The Treasury of Lives

Jigme Drodon Dorje ('jigs med 'gro don rdo rje), the Third Petsaling Tulku (pad tshal gling sprul sku) was born in 1853, the water ox year, at Naktsang (snag tshang). His family belonged to the Jakar Dung (bya dkar gdung), a noble (dpon rigs) lineage descending from both Pema Lingpa (pad ma gling pa, 1450-1521) and Lhalung Pelgyi Dorje (lha lung dpal gyi rdo rje, 8th c.). His other name was Jigme Drodul Dorje ('jigs med 'gro 'dul rdo rje).

The boy was recognized as a young child as the Third Petsaling Tulku, the reincarnation of Jigme Tenpai Gyeltsen ('jigs med bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1788-1850). The origin of the incarnation line was Drubtob Namgyel Lhundrub (sgrub thob rnam rgyal lhun grub, 1718-1786).

He was installed at Jangchub Pelri Monastery (byang chub dpal ri dgon pa), seat of the Petsaling line. A disciple of Jigme Tenpai Gyeltsen, Lama Kunzang Dechen (bla ma kun bzang bde chen) who was a regent (bla tshab), along with other lamas, taught him the lineage teachings. He received empowerments, transmissions, and instructions central to his lineage, such as the treasure teachings of Drime Lingpa (dri med gling pa, 1700-75/6), the Longchen Nyingtik (klong chen snying thig), Peling Chokor (pad gling chos skor), and the Ratpur, the Purba teachings of Ratna Lingpa (rat+na gling pa, 1403-1478).

Jigme Droden Dorje's most illustrious disciple was a descendant of Guru Chowang (gu ru chos dbang, 1212-1270) named Choying Rangdrol (chos dbyings rang drol), known as the treasure revealer of Nyalamdung (nya lam gdung). Choying Rangdrol studied under Drubtob Nangdze (grub thob snag mdzad) at Khenpajong (mkhan pa ljongs) before becoming a disciple of Jigme Droden Dorje. After completing his education and following his root lama’s prophecy, Choying Rangdrol established Gonpa Karpo (dgon pa dkar po) at Lhuntse, a replica of Petsaling Gonpa, and instituted the religious tradition of Drime Lingpa, known as Dorje Sokdrub (rdo rje srog sgrub). The monastery was also known as Kabab Gonpa (bka''bab dgon pa) since it was built by the command of his root lama.

Jigme Droden Dorje's had two sons by a consort. He died in 1883 at the young age of thirty at Tagamling (stangs gam gling).