The Treasury of Lives

Jamyang Donyo Gyeltsen ('jam dbyangs don yod rgyal mtshan) was born in 1310. His parents were the Eleventh Sakya Tridzin, Zanpo Pel (sa skya khri 'dzin 11 bzang po dpal, 1305-1343) and his sixth wife, Machik Zhonbum (ma gcig gzhon 'bum), the daughter of Zhalu Kuzhang Gonpo Pel (zha lu sku zhang mgon po dpal).

He is said to have been regarded as handsome, kind, soft-spoken, and affable, such that people were naturally drawn to him. As a young man he studied with the major Sakya and Kadam teachers of the day, including Khenchen Sonam Drakpa (mkhan chen bsod nams grags pa, 1273-1345), Lama Pelden Sengge (bla ma dpal ldan seng ge), Pello Lodro Tenpa (dpal lo blo gros brtan pa, 1276-1342), Drakhawa Drakpa Sengge (brag kha ba grags pa seng ge), Gyelse Tokme Zangpo (rgyal sras thogs med bzang po, 1295-1369), Sonam Pel (bsod nams dpal, 1277-1350), and Chopel Zangpo (chos dpal bzang po).

As an instructor he was especially known for teaching logic, such as the Treasury of Logic (tshad ma rigs gter) and Elucidating the Sage's Intent (thub pa dgongs gsal) by Sakya Paṇḍita (sa skya paN Di ta, 1182-1251) as well as Abhidharma and the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra.

In 1343 his brother, Namkha Lekpai Gyeltsen, the Twelfth Sakya Tridzin (sa skya khri 'dzin 12 nam mkha' legs pa'i rgyal mtshan, 1305-1343) passed away, and he was elevated to the throne of Sakya. The Yuan Emperor, probably Huizong (惠宗r. 1333-1370), gave him the title Da Yuan Guoshi (大元國師) and a crystal seal.

He had two sons, whose names are not recorded.

Late in life, he took full ordination from Khenchen Sonam Drakpa and his younger brother, Lama Dampa Sonam Gyeltsen (bla ma dam pa bsod nams rgyal mtshan, 1312-1375) who would succeed him as the Fourteenth Sakya Tridzin.

He passed away at the age of thirty-five in 1343.