The Treasury of Lives

Namkha Chokyong (nam mkha' chos skyong) was born in Zhe Tongmon (bzhad mthong smon) in 1436.

He studied extensively in many subjects from a young age. He was one of the major disciples of Jamyang Konchok Zangpo ('jam dbyangs dkon mchog bzang po), from whom he received a vast number of profound transmissions, such as the Kālacakra initiation, the explanation of the Kālacakra Tantra, the esoteric instructions of the six-branch yoga, the collected writings of the dharma lord Dolpopa, and the Bodhisattva Trilogy.

Following his education he a substitute abbot (mkhan tshab) at the then-Sakya monastery  Ngamring Chode (ngam ring chos sde) for many years. He also held the monastic seat of Tsechen Monastery (rtse chen dgon) for an extended period.

Namkha Chokyong was the eighteenth holder of the monastic seat of Jonang Monastery (jo nang dgon) and gave many profound and vast teachings there, such as the six-branch yoga and the great Vimalaprabha commentary to the Kālacakra Tantra. He also offered special service to the great Jonang stupa, such as gilding the thirteen dharma wheels of the spire and having exceptional murals painted in the main dome. Furthermore, he carried out many repairs and restorations of the main assembly hall at Jonang, the ecclesiatical residence, and the nearby retreat sites of Dewachen (bde ba can), Kyipuk Deden (skyid phug bde ldan), and Khacho Deden (mkha' spyod bde ldan).

He had countless disciples such as Paṇchen Namkha Pelzang (paN chen nam mkha' dpal bzang, 1464-1529), Dorje Gyelpo (rdo rje rgyal po), and Gorumpa Kunga Lekpa (sgo rum pa kun dga' legs pa, 1477-1544). Namkha Chokyong was succeeded on the Jonang monastic seat by his disciple Pelden Rinchen (dpal ldan rin chen).