The Treasury of Lives

Nyima Bum (nyi ma 'bum) was born in 1158, the son of Zhangton Tashi Dorje (zhang ston bkra shis rdo rje, 1097-1167). His mother was named Gyelmoyang (rgyal mo dbyang).

He studied with his father while young – the Blue Annals has it that he remained with his father for eleven years; Nyoshul Khenpo writes from the ages of five to eleven. During this time he mastered the Bima Nyingtik teachings that his father passed to him, and he composed a commentary titled the Great Meaning of Words (tshig don chen mo).

Following the death of his father, Nyima Bum went to study with the Sakya masters Drakpa Gyeltsen (grags pa rgyal mtshan, 1147-1216), and later with Ngok Dorje Sengge (rngog rdo rje seng ge, d.u.). With Ngok he trained in the Melgyo lineage of Cakrasaṃvara that originated with Melgyo Lotsāwa Lodro Drak (mal gyo lo tsA ba blo gros grags), and the Gyusum (rgyud gsum) teachings of Lamdre, based on the Hevajra Tantra.

At the age of twenty-two Nyima Bum married a woman whose name is not recorded. Seven years later he married again, a woman named Panggyen (pang rgyan). The following year he received Tselpa Kagyu teachings from Karak Wondruk Kyiton Drakpa (kha rag dbon 'brug gi skyi ston grags pa), particularly the Achi tradition of Cakrasaṃvara (bde mchog a phyi lugs) and the Ra tradition of Tārā (rje btsun ma ra lugs).

He passed away at the age of fifty-six, leaving behind numerous relics from his cremated body. His nephew Guru Jober (gu ru jo 'ber, 1196-1255), is in some sources said to have been his son.