The Thirty-Sixth Ganden Tripa, Tendzin Lekshe

The Thirty-sixth Ganden Tripa, Tendzin Lekshe (dga' ldan khri pa 36 bstan 'dzin legs bshad) was born in the sixteenth century in Kongpo (shar phyogs kong yul) in south-east Tibet. At a very young age he was admitted to Dakpo Monastery (dwags po grwa tshang).

It can be assumed that he received his monk's vows and his basic monastic education in Dakpo Monastery and studied philosophical and other subjects. Tendzin Lekshe then matriculated at Gyume (rgyud rmad) College in Lhasa and studied the advanced topics in tantra. In addition, he also studied common subjects such as grammar, poetry, composition and so forth that are necessary for scholars.

Upon completion of his studies, Tendzin Lekshe served as the abbot of Gyume Tantric College for seven years and thereafter seven years as the abbot of Jangtse College of the Ganden Monastic University.

He was enthroned to the seat of the Thirty-sixth Ganden Tripa in 1638, the earth-tiger year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle. Soon thereafter there was a severe conflict between Ganden Jangtse and Shartse Colleges. It seems that the Ganden Sharpas had become dominant after taking control of the monastic administration, and seized the Golden Throne of Ganden. Consequently, Trichen Tendzin Lekshe, having come out of the Ganden Jangtse Dratsang, fled to Pelbar in Kham (khams dpal 'bar). There he gave teachings and performed other religious activities. Thus the length of his tenure in the abbacy is not known but it can be presumed as for few months as the next Ganden Tripa ascended the throne in the same year. Some sources have it that Tendzin Lekshe served the post for six years, from 1632 to 1637. However no detail of historical background is found to confirm the dates. Thus, the dates of his tenure are still seen in question.

Until the tenure of the Thirty-sixth Ganden Tripa, the post was alternately occupied by lamas trained at Ganden Jangtse and Shartse, but there was no set number of years for the term of office. Following the conflict of the Thirty-sixth Tripa's term, the Tsang Depa / Gyelpo (gtsang sde pa/rgyal po), the secular ruler at the time, fixed the term of office at seven years.

Further details, including the dates of death, for Tendzin Lekshe's life after his escape from Ganden to Kham are not known.

Sources

Bstan pa bstan 'dzin. 1992. 'Jam mgon rgyal wa'i rgyal tshab gser khri rim byon rnams kyi khri rabs yongs 'du'i ljon bzang. Mundgod: Drepung Gomang Library, pp. 80-81.

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, pp. 54-55.

Grong khyer lha sa srid gros lo rgyus rig gnas dpyad yig rgyu cha rtsom 'bri au yon lhan khang. 1994. Dga' ldan dgon pa dang brag yer pa'i lo rgyus, grong khyer lha sa'i lo rgyus rig gnas deb 02. Bod ljongs shin hwa par 'debs bzo grwa khang, p. 66.

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. 91.

Samten Chhosphel
October 2010