The Treasury of Lives

Sonam Wanggyel (bsod nams dbang rgyal) was born to a family with the tribal name of Mangnge (mang nge), in in Tsenmona (btsan mo sna), Khotse (kho tshe), Amdo, in 1726, the fire-horse year of the twelfth sexagenary cycle.

At the age of seven he received the renunciation vow from a lama named Ngawang Jamyang (ngag dbang 'jam dbyangs, d.u), and later matriculated at Labrang Tashikhyil (bla brang bkra shis 'khyil) Monastery where he studied under the First Detri, Lobzang Dondrub (sde khri 01 blo bzang don grub, 1673-1746). He trained in the five sections of the standard Geluk monastic curricula (Abhisamayālaṃkāra, Madhyamaka, Abhidharmakośa, Pramāṇavārttika, and Vinaya) under Lobzang Neten (blo bzang gnas brtan, 1696-1754), the seventh throne holder (khri 'dzin) of Labrang.

Sonam Wanggyel then went to Lhasa and enrolled at Gomang College (sgo mang grwa tshang) of Drepung ('bras spung) Monastery. There his enthusiastic perseverance in his studies earned him a great reputation. It is said that he never missed a chance to debate, and would isolate himself in caves to memorize during the day and to recite the memorized contents at nights. During these period of time, it is said that due to the cold weather and his impoverished conditions -- he lacked even a piece of carpet to sit on -- he suffered numerous bouts of illness.

He received full ordination from the Fifty-fifth Ganden Tripa, Namkha Zangpo (dga' ldan khri pa 55 khri chen nam mkha' bzang po, 1690-c.1749).

He later enrolled at Gyuto (rgyud stod) College and studied the four classes of tantra according to the Geluk tradition: Kriyā, Caryā, Yoga and Anuttarayoga. During this time he received teachings and empowerments from the Sixth Paṇchen Lama Lobzang Pelden Yeshe (paN chen bla ma 06 blo bzang dpal ldan ye shes, 1738-1780), while the later was in Lhasa. Later, before Sonam Wanggyel left for Amdo, the Paṇchen met him again and gave him a set of monks robes and advice. 

In Lhasa Sonam Wanggyel also received teachings from the Second Jamyang Zhepa, Konchok Jigme Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 02 dkon mchog 'jigs me dbang po, 1728-1791); the Third Changkya, Rolpai Dorje (lcang skya rol pa'i rdo rje, 1717-1786); the First Purchok, Ngawang Jampa (phur lcog 01 ngag dbang byams pa, 1682-1762); Lobzang Chopel (blo bzang chos 'phel, d.u.), the Forty-seventh Ganden Tripa, and others.

He received three requests to return to Amdo, finally acquiescing to the Second Jamyang Zhepa, and returning to Labrang monastery. There he initially applied for permission to perform a solitary retreat at a hermitage called Yiga Chodzin (yid dga' chos 'dzin), but was refused, as the Jamyang Zhepa required his presence at Labrang.

In 1743, at the age of forty-eight he was appointed as throne holder of Labrang. During his tenure he composed a textbook on debating that was widely used, as well as a treatise on logic, the Ra Dudra (rwa bsdus grwa) that had considerable influence.

Five years later he requested to be relieved of his duties, and continued to teach at the Tosam Ling (thos bsam gling) college.

He was passed away at the age of sixty-eight in 1793, while in meditation posture.