The Treasury of Lives

Yeshe Kelzang (ye shes skal bzang) was born 1705, the wood-bird year of twelfth sexagenary cycle. His father was named Ngawang Lodro (ngag dbang blo gros) and his mother was named Rinchen Tso (rin chen mtsho). He was given the name Jamyang Gyatso ('jam dbyangs rgya mtsho) by a lama named Ngari Tulku (mnga' ris sprul sku, d.u). As a child he was identified as the reincarnation of Lobzang Dorje (blo bzang rdo rje, d.u.), and given the title of Second Taktser (stag mtsher 02), which was based on the birthplace of Lobzang Dorje, a village named Chikyā Taktser (chi kyA stag mtsher).

He was given lay vows by the Second Chuzang, Lobzang Tenpai Gyeltsen (chu bzang 02 blo bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1652-1723), and later received novice monastic vows from Lobzang Dargye (blo bzang dar rgyas, 1659-1737), the twenty-second abbot of Kumbum.

In 1730, at the age twenty-six, he went to U and enrolled in Drepung ('bras spung) monastic university for his education; it is not clear at which college he studied. Three years later, at the age of twenty-nine, he received the full monastic ordination from the Fifth Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Yeshe (paN chen 05 blo bzang ye shes, 1663-1737), and the name Yeshe Kelzang.

When he was thirty-six he returned back to Amdo. In 1743 he was appointed academic master (rgyud pa slob dpon) and/or chant-leader/head of education (bla ma dbu mdzad) at the Tantric College (rgyud pa grwa tshang) of Kumbum (sources differ on the position). Five years later, in 1748, he was appointed the abbot of the Tantric College.

Following his tenure he spent some time in retreat in Shadzong (sha rdzong) hermitage.

In 1762 he was assigned the twenty-ninth throne holder of Kumbum, a post he served for three years. After his retirement he spent his days in mediation and on multiple construction projects, including the Assembly Halls ('du khang) of Shadzong and Anja (an ja ri khrod) Hermitage. He also organized the repair of the memorial stupa of Tsongkhapa with economic support from the Second Akyā, Lobzang Tenpai Gyeltsen (a kyA 02 blo bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1708-1768) and Jungwang Konchok Tashi (jung wang dkon mchog bkra shis, d.u.).

There is no information about his death.