The Treasury of Lives

Ngawang Kunga Lodro (ngag dbang kun dga' blo gros) was born at Sakya Monastery (sa skya), in 1729, the earth-female bird year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle. His father, a descendent of Kon (khon) clan, was the Thirtieth Sakya Tridzin Ngawang Sonam Rinchen (sa skya khri chen 30 ngag dbang dbyangs bsod nams rin chen, 1705-1741). His mother was named either Sonam Pel (bsod nams dpal) or Sonam Wangmo (bsod nams dbang mo).

Soon after his birth he was given the empowerment of long life and the Guhyasamāja empowerment of Pakpa Ludrub ('phags pa klu sgrub) by his father, who gave him the name Ngawang Kunga Sonam Drakpa Lodro (ngag dbang kun dga' bsod nams grags pa blo gros), as well as the mantras of Mañjuśrī.

He began reading, writing and memorizing daily prayers under the guidance of his father. From his father he also received the empowerments and transmission of the famed One Hundred Sādhana, or Drubta Gyatsa (sgrub thabs brgya rtsa) compiled by Chim Namkha Drak (mchims nam mkha' grags, 1210-1285), and also the Sakya Kambum (sa skya bka' 'bum), the collected works of the first five patriarchs of the Sakya tradition. He received additional empowerments and transmissions from the Thirty-third Ngor Khenchen, Namkha Samdrub (ngor mkhan chen 33 nam mkha' bsam grub,1696-1754).

Following the death of his father in 1741, at the age of eleven he was enthroned as the Thirty-second Sakya Tridzin.

He continued to study, particularly studied the Lobshe (slob bshad) transmissions of Lamdre (lam bras) teaching, with a multitude of masters, including the Thirtieth Ngor Khenchen, Jampa Sonam Pelzang (ngor mkhan chen 30 byams pa bsod nams dpal bzang, 1689-1749); the Thirty-eighth Ngor Khenchen, Sanggye Yeshe (ngor mkhan chen 38 sangs rgyas ye shes); and the Thirty-fourth Ngor Khenchen, Pelden Chokyong (ngor mkhan chen 34 dpal ldan chos skyong, 1702-1760).

At the age of fourteen Namkha Samdrub gave him lay vows and the name Ngawang Kunga Lodro Tenpai Gyeltsen (ngag dbang kun dga' blo gros bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan). He later received novice vows from a lama named Khenchen Wangchuk Puntsok (mkhan chen dbang phyug phun tshogs), who added "Sanggye" (sangs rgyas) to his name.

Besides those masters, he also studied with Nesar Kunga Lekpai Jungne (gnas gsar kun dga' legs pa'i 'byung gnas, 1704-1760); the Thirty-seventh Ngor Khenchen, Mingyur Gyeltsen (ngor mkhan chen 37 mi 'gyur rgyal mtshan, 1717-1751); and Zhalupa Yeshe Drakpa Pelzang (zhwa lu pa ye shes grags pa dpal bzang)

He became well known for his mastery and teaching of the Lobshe, and taught scores of prominent of disciples across the religious traditions. These included:

• Longdol Lama Ngawang Lobzang (klong rdol bla ma ngag dbang blo bzang, 1719-1894)
• The Second Jamyang Zhepa, Konchok Jigme Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 02 dkon mchog 'jigs med dbang po, 1728-1791)
• The Third Tukwan, Lobzang Chokyi Nyima (thu'u bkwan 03 blo bzang chos kyi nyi ma, 1737-1802)
• His grandson, the Thirty-third Sakya Tridzin, Wangdu Nyingpo (sa skya khri 'dzin 33 dbang sdud snying po, 1763-1809)
• The Fourth Zimok, Jampa Tenzin Nyendrak (gzim 'og 04 byams pa bstan 'dzin snyan grags, d.1885);
• The Forty-fourth Ngor Khenchen, Jampa Namkha Chime (ngor mkhan chen 44 byams pa nam mkha' 'chi med, 1765-1820)
• Muchen Sonam Pelzang (mus chen bsod nam dpal bzang);
• The Second Shaklo Drukchen, Tendzin Trinle (shag lho 'brug bde chen 02 bstan 'dzin 'phrin las);
• Shakarwa Ngagwang Sherab (zhal dkar ba ngag dbang shes rab);
• Gyelrong Drubchen Kunga Loden (rgyal rong grub chen kun dga' blo ldan)
• Derge Chokpon Kunga Trinle (sde dge chog dpon kun dga' 'phrin las);
• Derge Lama Sanggye Wangchuk (sde dge bla ma sangs rgyas dbang phyug);
• Derge Lama Sonam Gyeltsen (sde dge bla ma bsod nams rgyal mtshan)
• Derge Lama Sanggye Zangpo (sde dge bla ma sangs rgyas bzang po)
• Mesho Lama Yonten Gyatso (dme shod bla ma yon tan rgya mtsho)
• Sakyapa Tutob Wangchuk (sa skya pa mthu stobs dbang phyug, 1734-1757)

He taught at a number of monasteries, including Tsedong (rtse gdong), Tubten Serdokchen (thub bstan gser mdog can), and Ngor Ewaṃ Choden (ngor e waM chos ldan)

His writings were collected in seven volumes.