The Treasury of Lives

Adro Khenpo Ozer Taye (a gro'i mkhan po 'od zer mtha' yas) was born in a nomadic area in the Rudam (ru dam) valley in Kham during the early twentieth century to the Adro (a gro) family. His father was named Adro Garwa Nyilo (a gro mgar ba nyi lo) and his mother was named Puri (spu ris). The Fifth Dzogchen Drubwang, Tubten Chokyi Dorje (rdzogs chen grub dbang 05 thub bstan chos kyi rdo rje, 1872-1935) performed his tonsure ceremony, after which he enrolled in Dzogchen Monastery, Rudam Orgyen Samten Choling (rdzogs chen ru dam o rgyan bsam gtan chos gling), where he studied rituals, chanting, religious music, monastic dance, and maṇḍala drawing for a number of years.

He enrolled at Śrī Siṃha College (shrI sing+ha bshad drwa) around the age of twenty and studied under the nineteenth abbot, Zhenpen Chokyi Nangwa (gzhan phan chos kyi snang ba, 1871-1927), from whom he received his vows of the full ordination (bhikṣu) and teachings on the thirteen Indian texts of the Śrī Siṃha curriculum as well as many other topics from the sutras and tantras.

After he completed his studies, Ozer Taye served as a deputy abbot to several of Dzogchen's branch monasteries where promoted the regular performance of the three basic practices of the Vinaya: the  confession ceremony, summer retreat, and its closure ceremony. While staying at one of these monasteries, he engaged a Geluk lama, Litang Shokdruk Kyabgon (li thang shog drug skyabs mgon, d.u.) in debate on key points from the sutras and tantras and emerged victorious, winning praise for his knowledge of the classical Indian texts -- an accomplishment generally considered rare for a Nyingma scholar.

Ozer Taye was enthroned as the twenty-ninth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College around the age of forty. From this position he taught on a great range of topics drawn from the sutras and tantras as well as common subjects such as grammar and poetry. He was particularly known for his skill in teaching Madhyamaka and Prajñāpāramitā.

After he retired from the abbacy, he is said to have dedicated the rest of his life to the practice of Dzogchen. Details about his death are not known.