The Third Karma Kuchen, Ogyen Dongak Chokyi Nyima (karma sku chen 03 o rgyan mdo sngags chos kyi nyi ma) was born in a place named Alo Kateng (a lo kha steng) in Derge (sde dge), Kham, in 1854, the wood-tiger year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle. His father was named Tashi Wanggyel (bkra shis dbang rgyal) and his mother was called Tsering Chotso (tshe ring chos mtsho).
Shortly after his birth, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo ('jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse dbang po, 1820-1892); the Fourteenth Karmapa, Tekchok Dorje (karma pa 14 the mchog rdo rje, 1798-1896), the Fourth Dzogchen, Mingyur Namkha Dorje (rdzogs chen 04 mi 'gyur nam mkha' rdo rje,1793-1870) and the seventh throne holder of Pelyul Monastery (dpal yul dgon), Pema Dongak Tendzin (pad+ma mdo sngags bstan 'dzin, 1830-1892) all identified him as the rebirth of the Second Karma Kuchen, Karma Gyurme Ngedon Tendzin (karma sku chen 02 karma 'gyur med nges don bstan 'dzin, 1794-1851), who had served as the seventh throne holder of Pelyul.
The Fourteenth Karmapa supervised his tonsure ceremony and gave him the name Karma Kunzang Dechen Sangngak Chokyi Gyelpo (karma kun bzang bde chen gsang sngags chos kyi rgyal po). He received a long life empowerment from the treasure revealer Chokgyur Lingpa (mchog gyur gling pa, 1829-1870), and was enthroned to the seat of Pelyul. There he took the preliminary vows and full monastic ordination from Pema Dongak Tendzin, who gave him the ordination name Orgyen Dongak Chokyi Nyima Chokle Nampar Gyelwa (o rgyan mdo sngags chos kyi nyi ma phyogs las rnam par rgyal ba), and taught him the Dzogchen traditions.
He studied the Bodhicaryāvatāra with Sertal Washul Lama Sonam Namgyel (gser thal wa shul bla ma bsod nams rnam rgyal, d.u.), as well as Abhidharma and the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra. Under the tutorship of the First Kangnang, Tashi Puntsok (khang ngang 01 bkra shis phun tshogs, d.u.) he learned astrology and divination. The tenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College (shrI sing+ha bshad grwa) at Dzogchen Monastery (rdzogs chen dgon), Dorje Rabten (rdo rje rab brtan, 1842-1902) instructed him in tantra. With Muksang Khenpo Pema Sherab Pelzang (smugs sangs mkhan po pad+ma shes rab dpal bzang, d.u.) he studied Nyigtik (snying thig) and Abhidharmakośa.
He also studied under the directions of many other prominent masters of his era, including Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo; Jamgon Kongtrul ('jam mgon kong sprul, 1813-1890); the First Lhatrul, Pema Garwang Tendzin (lha sprul 01 pad+ma gar dbang bstan 'dzin, 1852-1935); Adzom Drukpa Pawo Dorje (a 'dzom brug pa dpa' bo rdo rje, 1842-1924); Gyeltsen Ozer (rgyal mtshan 'od zer, d.u.); Muksang Karma Tsepel (smugs sangs karma tshe dpal, d.u.); Katok Jewon Pema Gyeltsen (kaH thog rje dbon pad+ma rgyal mtshan, d.u.); Pelpung Tashi Chopel (dpal spungs bkra shis chos 'phel, d.u.); Lachan Yeshe Peljor (bla chen ye shes dpal 'byor, d.u.); Pelyul Wontrul Rigdzin Jigme Rangrol (dpal yul dbon sprul rig 'dzin 'jigs med rang grol, b. 1820) and the eleventh abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Konchok Ozer (dkon mchog 'od zer, d.u).
In 1882 Pema Dongak Tendzin stepped down from the throne of Pelyul to concentrate on his leadership of Dartang Monastery (dar thang dgon), which he had helped establish in 1850 and which he had led since 1851. In his place Orgyen Dongak Chokyi Nyima was chosen as the eighth throne holder of Pelyul. During the period of his abbacy, he spent the most of his time on giving teachings and managing monastic discipline. Following the death of Pema Dongak Tendzin in 1892 he assumed the throne of Dartang. There he followed the religious activities and monastic discipline on the basis of Pelyul.
He also gave teachings at Digon Jangchub Choling (d+hi dgon byang chub chos gling); Rakchab Monastery (rag chab dgon) and Gojo Monastery (go 'jo dgon).
Among his best disciples were the Second Dzongnak Lama, Sherab Chokyi Nangwa (rdzong nang bla ma 02 she rab chos kyi snang ba, 1854-1893); the First Lhatrul, Pema Garwang Tendzin (lha sprul 01 pad+ma gar dbang bstan 'dzin); the Second Gyankhang, Pema Tekchok Tendzin (gyang khang 02 pad+ma theg mchog bstan 'dzin, d.u); Terton Rinchen Lingpa (gter ston rin chen gling pa, d.u); Tashi Chopel (brka shis chos 'phel, d.u); Tubten Shedrub Gyatso (thub bstan bshad sgrub rgya mtsho, 1879-1961); and Muksang Jigme Chokyi Lodro (smugs sangs 'jigs med chos kyi blo gros, d.u.).
Orgyen Dongak Chokyi Nyima passed away, in 1906, the fire-horse year of the fifteenth sexagenary cycle, at the age of fifty three.
Bibliography
Mu po. 2004. Pal yul rnam rgyal byang chub chos gling. Beijing: Mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 84-94. TBRC W27022.
O rgyan brtson 'grus. 1999. Dar thang dgon pa'i ldan rabs. Chengdu: Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 151-159. TBRC W20028.