The Treasury of Lives

Tawai Khenpo Konchok Zangpo (rta ba'i mkhan po dkon mchog bzang po) was the eighteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College (shrI sing+ha bshad drwa) at Dzogchen Rudam Orgyen Samten Choling (rdzogs chen ru dam o rgyan bsam gtan chos gling). He was born in the Rudam valley (ru dam) in Kham in 1862, the water-dog year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle. His father was named Dawa Gyeltsen (zla ba rgyal mtshan) and his mother was named Trowai Dronlha (khro ba’i sgron lha).

Tradition relates that while still a young child the boy experienced many dreams of Padmasambhava, which his parents reported during an audience with the Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang, Mingyur Namkhai Dorje (rdzogs chen grub dbang 04 mi 'gyur nam mkha'i rdo rje, 1793-1870). Mingyur Namkhai Dorje performed the boy's tonsure ceremony and advised him to ordain. He would later give Konchok Zangpo empowerments and tantric teachings on various topics, including the Konchok Chidu (dkon mchog spyi 'dus).

Konchok Zangpo received his novice monk vows (śrāmaṇera) around the age of eight from the eighth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Pema Vajra (mkhan chen pad+ma badz+ra, c.1807-1884). He was subsequently enrolled in Śrī Siṃha College and accepted as Pema Vajra's personal disciple. After studying reading, writing, grammar and other basic fields of learning, he studied classical Indian texts according to the curriculum at Śrī Siṃha. He then received comprehensive teachings on tantra, along with empowerments and meditation instructions. In addition to Pema Vajra, Konchok Zangpo also studied under Dza Patrul Orgyen Jigme Chokyi Wangpo (rdza dpal sprul o rgyan 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po, 1808-1887); Ju Mipam Namgyel Gyatso (ju mi pham rnam rgyal rgya mtsho, 1846-1912); the eleventh abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Purtsa Khenpo Akon (phur tsha mkhan po a dkon, c.1837-c.1897); the fifteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Domtson Konchok Drakpa (sdom brtson kon mchog grags pa, b.1830); and the sixteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College, Sonam Chopel (bsod nams chos phel, d.u.).

Konchok Zangpo was enthroned as the eighteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College at the age of thirty-nine, probably in 1900. He taught on both sutra and tantra. After his tenure as abbot, he continued to teach until his death.

Zhenpen Chokyi Nangwa (gzhan phan chos kyi snang ba, 1871-1927) succeeded him as the nineteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College.