The Treasury of Lives

The Fifth Shechen Rabjam, Pema Tekchok Tenpai Gyeltsen (rab 'byams 05 pad+ma theg mchog bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan) was born in 1864, the wood-mouse year of the fourteenth sexagenary cycle. His recognition as the incarnation of the Fourth Rabjam, Garwang Chokyi Gyeltsen (rab 'byams 04 Gar dbang chos kyi rgyal mtshan, d.u.) was based on the divinations and prophesies of a number of prominent teachers, including the Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang, Mingyur Namkhai Dorje (rdzogs chen 04 mi 'gyur nam mkha'i rdo rje, 1793-1870); the Third Shechen Gyeltsab, Orgyen Rangjung Dorje (zhe chen rgyal tshab 03 o rgyan rang byung rdo rje tshe dbang grub pa rtsal, d.u.); Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo ('jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse'i dbang po, 1820-1892); and Chokgyur Lingpa (mchog gyur gling pa, 1829-1870).

Based primarily at Shechen Tennyi Dargye Ling Monastery (zhe chen bstan gnyis dar rgyas gling), he received teachings from a range of lamas across the region, including Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, who gave him many empowerments and meditation instructions; the Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang; Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye ('jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas, 1813-1890); the eighth abbot of Śrī Siṃha, Pema Vajra (pad+ma badz+ra, c.1807-1884); the Third Shechen Gyeltsab, Orgyen Rangjung Dorje; the seventh abbot of Pelyul, Dongak Tendzin (dpal yul gdan rabs 07 mdo sngags bstan 'dzin, 1830-1892); and Ju Mipam Gyatso ('ju mi pham rnam rgyal rgya mtsho, 1846-1912).

His studies focused on both the spoken-word and treasure (bka' gter) lineages of the Nyingma tradition (snga 'gyur bka' gter). He subsequently completed a traditional three-year three-month retreat (lo gsum phyogs gsum) at his residence (bla brang) within the Shechen Monastery campus, and performed strict retreats on various Nyingma practices including the Scripture of the Great Assembly (snga 'gyur 'dus pa mdo), the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities of Mahāyoga (sgyu 'phrul zhi khro), the Eight Sādhana (sgrub pa bka' brgyad) and a treasure revealed by Terdak Lingpa Gyurme Dorje (gter bdag gling pa 'gyur med rdo rje, 1646-1714) entitled Mahākaruṇā, the Embodiment of all the Sugatas (thugs rje chen po bde gshegs kun 'dus).

Gyurme Kunzang Tenpai Gyeltsen received his full monastic vows (bhikṣu) from the first abbot of Dzongsar, Zhenpen Chokyi Nangwa (gzhan phan chos kyi snang ba, 1871-1927), and promoted the spread of monastic vows within the Nyingma lineage. He was known for giving teachings and extensive reading transmissions and bestowing complex empowerment cycles. These included the reading transmission of the entire Kangyur one time, the Rinchen Terdzod (rin chen gter mdzod chen mo) four times, and the Drubtab Dojoi Bumzang (sgrub thabs 'dod 'jo'i bum bzang) three times. He gave teachings to large number of devotees in central Kham, with special emphasis on the New Treasures of the Mindroling tradition (smin gling gter gsar).

He built several new temples and commissioned high-quality objects of faith at Shechen Monastery. He also introduced three Vinaya-based practices into the monastic curriculum: the Mahāyāna Sojong vows (gso sbyong); the Summer Retreat (dbyar gnas); and the Conclusion Ceremony (dgag dbye), while continuing to maintain the monastery's traditional schedule of ceremonies and rituals.

Some of his prominent disciples were the first abbot of Pelyul, Ngawang Pelzang (dpal yul mkhan rabs 01 ngag dbang dpal bzang, 1879-1941); the Tenth Zurmang Trungpa, Karma Chokyi Nyinje (zur mang drung pa 10 karma chos kyi nyin byed, c.1879-1939); and the Fourth Shechen Gyeltsab, Pema Namgyel (zhe chen rgyal tshab 04 pad+ma rnam rgyal, 1871-1926).

Gyurme Kunzang Tenpai Gyeltsen passed away at the age of forty-six in 1909 , the earth-bird year of the fifteenth sexagenary cycle. Nangze Drubpai Dorje (rab 'byams 06 snang mdzad sgrub pa'i rdo rje), born in 1911, was identified as his reincarnation.