The Treasury of Lives

Namtrul Namkha Yeshe (rnam sprul nam mkha’ ye shes) was born in 1446 in the region of Makhuk (rma khug) and belonged to the Dru (‘dru) clan. He met Gyeltsab Je (rgyal tshab rje), that is, Gyeltsab Rinchen Gyeltsen (rgyal tshab rin chen rgyal mtshan, d.u.) in Menri monastery (sman ri dgon) and became his disciple. Although he was considered an emanation of the ancient sage Lishu Takring (li shu stag ring), he was never formally recognized as an emanation body (sprul sku).

After his training and obtention of his geshe degree, Namkha Yeshe succeeded Rinchen Gyeltsen on the throne of the Menri abbot. His proficiency in Bon teachings covered both exoteric and esoteric teachings, to the extent that his fame attracted students from various Bon monasteries throughout Tibet.

Before he took the charge of Menri, he took the complete monastic vows from Richen Gyeltsen who gave him the name Namkha Yeshe. As his predecessors did before him, he took particular attention to preserve the purity of his vows. He studied and practiced Tantras, as well as the essential instructions of Dzogchen (rdzogs chen), thus becoming the lineage holder of nearly all Bon cycles of the Great Perfection.

There are very few accounts of his life but all insist on the fact that Namkha Yeshe was a kind of model for all Bonpo practitioners, being described as a very strict scholar and practitioner, involved in his daily religious activities without distraction. It is said that his knowledge and experiences were such that he completely mastered the dynamism of his own Awareness (rig pa’i rtsal), a sign indicating the high degree of realization he reached through the practice of the Dzogchen cycles he had received.

He is systematically described as a motherly master, caring for all beings that came to him for spiritual or ordinary assistance. His generosity was only matched by his infinite benevolence toward all.

The exact date of his passing into nirvana is still unknown. What we know is that his body was cremated in Menri and that his disciples were said to have found many relics in his ashes which were preserved in a golden reliquary.

Namkha Yeshe had numerous disciples coming from various parts of Tibet. Among the most important ones were: Sale O (sa le ‘od, d.u.), Tragen Tashi Gyeltsen (khra rgan bkra shis rgyal mtshan, d.u.), and Khedrub Kunzang Gyeltsen (mkhas grub kun bzang rgyal mtshan) who was to become his successor in the Atri line of transmission.