The Treasury of Lives

Pelden Dondrub (dpal ldan don grub) was born at a place named Chudu Kanga (chu 'dus kha rnga) near Sakya Monastery, in 1563, the water-pig year of the ninth sexagenary cycle. His father was called Sonam Sherab (bsod nams shes rab) and mother was Pelden Budren (dpal ldan bu 'dren). His childhood name was Samdrub Darpo (bsam 'drub dar po).

He learned reading and writing at a young age, and at fourteen he enrolled in Ngor Evaṁ Choden (ngor e waM chos ldan) where he received the novice monastic vows from the Twelfth Ngor Khenchen, Konchok Pelden (dkon mchog dpal ldan,1526-1590), and Kunga Chokden (kun dga' mchog ldan, d.u). They gave him the name Pelden Dondrub.

When he turned twenty-nine, he was granted full monastic vows by the Fourteenth Ngor Khenchen, Drangti Namkha Pelzang (brang ti nam mkha' dpal bzang, 1535-1602), Muchen Namkha Pelzang (mus chen nam mkha' dpal bzang, d.u), Ngawang Cholek Dorje (ngag dbang mchog legs rdo rje, d.u), and Gonpo Tashi (mgon po bkra shis, d.u).

He studied Lamdre and other Sakya traditions with Rechen Peljor Sherab (ras chen dpal 'byor shes rab, d.u), Konchok Lekdzin (dkon mchog legs 'dzin, d.u), Kunga Sonam (kun dga' bsod nams, d.u), an abbot of Tsedong Monastery, Jamyang Sonam Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bsod nams dbang po, 1559-1621), the Fourteenth Ngor Khenchen, Sharchen Kunga Tashi (shar chen kun dga' bkra shis,1558-1615), Sonam Lhundrub (bsod nams lhun grub, 1571-1642), and Wangchuk Rabten (dbang phyug rab brtan, 1558-1636), the eighteenth abbot of Zhalu monastery.

In 1618, at the age of fifty-six, Pelden Dondrub was enthroned as the sixteenth abbot of Ngor monastery. After five years, in 1622, he passed the abbacy to his disciple Drangti Namkha Sanggye (brang ti nam mkha sangs rgyas, d.u.), and spent the last sixteen years of his life in retreat.

Among his disciples were Tutob Wangchuk (mthu stobs dbang phyug, d.u.); the Eighteenth Ngor Khenchen, Sherab Jungne (ngor mkhan chen 18 shes rab 'byung gnas, 1596-1653), the Twenty-second Ngor Khenchen, Pelchok Gyeltsen (ngor mkhan chen 22 dpal mchog rgyal mtshan, d.u.); Gonpo Sonam Chokden (mgon po bsod nams mchog ldan, 1603-1659); and Rinchen Sonam Chokdrub (rin chen bsod nams mchog 'grub, 1602-1681), the twenty-second abbot of Zhalu. His writings were collected into three volumes.

He passed away at the age of seventy-four in 1636, the fire-mouse year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle.