Gedun Drupa was born in a cow-shed in Gyurmey Rupa near Sakya in the Tsang region of central Tibet, the son of Gonpo Dorjee and Jomo Namkha Kyi, nomadic tribespeople.[3] 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 Péma Dorjee (Tibetan: པད་མ་རྡོ་རྗེ་, "Vajra Lotus").
Ordination
Later he was placed in Narthang Monastery. In 1405, he took his śrāmaṇera (novitiate) vows from the abbot of Narthang, Khenchen Drupa Sherap.[citation needed] When he was 20 years old, in about 1411 received the name Gedun Drupa upon taking the vows of a bhikṣu (monk) from the abbot of Narthang Monastery.[4] Also at this age he became a student of the scholar and reformer Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419),[5] who some say was his uncle.[6] Around this time he also became the first abbot of Ganden Monastery, founded by Tsongkhapa himself in 1409.[7]
Career
By the middle of his life, Gedun Drupa had become one of the most esteemed scholar-saints in the country.[citation needed] Gedun Drupa founded the major monastery of Tashi Lhunpo at Shigatse, which later became the seat of the Panchen Lamas.[8]
Gedun Drupa had no political power. It was in the hands of viceroys such as the Sakyas, the prince of Tsang, and the Mongolian Khagan. The political role of the Dalai Lamas only began with the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama.[citation needed]
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 Gedun Gyatso, who formalized the system, monks have gone to the lake to meditate when seeking visions with guidance on finding the next reincarnation.[9]
Notable contemporaries
The Samding Dorje Phagmo (1422–1455), the highest female incarnation in Tibet,[10] was a contemporary of Gedun Drupa. Her teacher, the Bodongpa Panchen Chogley Namgyal was also one of his teachers; he received many teachings and empowerments from him.[11]
Works
Some of the most famous texts Gedun Drupa wrote were:
Sunlight on the Path to Freedom, a commentary on Abhidharma-kosa
Crushing the Forces of Evil to Dust, an epic poem on the life and liberating deeds of Gautama Buddha
Song of the Eastern Snow Mountain, a poem dedicated to Je Tsongkhapa
Praise of the Venerable Lady Khadiravani Tara, an homage to Tara
References
^"Short Biographies of the Previous Dalai Lamas". DalaiLama.com. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
^"dge 'dun grub pa". Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
^Gedun Drupa December 13, 2005, at the Wayback Machine at Dalai Lama website.
^Chö Yang: The Voice of Tibetan Religion and Culture. (1991) Year of Tibet Edition, p. 79. Gangchen Kyishong, Dharmasala, H.P., India.
^Laird, Thomas (2006). The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama, pp. 139, 264–265. Grove Press, N.Y. ISBN978-0-8021-1827-1
^The Power-places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide, (1988) p. 268. Keith Dowman. ISBN0-7102-1370-0.
^. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
Bibliography
Thubten Samphel and Tendar (2004). The Dalai Lamas of Tibet. Roli & Janssen, New Delhi. (2004). ISBN81-7436-085-9
McKay, A. (editor) (2003): History of Tibet. Publisher: RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN0-7007-1508-8
Mullin, Glenn H. (2001). The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation, pp. 50–85. Clear Light Publishers. Santa Fe, New Mexico. ISBN1-57416-092-3.
Dalai Elan Roebuck. (1991) Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama. San Francisco, CA.
