Namkha Sengge (shud phu nam mkha' seng ge) was born in Lhodrak into the Shupu family which traced its descent from Shupu Pelgyi Sengge (shud phu dpal gyi seng ge), who was a religious minister of the eighth-century Tibetan King Tri Songdetsen (khri srong lde'u btsan, 742-796).
At the age of thirteen Namkha Sengge met the Kadampa monk Balti Jose (sbal ti jo sras, 1129-1215), with whom he took ordination and began training in Vinaya. He then met Duldzinpa Takmapa ('dul 'dzin thag ma pa, d.u.), from whom he received transmission in Kadam teachings, including Lamrim and White Acala sadhana and instruction. From the acarya Dontengpa (don steng pa, d.u.) he received Tārā teachings and transmission.
After spending a number of years practicing the Kadam teachings, Namkha Sengge taught at various locations in Lhodrak, including Lhodrak Drowa (lho brag sgro ba dgon pa), where he served as abbot. For this he is also known as Lhodrak Khenchen Namkha Sengge (lho brag mkhan chen nam mkha' seng ge).
Namkha Sengge's main disciple was Wonse Lhodrak Namkha Gyelpo (dbon sras lho brag nam mkha' rgyal po, d.u.).
Images
Tsongkhapa
A painting of Tsongkapa, founder of the Geluk tradition, with the two principal students, Gyaltsab on the left and Khedrub on the right.
Bibliography
Grags pa 'byung gnas. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su'u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 1881-1882.
Yongs 'dzin ye shes rgyal mtshan. 1980. 'Dul ba'i sde snod kun 'dzin thag mar pa'i rnam thar. In Lam rim bla ma brgyud pa'i rnam thar, vol. 1, pp. 299-300. 'Bar khams: Rnga khul bod yig rtsom sgyur cus. Also published in Lam rim bla ma brgyud pa'i rnam thar, vol. 1, pp. 223-224. Lhasa: Bod ljongs mi dmangs dpe skrun khang.