The Treasury of Lives

The Third Hortsang Sertri, Jigme Rigpai Sengge (hor tshang gser khri 03 'jigs med rigs pa'i seng+ge) was born into the Kyuchok (khyu mchog) clan in the Hortsang (hor tshang) region of eastern Amdo in 1747, the fire-hare year of the thirteenth sexagenary cycle. He was identified as the reincarnation of the Second Hortsang Sertri, Lobzang Tendzin Gyatso (blo bzang bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho, 1731-1747), who had passed away in early 1747 at the age of sixteen. He himself had been recognized as the reincarnation of the Fifty-first Ganden Tripa, Trichen Pelden Drakpa (dga' ldan khri pa 51 khri chen dpal ldan grags pa, d. 1729) who had been born in Hortsang and was known during his lifetime as later Hortsang Sertri (hor gtsang gser khri). The young boy was brought to Bengar (ban sgar) monastery at the age of five.

Some years later, while en route to Bumling ('bum gling) for pilgrimage, the Second Jamyang Zhepa Konchok Jigme Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 02 dkon mchog 'jigs med dbang po, 1728-1791) met the child and cut his crown-hair, giving him the name Jigme Drakpa ('jigs med grags pa).

Jigme Drakpa then commenced his basic education in reading and writing and memorizing prayer texts under the guidance of Gelong Samten (dge slong bsam gtan) at Bengar. The young child had sharp intellect and it was said that he embarrassed his teacher with questions that he could not answer. At the age of eight, Jigme Drakpa was invited to Tso Gyakar Monastery (gtsos rgya mkhar dgon) by the Fifty-third Ganden Tripa, Trichen Gyeltsen Sengge (dga' ldan khri pa 53 khri chen rgyal mtshan seng+ge, 1678-1756); the Tripa admitted him to the monastery and gave him some teachings.

At the recommendation of the Jamyang Zhepa, Jigme Drakpa went to Labrang Tashikhyil (bla brang bkra shis 'khyil) and enrolled in Tosamling College (thos bsam gling grwa tshang) at the age of fourteen, in 1760. He received his first teaching there from the Jamyang Zhepa himself. Thereafter he studied logic and the traditional philosophical texts under the tutorship of Jamyang Zhepa until 1769, when he reached the age of twenty-three.

In 1770, the year of iron-tiger Jigme Drakpa travelled to Lhasa and matriculated in the Gomang College of the Drepung Monastic University ('bras spungs sgo mang grwa tshang). For about nine years, until 1778, he studied Abhisamayālaṃkāra, Madhyamaka, Abhidharmakośa, Pramāṇavārttika and Vinaya, the five major subjects of the Geluk monastic curriculum, under a number of distinguished teachers.

While studying in Drepung he attended teachings at the Potala Palace given by the Sixth Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Pelden Yeshe (paN chen 06 blo bzang dpal ldan ye shes, 1738-1780) to the Eighth Dalai Lama, Jampel Gyatso (ta la'i bla ma 08 'jam dpal rgya mtsho 1758-1804). He also received various teachings, transmissions, and esoteric instructions from a number of eminent teachers including Tse Chokling Yongdzin Yeshe Gyeltsen (tshe mchog gling yongs 'dzin ye shes rgyal mtshan, 1713-1793), Bari Ngawang Dondrub (ba ri ngag dbang don grub, d.u.), and Drakyam Ponlob Lobzang Chopel (brag rgyam dpon slob blo bzang chos 'phel, d.u.). Gaining recognition for his scholarship, he composed some poetic songs (gsung mgur) dedicated to Jamyang Zhepa and Gomang Monastery that impressed many readers.

