The Treasury of Lives

The Sixth Drubgyud Tulku, Karma Jangchub Gyelpo, also known by the Sanskritized version of his name, Bodhirāja (bo d+hi rad za), was born in 1883 to a father named Tana Norbu Dargye (rta na nor bu dar rgyas) and mother named Trangza Akyi (sprang bza' a skyid). Legend has it that at a very early age he left a footprint on a stone. The Fifteenth Karmapa, Kakyab Dorje (karma pa 15 mkha' khyab rdo rje, 1870/1–1921/2) recognized him as the reincarnation of the Fifth Drubgyud Tulku (sgrub rgyud sprul sku 05, 1839–1892/3).

In 1897, when he turned fifteen, he enrolled in the monastic college at Pelpung Monastery (dpal spungs dgon) where he would study for five years before doing three-year retreat at the Pelwaṃ Retreat Center (dpal waM sgrub khang).

He trained under many great masters, including the Fifteenth Karmapa, Kakyab Dorje; the Eleventh Tai Situ, Pema Wanchok Gyelpo (ta'i si tu pad+ma dbang mchog rgyal po, 1886–1952); Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro ('jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse chos kyi blo gros, 1893–1959); Karma Tashi Wozer Zhiwe Nyingpo (karma bkra shis 'od zer  zhi ba'i snying po, 1836–1910); and Dilyak Dabzang Rinpoche (dil yag zla bzang rin po che, 1929–1992). This lama was the Third Dabzang, the reincarnation of Dabzang Karma Ngedon (zla bzang karma nges don, 1808–1964).   

Later in life he became known as an emanation of the great master from Lhodrak, Gotsangpa Gonpo Dorje (rgod tshang pa mgon po rdo rje, 1189–1258), and he spread and strengthened the Yelpa Kagyu tradition through his writings, which included liturgies, prayers, a Yelpa Guru Sādhana, and commentaries on Mahāmudrā—none of which appear to be extant.

He passed away in 1940 or 1941 at the age of fifty-eight.