The sixth Karmapa was born in Ngomto Shakyam in eastern Tibet to a family of devoted yohins.

Thongwa Donden received teachings and transmission of the Kagyu lineage from Shamar Chopal Yeshe, Jamyang Drakpa, and Khenchen Nyephuwa. In particular, he received the full lineage transmission from Ratnabhadra who was his principal teacher.

At a young age, he began to compose many tantric rituals, eventually establishing a body of liturgies for the Kamstang lineage and he also jointed the Shangpa Kagyu and Shije lineages into Kagyu lineage transmissions.

He dedicated his activity to composition, teaching restoring many monasteries within Tibet, printing books, strengthen the sangha, and developing the shedra ( the monastic university) system in Karma Kagyu lineage.

Realizing that he would die at an early age, he entered retreat and conferred a regency on the first Gyaltsap, indicating where he would take birth next.Thongwa Donden passed into parinirvana at the age of thirty-eight.