The Treasury of Lives

Khetsun Dampa Tsering Norbu (mkhas btsun dam pa tshe ring nor bu) was born in the nineteenth century in a nomadic community at Rudam Drokru Lhade (ru dam 'brog ru lha sde) in the Derge (sde dge) region of Kham. It is said that as a young boy he would be overjoyed whenever his parents took him to a monastery and would cry when it was time to leave.

The Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang, Mingyur Namkhai Dorje (rdzogs chen grub dbang 04 mi 'gyur nam mkha'i rdo rje, 1793-1870) performed his tonsure ceremony and named him Tsering Norbu; he then enrolled in Dzogchen Monastery, Rudam Orgyen Samten Choling (rdzogs chen ru dam o rgyan bsam gtan chos gling, f. 1685), where he learned reading and writing from his paternal uncle, Lama Losel (bla ma blo gsal, d.u.) and subsequently studied prayers, chanting, and monastic ritual. At the age of seventeen he matriculated to Śrī Siṃha College (shrI sing+ha bshad grwa) at Dzogchen Monastery where he studied philosophy under Ju Mipam Namgyel Gyatso (ju mi pham rnam rgyal rgya mtsho, 1846-1912); the eleventh abbot, Purtsa Khenpo Akon (phur tsha mkhan po a dkon, b.1830's); and the tenth abbot, Kangtsa Khenpo Dorje Rabten (rkang tsha'i mkhan po rdo rje rab brtan, 1842-1901?).

At the age of twenty-five Tsering Norbu traveled to a secluded retreat hermitage named Pemetang (pa+ma'i thang) to study philosophy and tantra with the eighth abbot of Śrī Siṃha, Pema Vajra (pad+ma badz+ra, c.1807-1884). He became a close personal student Pema Vajra, who gave him his vows of full ordination (bhikṣu) and advanced instructions, transmissions, and empowerments from the Dzogchen Sangwa Nyingtik (rdzogs chen gsang ba snying thig).

Tsering Norbu was enthroned as the fourteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College at the age of thirty-five.  He served in this position for four years, giving teachings on sutra, tantra, and common subjects. After his retirement, he spent the rest of his life in retreat, practicing meditation in the remote mountain hermitages surrounding his monastery.

Domtson Konchok Drakpa (sdom brtson dkon mchog grags pa, b.c.1830) succeeded him as the fifteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College.