The Ninth Ganden Tripa, Lobzang Nyima

The Ninth Ganden Tripa,Trichen Lobzang Nyima (dga' ldan khri pa 09 blo bzang nyi ma) was born in Tsongkha in Amdo (mdo smad tsong kha) in 1439, the water-sheep year of the eighth sexagenary cycle. He was born to either a nephew or niece of Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa (tsong kha pa blo bzang grags pa, 1357-1419) and was thus called Jewon Lobzang Nyima (rje dbon blo bzang nyi ma), Lord Nephew Lobzang Nyima.

Lobzang Nyima travelled at the young age to U-Tsang and studied under a number of eminent masters including Musepa Lodro Rinchen (mus srad pa blo gros rin chen, d.u.), Lama Takleb Janggyal (bla ma ltag leb byang rgyal, d.u.), and Lobpon Drakpa Wopa (slob dpon grags pa 'od pa, d.u.). He then took examinations on twenty texts at Sangpu (gsang phu) monastery and also engaged in debate with Lobpon Tsenyakpa (slob dpon rtse nyag pa, d.u.), defeating him.

The following year Lobzang Nyima served as master at the monastery of Rawa To (ra ba stod), and then proceeded to Tashilhunpo (bkra shis lhun po). There he met with Gendun Drub, the founder of the monastery who was retrospectively recognized as the First Dalai Lama. (ta la'i bla ma 01, rje dge 'dun grub, 1391-1474). Lobzang Nyima received many teachings from Gedun Drup and became one of his most devoted disciples.

Lobzang Nyima then joined to Drepung Monastery ('bras spungs), and served as the abbot for a few years. At the age of forty-three he returned to Sangpu and served as the dharma master (chos rje) of the monastery and gave many teachings including on Drang nges rnam ’byed. ­­

In 1490, the iron-dog year of the eighth sexagenary cycle, at the age of fifty-two, Lobzang Nyima was enthroned to the seat of the Ganden Tripa (dga' ldan khri pa), serving as the ninth abbot of the monastery for three years and teaching extensively. He passed away while in office, at the age of fifty-four, in 1492, the water-mouse year of the eighth sexagenary cycle.

The names of two additional teachers of Lobzang Nyima are known: Jangchup Gyeltsen (byang chub rgyal mtshan, d.u.) and Drakpa Ozer (grangs pa 'od zer, d.u.). The names of his disciples are not known.

Sources

Grags pa 'byung gnas. 1992. Gangs can mkhas grub rim byon ming mdzod. Lanzhou: Kan su'u mi rigs dpe skrun khang, pp. 655-656.

Sde srid sangs rgyas rgya mtsho. 1989 (1698). Dga' ldan chos 'byung baiDU r+ya ser po. Beijing: Krung go bod kyi shes rig dpe skrun khang, p. 79.

Samten Chhosphel
September 2010