Selected Works of the Dalai Lama I by Anne Kandt, Christine Cox, Dalai Lama Dge-Dun-Grub I, Glenn H. Mullin, Sidney Piburn (1985)
dalai, lama, gedun, drupa, tibetan, དག, འད, wylie, grub, 1391, 1474, considered, posthumously, have, been, gedun, drupaདག, འད, དག, འད, title, posthumous, designation, personalbornpéma, dorjee1391shabtod, tsang, tibetdied1474, aged, tsang, tibetreligiontibetan,. Gedun Drupa 1 Tibetan དག འད ན ག བ པ Wylie dge dun grub pa 1391 1474 was considered posthumously to have been the 1st Dalai Lama 2 Gedun Drupaདག འད ན ག བ པ དག འད ན ག བ པ Title1st Dalai Lama posthumous designation PersonalBornPema Dorjee1391Shabtod U Tsang TibetDied1474 aged 82 83 U Tsang TibetReligionTibetan BuddhismParentsGonpo Dorjee father Jomo Namkha Kyi mother Senior postingSuccessorGedun Gyatso Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Ordination 1 2 Career 2 Legends 3 Notable contemporaries 4 Works 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksBiography Edit Gedun Drupa 1st Dalai Lama Gedun Drupa was born in a cow shed in Gyurmey Rupa near Sakya in the Tsang region of central Tibet the son of Gonpo Dorjee and Jomo Namkha Kyi nomadic tribespeople 3 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 Dorjee Tibetan པད མ ར ར Vajra Lotus Ordination Edit Later he was placed in Narthang Monastery In 1405 he took his sramaṇera novitiate vows from the abbot of Narthang Khenchen Drupa Sherap citation needed When he was 20 years old in about 1411 received the name Gedun Drupa upon taking the vows of a bhikṣu monk from the abbot of Narthang Monastery 4 Also at this age he became a student of the scholar and reformer Je Tsongkhapa 1357 1419 5 who some say was his uncle 6 Around this time he also became the first abbot of Ganden Monastery founded by Tsongkhapa himself in 1409 7 Career Edit By the middle of his life Gedun Drupa had become one of the most esteemed scholar saints in the country citation needed Gedun Drupa founded the major monastery of Tashi Lhunpo at Shigatse which later became the seat of the Panchen Lamas 8 Gedun Drupa had no political power It was in the hands of viceroys such as the Sakyas the prince of Tsang and the Mongolian Khagan The political role of the Dalai Lamas only began with the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama citation needed He remained the abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery until he died while meditating in 1474 at the age of 84 83 by Western reckoning 6 Legends EditTradition 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 Gedun Gyatso who formalized the system monks have gone to the lake to meditate when seeking visions with guidance on finding the next reincarnation 9 Notable contemporaries EditThe Samding Dorje Phagmo 1422 1455 the highest female incarnation in Tibet 10 was a contemporary of Gedun Drupa Her teacher the Bodongpa Panchen Chogley Namgyal was also one of his teachers he received many teachings and empowerments from him 11 Works EditSome of the most famous texts Gedun Drupa wrote were Sunlight on the Path to Freedom a commentary on Abhidharma kosa Crushing the Forces of Evil to Dust an epic poem on the life and liberating deeds of Gautama Buddha Song of the Eastern Snow Mountain a poem dedicated to Je Tsongkhapa Praise of the Venerable Lady Khadiravani Tara an homage to TaraReferences Edit Short Biographies of the Previous Dalai Lamas DalaiLama com Retrieved May 13 2018 dge dun grub pa Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center Retrieved May 20 2015 Gedun Drupa Archived December 13 2005 at the Wayback Machine at Dalai Lama website Thubten Samphel and Tendar 2004 p 75 Farrer Halls Gill World of the Dalai Lama Quest Books 1998 p 77 a b Thubten Samphel and Tendar 2004 p 35 Simhanada The Lion s Roar of Mahayana Buddhism Cho Yang The Voice of Tibetan Religion and Culture 1991 Year of Tibet Edition p 79 Gangchen Kyishong Dharmasala H P India Laird Thomas 2006 The Story of Tibet Conversations with the Dalai Lama pp 139 264 265 Grove Press N Y ISBN 978 0 8021 1827 1 The Power places of Central Tibet The Pilgrim s Guide 1988 p 268 Keith Dowman ISBN 0 7102 1370 0 Bodong info Archived from the original on August 28 2008 Retrieved March 7 2009 Bibliography Edit Thubten Samphel and Tendar 2004 The Dalai Lamas of Tibet Roli amp Janssen New Delhi 2004 ISBN 81 7436 085 9 McKay A editor 2003 History of Tibet Publisher RoutledgeCurzon ISBN 0 7007 1508 8 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 Dalai Elan Roebuck 1991 Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama San Francisco CA Selected Works of the Dalai Lama I by Anne Kandt Christine Cox Dalai Lama Dge Dun Grub I Glenn H Mullin Sidney Piburn 1985 External links EditTibetan Buddhist Resource CenterBuddhist titlesPreceded byNew creation Dalai LamaN APosthumously recognized Succeeded byGedun Gyatso Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1st Dalai Lama amp oldid 1130629310, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
