Gelug facts for kids

Statue of Je Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa school, on the altar in His Temple (His birth place) in Kumbum Monastery, near Xining, Qinghai (Amdo), China. Photo by writer Mario Biondi, July 7, 2006

The Gelug or Gelug-pa, is a school of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), a philosopher and Tibetan religious leader. The first monastery he established was at Ganden, and to this day the Ganden Tripa is the nominal head of the school, though its most famous person is the Dalai Lama. There are others Gelug Masters, like Trijang Rinpoche and Ling Rinpoche.

Tsongkhapa was a big promoter of the Kadampa (Bka'-gdams-pa) teachings and the mahāyāna principle 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 taught by the Indian masters Nāgārjuna (2nd century) and Candrakīrti (7th century). Tsongkhapa said that these two aspects of the spiritual path, compassion and insight into wisdom, must be rooted in a big wish for liberation driven by a genuine sense of renunciation. He called these the "Three Principal Aspects of the Path", and said that it is on the basis of these three that one must embark on the profound path of vajrayāna Buddhism.

The central teachings of the Gelug School are the Stages of the Path (lamrim), based on the teachings of the Indian master Atiśa (c. 11th century) and the systematic cultivation of the view of emptiness. This is combined with the yogas of highest yoga tantra deities such as Guhyasamāja, Cakrasaṃvara, Yamāntaka and Kālacakra, where the key focus is the direct experience of the union of bliss and emptiness.

Images for kids

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  An illustration of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder, and his two principal students (Kédrup and Gyeltsap) on his left and right with other lineage teachers and protectors of the Gelug tradition.

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  The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Kalachakra ceremony, Bodhgaya (India).

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  Khedrup Gelek Pelzang, 1st Panchen Lama (1385–1438 CE), the main leader of the Gelug school after Tsongkhapa's death.

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  Gendun Drup, founder of Tashilhunpo Monastery, and the First Dalai Lama

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  The third Dalai Lama, Sönam Gyatso.

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  Qing dynasty painting of the 5th Dalai Lama meeting the Shunzhi Emperor in Beijing, 1653.

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  Potala Palace

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  Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol

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  Rajesh Kasturirangan with the 14th Dalai Lama, Thupten Jinpa and Richard Davidson at Mind and Life Institute XXVI conference, 2013. The Mind and Life institute has been a series of dialogues on Buddhism and science, and these have influenced the field of contemplative science.

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  Gelug Lineage Refuge Tree thangka depicting Je Tsongkapa at the center of the tree surrounded by Indian and Tibetan Buddhist masters. Thangkas like these are often used as a focus for taking refuge.

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  Guhyasamāja mandala with Mañjuvajra as the central deity.

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  Mañjuśrī, 18th century, Rubin Museum of Art

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  Monks debating in Sera monastery

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  Ganden monastery, Tibet, 2013

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  Sera Mey, Sera Monastery, India

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  6th ganden tripa Chokyi Gyeltsen (1402–1473)

See also

In Spanish: Gelug para niños