The Treasury of Lives



Zhonnu Sengge (gzhon nu seng+ge) was a nephew of Darma Sengge Sanggye Won (dar ma seng ge sangs rgyas dbon, 1177-1237), a disciple (and nephew) of Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje (gtsang pa rgya ras ye shes rdo rje, 1161-1211). His father, Darma Sengge Sanggye Won's elder brother, was named Lhachen / Lhatsen (lha gcen / lha btsan). He had a younger sister named Rinchen Pelmo (rin chen dpal mo).

In addition to training with his uncle, who was the second abbot of Ralung Monastery (rwa lung), and who ordained him at the age of eight, Zhonnu Sengge also studied with Kuton Tsondru Yungdrung (khu ston brtson 'grus g.yung drung, 1011‑1075), a student of Atiśa Dīpaṃkara (982-1054), and Wonpo Jungne Gyeltsen (dbon po 'byung gnas rgyal mtshan, d.u.), a student of Marpa Chokyi Lodro (mar pa chos kyi blo 'gros). He also studied the sciences and Madhyamaka with Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyeltsen (sa skya pan di ta kun dga' rgyal mtshan, 1182-1251).

Zhonnu Sengge became the third throne holder of Ralung at the age of thirty-three, following the death of his uncle. He administered there and Druk Monastery (brug dgon) for nine years.

According to Tucci, Zhonnu Sengge's mortal remains were encased in a stupa in the center of Ralung. He is counted as the second of the “Nine Incomparable Lions” (mnyam med seng ge dgu), patriarchs of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition, his uncle being the first.

Alexander Gardner is Director and Chief Editor of the Treasury of Lives. He completed his PhD in Buddhist Studies at the University of Michigan in 2007. He is the author of The Life of Jamgon Kongtrul The Great.

Published February 2010

Images

Avalokiteśvara

This sixteenth-century thangka of Avalokiteśvara depicts the teaching lineage named for Tsembupa known as 'tshem bu lugs', one of the five great systems of Avalokiteśvara practice in Tibet. This system is well preserved in Geluk and Sakya traditions.

Drukpa Kagyu Lineage of Bhutan

Nineteenth century painting of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Bhutan.

Gampopa together with early Drukpa Kagyu masters

A magnificent eighteenth century painting depicting Gampopa with a number of early Drukpa Kagyu masters, including early abbots of Ralung Monastery and several of the "Nine Incomparable Lions."

Bibliography

Dbon po shes rab 'byung gnas. 1976. Dam chos dgongs pa gcig pa'i yig cha. Thimphu: Kunsang Topgey, vol. 1, pp. 36 ff.

Nyi ma seng ge. 1975 (1771). Chos rje gzhon nu seng ge'i rnam thar. In Rwa lung dkar brgyud gser 'phreng. Pelampur: SNGP, vol 2, pp. 135-163.

Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, p. 671.

Sgrub sprul phrin las rgya mtsho. 2009. Gdams ngag bka' rgya can lnga yi bla ma brgyud pa'i rnam thar dad gsum chu gter 'phel byed ngo mtshar lza ba'i me long. Swayambhu: Shree Gautam Buddha Vihara, pp. 147-149.

Tucci, Giuseppe. 1956. To Lhasa and Beyond. Rome: Istituto Poligrafico della Stato, p. 61.

View this person’s associated Works & Texts on the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center’s Website.