Giteng Lobzang Pelden

Lobzang Pelden was born in Tsodu (tsho 'du), Rebkong, in 1880 or 1881. His father was named Chodze (chos mdzad) and his mother was named Dolma (sgrol ma); Chodze was the leader of Tsodu, one of five semi-nomadic areas of Rebkong (reb gong). They named him Pema Tashi (pad ma bkra shis). In 1890, when he turned ten, he joined the hermitage of Giteng Ganden Chopel Ling (sgis steng dga ldan chos 'phel gling) where he received novice monk's vows from Lharampa Lobzang Chodrak (glang gya lha rams pa blo bzang chos grags, d.u.) and the name Lobzang Pelden.

Between the ages of twelve and sixteen, 1892 to 1896, he received teachings from a number of prominent lamas. The Fourth Amdo Zhamar, Gendun Tendzin Gyatso (a mdo zhwa dmar 04 dge 'dun bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho, 1852-1912) gave him Lamrim teachings for seventeen days, at Giteng. At command of his father, he received more basic teachings from a lama named Jangchub Kunpang Lobzang Tenpa (byang chub kun spangs blo bzang bstan pa, d.u.), such as Tibetan grammar, spelling and other relevant courses. He also studied with a lama named Jigme Samten ('jigs med bsam gtan).

When Lobzang Pelden was twenty, members of Giteng monastery invited Tsojung Gyepe Pel (mtsho byung dgyes pa'i dpal, d.u.), and thus gave him an opportunity to receive teachings on divination, astrology, and Sanskrit grammar metrics. Later, at the age of twenty-three, he received tantric teachings from the Eighth Kirti, Lobzang Trinle Tenpa Gyatso (kirti 08 blo bzang 'phrin las bstan pa rgya mtsho, 1849-1904), who was visiting Rongwo Monastery. In the same year, he received full ordination from Lobzang Chodrak (rong bo blo bzang chos grags, d.u.), and received teachings on Mipam Tsojung Zhabpe Langtso (mi pham mtsho byung bzhad pa'i lang mtsho).

When he was twenty-four he traveled to Ditsa Tashi Choding (ldi/lde tsha bkra shis chos sding) for further Buddhist teachings. There he received teachings from the Fourth Amdo Zhamar, who had established the upper Ditsa Monastery in 1903. He studied philosophy with Lobzang Gyatso (blo bzang rgya mtso, d.u.) and Lekshe Gyatso (legs bshad rgya mtso, d.u.), poetics with the Eleventh Tongkhor, Lobzang Jigme Tsultrim Gyatso (stong 'khor 11 blo bzang 'jigs med tshul khrims rgya mtsho, 1891-1909). During his time at Ditsa he participated dozens of debating programs and earned a reputation for his skill and for besting students in higher classes.

At the age of thirty Lobzang Pelden started teaching basic philosophy to new students, including Jigme Damcho Gyatso ('jigs med dam chos rgya mtsho, 1898-1946). From that time on he spent most of his life teachings, writing, and practicing. After Gendun Tendzin Gyatso’s death he moved to Zelmo (zal mo) hermitage in Bido (bis mdo) for solitary meditation, giving occasional teachings there. At the age thirty three, he was invited Rongwo for teaching, but declined and instead continued his teachings in Ditsa, Karing (ka ring), Takdo (stag rdo), and Dzongkar (rdzong dkar) monasteries.

He also continued to receive teachings, studying Lamrim and tantra with Lodro Gyatso (blo gros rgya mtsho, d.u.), Drakpa Gyatso (grags pa rgya mtso, d.u.), Changlung Trigen Jamyang Tubten Gyatso (lcang lung khri rgan 'jam dbyangs thub bstan rgya mtsho, 1886-1928) and others. At the age thirty-five he declined an invitation from Kirti monastery; later the Tenth Kirti, Tenpa Tsering (kirti 10 bstan pa tshe ring, 1921-1941) came to him for teachings.

In 1927, at the age forty-seven, Lobzang Pelden was invited to serve as tutor for the Seventh Rongpo Drubchen, Kelden Lobzang Trinle Lungtok Gyatso (rong po grub chen 07 blo bzang 'phrin las lung rtogs rgya mtsho, 1916-1978). He settled at Rongpo to do so, teaching to the monastic community as well. He taught thousands of students from multiple traditions, including followers of Bon and Chinese Buddhist traditions. Among his more famous students was the Sixth Tseten Zhabdrung, Jigme Rigpai Lodro (tshe tan zhabs drung 06 'jigs med rigs pa'i blo gros, 1910-1985).

Lobzang Pelden wrote a poetic letter to Jigme Damcho Gyatso called "Yong Dondrub the Courier (pho nya gzhon nu don grub) in late 1930s. According to Lauran Hartley, the contemporary references, colloquial language and literal narration inspired contemporary Tibetan writers, especially Ju Kelzang.

In 1936 he engaged the now-famous iconoclast, Gendun Chopel (dge 'dun chos 'phel, 1903-1951) in a series of metaphysical debates in letters, which may still survive, according to Tseten Zhabdrung's autobiography. He composed both works of philosophy, astrology, letters, and poetry, several of which continue to influence contemporary Tibetan poets. His Golden Flower of Discriminative Speech (rtogs brjod gser gyi me tog) is a work that continues to be highly popular. Most of his works are collected in three volumes.

Lobzang Pelden passed away in 1944, at the age of sixty-four.

Sources

Blo bzang chos grags and Bsod nams rtse mo. 1988-1989. Sgis steng blo bzang dpal ldan. In Rtsom yig gser gyi sbram bu, vol. 3, p. 2029. Xining: Mtsho sngon mi rigs dpe skrun khang.

Don rdor and Bstan 'dzin chos grags. 1993. Gangs ljongs lo rgyus thog gi grags can mi sna. Lhasa: Bod ljongs mi dmangs dpe skrun khang, p. 990.

Grags pa 'byung gnas and Rgyal ba blo bzang mkhas grub. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su'u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, p. 418.

Lauran Hartley. 2008. "Heterodox Views and the New Orthodox Poems: Tibetan Writers in the Early and Mid-Twentieth Century." In Modern Tibetan Literature and Social Change, Lauren R. Hartley and Patricia Schiaffini-Vedani, eds. Durham and London: Duke University Press, pp. 57-59.

'Jigs med dam chos rgya mtsho. 2000. Rgyal rabs lo tshigs shes bya mang 'dus mkhas pa'i spyi nor. In Collected Works, vol. 5, p. 445. Beijing: mi rigs dpe skrun khang.

Khu byug. 2004. Sgis steng blo bzang dpal ldan gyis dbu ma rtsa ba shes rab kyi 'chad nyan rgya cher mdzad pa. In Bod kyi dbu ma'i lta ba'i 'chad nyan dar tshul blo gsal mig 'byed, pp. 389-391. Beijing: Krung go'i bod rig pa dpe skrun khang.

Mi nyag mgon po. 1996-2000. Yongs 'dzin blo bzang dpal ldan gyi rnam thar mdor bsdus. In Gangs can mkhas dbang rim byon gyi rnam thar mdor bsdus, vol. 2, pp. 427-445. Beijing: Krung go'i bod kyi shes rig dpe skrun khang.

Sonam Dorji and Nicole Willock
April 2011 and April 2012