The Treasury of Lives

Azha Lodro Gyeltsen ('a zha blo gros rgyal mtshan) was born in a small village in the Yorpo (g.yor po) region of Lhokha and belonged to the Azha ('a zha) clan. In his early childhood, he learned to read and write with his maternal uncle, with whom he also studied other sciences such as grammar and poetry.

He took monks vows as a young adult and received his ordination name of Lodro Gyeltsen. In Kyikhar (skyid mkhar), he received the initiations and reading authorizations of the yidam Welphur (dbal phur) from Lobpon Mey (slob dpon me). He later met two of the most important Bon treasure discoverers (gter ston) of his time : Ponse Khyunggo Tsel (dpon gsas khyung rgod rtsal, b. 1175) and Maton Sherab Sengge (rma ston shes rab seng ge, 12th-13th c.), who both gave him the transmissions of all their treasures (gter ma).

Lodro Gyeltsen preserved and diffused many cycles of teachings revealed by Shenchen Luga (gshen chen klu dga', 996-1035), Nyenthing, also known as Sherab Sengge (gnyan 'thing; shes rab seng ge, 11th c.), Khutsa Dawo (khu tsha zla 'od, b. 1024), Zhoton Ngodrup (bzhod ston dngos grub, 12th c.), Lungbon Lhanyen (lung bon lha gnyan, 12th c.), Orgom Kundul ('or sgom kun 'dul, 11 c.), and others. He was one of the most illustrious lineage holders of these teachings.

Lodro Gyeltsen met Drogon Dutsi Gyeltsen, the holder of the Atri system of Bon Dzogchen, and received from him the direct introduction to the principle of the natural state (gnas lugs don gyi ngo sprod), as well as all the quintessential instructions of the Dzogchen. After this, Azha practiced without interruption in various hermitages in the Nyenchen Tanglha (gnyan chen thang lha) mountain range.

It is said that Lodro Gyeltsen had visions of Khopung Drenpa Namkha (khod spungs dran pa nam mkha', 8th c.) who orally transmitted him essential instructions on channels and winds (rtsa rlung), on the practice of the transference of consciousness ('pho ba), and other teachings. Azha also received from him numerous direct introductions and secret instructions on the generation and perfection phases associated with the female Protector Yeshe Welmo (ye shes dbal mo).

Azha Lodro Gyeltsen is known to have composed numerous works, covering subjects as various as cosmology, such as his commentary on the Source of the Treasure of Existence (srid pa’i mdzod phug); tantric and Dzogchen teachings; as well as minor ritual practices such as water offerings (chu sbyin) and so forth. His knowledge was such that his contemporaries considered him as an emanation of the wisdom deity, Mawai Sengge (smra ba’i seng ge).

Azha passed away at the age of sixty-three. The tradition reports that at the time a rainbow tent appeared above him, and that numerous relics were found in the ashes of his cremation. These were collected and placed in a stupa for the devotion of future generations.

Azha had numerous disciples endowed with the three qualities of knowledge (mkhas), monastic rigor (btsun) and goodness (bzang), the most important of them being Tsultrim Gyeltsen (tshul khrims rgyal mtshan) from Lato (la stod); Druton Dulwa Gyeltsen (bru ston 'dul ba rgyal mtshan), from Tsang, his heir in the Atri line of transmission; Trotsang Tsultrim Gyeltsen (khro tshang tshul khrims rgyal mtshan), from Amdo, and his own son, also named Lodro Gyeltsen.