The Third Ngor Khenchen, Jamyang Sherab Gyatso

Jamyang Sherab Gyatso ('jam dbyangs shes rab rgya mtsho, c.1396-1474) was the third abbot of Ngor monastery (ngor e waM chod ldan). Born in the Tsang district of Tibet, possibly in a town named Chumiki Jadabjug (chu mig gi bya 'dab phyug), his parents were named Gyeltsen Dar (rgyal mtshan dar) and Lhundrub Gyelmo (lhun grub rgyal mo). His family was part of the Gar (’gar) clan. When he was born his parents asked the Sakya lama Kunga Rinchen (kun dga’ rin chen, 1339-1399) to name and bless the child, and he was given the name Sonam Pel (bsod nams 'phel). A prophecy suggested that the boy would grow up to be a great master.

As a young boy he studied writing and recitation under Gyaton Tsandra Dewa (rgya ston tsandra de wa, d.u.). At age fourteen he went to Nartang (snar thang) monastery where he was given the name Sherab Gyatso and took monastic vows in the presence of the abbot Druba Sherab (grub pa shes rab, 1357-1423), Sherab Pelwa (shes rab dpal ba, d.u.) and Tsandra Dewa. At age twenty he was fully ordained with the abbot Druba Sherab, Lobpon Drubdrak (slob dpon grub grags d.u.) and Konchok Rinchen (dkon mchog rin chen d.u.).

Jamyang Sherab Gyatso studied under many great lamas at Sakya, Nartang and other monasteries. In particular he studied Sakya teachings such as the Yaktika (g.yag ti ka), a Prajñāpāramitā text composed by the Sakya master Yakton Sanggye Pel (g.yag ston sangs rgyas dpal, 1350-1414) and Sakya Pandita’s Tsema Rigter (tshad ma rigs gter). He met with Rongton Sheja Kunrik (rong ston shes bya kun rig, 1367-1449) and it is said that they had a very positive connection.

His main teachers were Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (ngor chen kun dga' bzang po, 1382-1456) the founder and first abbot of Ngor monastery, and Druba Sherab. Some of his other teachers included Drakpa Lodro (grags pa blo gros, 1367-1446), Yakton Sanggye Pel, Pokangpa Rinchen Gyeltsen (spos khang pa rin chen rgyal mtshan, d.u.) Choje Sonam Lodro (chos rje bsod nams blo gros, 1332-1362), the Indian teacher Nagi Rinchen (nags kyi rin chen, d.u.), Choje Ponton Tuba (chos rje dpon ston thub pa, d.u.), and Drakpa Dondrub (grags pa don grub, 1377-1467). Having taken the three precepts of prātimokṣa vows, the bodhisattva precepts, and vajrayāna practices, Sherab Gyatso was adept in scholarly endeavors as well as meditation.

In 1430, when Kunga Zangpo established Ngor monastery, Sherab Gyatso was thirty-four years old. He assisted in establishing the monastery, which would become an important Sakya institution where Lamdre was taught on a yearly basis. Sherab Gyatso became one of Kunga Zangpo’s closest disciples and received extensive instructions and teachings from him. Over the course of his studies, Sherab Gyatso heard the complete Lamdre teachings thirteen times. Kunga Zangpo entrusted him with various teaching responsibilities and sent him to Mustang (then a part of Ngari, mnga’ ris) to Tubten Dargye Ling (thub bstan dar rgyas gling) monastery, where he lived and taught for eleven years. He also gave him Pakpa Rinpoche’s ('phags pa rin po che) robe and conch shell.

Before passing away, Kunga Zangpo indicated that Konchok Gyeltsen (dkon mchog rgyal mtshan, 1388-1469) would succeed him as Ngor monastery’s abbot. He also said that Sherab Gyatso would be the third abbot, and in time, Kunga Wangchuk (kun dga’ dbang phyug, 1424-1478) would be the fourth.

When Kunga Zangpo passed away in 1456, Sherab Gyatso returned to Ngor participated in the funeral rites. Konchok Gyeltsen took over the abbacy, but stepped down just five years later to focus on meditation and retreat. Jamyang Sherab Gyatso took over the throne of Ngor monastery in 1462 and taught extensively during his tenure.

His students included Sonam Lhundrub (bsod nams lhun grub, 1456-1532), Pelden Dorje (dpal ldan rdo rje, 1411-1482), and Konchok Pelwa (dkon mchog 'phel ba, 1445-1514).  He also taught Kunga Wangchuk, Kacharwa Sonam Gyeltsen (kha char ba bsod nams rgyal mtshan d.u.), Kedrub Peldorwa (mkhas grub dpal rdor ba d.u.), Kunga Tashi (kun dga’ bkra shis, 1349-1425), Sonam Wangchuk (bsod nams dbang phyug, d.u.), the abbot of Tubten Dargye Ling, Yonten Chogyel (yon tan chos rgyal, d.u.). He passed away at the age of seventy-nine without any sign of illness. His successor Kunga Wangchuk oversaw his extensive funeral arrangements. Raton Yonten Pelzang (rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang, d.u.) wrote a biography, which is not currently extant.

Jamyang Sherab Gyatso’s written work consists of an account of the Sakya Lamdre (lam 'bras) teachings and a commentary on the Tsema Rigter.

Sources:

Sangs rgyas phun tshogs. 1985 (17th c.). Dpal e waM chos ldan gyi gdan rabs nor bu'i phreng ba. Dehradun: Sakya Center, pp. 6-9.

Dominique Townsend
May 2010