The Treasury of Lives

Lodro Bumpa (blo gros ’bum pa) was born in 1342, the water-horse year of the sixth sexagenary cycle. Details on his parents and childhood are not available currently except that he was a smart child with a sharp intellect and a strong interest in dharma. Presumably he received the monastic vows, education, and learned meditation at Katok Monastery.

At a young age Lodro Bum studied both sūtra and tantra, with a particular focus in the three higher yogas according to the Nyingma tradition – Mahāyoga, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga – together with related sādhanā, empowerment, and esoteric instructions. He practiced and meditated and is said to have gained realization through his practice. Later he became a highly recognized teacher and practitioner of tantra especially in the three higher yogas.

At the age of forty-three, in 1384, the wood-mouse year of the sixth sexagenary cycle, Lodro Bum was enthroned to the seat of abbot of Katok Monastery. He served the post for about twenty-two years, until 1406, giving teachings, empowerment and esoteric instructions according to the Katok tradition.

During his era he noticed that the tradition of study and practice of profound tantras such as Guhyagarbha-tantra, the main tantra of the Mahāyoga class were degenerating in U-Tsang. Thus, he sent his most educated disciple, Zhakla Yeshe Bum (gzhag bla ye shes 'bum) to U where he restored the teaching in places such as Upalung ('ug pa lung) and Sang-ngag Ling (gsang sngags gling); and promoted the tradition of teachings of Early Translation Tantra according to the Zurpa lineage (snga 'gyur zur pa mes dpon gyi bshad srol).

In addition to Zhakla Yeshe Bum, his prominent disciples included Namkha Bum (chug sol nam mkha' 'bum).

After serving the Katok abbacy for over two decades, Lodro Bumpa passed into nirvana at the age of sixty-five in 1406, the fire-dog year of the seventh sexagenary cycle. Katokpa Lodro Sengge (blo gros seng ge, 1371-1430) succeeded him as the eleventh abbot of Katok Monastery.