The Treasury of Lives

Ngawang Konchok Nyima, the Sixth Tatsak Jedrung (rta tshag rje drung 06 ngag dbang dkon mchog nyi ma), was born in 1653, the water-snake year of eleventh sexagenary cycle, in Lichab Kardo (li chab dkar mdo), Litang (li thang), Kham (khams). His father was named Anye (a snyed) and his mother was named Tsewang Tso (tse dbang mtsho). He was identified as the rebirth of the Fifth Tatsak Jedrung Ngawang Chokyi Wangchuk (rta tshag rje drung 05 ngag dbang chos kyi dbang phyug, 1606-1652) at the age three, and publicly enthroned the next year at Kharsar Tashi Rabten (mkhar gsar bkra shis rab brtan), where he started his monastic training.

When he was eleven he was sent to Lhasa where the Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobzang Gyatso (tA la'i bla ma 05 ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho, 1589-1616) gave him novice monastic vows and the name Ngawang Konchok Tenpai Nyima (ngag dbang dkon mchog bstan pa'i nyi ma). He then returned to Kham and continued his education under the First Chakra, Sanggye Peljor (lcags rwa 01 sangs rgyas dpal 'byor, 1629-1703).

In 1668 he again went to Lhasa and enrolled at Sera Je College (se ra byes grwa tshang) at Sera Tekchen Ling (se ra theg chen gling) monastic university. He studied there for eight years. In 1674 he received the Geshe Kachu (dge bshes bka' bcu) degree at the Lhasa Monlam festival.

At the age of twenty-four he was fully ordained by Fifth Dalai Lama. He received a request to take administrative control of his seat, Pasho (dpa' shod) Monastery, and was given permission and financial support from the Fifth Dalai Lama to reside there for three years. When he again returned to Lhasa he continued his studies under direction of numerous masters, including Fifth Dalai Lama, Neten Jamyang Drakpa (gnas brtan 'jam dbyangs grags pa, d.u.) and a lama named Ngawang Lodro (ngag dbang blo gros, d.u).

At the time, Boshoktu Jinong (sbo shog thu ju nang), a Mongol prince in Tsongon (mtso sngon) -- Jinong is Mongol title for a Prince Royal, nominated to succeed the Great Khaan -- invited him to Amdo. With the backing of the Fifth Dalai Lama he went in 1682, stopping at Pasho along the way. He taught at various Tibetan and Mongolian religious centers in Amdo for seven years. In 1689 he settled a dispute between the Khalka and Oirat Mongolians as the representative of the Tibetan Government in Lhasa. The following year he was extradited to the Qing Court in Beijing by the Manchu Kangxi Emperor (康熙 r.1661-1722), who was apparently annoyed at his involvement in Mongolian affairs. He returned to Lhasa through Amdo and Kham, laden with gifts from the Court.

Several years later he was summoned again to Beijing, and again passed through Pasho on his way. He passed away in Beijing in 1703, or possibly 1707.  A reliquary was erected at Kumbum Jampa Ling (sku 'bum byams pa gling).