The Second Situ, Tashi Namgyel (si tu 02 bkra shis rnam rgyal), was born in 1450, the male iron-horse year of eighth sexagenary cycle, in a family of royal lineage. The Sixth Karmapa, Tongwa Donden (karma pa 06 mthong ba don ldan, 1416-1453), recognized him as the reincarnation of Chokyi Gyeltsen (chos kyi rgyal mtshan, 1377-1448), and enthroned him on the seat of his predecessor, Karma Gon (karma dgon), in Kham.
The Sixth Karmapa taught him sutras and tantras. He became an accomplished teacher, coming to the attention of the Ming Emperor, most likely Chunghua (成化, r. 1465-1488) who honored him with a title inscribed in gold and a crystal seal. He taught many students, including the Seventh Karmapa, Chodrak Gyatso (karma pa 07 chos grags rgya mtsho 1454–1506). He passed away at the age of forty seven in 1497, the female fire-snake year of the eighth sexagenary cycle.
Bibliography
Grags pa 'byung gnas and Blo bzang mkhas grub. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su'u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 1748-1749. TBRC W19801.
Karma rgyal mtshan. 1997. Si tu bkra shis rnam rgyal (2). In KaM tshang yab sras dang dpal spungs dgon pa. Phu rdzong: Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 82-83. TBRC W27303.