In 1779, the iron-pig year of the thirteenth sexagenary cycle, after satisfactorily completing his studies in Drepung, Jigme Sengge returned to Amdo. Upon his arrival in Labrang he is said to have been welcomed by over two thousand monks, and went directly to pay his respects to the Jamyang Zhepa. The following year he laid the foundation for the establishment of the Ganden Rabgye Hermitage (dben gnas dga' ldan rab rgyas) in Draklung (brag lung) in Dzogye (mdzod dge). He occasionally visited his lama to receive from him certain teachings and esoteric instructions. He also received, from lamas such as Ngawang Drakpa (ngag dbang grags pa, d.u.), Trichen Sonam Wangyal (bla brang khri 15 bsod nams dbang rgyal, 1726-1793) and the hermit Ngawang Khenrab (ri khrod pa ngag dbang mkhen rab), various teachings on sadhana and related topics, empowerments, transmissions, and esoteric instructions on generation and completion stage practice (bskyed rdzogs) relating to tantric deities including Yamāntaka.

In 1789, on the full-moon day of the third month of the earth-bird year, Jigme Rigpai Sengge was enthroned as the twentieth throne holder of Labrang Tashikhyil, at the age of about forty-three. Soon after taking the post he inspected and reviewed the administration of the monastery, and tightened the monastic codes of discipline and enhanced the quality of meals and living standard of monks, while making education a top priority. He sponsored the creation of a famous statue of Maitreya called “Meaningful to Behold” (byams sku mthong ba don ldan).

The following year Jigme Rigpai Sengge requested to be relieved of the post, but the Jamyang Zhepa refused, telling him that "I feel comfortable wherever I go, since you are taking care of our seat. So, please do not ask for retirement for the time being." Jigme Rigpai Sengge was considered as the immediate successor in Jamyang Zhepa's tantric lineage; Jamyang Zhepa gave him a tantric robe worn during rituals and empowerments, and bone ornaments while bestowing an empowerment.

In the winter of the next year, 1791, Jamyang Zhepa passed into nirvana in Kado Tashizong (ka mdo bkra shis rdzong); Jigme Rigpai Sengge took responsibility for the cremation and related rituals, including the nirvana-prayer. Thereafter he gave extensive teachings during their Monlam festival and at the following spring-session of study.

After serving the abbatial chair at Labrang for about three years Jigme Rigpai Sengge retired from the abbacy, despite of many requests from the officials and monks of the monastery to remain in office. He recommended the Third Gungtang Lama, Konchok Tenpai Dronme (gung thang 03 dkon mchog bstan pa'i sgron me, 1762-1823) to be his successor. He did not leave the monastery immediately but settled in intensive meditation and other personal practices.

In 1793 he was enthroned as the abbot of the tantric college at Drakkar Gyelmo (brag dkar rgyal mo), and settled at Drakkar Lhading Hermitage (brag dkar lha lding dben gnas). He held this post for five years, giving teachings to their tradition for five years. In the final year at Drakkar he bestowed many empowerments including for the Vajramala of Mitra, and also many initiations including on Ratnasambhava. Subsequently he also gave commentarial teachings on Lamrim and generation and completion stage practice (bskyed rdzogs) of tantric deities; and also some other teachings and empowerments as per requirement of his disciples for many years.

It is said that Jigme Rigpai Sengge composed over ten works on topics such as Lamrim Chenmo, biography, poetic songs (gsung mgur), correspondences (chab shog) and so forth. The works do not appear to be extant.

Among Jigme Rigpai Sengge prominent disciples were Changlung Paṇḍita Ngawang Lobzang Tenpai Gyeltsen (lcang lung paNDi ta ngag dbang blo bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1770-1845) and the Second Lingtrul, Konchok Gepai Lodro (gling sprul 02 dkon mchog dgyes pa'i blo gros 1773-1837/38) who later became the twenty-eighth throne holder of Labrang Tashikhyil.

In early 1816, the year of fire-mouse of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle, at the age of seventy, Jigme Rigpai Sengge passed into nirvana. An extensive nirvana-prayer was done for him. Jigme Tenpai Nyima Pelzangpo (rje 'jigs med bstan pa'i nyi ma dpal bzang po), born in the same year, was identified as his reincarnation.