Gendun Drup, 1st Dalai Lama
Encyclopedia
Gendun Drup also known as Gendun Drub and Kundun Drup, is considered retrospectively to be the first of the Dalai Lama
s of Tibet
, who are believed to be reincarnations of Chenresig (Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvara), the Bodhisattva
of Compassion.
Gendun Drup was born in a cowshed in Gyurmey Rupa, near Sakya in the Tsang region of central Tibet, the son of Gonpo Dorjee and Jomo Namkha Kyi, nomadic tribespeople. He was raised as a shepherd until the age of seven. His birth name (according to the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center, his personal name) was Pema Dorje ' onMouseout='HidePop("73966")' href="/topics/Vajra">Vajra
Lotus/Lotus Vajra
). Later, he was placed in Nartang (Nar-thang) Monastery
. In 1405, he took his novice vows from the abbot of Narthang, Khenchen Drupa Sherab.
When he was 20 years old, in about 1411, he received the name Gendun Drubpa upon taking the vows of a fully ordained monk, or Gelong, from the abbot of Narthang Monastery. Also at this age, he became a student of the great scholar and reformer Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), who some say was his uncle. Around this time he also became the first abbot of Ganden Monastery
, founded by Tsongkhapa himself in 1409. By the middle of his life, Gendun Drup had become one of the most esteemed scholar-saints in the country.
Tradition states that Palden Lhamo
, the female guardian spirit of the sacred lake, Lhamo La-tso
, promised the First Dalai Lama in one of his visions "...that she would protect the reincarnation lineage of the Dalai Lamas." Since the time of the Second Dalai Lama Gendun Gyatso, who formalized the system, monks have gone to the lake to meditate when seeking visions with guidance on finding the next reincarnation.
Gendun Drubpa founded two major monasteries: Drepung and Tashillhunpo. In 1447, Gendun Drup founded the great monastery of Tashilhunpo
at Shigatse
, which later became the seat of the Panchen Lama
s.
Gendun Drup had no political power. It was in the hands of viceroys such as the Sakya
s, the prince of Tsang
, and the Mongolian Khan. The political role of the Dalai Lamas only began with the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama.
According to Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center, his Seat was the monastery bkra shis lhun po dgon pa (Tashilhunpo),
which he had founded in 1447.
He remained the abbot of Tashilhunpo Monastery until he died while meditating in 1474 at the age of 84 (83 by Western reckoning).
Dorje Pakmo (1422–1455), the highest female incarnation in Tibet, was a contemporary of Gendun Drub. Her teacher Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal was also one of his teachers; he received many teachings and empowerments from him.
Some of the most famous texts Gendun Drup wrote were:
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
s of Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, who are believed to be reincarnations of Chenresig (Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvara), the Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
of Compassion.
Gendun Drup was born in a cowshed in Gyurmey Rupa, near Sakya in the Tsang region of central Tibet, the son of Gonpo Dorjee and Jomo Namkha Kyi, nomadic tribespeople. He was raised as a shepherd until the age of seven. His birth name (according to the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center, his personal name) was Pema Dorje ' onMouseout='HidePop("73966")' href="/topics/Vajra">Vajra
Vajra
Vajra is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt and diamond...
Lotus/Lotus Vajra
Vajra
Vajra is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt and diamond...
). Later, he was placed in Nartang (Nar-thang) Monastery
Narthang Monastery
Narthang Monastery is a monastery located west of Shigatse in Tibet. Founded in 1153 by one of the disciples of Atisha, Nathang was the fourth great monastery of Tsang with Shalu Monastery, Sakya and Tashilhunpo. Narthang was first famous for its scriptual teaching and monastic discipline...
. In 1405, he took his novice vows from the abbot of Narthang, Khenchen Drupa Sherab.
