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The Life and Times of Je Tsongkhapa
Lama Tsongkhapa as mahasiddha.
Tangka © Rubin Museum of Art, NY. The story of Lama Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) continues to fascinate and inspire not only followers of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, which he founded, but illustrious lamas from other lineages as well – viz. Gyalwa Mikyo Dorje, the eighth Karmapa. December 26 is the anniversary of the parinirvana of this important teacher who was born in the Amdo region of eastern Tibet and spent many years traveling from one monastery or yogic hermitage to another in search of the various lineages of the Buddhist teachings. Much has been written about (and by) this extraordinary teacher, whose arrival in the world was forecast by Buddha himself. As a young boy in a previous incarnation he offered Buddha Shakyamuni a clear crystal rosary and received a conch shell in return. The Buddha prophesied that the boy would be born in Tibet, would found a great monastery [Ganden], would present a crown to the statue of Buddha in Lhasa, and would be instrumental in the flourishing of the doctrine in Tibet. All this occurred exactly as the Buddha had prophesied. According to Prof. Robert Thurman, “Tsongkhapa attained full enlightenment in 1398 and then taught for twenty-one years in such an intelligent, energetic, and charismatic way that his movement transformed the whole of Tibet and brought it into a genuine renaissance regarding its embodiment of the Dharma.” A comment from James Blumenthal, associate professor of Buddhist philosophy at Oregon State University: “Tsongkhapa was one of the greatest philosophical minds of our human heritage. He was an extraordinary scholar, a meditation master, a phenomenal teacher, and an innovative thinker. He was able to take both the breadth and the depth of the Buddhist traditions of India and Tibet and present them in a clear, systematic, and approachable way for the maximum benefit to his students...” |
