The illustrious Kongtrul Lördo Thaye or Yönten Gyatso (1813–1899) was born in the hidden valley of Rongyap, located near Pema Lhartse in Drida Zelmogang in eastern Tibet, during the Water Bird year of the fourteenth calendrical cycle. His father, Tendzin Yungdrung, belonged to the royal Khyung clan of accomplished practitioners (like Milarepa among others), and his mother, the yoginī Tashi Tso, was also a devoted practitioner.
From the age of five, he began learning the basics, such as the alphabet, and by the time he was around ten, he embarked on an extensive and non-sectarian study under numerous spiritual masters from various traditions. Among his teachers were Gyurme Thutob Namgyal of Zechen, Tai Situ Pema Nyinche Wangpo, and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.
He mastered the common sciences, including Sanskrit grammar, logic and epistemology (pramāṇa), arts and crafts, and medicine. He also deeply studied, reflected upon, and meditated on the uncommon subjects of the Buddhist path, such as Madhyamika, Prajñāpāramitā, Vinaya, and Abhidharmakośa from the sutra tradition, as well as the tantras, commentaries (āgama), and pith instructions (upadeśa) from the mantra tradition, encompassing both kama and terma teachings from the old and new translation schools.
To guide fortunate disciples, he composed and compiled the renowned ninety-volume collection known as the
Five Great Treasuries:
Throughout his life, Kongtrul dedicated himself to teaching and spreading the Dharma. He bestowed empowerments, instructions, advice, and reading transmissions for both sutra and mantra traditions, encompassing kama and terma, as well as the old and new translation schools, without any sectarian bias.
At the age of eighty-seven, his physical form dissolved into absolute space. His students included lineage holders from the Kagyü school, such as the 14th and 15th Karmapas and the 10th and 11th Tai Situpas, as well as masters from the Sakya and Ngor traditions like Jamyang Loter Wangpo and Chöje Kunga Jamyang. He also taught holders of the Early Translation teachings, including Mipham Jamyang Namgyal and Tertön Lerab Lingpa, and masters from the Riwo Gendenpa tradition, such as Gyüme Khenpo Yeshe Gongphel and Drakyab Dongtrul Khechok Ngawang Damchö Gyatso. In short, his disciples were vast in number, hailing from all regions of Tibet, including Ü and Tsang in central Tibet, as well as the upper, middle, and lower areas of eastern Tibet.
Jamgon Kongtrul incarnations: