The Treasury of Lives

Jedrung Jamyang Shenyin (rje drung 'jam dbyangs bshes gnyen) was born in 1502, the water-dog year of the eighth sexagenary cycle, in Zato Chedu Drongmochi Gyingtang (rdza stod spye 'du grong mo che gying thang). His father was a yogi who was said to have had visions and blessing of several lamas and deities.

He was ordained as a novice monk at the age of twelve by Kada Choje Lhundrub Zangpo (ka zla chos rje lhun grub bzang po) and was admitted to Lingto College (gling stod grwa tshang) at Chamdo Jampa Ling (chab mdo byams pa gling). There he studied under Lobpon Chojung Ozer (slob dpon chos 'byung 'od zer) and Jedrung Kunga Pelden (rje drung kun dga' dpal ldan, 1457-1540), the sixth abbot of Chamdo Jampa Ling. He had an extraordinary intellect and became a great master in the monastery.

Jamyang Shenyin received his bikshu (dge slong) vows from Gongru Lodro Ozer (gung ru mkhan po blo gros 'od zer) and Chojung Ozer, assisted by Sherab Tsemo (shes rab rste mo) and other monks. Thereafter he served as head of the Kadha (ka mda') monastic house for three years and lobpon (slob dpon) of Lingto for seven years.

In 1566 Jamyang Shenyin was enthroned to the seat of Chamdo Jampa Ling Monastery and for four years he performed duties of the abbot in accordance with the hereditary tradition of the monastery. He established the Ruzo Monastery (ru zo dgon) in 1568.

At the age of sixty-eight, in the morning of full-moon day of the twelfth Tibetan month of the earth-snake year of the tenth sexagenary cycle, Jamyang Shenyin led the regular confession service of the waxing-moon (yar ngo gso sbyong). The next day he fell ill, and the next month, the first month of the iron horse year, he called a meeting of senior geshe (dge bshes) and assigned responsibilities to various monks. He also recommended Tulku Lhawang Chokyi Gyeltsen (sprul sku lha dbang chos kyi rgyal mtshan, 1537-1605) to be the next abbot. The following morning he called a general meeting and gave audience to the monks; he passed away that evening. He sat in tukdam (thugs dam) meditation for about five weeks, until the fifteenth day of the second Tibetan month. His heart, tongue, and other relics are said to have been  discovered in the ashes of his cremation and placed in the heart of a statue of Sanggye Yeshe Jungne O (sangs rgyas ye shes 'byung gnas 'od) in the monastery.