The Treasury of Lives

The Tenth Chakra Tulku, Jampel Kelzang Jigme Chokyi Gyeltsen (lcags ra sprul sku 10 'jam dpal bskal bzang 'jigs med chos kyi rgyal mtshan) was born into the family of Sachung Tsang (sa chung tshang) in Chakzamkha in the Pasho region (dpa' shod mnga' khongs lcags zam kha) in 1934, the wood-dog year of the sixteenth sexagenary cycle. Namgyel (rnam rgyal) was his father and his mother was called Tsering Pelkyi (tshe ring dpal skyid).

In 1935, while Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo (pha bong kha bde chen snying po, 1878-1941) was staying at Chamdo Jampa Ling (chab mdo byams pa gling), he was requested to perform a divination as part of the search for the reincarnation of the Ninth Chakra Tulku, Lobzang Trinle Namgyel (blo bzang 'phrin las  rnam rgyal, 1915-1933). Pabongkha is said to have described the the home of the tulku with its surroundings and parts of the parents' names as clearly as if he was reading a map. Lamas from the manor house of Chakra Lamas set out and quickly found the boy, who was brought to Jamapeling in 1936. His identity was confirmed by the Third Trijang, Lobzang Yeshe Tendzin Gyatso (khri byang 03 blo bzang ye shes bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho, 1900-1981), who was then in Chamdo overseeing the reconstruction of the monastery, including the installation of the new golden victory-banner (gser zangs kyi rgyal mtshan) on the roof of the main hall of the Tsenyi Dratsang (mtshan nyid grwa tshang) of Jampa Ling.

Soon after his confirmation and enthronement the Tenth Chakra Tulku began his education under Gen Dondup (dge don grub). Later the tulku received novice ordination from Geshe Jampa Taye (dge bshes byams pa mtha' yas, 1894-1949) who also gave him many teachings. Geshe Jampa Taye was one of the chief disciples of  Pabongkha at Sera Monastery (se ra dgon), and he was invited to Jampa Ling in the fire-ox year, in 1937 at the recommendation of Pabongkha Rinpoche to teach philosophical courses at the monastery.

The Chakra Tulku enrolled in the Tsennyi Dratsang, with Geshe Tsewang Rigdzin (dge bshes tshe dbang rig 'dzin) appointed as his principal tutor. In the midst of his studies, in 1948, the earth-mouse year, he died at the age of sixteen.

A nirvana-prayer ceremony was held at the monastery and Geshe Lobzang Tendzin (blo bzang bstan 'dzin) and his tutor Geshe Tsewang Rigdzin took charge of organizing the traditional rituals for the cremation, under the guidance of Geshe Jampa Taye. The entire body was put in the newly built one-storey high golden statue as the reliquary and installed in the inner rear part of the assembly hall of monastery. Lobzang Tendzin (blo bzang btsan 'dzin), who was born into the family of Lhalu Tsewang Dorje (lha klu tshe dbang rdo rje), a famous cabinet minister of the Tibetan government in Lhasa in 1951 was identified as his reincarnation.