The Treasury of Lives

The Third Drime Zhingkyong Jigme Yonten Gonpo (dri med zhing skyong 03 'jigs med yon tan mgon po) was born in 1837, the fire-bird year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle. He was born into the same family as his previous incarnation, the Second Drime Zhingkyong, Jigme Rigdzin Gonpo (dri med zhing skyong 02 'jigs med rig 'dzin mgon po, d.u.). The names of his parents are not known but Katok khenpo Pema Gyeltsen (kaH thog mkhan po pad+ma rgyal mtshan, d.u.) was his nephew.

At Katok Monastery (kaH thog rdo rje gdan) he studied under the tutorship of the Second Katok Situ, Orgyen Tenpa Namgyel (kaH thog si tu 02 o rgyan bstan pa rnam rgyal, 1820-1879), training in the standard curriculum of the monastery that focused on the treasure revelations of Rigdzin Dudul Dorje (rig 'dzin bdud 'dul rdo rje, 1615-1672) and Rigdzin Longsel Nyingpo (klong gsal snying po, 1625-1692).

He taught for a number of years, specializing in the Dulong (bdud klong) revelations of the Katok tradition. He also gave comprehensive commentary and detail esoteric instructions on Longsel Dorje Nyingpo (klong gsal rdo rje snying po) and led students in the practice. His popularity was such that disciples gathered from branch monasteries across Kham.

During his tenure at Katok he sponsored the construction of several important temples.

His disciples included the Second Dzaka Chokdrul, Kunzang Namgyel (dzaH ka mchog sprul 02 kun bzang rnam rgyal, d.u.); Jamyang Tulku Rigdzin Jampel Dorje ('jam dbyangs sprul sku rig 'dzin 'jam dpal rdo rje, d.u.); the Third Katok Situ Orgyen Chokyi Gyatso (kaH thog si tu 03 o rgyan chos kyi rgya mtsho, 1880-1925); Khasar Terton Drodul Tobden Lingpa (kha sar gter ston 'gro 'dul stobs ldan gling pa, d.u.), Nyoshul Rigdzin Tutob Lingpa (smyo shul rig 'dzin thu stobs gling pa, 1858-1914); Terchen Lerab Lingpa Trinle Taye Tsel (gter chen las rab gling pa 'phrin las mtha' yas rtsal, 1856-1926); Nyoshul Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (smyo shul lung rtogs bstan pa'i nyi ma, 1829-1902), Lhabzang Lama Rigdzin Gyatso (lha bzang bla ma rig 'dzin rgya mtsho, d.u.); Ziling Onpo Karma Sonam (zi ling dbon po kar+ma bsod nams, d.u.); and Adzom Drukpa Drodul Pawo Dorje (a 'dzom 'brug pa 'gro 'dul dpa' bo rdo rje, 1842-1924).

He passed into nirvana in or before the year 1898 around the age of sixty-two. Jigme Dechen Dorje ('jigs med bde chen rdo rje) born at Dartsedo (dar rtse mdo) in 1899 was identified as his reincarnation, the Fourth Drime Zhingkyong.