The Treasury of Lives

The Ninety-third Ganden Tripa, Yeshe Wangden (dga' ldan khri pa 93 ye shes dbang ldan) was born into the family of Denbag Amitsang in Minyak (mi nyag dan 'bag a mi tshang) some time in the second half of the nineteenth century. Nothing is known about his parents and childhood but it can be presumed that he received monastic vows and basic education in a monastery in his hometown.

At the age of twenty-five Yeshe Wangden matriculated in the Minyak House of the Loseling College of Drepung Monastic University (mi nyag khang tshan of 'bras spungs blo gsal gling) and studied under a number of distinguished teachers of the monastery. Following satisfactory completion of his studies in logic and epistemology, he studied the major texts of Abhisamayālaṃkāra, Madhyamaka, Abhidharmakośa, Pramāṇavārttika, and Vinaya, the five main subjects of the Geluk monastic curriculum. He then successfully stood for the examination and obtained the degree of Geshe Lharampa (dge bshes lha ram pa), first rank. He was the first to be awarded the ranking following the Thirteenth Dalai Lama's restoration of the ranking of Geshe Lharamapa.

Geshe Yeshe Wangden then enrolled in Gyuto College (rgyud stod grwa tshang) where he studied the tantric scriptures and trained in the rites and rituals according to the Gyuto system. He earned the title of Ngakrampa (sngags rams pa), Master of Tantra. Subsequently he served as the chant-leader/head of education (bla ma dbu mdzad), and then abbot (mkhan po) of Gyuto. Thereafter he was elevated to the post of the Shartse Choje (shar rtse chos rje) at Ganden Shartse College, placing him in line to the Golden Throne of Ganden.

In 1933, the water-bird year of the sixteenth sexagenary cycle, Yeshe Wangden was enthroned to the Golden Throne as the Ninety-third Ganden Tripa. He served the post for customary tenure of seven years, until 1939.

Recognized as a skillful tantric master, he was assigned to subjugate a malevolent spirit then harassing the government. As the story is told, back in 1910, when the Thirteenth Dalai Lama fled to India to escape invading Chinese troops, the monks of Tengyel Ling (bstan rgyas gling) gave assistance to the Chinese. When the Dalai Lama returned the monastery was stripped of its possessions, and some of its leaders – including a few government officials who had also aided the Chinese – were executed. Among them was a lama named Nyakre Tulku (nyag re sprul sku); following his execution his body was buried under a stupa in Nyetang (snye thang). It was believed that he later emerged as a malicious spirit, breaking the stupa to demonstrate his power. Trichen Yeshe Wangden was assigned by the Lhasa government to cope with the situation and pacify the spirit. He went to Nyetang where he is said to have successfully confined the spirit permanently in a cave.

Yeshe Wangden was one of the nominees of the Regent after passing away of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama in 1933. The Fifth Reting Tulku, Tubten Jampel Yeshe Tenpai Gyeltsen (rwa sgreng sprul sku 05 thub bstan 'jam dpal ye shes bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1912/1919-1947) was chosen in his stead.

He retired from the office of Ganden Tripa in 1939. Lhundrub Tsondru (lhun grub brtson ’grus) was appointed his successor.

Yeshe Wangden lived for about four years in Tengyel Ling after his retirement, passing into nirvana there around 1943. His reincarnation continued in the name of Minyak Tritrul (mi nyag khri sprul).