When he was 20 years old, in about 1411, he received the name Gendun Drubpa upon taking the vows of a fully ordained monk, or Gelong, from the abbot of Narthang Monastery. Also at this age, he became a student of the great scholar and reformer Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), who some say was his uncle. Around this time he also became the first abbot of Ganden Monastery
Ganden Monastery
Ganden Monastery or Ganden Namgyeling is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located at the top of Wangbur Mountain, Tagtse County, 36 kilometers ENE from the Potala Palace in Lhasa, at an altitude of 4,300m...
, founded by Tsongkhapa himself in 1409. By the middle of his life, Gendun Drup had become one of the most esteemed scholar-saints in the country.
Tradition states that Palden Lhamo
Palden Lhamo
Palden Lhamo , Palden Lamo , Shri Devi , or Ukin Tengri is a protecting Dharmapala of the teachings of Gautama Buddha in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. She is also called Remati...
, the female guardian spirit of the sacred lake, Lhamo La-tso
Lhamo La-tso
Lhamo La-tso or Lhamo Latso , the small oval 'Oracle Lake', is where senior Tibetan monks go for visions to assist in the discovery of reincarnations of the Dalai Lamas. Other pilgrims also come to seek visions...
, promised the First Dalai Lama in one of his visions "...that she would protect the reincarnation lineage of the Dalai Lamas." Since the time of the Second Dalai Lama Gendun Gyatso, who formalized the system, monks have gone to the lake to meditate when seeking visions with guidance on finding the next reincarnation.
Gendun Drubpa founded two major monasteries: Drepung and Tashillhunpo. In 1447, Gendun Drup founded the great monastery of Tashilhunpo
Tashilhunpo
Tashilhunpo Monastery , founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama, is a historic and culturally important monastery next to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet....
at Shigatse
Shigatse
Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
, which later became the seat of the Panchen Lama
Panchen Lama
The Panchen Lama , or Bainqên Erdê'ni , is the highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism...
s.
Gendun Drup had no political power. It was in the hands of viceroys such as the Sakya
Sakya
The Sakya school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug...
s, the prince of Tsang
Ü-Tsang
Ü-Tsang , or Tsang-Ü, is one of the three traditional provinces of Tibet, the other two being Amdo and Kham. Geographically Ü-Tsang covered the central and western portions of the Tibetan cultural area, including the Tsang-po watershed, the western districts surrounding and extending past Mount...
, and the Mongolian Khan. The political role of the Dalai Lamas only began with the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama.
According to Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center, his Seat was the monastery bkra shis lhun po dgon pa (Tashilhunpo),
which he had founded in 1447.
He remained the abbot of Tashilhunpo Monastery until he died while meditating in 1474 at the age of 84 (83 by Western reckoning).
Dorje Pakmo (1422–1455), the highest female incarnation in Tibet, was a contemporary of Gendun Drub. Her teacher Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal was also one of his teachers; he received many teachings and empowerments from him.
Some of the most famous texts Gendun Drup wrote were:
- Sunlight on the Path to Freedom, a commentary on Abhidharma-kosaAbhidharma-kosaAbhidharma-kośa is a key text in verse written in Sanskrit by Vasubandhu. It summarizes Sarvāstivādin tenets in eight chapters with a total of around 600 verses...
- Crushing the Forces of Evil to Dust, an epic poem on the life and liberating deeds of Buddha Shakyamuni
- Song of the Eastern Snow Mountain, a poem dedicated to Je Tsongkhapa (Btsong-ka-pa)Je TsongkhapaTsongkhapa , whose name means “The Man from Onion Valley”, was a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Geluk school...
- Praise of the Venerable Lady Khadiravani Tara, an homage to the Goddess Tara
Further reading
- Mullin, Glenn H. (2001). The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation, pp. 50–85. Clear Light Publishers. Santa Fe, New Mexico. ISBN 1-57416-092-3.
- Selected Works of the Dalai Lama I by Anne Kandt, Christine Cox, Dalai Lama Dge-Dun-Grub I, Glenn H. Mullin, Sidney Piburn (1985)