The Treasury of Lives

Sakya Lotsāwa Jampai Dorje (sa skya lo tsA ba 'jam pa'i rdo rje) was born in 1485, the wood-snake year of the eighth sexagenary cycle, in Tsedong (rtse gdong). His father, who belonged to the Ducho Labrang (dus mchod bla brang), was named Namkha Tashi Gyeltsen (nam mkha' bkra shis rgyal mtshan) and his mother was named Machik Hormo Tseten (ma gcig hor mo tshe brtan).

At the age of six he received empowerment in Hevajra and Vajrakīlaya from Dakchen Sherab Gyeltsen (bdag chen shes rab rgyal mtshan, 1436-1494), and learned to read and write under Lama Lekpa Zangpo (bla ma legs pa bzang po, d.u.).

Four years later, at the age of ten, he received lay vows from Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub (glo bo mkhan chen bsod nams lhun grub, 1456-1532), and, having gone to Ngor, he received novice vows from the seventh Ngor Khenchen, Konchok Pelwa (ngor mkhan chen 07 dkon mchog 'phel ba, 1445-1515) and Lowo Khenchen.

He went to Sakya Monastery at the age of twelve. There he studied Vinaya, Pramāṇa, and Prajñāpāramitā with Yonten Jungne (yon tan 'byung gnas, d.u.). He received full ordination at the age of twenty from Konchok Pelwa, who also gave him many teachings. He received tantric teachings from Lowo Khenchen, Muchen Sanggye Rinchen (mus chen sangs rgyas rin chen, 1450-1524), Chaklo Rinchen Chogyel (chag lo rin chen chos rgyal, d.u.) and others. He studied the arts with Zhalu Lotsāwa Rinchen Chokyong (zhwa lu lo tsA ba rin chen chos skyong bzang po, 1441-1527). He continued to study, mainly at Sakya, but also at Ngor, Tsedong, Nalendra, Lingga Dewachen (gling dga' bde ba can), Reting (rwa sgreng) and other monasteries.

The exquisite painting to the left depicts a number of other teachers, many of whom are unidentified: Jamyang Sherab Rinchen ('jam dbyangs shes rab rin chen, d.u.); Paṇchen Drakpa Dorje (paN chen grags pa rdo rje, d. c.1491); Drubchen Chakdorwa (grub chen phyag rdor ba, d.u.); Trulzhik Tsultrim Gyeltsen ('khrul zhig tshul khrims rgyal mtshan, d.u.); Khenchen Kunlowa (mkhan chen kun blo ba, d.u.); Shākya Sengge (shAkya seng ge, d.u.); Dongkyepa (gdong skyes pa, d.u.); Serchen Chozangpa (ser chen chos bzangs pa, d.u.); and two others whose names are partially effaced.

In 1496 he was enthroned as the twenty-second throne holder of Sakya.

Among his disciples were Ngawang Kunga Rinchen, the twenty-third Sakya Tridzin (sa skya khri 'dzin 23 ngag dbang kun dga' rin chen); his brother Ngawang Drakpa Gyeltsen (ngag dbang grags pa rgyal mtshan, d.u.); the tenth abbot of Ngor, Konchok Lhundrub (ngor mkhan chen 10 dkon mchog lhun grub, 1497-1557); Drakar Sonam Gyeltsen (brag dkar bsod nams rgyal mtshan, d.u.); and Kyok Lotsāwa Ngawang Rinchen Tashi (skyogs lo tsA ba ngag dbang rin chen bkra shis, d.u.)

Sakya Lotsāwa Jampai Dorje passed away in 1533 at the age of forty-nine.