The Treasury of Lives

Jampel Gyatso ('jam dpal rgya mtsho) was born in 1356 in the Tsongkha region of Amdo. He entered the religious life at a young age, studying the Candrapradīpa Sutra (zla ba sgron me'i mdo) and other scripture. Wishing to further his training, in 1373 he traveled to Lhasa, where he sought out teachers but avoided entering a monastery, wary of the many mundane duties the average monk is charged with.

At a temple named Dewachen (bde ba can), affiliated with the Kadam monastery Sangpu Neutok (gsang phu ne'u thog) south of Lhasa, Jampel Gyatso attended a teaching Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa (tsong kha pa blo bzang grags pa, 1357-1419) was giving on the Uttaratantra (rgyud bla ma). Tsongkhapa recognized his acumen and advised him to study Madhyamaka philosophy in the formal setting of the Kadampa monasteries, advice which he followed. He then attended teachings Tsongkhapa gave, with Umapa Pawo Dorje (dbu ma pa dpa' bo rdo rje) at Kyormolung Monastery (skyor mo lung dgon) on Cakrasaṃvara.

Soon afterwards, as Tsongkhapa prepared to go into retreat, and he requested that Jampel Gyatso accompany him as one of eight disciples. The group set up a camp named Cholung (chos lung) in the Wolkha ('ol kha) region of Dakpo (dwags po), before moving to a cave in Gar (mgar). There they lived on juniper berries and meager provisions of grains, abstaining from all meat. For three years Jampel Gyatso received teachings on Lamrim (lam rim), Guhyasamāja, Cakrasaṃvara, and Vajrabhairava, as well as Cho. In addition, Tsongkhapa transmitted the Ganden Mahāmudrā tradition that he had received directly from Mañjuśrī, together with the traditions ephemeral scriptural collection known as the Trulpai Legbam (sprul ba'i legs bam), which Tsongkhapa gave to no one else. Later he would train again with Tsongkhapa at Wolka Samten Ling ('ol kha bsam gtan gling), where Tsongkhapa taught Guhyasamāja.

In search of solitary retreat, Jampel Gyatso left Cholung for hermitages near the Kadam monasteries of Medro Gyelteng (mal gro rgyal steng) and Pangsa (spang sa), northeast of Lhasa. For some time he gave teachings, but ultimately sealed up his cave and refused visitors, only increasing his renown. Like his teacher Umapa, he served as a medium of sorts for his main deity, Mañjuśrī, taking questions from people to put before the god.

Jampel Gyatso passed away at Ganden in 1428 at the age of seventy-three. His main disciple was Baso Chokyi Gyeltsen (ba so chos kyi rgyal mtshan, 1402-1473) and Chennga Lodro Gyeltsen (spyan snga blo gros rgyal mtshan, 1402-1472).