The Treasury of Lives

Kunga Wangchuk was born in 1424. Sources differ on Kunga Wangchuk's (kun dga' dbang phyug, 1424-1478) father’s name. It was likely either Pontsang Drupa Yonten (dpon tshang grub pa yon tan) or Drungchen Delek (drung chen bde legs), and his mother was called Pelden Zangmo (dpal ldan bzang mo, d.u.). They were from Mu (mus) in Tsang. At age six or seven he began his training with a teacher called Pelden Dondrub (dpal ldan don grub, d.u.).

When he was twelve, he took novice vows at Sakya Drakshar Monastery (sa skya brag shar) with Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (ngor chen kun dga' bzang po, 1382-1456) and Jangpukpa Kunga Legpa (byang phug pa kun dga' legs pa, d.u.), a teacher of Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa (tsong kha pa blo bzang grags pa, 1357-1419). These masters gave him the name Kunga Wangchuk. Under Jangpukpa, Kunga Wangchuk studied the Hevajra tantra and the three continua of Lamdre (lam 'bras). He also studied extensively under Ngorchen.

When Kunga Wangchuk was twenty-seven, Ngorchen, Muchen Sempa Chenpo Konchok Gyeltsen (mus chen sems dpa' chen po dkon mchog rgyal mtshan, 1388-1469), Khacharwa Sonam Gyeltsen (kha char ba bsod nams rgyal mtshan, d.u.), and Namkha Pelzang (nam kha' dpal bzang, d.u.) oversaw his full monastic ordination. He is said to have upheld the three sets of vows with great care. Ngorchen paid special attention to training Kunga Wangchuk and singled him out as a future abbot of Ngor Evam Choden (ngor e waM chos ldan). Kunga Wangchuk also received instructions from teachers such as Jamyang Sher Gyel ('jam dbyangs sher rgyal, d.u.), Yonten Ozer (yon tan 'od zer, d.u.), and Konchok Gyeltsen (dkon mchog rgyal mtshan, 1388-1469). After completing his foundational studies, Kunga Wangchuk focused on the sadhana practice of Hevajra.

Biographical accounts say that in 1465 Kunga Wangchuk received a bilva fruit belonging to Ngorchen. The bilva fruit, which is used in healing rituals associated with the Medicine Buddha, is said to have brought him good fortune. That same year, in accordance with the blessing Ngorchen previously conferred on him, Kunga Wangchuk settled at Ngor and took up the position of abbot.

During his tenure as abbot, he taught extensively, giving the Lamdre instructions seventeen times, and generally offering a great abundance of tantric teachings and instructions. When teaching Lamdre, he is recorded to have always followed the instructions given in the Gsung sgros ma, a text written by Marton (dmar ston, 1198-1259) and edited by Sakya Paṇḍita.

His students included Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub (glo bo mkhan chen bsod nams lhun grub, 1456-1532); Sanggye Rinchen (sangs rgyas rin chen, 1450-1524); Gorampa Sonam Sengge (go rams pa bsod nams seng ge, 1429-1489); Konchok Pelwa (dkon mchog 'phel ba, 1445-1514), the Seventh Ngor Khenchen' and Kunga Chokdrub (kun dga' mchog grub, d.u.).

Kunga Wangchuk wrote a catalogue for the Zhungshemar (gzhung bshad dmar) a.k.a the Pusti Marchung (pusti dmar chung), a collection of previously scattered texts on the esoteric aspects of Lamdre. It was compiled by Ngorchen and named for the red color of the cloth it was originally wrapped in.

Kunga Wangchuk passed away on the twenty-first day of the fourth Tibetan month, in 1478.