The Seventh Ngor Khenchen, Konchok Pelwa

Konchok Pelwa (dkon mchog 'phel ba) was born in 1445. His father was named Tashi Legpa (bkra shis legs pa), and his mother was named Budren Kyi (bu 'dren skyid). They named him Arik Pel (a rig dpal).

At the age of seven he received a long-life empowerment and lay vows from the founder of Ngor Monastery, Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (ngor chen kun dga' bzang po, 1382-1456), who slightly changed his name to Arik Pel (a rig 'phel). He studied reading and writing with Rinchen Namgyel (rin chen rnam rgyal).

He received teachings from the fourth Ngor Khenchen, Kunga Wangchuk (ngor mkhan chen 04 kun dga' dbang phyug, 1424-1478), who, together with the third Ngor Khenchen Jamyang Sherab Gyatso (ngor mkhan chen 03 'jam dbyangs shes rab rgya mtsho, 1394-1474), gave him novice ordination with the name Konchok Pel. At the age of thirty-six he received complete ordination from the Fifth Ngor Khenchen Pelden Dorje (ngor mkhan chen 05 dpal ldan rdo rje, 1411-1482), the Sixth Ngor Khenchen Gorampa Sonam Sengge (ngor mkhan chen 06 gos ram pa bsod nams seng ge, 1429-1489), Lobpon Sonam Wangchuk (slob dpon bsod nams dbang phyug, d.u.), and Sanggye Peldrub (sangs rgyas dpal grub, d.u.). Other lamas he received teachings from included Muchen Konchok Gyeltsen (mus chen dkon mchog rgyal mtshan, 1388-1469), and Wangchuk Pelden Chokyong (dbang phyug dpal ldan chos skyong, d.u.).

In 1486, at the age of thirty-six, Konchok Pelwa was elevated to the throne of Ngor as the Seventh Ngor Khenchen. He spent the next twenty-eight years teaching disciples who came from all over the Tibetan Plateau, giving them empowerments, instruction, and transmissions. Among his disciples were Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub (glo bo mkhan chen bsod nams lhun grub, 1456-1532); Sakya Lotsawa Jampai Dorje (sa skya lo tsA ba 'jam pa'i rdo rje, 1485-1533); the Twenty-sixth Sakya Trichen, Drakpa Lodro (sa skya khri chen 26 grags pa blo gros, 1563-1517); Muchen Sanggye Rinchen (mus chen sangs rgyas rin chen, 1450-1524), Pelkhor Chode Khenchen Khyenrab Wangchuk Konchok Tsultrim (dpal 'khor chos sde mkhan chen mkhyen rab dbang phyug dkon mchog tshul khrim, d.u.); Nartang Khenchen Sherab Pelden (snar thang mkhan chen shes rab dpal ldan, d.u.); Gadong Khenchen Zhunggye Mawa Rinchen Pelzang (sga gdong mkhan chen gzhung brgya smra ba rin chen dpal bzang, d.u.); Kyetsul Choje Khedrub Norbu Puntsok (skye tshul chos rje mkhas grub nor bu phun tshogs, d.u.).

He was responsible for the installation of a considerable number of religious items at Ngor, including a life-sized gilded statue of the fourth Ngor Khenchen, Kunga Wangchuk, and a gold-letter edition of the Lamdre Lekbam (lam 'bras glegs 'bam).

In 1501 Konchok Pelwa retired from the abbacy of Ngor and appointed his disciple, Muchen Sanggye Rinchen. He then went into retreat at Tartse (thar rtse). He passed away there in 1514 at the age of fifty-eight.

Source

Mu po. 2002. Rje dkon mchog 'phel. In Gsung ngag rin po che lam 'bras bla ma brgyud pa'i rnam thar kun 'dus me long. Beijing: Mi rigs dpe skrun khang, p. 79-83. TBRC W23724

Alexander Gardner
August 2011