The Treasury of Lives

Ziji Bar (gzi brjid 'bar) was born in the mid eleventh century in Yarlung Gepa (yar klung gad pa), U-Tsang (dbus gtsang). His father was named Sonam Wangchuk (bsod nams dbang phyug), and his mother was named Bumkyi ('bum skyid). His older brother was Zhangton Chobar (zhang ston chos bar, 1053-1135), a master in the Lamdre (lam 'bras) tradition of the Sakya school that is based on the esoteric instructions of the Indian master Virūpa (birwa pa, c. tenth century). He later received monastic vows from Nyak Nyingpo Gyeltsen (gnyags snying po rgyal mtshan), and studied various teachings, including the Five Treatises of Maitreya (byams chos sde lnga).

Ziji Bar and his brother are considered among the principal disciples of the Sakya Lamdre master Seton Kunrik (se ston kun rig, 1029-1116). Apparently while the elder brother Zhangton Chobar excelled in the experiential aspects of the Lamdre teachings, Ziji showed great aptitude toward the scholastic aspects of the tradition. They spent seven years studying the Lamdre teachings. Zhangton Chobar later told his student Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (sa chen kun dga' snying po, 1092-1158) that Ziji Bar had regarded him as his master; although the brothers trained together under Seton Kunrik, Ziji apparently struggled with removing conceptual elaborations during practice and thus lacked mastery of the meditative aspects of the Lamdre tradition.

At some point, Ziji Bar gained fame for healing a rabbit's legs and thereafter was known as Riwong Menpa (ri wong sman pa), or Rabbit Doctor. He developed a strong interest in the medical sciences, and devoted himself to studying under numerous masters, including Ya Gyongpo (g.ya' gyong po, d.u.), Lhaje Summen (lha rje sum sman, d.u.), Tazhi (mtha' bzhi, d.u.), Tongmen (stong sman, d.u.), Penyul Darma Dutsi ('phan yul dar ma bdud rtsi, d.u.), Yutok Gyagar Dorje (g.yu thog rgya gar rdo rje, d.u.), Minyak Dadrak (mi nyag zla grags, d.u.), Drangti Gyelwa (brang ti rgyal ba, d.u), Wiji Lhunne (bi ji lhun ne, d.u.), and Ukpa Chosang ('ug pa chos seng, d.u.). Eager to further advance his medical knowledge, he pursued additional study in India.

He went on a pilgrimage to India in 1076, the fire-dragon year of first sexagenary cycle, with the purpose of obtaining advanced teachings. He left Tibet bearing ample gifts of gold and is said to have met Ngok Loden Sherab (rngog blo ldan shes rab, 1059-1109) on his way. He became proficient in Sanskrit and devoted himself to medical studies under the guidance of Drangsong Tsandra (drang song tsan+dra, d.u.) at Nālandā Monastery (nA lan+dA).

Back in Tibet he trained many disciples including Welchung (bal chung, d.u.) from Lhasa, Dzingchung (rdzing chung) from Olkha ('ol kha), and Rokchung (rog chung) from Nyel (gnyal). He also composed a number of academic works on medical science. Sources state that some of his compositions were completed by his disciple Pukton Gyagar (spug ston rgya gar, d.u.). Ziji Bar died of a stroke. According to the Blue Annals, Ziji Bar was survived by two sons named Tondar (ston dar, d.u.) and Tonkyab (ston skyab, d.u.).