The Treasury of Lives

Drangti Paṇchen Namkha Pelzang (brang ti paN chen nam mkha' dpal bzang) was born in Sakya, in 1535, the wood-sheep year of the ninth sexagenary cycle. His father was a prominent Tibetan doctor named Tsodze Kuga Dondrub ('tsho mdzad kun dga' don 'grub) from the Drangti (brang ti) clan, and his mother was named Lhamo Budren (lha mo bu 'dren). After his birth he was bathed and given a talisman by a priest named Kunkyen Zangpo (kun mkhyen bzang po, d.u), who also give him the name Chokyong Peljor (chos skyong dpal 'byor).

As a youth he studied reading, writing, and memorizing prayers under the guidance of a priest named Lama Ngorpa (bla ma ngor pa, d.u). When he was thirteen, Namkha Sanggye (nam mkha sangs rgyas, d.u), a close disciple of the eighth Ngor Khenchen, Muchen Sanggye Rinchen (mus chen sangs rgyas rin chen, 1450-1524), gave him lay vows, teachings, and empowerments, as well as the name Namkha Pelzang.

At the age of sixteen, he enrolled in Ngor Evaṁ Choden (ngor e waM chos ldan) Monastery, and in the following year he received novice monastic vows from Konchok Lhundrub (dkon mchog lhun grub, 1497-1557), the Tenth Ngor Khenchen; Sanggye Sengge (sangs rgyas seng ge, 1504-1569), the Eleventh Ngor Khenchen; and Sherab Sengge (shes rab seng ge, d.u). He received full monastic ordination at the age of twenty-seven from Sanggye Sengge, Sharkhangpa Sherab Gyeltsen (shar khang pa shes rab rgyal mtshan, d.u.), Konchok Pel (dkon mchog dpal, 1526-1590), and Konchok Rinchen (dkon mchog rin chen, d.u.).

From the age of twenty-four to thirty-five he mainly studied under Sanggye Sengge. Other teachers from whom he received empowerments, transmissions, and instructions included Ngawang Kunrik (ngag dbang kun rig, d.u), Nyenchen Drakpa Lodro (gnyan chen grags pa blo gros, d.u.), Choje Lodro Drukpa (chos rje blo gros grags pa, d.u) Ngari Lodro Zangpo (mnga ris blo gros bzang po, d.u), and Rinchen Tashi Gyeltsen (rin chen bkra shis rgyal mtshan, d.u). He studied Tibetan medical science from his father as well.

In 1569 Sanggye Sengge passed away and the throne of Ngor passed to Konchok Pelden (dkon mchog dpal ldan, 1526-1590), who became the Twelfth Ngor Khenchen. Ten years later Namkha Pelzang was appointed as the Thirteenth Ngor Khenchen. He returned the throne to Konchok Pelden in 1582 in order to go into extended retreat, during which he gave the initiation Kālacakra several times. He resumed the abbacy of Ngor in 1590, at the age of fifty-six, following the completion of his retreat.

While abbot he offered material support for monastic assemblies at Sakya, Jang Ngamring (byang ngam ring), Jagoshong (bya rgod gshong), and Tubten Namgyel (thub bstan rnam rgyal) monasteries. In 1595 he passed the abbacy to Sharchen Jampa Kunga Tashi (shar chen byams pa kun dga' bkra shis, 1558-1615).

His main disciples were the Twenty-fifth Sakya Trichen, Drakpa Lodro (sa skya khri chen 25 grags pa blo gros, 1563-1617); and the Fifteenth Ngor Khenchen Kunga Sonam Lhundrub (ngor mkhan chen 15 kun dga' bsod nams, 1571-1642). His writings were collected into three volumes.

Drangti Panchen Namkha Pelzang passed away at the age of sixty-nine in 1602, the water-tiger year of the tenth sexagenary cycle.