Sanggye Dorje (sangs rgyas rdo rje) was born in 1169 into the Lomi (lo mi) clan. His uncle was Nyima Sherab (nyi ma shes rab, 1139-1208), the founder and first abbot of Rokam Monastery (ro skam).
He studied at Drigung Til Monastery ('bri gung mthil) under Jikten Gonpo Rinchen Pel ('jig rten mgon po rin chen dpal, 1143-1217) and his disciple Chennga Drakpa Jungne (spyan snga grags pa 'byung gnas, 1175-1255). He also studied with his uncle.
Following the death of his uncle, the chief of Rokam, Pon Sanggye (dpon sangs rgyas), enthroned him as the second abbot of the monastery. Sanggye Dorje administered Rokam for twenty years before passing away at the age of fifty-eight. His nephew Zhonnu Dorje (gzhon nu rdo rje) succeeded him as the third abbot of Rokam.
Bibliography
Dkon mchog rgya mtsho. 2004. Chos rje 'jig rten mgon po'i slob ma. In 'Bri gung chos 'byung, pp. 311-343. Beijing: Mi rigs dpe skrun khang, p. 340. TBRC W27020.
Grags pa 'byung gnas and Rgyal ba blo bzang mkhas grub. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su'u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 1740. TBRC W19801.