The Treasury of Lives

Sanggye Sengge (sangs rgyas seng ge) was born at Sakya in 1504. His father, a relative of Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (ngor chen kun dga bzang po, 1382-1456), was named Tsewang Peljor (tshe dbang dpal 'byor), and was and his mother was called Yungdrung Sedzom (yung drung sras 'dzoms). His childhood name was Lhamo Tsering (lha mo tshe ring).

At age eight, he took lay vows and received the Amitāyus empowerment at Sakya Monastery's Labrang Shar (bla brang shar). He was an extremely quick learner and excelled in his early studies. At age thirteen he went to Ngor Monastery (ngor e wam chos ldan) and took monastic vows with the abbot Sanggye Rinchen (sangs rgyas rin chen, 1450-1524). He was given the name Sanggye Sengge at that time. After receiving basic Buddhist instructions and training Sanggye Sengge began to study philosophy with masters such as Chodrak Gyatso (chos grags rgya mtsho, d.u.) and Lodro Rabyang (blo gros rab yangs, d.u.). After Sanggye Sengge had demonstrated his skill and learning to the assembly at Sakya, his teacher Konchok Lhundrub (dkon mchog lhun grub, 1497-1557) who was the tenth Ngor abbot, decided that he was ready to be fully ordained. Sanggye Sengge continued to receive scholarly and yogic instructions from his many great teachers. He showed great resolve and became an extremely accomplished meditator as well.

Sanggye Sengge began teaching at the age of twenty-five and quickly attracted many disciples. Soon after he began teaching, a Sakya lama in Mustang passed away and he went to attend the funeral. He stayed in Mustang for six months giving teachings to a patron called Lodro Chopak (blo gros chos 'phags). He also received invitations to travel to various monasteries to give teachings, and a military leader from Mu requested that Sanggye Sengge come teach in Mu. Because of traveling and teaching so extensively, he became known as an extraordinary master, especially in Tsang. He was particularly noted for his role in the transmission of the Lamdre Tsokshe.

When the tenth Ngor abbot Konchok Lhundrub passed away in 1557, Sanggye Sengge was enthroned at Ngor. Great masters such as Sakya Nawang Kunga Rinchen (ngag dbang kun dga' rin chen, 1517-1584) as well as other prominent religious and secular figures came to celebrate his enthronement. In response to the frequent invitations from prominent people across Eastern, Western, and central Tibet, he continued to travel and teach throughout his life, sometimes acting as a mediator in political disputes.

Sanggye Sengge's main teachers were Kunga Rinchen (kun dga' rin chen, 1517-1584), who was the twenty-fourth throne-holder at Sakya Monastery; and Lachok Sengge (lha mchog seng ge, 1468-1535), the ninth Ngor abbot.

His students included Kunga Rinchen, who was also one of his root teachers, and Namkha Pelzang (nam mkha' dpal bzang, 1532-1602), the thirteenth Ngor abbot.