Geluk
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The Geluk or Gelug (Wylie transliteration: Dge-lugs, Tibetan: དགེ་ལུགས་པ་) school of Buddhism was founded by Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), a philosopher and Tibetan religious leader. The first monastery he established was at Ganden, and to this day the Ganden Tripa (Dga'-ldan Khri-pa) is the nominal head of the school, though its most influential figure is the Dalai Lama.
A great admirer of the Kadampa (Bka'-gdams-pa) teachings, Tsongkhapa was an enthusiastic promoter of the Kadam School's emphasis on the Mahayana principles of universal compassion as the fundamental spiritual orientation. He combined this with a strong emphasis on the cultivation of in-depth insight into the doctrine of emptiness as propounded by the Indian masters Nagarjuna (2nd century) and Candrakirti (7th century). Tsongkhapa said that these two aspects of the spiritual path, compassion and insight into wisdom, must be rooted in a wholehearted wish for liberation, all impelled by a genuine sense of renunciation. He called these the "Three Principal Aspects of the Path", and suggested that it is on the basis of these three that one must embark on the profound path of Vajrayana Buddhism.
The central teachings of the Geluk School are Lamrim, or the "Stages of the Path", based on the teachings of the Indian master Atisa (circa 11th century) and the systematic cultivation of the view of emptiness. This is combined with the deity yogas of Highest Yoga Tantra deities such as Guhyasamaja, Cakrasamvara, Yamantaka and Kalacakra, where the key focus is the realization of the indivisible union of bliss and emptiness.
Although each Gelug monastery has an own set of texts for studying written by different authors the six scriptures of Je Tsongkhapa, the Gelugs' founder
- The Great Exposition of the Stages of the Path (Lam-rim chen-mo),
- The Great Exposition of Tantras (sNgag-rim chenmo),
- The Essence of Eloquence on the Interpretive and Definitive Teachings (Drnng-nges legs-bshad snying-po),
- The Praise of Relativity (rTen-'brel bstodpa),
- The Clear Exposition of the Five Stages of Guhyasamaja (gSang-'dus rim-lnga gsal-sgron) and
- The Golden Rosary (gSer-phreng).
Monasteries and Lineage Holders
Tsongkhapa founded the monastery of Ganden in 1409, and it became his main seat. He had many students, his two main disciples being Gyaltsab Je (1364-1431) and Khedrub Je (1385-1438). Other outstanding disciples were Togden Jampal Gyatso, Jamyang Choje, Jamchenpa Sherap Senge and Gyalwa Gendün Drup, the first Dalai Lama (1391-1474). After Tsongkhapa's passing, his teachings were held and kept by Gyaltsab Je and Khedrub Je who were the next abbots of Ganden monastery. The lineage has been held by the Ganden Tripas, the throne-holders of Ganden Monastery among the present is Khensur Lungri Namgyal, the 101st Ganden Tripa.Drepung Monastery was founded by Jamyang Choje, Sera Monastery was founded by Chöje Shakya Yeshe and the Gyalwa Gendün Drup founded Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Many Gelug monasteries were built throughout Tibet but also in China and Mongolia.
Among the many lineage holders of the Yellow Hat Tradition (Gelugpas) there are the successive incarnations of the Gyalwa Rinpoche (commonly known as the Dalai Lama), and the succession of the Panchen Lama as well as the Chagkya Dorje Chang, Ngachen Könchok Gyaltsen, Kyishö Tulku Tenzin Thrinly, Jamyang Shepa, Phurchok Jampa Rinpoche, Jamyang Dewe Dorje, Takphu Rinpoche, Khachen Yeshe Gyaltsen and many others.
Influence
By the end of 16th century, Geluk had become the most dominant school of Tibetan Buddhism, amidst strife amongst sects of Buddhism, (and particularly the forcible converting to Gelug of the Jonang branch of the Sakya school), and from the period of "The Great Fifth" in the 17th century until the Chinese takeover in 1949, the Dalai Lamas held political control over central Tibet.
Literature
- The Ri-Me Philosophy of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great: A Study of the Buddhist Lineages of Tibet by Ringu Tulku, ISBN 1590302869, Shambhala Publications
See also
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