The Treasury of Lives

Sonam Tseten (bsod nams tshe brtan) was probably born in the first quarter of the eighteenth century, in the second quarter of the twelfth sexagenary cycle. He was identified as the reincarnation of Takpu Lama Tsering Dorje (stag phu bla ma tshe ring rdo rje, d.u.), who was the son of Rigdzin Longsel Nyingpo (rig 'dzin klong gsal snying po, 1625-1692), an influential treasure revealer associated with Katok Monastery (kaH thog).

He received teachings on the esoteric instructions of the spoken word (bka' ma) of Katok and studied the treasure (gter ma) of Rigdzin Dudul Dorje (rig 'dzin bdud 'dul rdo rje, 1615-1672) and Rigdzin Longsel Nyingpo.

He is included in a list of thirteen lamas of the Mok lineage (rmog rabs bcu gsum) of Katok Monastery, referring to the main treasure revealing lamas of Katok during the mid-seventeenth to early-eighteenth centuries. The list begins with Dudul Dorje and Longsel Nyingpo and ends with Longsel Nyingpo's son. Apart from Dudul Dorje, all the Mog Rab lamas belonged to the same family; only six of the thirteen names are known.