The Treasury of Lives

The Twenty-six Ngor Khenchen, Dakchen Sanggye Tendzin (bdag chen sangs rgyas bstan 'dzin) was born in 1667, the fire-female sheep year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle. His father was named Zhabdrung Sitar (zhabs drung sri thar) and his mother was named Padma Lhalek (pad+ma lha legs).

He studied Lamdre (lam 'bras), a central Sakya tradition, at Ngor Monastery, Pel Evaṁ Choden (ngor dpal e waM chos ldan), under the Twenty-fifth Ngor Khenchen, Sanggye Puntsok (ngor mkhan chen 25 sangs rgyas phun tshogs, 1649-1705) and Mupa Choje Kunga Gyatso (mus pa chos rje kun dga' rgya mtsho, d.u.), who were also involved in his ordination. He also studied with the Twenty-second Ngor Khenchen, Pelchok Gyeltsen (ngor mkhan chen 22 dpal mchog rgyal mtshan, d.u.); the Twenty-third Ngor Khenchen, Namkha Pelzang (nam mkha' dpal bzang, d.u.); and the Twenty-fourth Ngor Khenchen, Lhundrub Pelden (ngor mkhan chen 24 lhun 'grub dpal ldan, 1624-1697).  

In 1689, at the age of twenty-three, he was enthroned to the abbacy of Ngor monastery as the Twenty-six Ngor Khenchen. During his tenure he made substantial offerings to Tashilhunpo Monastery (bkra shis lhun po) in Shigatse, the seat of the Geluk Paṇchen Lamas, and expanded some of the temples at Ngor.

He passed away in 1693 at the age of twenty-seven.