The Treasury of Lives

The Geluk (dge lugs) tradition follows the teachings of the fifteenth-century scholar monk Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa. Like the Kadam tradition which the Geluk absorbed and supplanted, the Geluk place an emphasis on monastic discipline and scholarship, central to which is the their understanding and explication of the Mādhyamaka Prāsaṅgika philosophical position. They also maintain a strong, if somewhat less public, tradition of tantric transmission, scholarship, and practice. Followers of the Geluk tradition practice an extensive system of Lamrim and Lojong, both of which have their origins with Atisha and the Kadampa tradition. The Geluk also maintain a lineage of Mahāmudrā teachings. The primary tantric teachings studied and practiced in the Geluk are the tantric cycles of Yamāntaka, Cakrasaṃvara, and Guhyasamāja. The Kālacakra Tantra is also commonly practiced among many Geluk practitioners, as is the tantra of Vajrayoginī. The Geluk tradition became the dominant religious order in Tibet in the seventeenth century when the Fifth Dalai Lama, with the aid of the recently converted Mongols, orchestrated a defeat of the Kagyu king of Tsang and set himself up as political leader of Tibet. Since that time the Dalai Lamas' seat of government, the Ganden Podrang, has been the nominal seat of political power in Tibet, even if for most of the last four hundred years real power shifted among a number of players.

Incarnation Lines

Institutions

Images

Tsongkhapa

A painting of Tsongkapa, founder of the Geluk tradition, with the two principal students, Gyaltsab on the left and Khedrub on the right.

Tsongkhapa

Tsongkhapa, founder of the Geluk tradition, with the two principal students, Gyaltsab on the left and Khedrubje on the right.

Tsongkhapa

A very early -- possibly the earliest known -- portrait of Tsongkhapa narrating his life story.

The Seventh Dalai Lama with previous incarnations

The Seventh Dalai Lama, Kelzang Gyatso, along with a selection of the previous incarnations according to the Kadam Lekbam.

Puchungwa Zhonnu Gyelsten

An eighteenth century painting of Puchungwa Zhonnu Gyeltsen with Rinchen Zangpo.

The Potala Palace and the Main Monuments of Lhasa

This painting shows major sites of Lhasa including the Jokhang, Potala Palace and Lukhang. The monasteries of Sera, Drepung, and Sangpu Neutok are also pictured. It is possible that the image depicts activities during Losar festivities.

 

 

Scenes from the Life of the Fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682)

An eighteenth century painting of The Fifth Dalai Lama pictured with major scenes from his life. 

Khedrubje Gelek Pelzang

To the left, Khedrupje is depicted while thinking of his great teacher, Tsongkhapa, who appears above him on a cloud. On the middle right, Khedrubje is making an offering to Tsongkhapa. On the lower right, Khedrubje is seated while editing a manuscript.

The Eighth Tatsak

A nineteenth century painting from Tibet of the Eighth Tatsak with prominent Geluk figures. 

Shakyamuni Buddha

The central figure of Shakyamuni Buddha is shown with Tsongkhapa and primary disciples in the upper left corner. Below are protector deities.

 

Go Lotsawa Khukpa Lhetse

The important translator Go Khukpa Lhetse is the central figure of this 19th century painting, with Atiśa depicted above. 

Śākyamuni Buddha with Geluk Masters

This eighteenth-century painting depicts Śākyamuni Buddha with primordial buddha Vajradhara, bodhisattvas Maitreya and Mañjuśrī, and multiple Geluk masters. 

Pehar Gyelpo

The protector deity Pehar Gyelpo is depicted with three Geluk masters above. 

Panchen Lama and Bakula Rinpoche

Panchen Lama and Bakula Rinpoche photograped in Kathmandu, Nepal, 1986.

Panchen Lama Lobzang Chokyi Gyeltsen

Lobzang Chokyi Gyeltsen, the first person to hold the title of Paṇchen Lama, is pictured in this eighteenth century painting, with Maitreya to the right enveloped in a rainbow. The upper left depicts Cakrasaṃvara and to the right is Paṇchen Lama's teacher Khedrub Sanggye Yeshe. The lower left shows Vaiśravaṇa, with Begtse Chen to the right.

Biographies

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