The Treasury of Lives

The Sixth Nyitrul, Tubten Wosel Tenpei Nyima (nyi grags 06 thub bstan 'od gsal bstan pa'i nyi ma), was born into the family line of Tokden Shākya Shrī (rtogs ldan shAkya shrI, 1853-1919), an accomplished yogi, at To Drugu (tho gru gu) in the Chamdo region of Kham, in 1926, the fire-tiger year of the fifteenth sexagenary cycle. An alternate date of his birth is 1914.

He was identified as the reincarnation of the Fifth Nyitrul, Tendzin Trinle Wangchuk (nyi sprul 05 bstan 'dzin 'phrin las dbang phyug, d. circa 1913) by the Fifth Dzogchen Drubwang Tubten Chokyi Dorje (rdzogs chen thub bstan chos kyi rdo rje, 1872-1935) who later served as his teacher.

The boy was enthroned at the monastic seats of his incarnation line, Sindzong Wosel Drubde (sring rdzong 'od gsal sgrub sde), also known as Chakri Nyidrak Monastery (chags ri nyi grags dgon) and Takmogang Kelzang Puntsok Ling (stag mo sgang skal bzang phun tshog gling). These two monasteries were founded by Terchen Rigdzin Nyima Drakpa (gter chen rig 'dzin nyi ma grags pa, 1647-1710), the first incarnation of the Nyitrul incarnation line, also commonly known as the Chakri Nyidrak (phyags ri nyi grags).

In addition to the Fifth Dzogchen, he studied under the First Shartrul, Karma Wosel Rangdrol (shar sprul 01 karma 'od gsal rang grol). Among his students were the Sixth Dzogchen Jigdrel Jangchub Dorje (rdzogs chen 06 'jigs bral byang chub rdo rje, 1935-1959), the Third Gemang, Garwang Lerab Lingpa (dge mang 03 gar dbang las rab gling pa, 1930-1959), and the Second Shartrul, Gyurme Garwang Gyatso (shar sprul 02 gyur med gar dbang rgya mtsho, 1926-1959).

He passed away in 1964. Kunzang Yonten Zangpo Trinle Kunkhyab (nyi grags 07 kun bzang yon tan bzang po), born in 1976 in Nangchen, Kham (khams nang chen), was identified as his reincarnation, the Seventh Nyitrul by Nyidrak Gyelse Kunzang Tendzin (nyi grags rgyal sras kun bzang bstan 'dzin).