The Treasury of Lives

Zurchung Sherab Drakpa (zur chung shes rab grags pa) was born in eastern Tsang in 1014. According to the Blue Annals, Zurchung's father was named Zur Gom (zur sgom), a son of Acarya, whom the Blue Annals identifies as the grandfather of Zurchen Shakya Jungne (zur chen shAkya 'byung gnas, 1002-1062), which would make Zurchung to be of the same generation as Zurchen. Other sources, however, have it that Zurchung's father, named Zur Takpa Gomchen (zur thag pa sgom chen), was the son of Zurchen's uncle, named Zur Acarya, making Zurchung the second cousin once-removed of Zurchen. The Blue Annal's mistake seems to have arisen from the fact that two of Zurchen's brothers were also known as Zur Gom: Zur Gom Dorje Jungne (zur sgom rdo rje 'byung gnas) and Zir Gomchung (zur sgom chung). Zurchung's mother was named Majo Sherab Kyi (ma jo shes rab skyid). Zurchung was a member of the Zur clan. 

Accounts of how Zurchung came to meet Zurchen Shakya Jungne differ in separate accounts. In the Blue Annals a mendicant practitioner named Zur Gom passed through Upalung ('ug pa lung), Zurchen's establishment in the Tanak (rta nag) valley in Tsang with his son, the thirteen year old Zurchung. Zurchen asked after his clan name, and as it was the same as his, he asked that the boy be given to him as a disciple. According to other sources, however, Zurchung became disgusted with the ways of the world as a young man after an argument with his betrothed, and left to find Zurchen without the permission of his parents.

As a poor novice, given the name Sherab Drakpa by Zurchen, he had little access to teachings, and as a remedy Zurchen encouraged him to marry the daughter of a wealthy patron. Although Zurchung resisted, he ultimately married the girl.

Zurchung resided for thirteen years in a cave called Drak Gyawo (brag rgya bo), earning himself the name Gyawopa (rgya bo pa).

Zurchung is said to have been tested by a teacher named Kyungpo Drakse (khyung po grags se, d.u.), who figures prominently in the early spread of logic (tshad ma). Four of Khyungpo Drakse's students, whom he had sent to debate with Zurchung, became Zurchung's disciples, collectively known as the Four Pillars (kha bzhi): Kyoton Shakye of Gungbu (gung bu skyo ston shA yes, d.u.), Yangken Lama of Kyenglung (skyeng lungs yang kheng bla ma, d.u.), Lan Shakya Sangpo of Chuwar (chu bar glan shAkya bzang po, d.u.) and Ngati Joshak of Nakmori (nag mo ri mnga ti jo shAk, d.u.). With Matok Byangbar (ma thog byang 'bar, d.u.) the group is known as the Five Lineage Holders (rgyud pa lnga).

Zurchung took Ngati Joshak's sister, Josema Ngamo Tsuktorcham (jo sras ma mnga' mo gtsug tor lcam), as one of his wives. Their son, Dropukpa Chenpo (sgro phug pa chen po), otherwise known as Zur Shakya Sengge (zur shAkya seng ge, 1074-1134), was Zurchung's chief heir, despite being born the year his father died.

Zurchungpa passed away in 1074, in his sixty-first year, at his hermitage at Drak Gyawo, a victim of a smallpox epidemic.