorded as having received teachings from Pema Zopa (pad+ma bzod pa), Ga Lama Tashi Gyatso (sga bla ma bkra shis rgya mtsho), Dzongsar Ngari Lama Kunga Jamyang (rdzong sar mnga' ris bla ma kun dga' 'jam dbyangs), Khenpo Kunzang Sonam (mkhan po kun bzang bsod nams), Lama Tashi Ozer (bla ma bkra shis 'od zer, 1836-1910) and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (mchog gyur bde chen gling pa, 1829-1870).
He took the vows of fully ordinated monk at the age of twenty-two from the Ninth Situ and Jamgon Kongtrul Yonten Gyatso ('jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas, 1813-1899), receiving from them the name Karma Kunzang Tendzin (karma kun bzang bstan 'dzin). Jamgon Kongtrul gave him the transmission of his Rinchen Terdzod (rin chen gter mdzod) and Treasury of Advice (gdams ngag mdzod) and also instructed him in grammar, metrics, poetry, and Madhyamaka.
He was involved in the establishment of Dartang Monastery (dar thang dgon) in Golok, which the Second Karma Kuchen founded in 1850. It appears that the upon establishing the monastery the Second Karma Kuchen quickly passed the monastery administration to Dongak Tendzin, who is counted as the second throne holder. Following the Karma Kuchen's death in 1851 Dongak Tendzin assumed the throne of Pelyul.
He taught at many monasteries across Kham, including Yilhung Lhagyel (yid lhung lha rgyal), Nyikog Sera (snyi khog se ra), and Shukgang (shug sgang) in northern Kham. Pema Kunzang (pad+ma kun bzang), the local ruler of the Gepen (ge phan) region invited him to give empowerments, transmission and instructions at Domang Monastery (mdo mang dgon). He also gave empowerments and transmissions at Tsangda (gtsang mda'), Hor Drango (hor brag 'go), Janggang ('jang sgang), Rahor (ra hor), Tsangme Sengge (gtsang smad seng+ge), Sango (sa 'go) and Kuntsar (kun mtshar) monasteries.
He also returned to his birth region, Gyarong, and gave teachings in the territories of Rongdrak (rong grag), Somang (so mang), Trokyab (khro skyabs), Trochu (khro chu) and Zigak (gzi 'gags).
By his era the population of Pelyul had dropped to around five hundred monks. As a means of increasing that number he established a temple of twenty-pillars, a Vajrasattva temple, and a reliquary stupa for the Second Karma Kuchen. He invited Jamgon Kongtrul's nephew, Khenpo Dorje Rabten (mkhan po rdo rje rab brtan, 1842-1902) from Dzogchen Monastery (rdzogs chen dgon) to Pelyul to transmit the Nyingma Kama (rnying ma bka' ma) that he had received at Mindroling Monastery (smin grol gling). Pema Dongak Tendzin then instituted a number of related ceremonies at Pelyul.
In 1882 he built what were possibly the first temples at Dartang, gathering around one thousand monks there.
Among his many disciples were the Fourth Shechen Gyeltsab, Pema Namgyel (zhe chen rgyal tshab 04 pad+ma rnam rgyal, 1871-1926); the Third Katok Situ, Chokyi Gyatso (kaH thog si tu 03 chos kyi rgya mtsho, 1880-1925); the Fifth Shechen Rabjam, Pema Tekchok Tenpai Gyeltsen (zhe chen rab 'byams 05 pad+ma theg mchog bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1864-1909); and the Second Dzongnang Lama, Jamyang Sherab Chokyi Nangwa (rdzong nang bla ma 02 'jam dbyangs shes rab chos kyi snangs ba, 1854-1893).
He passed away, in 1892, the water-dragon year of the fifteenth sexagenary cycle, at the age of sixty three.
Bibliography
Mu po. 2004. Pal yul rnam rgyal byang chub chos gling. Beijing: Mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 68-84. TBRC W27022.
O rgyan brtson 'grus. 1999. Dar thang dgon pa’i ldan rabs. Chengdu: Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 125-151. TBRC W20028.
Tsering Lama Jampal Zangpo. 1988. A Garland of Immortal Wish-Fulfilling Trees: The Palyul Tradition of Nyingmapa. Trans. Sangye Khandro. Ithaca: Snow Lion. pp. 91-99.