Shechen Gyaltsab was a principal lineageholder of Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...

. As an ecumenical, he studied with Nyingma

Nyingma

The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism . "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as Nga'gyur or the "old school" because it is founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan, in the eighth century...

 and Sarma

Sarma (Tibetan Buddhism)

Sarma In Tibetan Buddhism, the Sarma schools include the three newest of the four main schools, comprising:*Kagyu*Sakya*Kadam/Gelukand their sub-branches.The Nyingma school is the sole Ngagyur or "old translation," school....

 schools.

Nomenclature and etymology

Shechen Gyaltsab's full name was Shechen Gyaltsab Gyurme Pema Namgyal.

Birth and youth

Shechen Gyaltsab was born at Dzokyi Tsolung within the region of Lhatok and Derge

Dergé

Dêgê County is a county in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China's Sichuan province. Its county seat is the town of Dêgê. It was once the location of the Kingdom of Dêgê.-External links:*...

.

Alak Zenkar Rinpoche states that Shechen Gyaltsab:

From his own uncle, Pema Wangchen—or Kyi Yang as he was widely known—he learned how to read and received teachings on the common sciences, including The Mirror of Poetics, the three systems of Sanskrit grammar (known as Kalapa, Chandrapa and Sarasvata), The Treasure Mine of Composition, the major texts of the ‘white’ and ‘black’ astrological traditions and so on.

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo , also known as Pema Ösal Do-ngak Lingpa, was a renowned teacher, scholar and tertön of 19th century Tibet. He was a leading figure in the nonsectarian Rime movement.-Biography:...

 recognised him as a tulku

Tulku

In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a particular high-ranking lama, of whom the Dalai Lama is one, who can choose the manner of his rebirth. Normally the lama would be reincarnated as a human, and of the same sex as his predecessor. In contrast to a tulku, all other sentient beings including other...

, the reincarnation of Orgyen Rangjung Dorje and he was installed as the fourth regent (Tibetan: "Gyaltsab") of Shechen Tennyi Dargye Ling monastery.

Later years

From Jamgön Khyentse Wangpo, he received empowerments and instructions on the practices of Vajrakilaya.

Shechen Gyaltsab focused upon the phases of kye rim (Generation Phase) and dzog rim (Completion Phase) in his sadhana

Sadhana

Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...

 for more than twenty years.

Shechen Gyaltsab traversed the advanced bhumi

Bhumi (Buddhism)

The bodhisattva's path of awakening in the Mahayana tradition progresses through ten hierarchically arranged stages, referred to as the "bodhisattva bhūmis"...

 and realized the sadhana of Clear Light

Ösel (yoga)

Ösel , the Yoga of the Clear Light Ösel (tib. hod-gsal; od gsal), the Yoga of the Clear Light Ösel (tib. hod-gsal; od gsal), the Yoga of the Clear Light (often translated as 'Radiant Light' (Sanskrit: prabhasvara), referring to the 'intrinsic purity' (Tibetan: ka-dag) of the substratum of the...

.