The Treasury of Lives

The Twentieth Ngor Khenchen, Ngawang Sonam Gyeltsen (ngag dbang bsod nams rgyal mtshan) was born near Gyangtse (rgyal rtse), in 1598, the earth-male dog year of the tenth sexagenary cycle. His father was named Dakpo Tutob (bdag po mthu thob) and his mother was called Yidzin Wangmo (yid 'dzin dbang mo).

He began learning reading, writing and memorization of daily prayers at a young age, and, at the age of eighteen, he was granted the novice monastic vows from a lama at Sakya, Jamyang Sonam Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bsod nams dbang po, d.u). Later he received full ordination in the presence of many masters including Dorje Chang Ngawang Chodrak (rdo rje rje 'chang ngag dbang chos grags, d.u.); Sharchen Chokyi Gyelpo (shar chen chos kyi rgyal po, d.u); the Eighteenth Ngor Khenchen, Sherab Jungne (shes rab 'byung gnas, 1596-1653); the Seventeenth Ngor Khenchen, Tartse Drenchok Namkha Sanggye (thar rtse 'dren mchog nam mkha' sangs rgyas, d.u); and the Fifteenth Ngor Khenchen, Sonam Lhundrub (bsod nams lhun grub).

He matriculated at Sakya Monastery where he mainly studied Lamdre and other Sakya traditional topics under the guidance of Rabjampa Dorje Ozer (rab 'byams pa rdor rje 'od zer, d.u).

He first taught Lamdre at Ngor Evaṁ Choden Monastery (ngor e waM chos ldan) in 1655, and, after two years, at the age of sixty, he was appointed to the abbacy there, becoming the Twentieth Ngor Khenchen. He stepped down one year later, assigning Sonam Gyatso (bsod nams rgya mtsho, 1617-1667) to the post.

Following his retirement he gave teachings at various monasteries, including Tubten Gepel (thub bstan dge 'phel), Samdrub (bsam grub), and Sakya. He primarily resided at Samdrub, helping to expand the assembly halls and sponsor murals and paintings.

He had a large number of distinguished disciples, including the nineteenth abbot of Ngor monastery, Khenchen Namkha Rinchen (mkhan chen nam mkha' rin chen, 1612-1657), Sharba Dakchen Yeshe Zangpo (shar pa bdag chen ye shes bzang po, d. 1695); the twenty-first abbot of Ngor, Sonam Gyatso; the twenty-fourth abbot of Ngor, Lhundrub Pelden (lhun 'grub dpal ldan, 1624-1697); Tubten Khenchen Zangpo Gyeltsen (thub bstan mkhan chen bzang po rgyal mtshan, d.u.) and Jampel Tashi Pelden ('jam dbyangs bkra shis dpal ldan, d.u.).

His wrings were collected into one volume that includes biographies and prayers.

Ngawang Sonam Gyeltsen passed away at the age of seventy-seven, in 1674, the wood-male tiger year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle.