The Treasury of Lives

The Seventh Gyara Tulku, Jigme Chokyi Wangchuk (rgya ra sprul sku 07 'phags mchog thub bstan 'jigs med chos kyi dbang phyug), was born in Lhupa Nang in Chamdo (chab mdo'i nye skor lhu pha nang) in 1842, the water-tiger year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle. He was identified as the reincarnation of the Sixth Gyara Tulku, Lobzang Chopel (rgya ra sprul sku 06 blo bzang chos 'phel, 1792-1841) by the Eighth Pakpa Lha, Lobzang Jigme Pelden Tenpai Nyima ('phags pa lha 08 blo bzang 'jigs med dpal ldan bstan pa'i nyi ma, 1795-1847) the twenty-fifth abbot of Chamdo Jampa Ling (chab mdo byams pa gling).

Jigme Chokyi Wangchuk received teachings, initiations, empowerments, transmissions, and instructions from a number of prominent lamas including the Fifth Zhiwa Lha, Lobzang Dondrup Gyatso (zhi ba lha 05 blo bzang don grub rgya mtsho 1800-1863), the twenty-sixth abbot of Chamdo Jampa Ling, and the Seventh Chakra Tulku, Ngawang Pelden Gyeltsen Chokyi Wangchuk (lcags ra sprul sku 07 ngag dbang dpal ldan rgyal mtshan chos kyi dbang phyug, 1796-1860).

Jigme Chokyi Wangchuk travelled to U-Tsang and enrolled in the Loseling College (blo gsan gling gra tshang) of the Drepung Monastic University ('bras spungs) where he studied traditional subjects under a number of eminent masters. After successfully completing the studies in Drepung, he returned to his monastery Drubde Densa (sgrub sde gdan sa), commonly known as Drugu Monastery (gru gu dgon), which was founded by the First Gyara Tulku Drubchen Sherab Puntsok (rgya ra 01 grub chen shes rab phun tshogs, 1566-1632) in 1622 and had been the main-seat of his predecessors. He commenced his duties as the abbot and administrating the monastery, giving teachings and empowerments, and performing religious rituals.

Jigme Chokyi Wangchuk also gave teachings on both sutra and tantra, and initiations and empowerments at Chamdo Ganden Jampa Ling. Moreover, he served as the principal tutor to the Tenth Pakpa Lha, Lobzang Tubten Mipam Tsultrim Gyeltsen ('phags pa lha 10 blo bzang thub bstan mi pham tshul khrim rgyal mtshan 1901-1937), the twenty-ninth abbot of Chamdo Jampa Ling. He also visited the monasteries including Zhitam Gonpa (gzhi bkram dgon pa) in Southern Kham and frequently and gave teachings and empowerments.

According to his hagiography, at the age of seventy-two, still in sound health with no signs of illness, Jigme Chokyi Wangchuk built his own golden reliquary at Zhitam Gonpa and consecrated it himself. Soon after, he instructed his attendant to lay down a mat along his bed, and, all of sudden he got up from his bed and put on his three traditional dharma robes (chos gos rnam gsum) and sat on the mat aside his bed in vajra-position. He never rouse from that meditation. Thus he passed away in 1913, the water-ox year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle.