Tsongkhapa: The Legacy of Tibet's Great Philosopher-Saint

by David Gray (editor), Donald S. Lopez Jr. (introduction)

Tsongkhapa’s seminal contributions to Buddhist thought and practice, and to the course of history, are illuminated and celebrated by some of his foremost modern interpreters.Few figures have impacted the trajectory of Buddhism as much as the great philosopher and meditator, scholar and reformer, Tsongkhapa Losang Drakpa (1357–1419), the founder of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism and teacher of the First Dalai Lama. His Ganden tradition spread throughout Central Asia and Mongolia, and today, through figures such as the Dalai Lama, who calls Tsongkhapa a second Nagarjuna, his teachings are shaping intellectual conversations and ethical practice globally. To commemorate the 600th anniversary of Tsongkhapa’s passing, a special conference was held at Ganden Monastery in India in 2019, featuring some of the best translators and interpreters of his teachings today. Highlights of those incisive summations of Tsongkhapa’s special contributions are gathered in this volume. Here we discover Tsongkhapa the philosopher, Tsongkhapa the master of the Buddhist canon, Tsongkhapa the tantric adept, and Tsongkhapa as the visionary force behind a culture marrying wisdom to compassion. Each of the authors featured looks at a distinct facet of Tsongkhapa’s legacy. Donald Lopez provides a global context, Guy Newland distills Tsongkhapa’s Middle Way, Dechen Rochard uncovers the identity view, Jay Garfield examines the conceptualized ultimate, Thupten Jinpa highlights the seminal importance Tsongkhapa placed on ascertainment, David Gray looks at his approach to Cakrasamvara tantra, Gavin Kilty surveys his Guhyasamaja tantra commentary, Roger Jackson surmises his views on Zen and mahamudra, Geshé Ngawang Samten examines his provisional-definitive distinction, Gareth Sparham highlights his scholastic prowess, Mishig-Ish Bataa illuminates his impact in Mongolia, and Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron presents his instructions on how to cultivate compassion. Whether you are well acquainted with Tsongkhapa’s life and thought or you are encountering him here for the first time, you will find The Legacy of Tsongkhapa an illuminating survey of his unique contributions to human flourishing.

264 pages, Paperback

Published October 22, 2024

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Reviews

[r0b · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best way to express our gratitude to [Je Tsongkhapa] is to learn, contemplate, meditate on, and embody his teachings in our lives.

Chapter 11. Learning, Living, and Teaching Bodhicitta:
Je Tsongkhapa’s Contribution to Spreading Compassion in the World

by Bhiksuni Thupten Chodron

[Justin Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful collection of essays by modern scholars on the Tibetan philosopher-saint Jé Tsongkhapa in observance of the 600th anniversary of his death. Definitely a must read for anyone who has studied in the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism or anyone who wants a better understanding of why Tsongkhapa is a trailblazer in the world of Tibetan yogis/yoginis and masters - and why his insights are as applicable today as they were 600 years ago.