The Treasury of Lives

The Fifth Dorje Drak Rigdzin, Kelzang Pema Wangchuk (rdo rje brag rig 'dzin 05 skal bzang pad+ma dbang phyug) was born in a town named Chakdu (lcags mdud) in the Poborgang (spo 'bor sgang) region of Nyarong (nyag rong), Kham, in early 1720, the twelfth month of the earth-pig year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle. His family claimed ancestry from the kings of Chakdu and Nyarong. His father was named Lobzang (blo bzang) and his mother was named Pakmo Drolma (phag mo sgrol ma).

A search party identified Kelzang Pema Wangchuk as the reincarnation of the Fourth Dorje Drak Rigdzin, Pema Trinle (rdo rje brag rig 'dzin 04 pad+ma phrin las, 1641-1717). According to tradition, they relied on the divinations of many deities, especially the dharma protector Nojin Tsiu Marpo (gnod sbyin tsi'u dmar po). At the time of his recognition, his seat monastery, Tubten Dorje Drak Evaṁ Chokgar (thub bstan rdo rje brag e vam lchog sgar) was still being rebuilt after the Dzungar Mongols had destroyed it in 1717. The reconstruction had begun around 1720 under the patronage of the Seventh Dalai Lama, Kelzang Gyatso (tA la'i bla ma 07 bskal bzang rgya mtsho, 1708-1757).

The young incarnation was escorted from his hometown in Kham to central Tibet for his enthronement. According to his hagiography, he was warmly received at many monasteries along the way. When he reached Dorje Drak, its buildings still lying mostly in ruins, he was enthroned as the Fifth Dorje Drak Rigdzin and the third throne holder of the monastery. The Seventh Dalai Lama performed his tonsure ceremony and gave him the ordination name Kelzang Pema Wangchuk Jigme Drubpai De (skal bzang pad+ma dbang phyug 'jigs med grub pa'i sde).

His first tutor was Lobzang Lhachok (blo bzang lha mchog, 1672?-1747), a close disciple of the Fourth Dorje Drak Rigdzin who was associated with Ganden Dudjom Ling (dga' ldan bdud 'joms gling) in Lodrak Karchu (lho brag mkhar chu), a monastery founded by the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (tA la'i bla ma 05 ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho, 1617-1682). Lobzang Lhachok provided him with further empowerments, transmissions, and instructions from the Jangter (byang gter), or Northern Treasure tradition, of which Dorje Drak was the central institution, and taught him how to perform the many rituals of the tradition. Another tutor was the Second Chakri Nyidrak, Pema Tekchok Tenpai Gyeltsen (chags ri nyi grags 02 pad+ma theg mchog bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1712-1771).

Following his initial period of instruction, Pema Wangchuk underwent a series of retreats in which he practiced the generation and completion stages (bskyed rdzogs) of the Dzogchen tradition. He remained at several secluded places including Kongpo Buchu Lhakhang (kong po bu chu lha khang) and Densatil Lhatse Drak (gdan sa mthil lha rtse brag). He is said to have experienced visions of several tantric deities who gave him teachings that later he compiled into his written texts.

Like his predecessor, Kelzang Pema Wangchuk was a prolific author, and his compositions have been collected into eight large volumes. Some of his more well known works include The Ocean of the Collected Teachings of the Sugatas (bde gshegs bka' 'dus rgya mtsho) and his autobiography, Venerable One of the Divine Family: The Memoirs of the One Named Kelzang Pema (lha rigs kyi btsun pa bskal bzang pad+ma'i ming can rang nyid kyi rtogs par brjod pa), which was carved into wooden blocks and printed at Drubgon Orgyen Tekchen Ling (grub dgon o rgyan theg chen gling).

Much like his predecessors, Pema Wangchuk's activity included the "opening" of certain regions to the spread of Buddhism, giving numerous teachings and empowerments, and performing rituals for the state. He also held the lineage of the famed treasure revealer Rigdzin Jatson Nyingpo (rig 'dzin 'ja' tshon snying po, 1585-1656), who was especially known his treasure cycle Konchok Chidu (dkon mchog spyi 'dus), a ritual cycle that is widely practiced in both the Nyingma and Karma Kagyu traditions. 

Some of his notable disciples included the Sixth Peling Sungtrul, Kunzang Tenpai Gyeltsen of Bhutan (pad gling gsung sprul 06 kun bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1763-1817); Rigdzin Wangyel (rig 'dzin dbang rgyal, d.u.); the Second Chakri Nyidrak, Pema Tekchok Tenpai Gyeltsen; the Second Dzogchen Drubwang, Gyurme Tekchok Tendzin (rdzogs chen 02 'gyur med theg mchog bstan 'dzin, 1699-1758); and the Second Shechen Rabjam, Gyurme Kunzang Namgyel (zhe chen rab 'byams 02 'gyur med kun bzang rnam rgyal, 1713-1769).

Kelzang Pema Wangchuk passed away in 1771, the eighth month of iron-hare year of the thirteenth sexagenary cycle, at the age of fifty-two. Instead of undergoing a cremation, his entire body was mummified (dmar gdung) and installed in a two-story silver reliquary at Dorje Drak.