The Treasury of Lives

Getse Pema (dge rtse pad+ma) was born in the water-rabbit year of 1745 in Madza Zelmoi Gang (rma rdza zal mo'i sgang), Derge, Kham. He was recognized

as the reincarnation of Nyida Sanggye (nyi zla sangs rgyas, d.1744/5), and given the title of the Second Getse Getok (dge rtse ge tog); his previous incarnation was thus posthumously given the title of First Getse Getok.

He is said to have taken the vows at a young age before joining Mindroling Monastery (smin 'grol gling) in central Tibet. There he received teachings and transmissions from several teachings, including the third throne holder of Mindroling, Rinchen Namgyel (rin chen rnam rgyal, 1694-1758) and afterwards went into solitary retreat for five years. It is said that during this time he was able to remember the powa practice ('pho ba) instructions he had received in his past lives, and was thus able to teach them again.

When he was forty-four years old he oversaw the expansion of Sangngak Monastery (gsang sngags dgon) at the request of the Third Shechen Rabjam, Rigdzin Peljor Gyatso (rab 'byams 03 rig 'dzin dpal 'byor rgya mtsho, 1771-1807). Since the Third Simdha Dzogchen Tulku, Gyurme Tekchok Tenpa Namgyel ('gyur med theg mchog bstan pa rnam rgyal, 1786-1839) was at that time too young to care for Simdha Dzogchen Monastery (srib mda' rdzogs chen dgon) – a branch of Shechen Monastery (zhe chen) in Jomda ('jo mda') with close ties to Mindroling – the Third Rabjam appointed him to supervise the monastery.

During his tenure at Sindha Dzogchen he relocated the monastery, which was falling apart due to water damage and was apparently infested with snakes. The Fifth Minling Trichen, Gyurme Trinle Namgyel (smin gling khri chen 05 'gyur med 'phrin las rnam rgyal, 1765-1812) was consulted, and the site where it currently stands was chosen, and it was renamed Sangchen Tashi Chenmo (sang chen bkra shis chen mo).

Getse Pema supervised the construction and design of the monastery, which was filled with many exemplary art pieces. Its monks were sent to Mindroling to learn ritual (the ritual tradition of the monastery follows that of Mindroling). The monastery's ritual dance tradition was also initiated at that time.

Getse Pema was known as a potent practitioner of powa, and his hagiography includes stories to illustrate this. For example, one story tells of two young cattle herders who thought to play a prank. One approached Getse Pema with the slingshot of the other, who he claimed was dead, and asked him to perform powa. After the service, when he returned to his friend, he found that the powa had been successful and his friend's consciousness had been ejected from his body; he was dead. The young man returned to Getse Pema, who restored his friend's consciousness to his body.

In his final years he built a monastery called Pugen Chokhor Dechen Lhunpo (phu gen chos 'khor bde chen lhun po) which is said to have reached a size of one thousand monks. He passed away there in a water bird year, 1813.