The Rongwo Drubchen incarnation line dates to the seventeenth century when Ngawang Trinle Gyatso was identified as the reincarnation of Shar Kelden Gyatso, who was posthumously named the First Rongwo Drubchen. The seat is at Rongwo Monastery in Rebkong, Amdo, where the First Rongwo Drubchen established a Geluk college, and thus converted the institution from Sakya to Geluk. The line is also called the Shar Kelden incarnation line.
Biographies
The Seventh Rongwo Drubchen, Lobzang Trinle Lungtok Gyatso
b.1916 - d.1978
The Seventh Rongwo Drubchen, Lobzang Trinle Lungtok Gyatso was a Geluk lama based at Rongwo monastery in Amdo. He was educated at Labrang Tashikhyil.
The First Rongpo Drubchen, Shar Kelden Gyatso
b.1607 - d.1677
Shar Kelden Gyatso was a prominent Lama of Geluk Lama based at Rongwo Monastery. He was trained in Lhasa for ten years before returning to Amdo where he continued his education and ultimately became abbot of Rongwo Monastery. He was posthumously named the First Rongwo Drubchen.
The Second Rongpo Drubchen, Ngawang Trinle Gyatso
b.1678 - d.1739
Ngawang Trinle Gyatso, the Second Rongwo Drubchen, was the reincarnation of Shar Kelden Gyatso. A native of Amdo, he trained for thirteen years in Lhasa before returning to lead Rongwo Monastery.
The Third Rongpo Drubchen, Gendun Trinle Rabgye
b.1740 - d.1794
The Third Rongwo Drubchen, Gendun Trinle Rabgye, also known as the Third Kelden Lama, was a prominent Geluk lama based at Rongwo monastery. He was educated at Labrang Tashikhyil. He established two monastic colleges, the Dukhor Dratsang and the Dzongmar Drubde at Rongwo.
The Fourth Rongwo Drubchen, Lobzang Chodrak Gyatso
b.1795 - d.1843
The Fourth Rongwo Drubchen, Lobzang Chodrak Gyatso was a prominent Buddhist scholar based at Rongwo Monastery in Amdo. He was trained at Ganden Monastery in Lhasa.
The Fifth Rongwo Drubchen, Lobzang Trinle Gyatso
b.1844 - d.1856
The Fifth Rongwo Drubchen, Lobzang Trinle Gyatso, also known as the Fifth Keldan Lama, was based at Rongwo Monastery in Amdo. He lived for only fifteen years.
The Sixth Rongpo Drubchen, Lobzang Tenpai Gyeltsen
b.1858/1859 - d.1915
The Sixth Rongwo Drubchen, Lobzang Tenpai Gyeltsen, also known as the Sixth Kelden Lama, was a prominent Geluk lama based at Rongwo Monastery in Amdo. He was trained in Labrang Tashikhyil. During his abbacy of Rongwo he constructed a new assembly hall.
