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Tsongkhapa: Philosopher, Teacher and Yogi

Thupten Jinpa Celebrates the Life and Work of the Founder of the Gelug School 

At the end of September we had the honour of filming a very special evening talk, in celebration of the 600 year anniversary of the passing of one of the most important figures in all of Tibet history. All over the world many events are being held this year in honour of Lama Tsnogkhapa (1357 – 1419) the towering Buddhist thinker, scholar and writer and founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

During the course of the evening Ven Thupten Jinpa spoke in depth about the life and works of Lama Tsongkhapa scholar.His eclectic mind and intellect drove him to find as many of the Indian Buddhist text as he could; to read across all existing lineages. His aim was nothing less than to synthesis the wisdom of all the different lineages into one; an holistic approach to the Buddhist path. With the founding of Ganden monastery in 1409, Lama Tsongkhapa was able to lay down the basis for what was later to become the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

It is appropriate that  Thupten Jinpa, himself a formidable scholar and writer should have been our guide to this great figure of Tibetan Buddhism. As the Dalai Lama’s long-time key translator and as a Buddhist scholar practioner Ven Thupten Jinpa has not only written many scores books on Buddhist teachings, philosophies and histories he is also globally renowned for this dedication and application to the work of the Mind Life Institute who, since its founding more than 30 years ago has pushed through the boundaries to syntheisis the Buddhist philosophical understanding of the mind with the empirical scientific research to bring about reduced suffering and the promotion of well being and harmonious living.

Due to be published in November, Ven Thupten Jinpa’s new work: Tsongkhapa, A Buddha in the Land of Snows is already being hailed as the new standard and definitive biography of this far-sighted thinker.: an essential read for every Buddhist scholar.

On behalf of all, our sincere thanks to Jamyang London for inviting us in to film this talk.