The Treasury of Lives

Pelchen Ngepuwa (dpal chen ngad phu ba) was born into the family lineage (gdung rigs) of Khangsar (khang sar) in the area of Drilung ('bri klung) in Kham. His birth name was Sherab Drak (shes rab grags).

He studied with Jikten Gonpo Rinchen Pel ('jig rten mgon po rin chen dpal, 1143-1217) at Drigung Til Monastery ('bri gung mthil), and then went to Lhodrak (lho brag) to meditate on what he had received.

Later, while residing in a cave called Lepe (le phe phug) on the slope of Mt. Kailash, he faced a severe shortage of provisions. According to tradition, during that difficult time he was bitten by a dog. His response was compassion rather than anger, and this engendered a realization of all phenomenal appearances as being of one taste.

After he returned to Drigung and told Jikten Gonpo of his retreat experiences, the master transmitted the cycle of teachings called Dzora Cho Trima (mdzo rwa chos khri ma) to him.

He returned to Kham in later life, and built a monastery in Denma (ldan ma) called Namdrol Zhiwai Drong (rnam grol zhi ba'i grong). This was converted to the Geluk lineage many centuries later.