Tsongkhapa

Tsongkhapa (Lobsang Dragpa) is the founder of the Gelug school — the “virtuous tradition” — Tibet’s great systematizer of Madhyamaka philosophy and the graded path, whose order produced the Dalai Lamas.

Life

Born in the Amdo region (near modern Xining), he trained across all Tibetan schools, studied under Rendawa and others, and in his maturity — following Manjushri’s? — after years of retreat and vision-tradition practice — composed his systematic works. He founded Ganden monastery (1409), the mother-seat of the order; his disciples built Drepung and Sera, and Gendün Drub (posthumously named the First Dalai Lama) carried the line.

Teachings/Works

The Lamrim Chenmo (Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path) organizes the whole path for three capacities of practitioner; his Madhyamaka works (Essence of Eloquence) defined the Gelug reading of Prasangika emptiness; his tantric commentaries disciplined the Vajrayana’s practice.

Legacy

The Gelug order became Tibet’s largest school; the Ganden throne-holders and the Dalai Lamas descend institutionally from him; the great Gelug curricula still study his texts verse by verse.

Verification notes

• Life and works are thoroughly documented in Tibetan sources.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).