[1] Lama Zhang played a key role in the medieval Buddhist revival in Central Tibet, also called the “Tibetan renaissance”.
[3] Together with Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo and Tsongkhapa, Zhang Yudrakpa was considered as one of the "Three Jewels of Tibet" (bod nor bu rnam gsum).
A significant symbol of his place of prominence is Gampopa's red hat that Lama Zhang wore and that is depicted in paintings and sculptures of him.
[5] Lama Zhang was born in August 1123 at Tsawadru (Wylie: tsha ba gru) in the Kyi River Valley located in the southern part of present-day Lhasa and was named Darma Drak.
He was the son of Zhang Dorje Sempa, a lay tantric practitioner belonging to the Nanam (Wylie: sna nam) clan, and Shümo Zamangkyi, who had formerly been a Buddhist nun.
[8] In his autobiography , Lama Zhang records “contradictory traits” and struggles with evil impulses from an early age—including the killing of and cruelty towards animals.
[10] He wandered about in despair in Kham, where he took novice vows, and a year later had a dream that his bad karma was cleansed when a slimy snake-like creature slithered out of his body.
During his time with Gomtsul, Lama Zhang had numerous meditative experiences and received the full Kagyu lineage transmission, which is when he composed his most widely read literary work, The Path of Ultimate Profundity (phyag chen lam mchog mthar thug).
His disciple Nyamme Śākya Yeshe (mnyam med shAkya ye shes) succeeded him as abbot of Tsel Gungtang.