The Treasury of Lives

Lo Gendun Sadutshang was born to the Sadutshang (sa 'du tshang) trading family of Kham. His father Abo Bhu Sadutshang (A bho bhu sa 'du tshang) was originally from Gakhok (sga khog), an area under the king of Nangchen (nang chen). His mother was called Gonpo Dolma (dgon po sgrol ma). He was the oldest of eight children, four boys and four girls. The family had substantial land-holdings in Kham and a trading base in Lhasa where they lived in a manor house, Sadutshang, in the Banak Zhol (sbra nag zhol) neighborhood.

During Lo Gendun's time, the Sadutshang family business expanded substantially and began to export wool directly to the United States and the United Kingdom. Along with the Pangdatsang (spang mda' mtshang) family and the estate of the Fifth Reting Rinpoche Tubten Jampel Yeshe Tenpai Gyeltsen (rwa sgreng 05 thub bstan 'jam dpal ye shes bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan), who also exported Tibetan wool and imported Indian and foreign goods, the Sadutshang business became one of the three largest trading corporations of Tibet.

Lo Gendun and his youngest brother Rinchen (rin chen) had a polyandrous marriage with Tseyang (tshe dbyangs), the niece of Reting Rinpoche. When Reting was accused of plotting against Regent Taktra Dorjechang Ngawang Sungrab Tutob (stag brag rdo rje 'chang ngag dbang gsung rab mthu stobs, 1874-1952) and arrested and jailed, the Tibetan government became suspicious of those it perceived as being supporters of Reting. The Sadutshangs were targeted because of their family connection. The government seized Sadutshang properties at various trade points and jailed one of their cousins. After Lo Gendun, who was in Kalimpong on a business trip, returned quickly to Lhasa to make an appeal, the government released the cousin and the seized assets and as restitution, offered to allow one member of the Sadutshang family to join the Tibetan government as either a lay or monk official. In essence, this would ennoble the Sadutshang family; barring a few monk officials, only nobility was allowed to serve in the Tibetan government. Lo Gendun and the family decided that it would be Rinchen, the youngest and the most educated Sadutshang, who would take up this government post.

Early in 1950, the news reached Lhasa that the Chinese had entered Kham. On December 16, the Dalai Lama, who had just assumed full political power, left for Yatung which was close to the Indian border as a precaution. Lo Gendun gathered a force of fifteen Khampa men who were among the armed guard escorting the Dalai Lama during this move.

In 1954, when the Dalai Lama gave his first Kalachakra teaching in Norbulingkha (nor bu gling kha), the speakers and amplifiers that Lo Gendun and Rinchen had bought from India and offered to the Dalai Lama were used to broadcast the teachings to the public outside the gates of the palace grounds. This marked the first time that the general public was able to hear the Dalai Lama's teachings. Lo Gendun was also a sponsor of other religious gatherings including a Monlam prayer festival.

On March 10, 1959, a popular revolt broke out in Lhasa against the Chinese, following which the Dalai Lama escaped into exile. Lo Gendun, who had been involved in the fighting in Lhasa, was fleeing Lhasa when he was shot down by Chinese soldiers as he was crossing the Kyichu river.