The Treasury of Lives

The Fifty-first Ganden Tripa, Pelden Drakpa (dga' ldan khri pa 51 dpal ldan grags pa) was born in Hortsang Konyen (hor gtsang ko nyin) in the second half of the seventeenth century. His father was named Gonpo Sengge (mgon po seng ge) and his mother was named Kyimoyak (skyid mo yag). At a young age Pelden Drakpa was granted the vows of primary monk (rab byung) by the Sixth Tatsak Ngawang Konchok Nyima (rta tshag 06 ngag dbang dkon mchog nyi ma 1653-1707) who later became his teacher.

Pelden Drakpa matriculated in the Gomang College of Drepung Monastic University ('bras spungs sgo mang grwa tshang) and studied the major subjects of the Geluk monastic curriculum under eminent teachers in the monastery. He then enrolled in Gyuto College and studied the traditional courses in advanced tantra and skills relating to tantric practices according to Gyuto tradition. In addition to the Sixth Tatsak Lama, Pelden Drakpa studied also with the Second Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Yeshe (paN chen bla ma 02 blo bzang ye shes, 1663-1737), and the Forty-ninth Ganden Tripa Trichen Lobzang Dargye (dga' ldan khri pa 49 khri chen blo bzang dar rgyas, 1662-1723).

After the completion of his studies Pelden Drakpa planned to leave U-Tsang when he was said to have received the prophesy, “You will be empowered with the Golden Throne if you stay here” by Nechung Oracle (gnas chung chos skyong). He accordingly remained, serving first as the abbot of Gyuto, and then Ganden Shartse after which he ascended to the Golden Throne of Ganden as the Fifty-first Tripa in 1721, the iron-ox year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle. He served the post for the customary seven years, until 1728, giving teachings from both sutra and tantra and leading the important religious events of Geluk tradition. Some sources have it that Pelden Drakpa was enthroned in 1719 and served until 1725. The year of his enthronement also appears as 1722. During his tenure as abbot of Gyuto he built a new residence for monks at Drak Yerpa (brag yer par rgyu gtod kyi rgyud khang).

Pelden Drakpa served as a personal tutor to the Seventh Dalai Lama Kelzang Gyatso (ta la'i bla ma 07 bskal bzang rgya mtsho, 1708-1757) and also served as assistant preceptor (las slob) in granting the vows to the Third Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Pelden Yeshe (paN chen bla ma 03, blo bzang dpal ldan ye shes, 1738-1780). Among his other disciples was the Fifty-third Ganden Tripa Trichen Gyeltsen Sengge (dga' ldan khri pa 53 tri chen rgyal mtshan seng+ge, 1678-1756).

While serving on the Golden Throne Pelden Drakpa was sent by the Dalai Lama to Tso-ngon in Amdo to review and settle disturbances in the region, and he skillfully reconciled differences and brought peace to the region.

Trichen Pelden Drakpa passed into nirvana the year after his retirement, in 1729, on the twentieth day of the eleventh month of the earth-bird year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle. The Seventh Dalai Lama personally collected some clearly visible letters that were found in the ashes of his cremation. Gyume Lobpon Ngawang Chokden (rgyud med slob dpon ngag dbang mchog ldan; the Fifty-fourth Ganden Tripa?) collected a bright red piece of iron in the shape of a norbu gakyil (nor bu dga' 'khyil), a highly prized jewel. Others found statues of the Buddha, Mañjuśrī, Vajrapāṇi, a string of Yamaraja mantra, and an image of Yamāntaka was seen on his skull.

Pelden Drakpa's reincarnation was identified in his nephew, Lobzang Tendzin Gyatso (blo bzang bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho, 1731-1747), who took the name Hortsang Sertri (hor tsang gser khri) after his uncle.