The Third Gyara Tulku, Lobzang Puntsok Namgyel

The Third Gyara Tulku, Lobzang Puntsok Namgyel (rgya ra sprul sku 03 blo bzang phun tshogs rnam rgyal) was born in 1646, fire-dog year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle, in Dza-gyud Dou in Chamdo (chab mdo'i rdza rgyud sdu). His father, Ogyen Tenzin (o rgyan bstan 'dzin), was a popular Nyingma tantric yogi. His mother was named Guru Tso (gu ru mtsho). His elder brother was the Fifth Pakpa Lha, Pakpa Gyelwa Gyatso ('phags pa lha 05 'phags pa rgyal ba rgya mtsho, 1644-1713), who was also the nineteenth abbot of Chamdo Jampel Ling Monastery. He also had two sisters though their names are not known.

Lobzang Puntsok Namgyel was brought to Drugu Tang Monastery (gru gu thang dgon) at the age of three. Konchok Tashi (dkon mchog bkra shis) taught him reading and writing and gave him the preliminary training necessary for his duties as abbot and tulku. Subsequently, he took over the charge of the administration of Drubde Densa (sgrub sde gdan sa) founded by the First Gyara Tulku Drubchen Sherab Puntsok (rgya ra 01 grub chen shes rab phun tshogs 1566-1632) in 1622 and the main seat of his incarnation line.

His brother, the Fifth Pakpa Lha, suggested that he travel to Lhasa for further studies, but the Gyara Tulku preferred to study under the Fourth Chakra Tulku, Ngawang Trinle Zangpo (lcags ra sprul sku 04 ngag dbang 'phrin las bzang po 1607-1667), who was then the seventeenth abbot of Chamdo Jampel Ling.

Having received teachings, initiations, empowerments, transmissions, and instructions from the Fourth Chakra Tulku, Lobzang Puntsok Namgyel returned to his monastery and assumed the responsibilities of running the monastery.

Lobzang Puntsok Namgyel passed away in 1676, the fire-dragon year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle, at the age of thirty-one. The Fifth Pakpa Lha supervised the building of a golden reliquary to inter his body. Kogyel Lama Tenzin (ko rgyal bla ma bstan 'dzin) was appointed as the temporary head of the monastery.

Source

Byams pa chos grags. N.d. Chab mdo byams pa gling gi gdan rabs. Chamdo: Chab mdo par 'debs bzo grwa par btab, pp. 295, 451.

Samten Chhosphel
August 2010