Thogme Zangpo

Thogme Zangpo (1297–1363) was a Tibetan Buddhist master of the Sakya tradition and the author of the widely recited Thirty-seven Practices of a Bodhisattva.

Background

Born in the Nangchen region of eastern Tibet, Thogme Zangpo was ordained as a monk and studied at the great monasteries. He became a master of the Lamrim (stages of the path) tradition and was renowned for his devotion to Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.

Spiritual Contribution

Thogme Zangpo composed numerous devotional prayers and instructions. His most famous composition, the Lag-len so-bdun-ma (Thirty-seven Practices of a Bodhisattva), is recited daily in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries worldwide. He taught the integration of Mahamudra meditation with the bodhisattva path.

Legacy and Impact

His Thirty-seven Practices became one of the most widely memorized texts in Tibetan Buddhism. His writings draw deeply on Shantideva’s Bodhicaryavatara, source of the famous aspiration: “May I be a bridge, a medicine, and a servant for all beings.”

Verification Notes

• 14th century figure from Tibetan records
• Active in Sakya monastic tradition