Gyurme Tenpel Chozang ('gyur med bstan 'phel chos bzang) was born around 1814 in a place called Tashi Lhayi Gatsel ( bkra shis lha yi dga' tshal). His father was named Rinchen (rin chen), his mother was named Dronma (sgron ma), and his birth name is recorded as Asang (a sangs). According to legend, soon afterwards the Third Dzogchen Tulku of Simda Monastery, Gyurme Tekchok Tenpa Namgyel (srib mda' rdzogs chen phrul sku 03 'gyur med theg mchog bstan pa rnam rgyal, 1786-1839) who was traveling in the area was invited to tea by the family. Upon noticing the newborn he requested that they give him the child for his monastery. The Simda Dzogchen Tulku gave him refuge vows and his name. Not long afterwards he identified the boy as the reincarnation of Second Getse Getok Tulku, Getse Pema (dge rtse ge tog sprul sku 02 dge rtse pad+ma, 1745-1813).
Although I don't have any experience or realization,
I have realized a small part of what I promised.
So I think I'm fortunate among those of degenerate times,
and I'll have no regrets when my time of death comes.
Little in known about his life. He presumably spent most of his time at Shechen Monastery (zhe chen dgon) and Simda Dzogchen Monastery (srib mda' rdzogs chen dgon) – a branch of Shechen Monastery in Jomda ('jo mda') with close ties to Mindroling (smin grol gling). He is said to have studies many of the great masters of the time, included Gyurme Tutob Namgyel ('gyur med mthu stobs rnam rgyal, b. 1787), the Fourth Shechen Rabjam, Garwang Chokyi Gyeltsen (rab 'byams gar dbang chos kyi rgyal mtshan, 1811-1863), and the Third Shechen Gyeltsab, Orgyen Rangjung Dorje (zhe chen rgyal tshab 03 o rgyan rang byung rdo rje). He visited Mindroling and other monasteries, and to have had a great many disciples. His short hagiography includes two statements attributed to him:
Gyurme Tenpel Chozang passed away in 1860. On the eve of his death the Fourth Simda Dzogchen Tulku, Gyurme Sizhi (srib mda' rdzogs chen sprul sku 04 gyur med srid zhi phun 'tshogs, 1840-1890) and some of his other disciples asked him to live longer. He told them:
Birth results in death.
This is how things are and here is no way to change it.
But I have done what I needed to do in this life.
Just as one leaves behind the boat after one has crossed the river,
I'm leaving this body. There is no reason to be upset.
The Fourth Simda Dzogchen Tulku performed the rites after his death; his relics are said to survive at Simdha to this day.
Bibliography
Tshe dbang 'gyur med. 2011. Srib rdzogs chen dgon gsang chen bkra shis chos gling gi byung ba rags tsam brjod pa drang srong bden gtam. Lha ldan sprul pa'i gtsugs lag khang: Tshe dbang 'gyur med.