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This is a chronological list of important Tibetan writers.
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thonmi Sambhota | 7th century | thon mi sam bho ta | - | Inventor of the Tibetan script |
Yeshe Tsogyal | 757-817 | ye shes mtsho rgyal | Princess of Kharchen Great Bliss Queen | Consort of Padmasambhava |
Nampar Nangdze Lotsawa | 8th century | rnam par snang mdzad lo tsa ba | Vairotsana | Translator of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan during the first phase of translation |
Padmasambhava | 8th to 9th century | pad ma 'byung gnas | Guru Rinpoche | Brought Buddhism to Tibet |
Yuthok Yonten Gonpo (the Elder) | 708–833 | g.yu thog yon tan mgon po | - | Author of foundational works on Tibetan medicine (rgyud bzhi, Gyüschi) |
Lochen Rinchen Sangpo | 957–1055 | lo chen rin chen bzang po | - | First translator of Sarma texts |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Machig Labdrön | 1055–1149 | ma gcig lab sgron | Dorje Dudul Chenmo | Famous yogini, promoter of Chöd in Tibet |
Marpa Lotsawa | 1012–1097 | mar pa | - | Important translator of Sarma texts |
Milarepa | 11th to 12th century | mi la ras pa | Jetsün | Famous yogi, known for his Vajra songs |
Bari Lotsawa Rinchen Drag | 1040–1111 | ba ri lo tsa ba rin chen grags | 2nd Sakya Trizin | Wrote One Hundred Sadhanas of Bari |
Langri Tangpa | 1054–1123 | glang ri thang pa | Geshe | Kadam tradition |
Patsab Nyima Drakpa | born 1055 | pa tshab lo tsa ba nyi ma grags pa | - | Translated many Madhyamaka texts |
Gampopa | 1079–1153 | sgam po pa | Sönam Rinchen, Dagpo Lhaje, Nyamed Dakpo Rinpoche, Da'od Zhonnu | Founder of Kagyu |
Sachen Kunga Nyingpo | 1092–1158 | sa chen kun dga’ snying po | 3rd Sakya Trizin | Systematised teachings of the Sakya tradition |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chekawa Yeshe Dorje | 1102–1176 | 'chad ka ba ye shes rdo rje | Geshe Chekhawa | Wrote the Seven Points of Spiritual Training |
Phagmo Drupa | 1110–1170 | phag mo gru pa | Dorje Gyalpo | - |
Yuthok Yontan Gonpo the Younger | 1126–1202 | g.yu thog yon tan mgon po | - | Contributions to Tibetan medicine |
Sonam Tsemo | 1142–1182 | bsod nams rtse mo | 4th Sakya Trizin | - |
Jigten Sumgön | 1143–1217 | 'jig rten gsum mgon | Drikungpa | Founder of Drigung Kagyu [1] |
Drakpa Gyaltsen | 1147–1216 | grags pa rgyal mtshan | 5th Sakya Trizin | Commentator on Asvaghosa's Fifty Verses of Guru Devotion |
Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen | 1182–1251 | sa skya pandi ta kun dga’ rgyal mtshan | 6th Sakya Trizin | - |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Karma Pakshi | 1204–1283 | karma pak shi | 2nd Karmapa | Wrote over 100 texts on Buddhism, preserved at Tsurphu Monastery |
Drogön Chögyal Phagpa Lodrö Gyaltsen | 1235–1279/80 | chos rgyal 'phags pa blo gros rgyal mtshan | 7th Sakya Trizin | Devised the 'Phags-pa script |
Rangjung Dorje | 1284–1339 | rang byung rdo rje | 3rd Karmapa | - |
Buton Rinchen Drub | 1290–1364 | bu ston rin chen grub | 11th Abbot of Shalu Monastery | Catalogued thousands of religious and philosophical works |
Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen | 1292–1361 | dol po pa shes rab rgyal mtshan | - | See also Jonang, Kalacakra |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Karma Lingpa | 14th century | karma gling pa | Tertön | - |
Longchen Rabjam | 1308–1364 | klong chen rab 'byams | Longchenpa, Tertön | Wrote several texts on Dzogchen and Buddhist philosophy |
Orgyen Lingpa | 1323 – c. 1360 | o rgyan gling pa | Tertön | - |
Rolpe Dorje | 1340–1383 | rol pa'i rdo rje | 4th Karmapa | Wrote many dohas |
Tsongkhapa | 1357–1419 | tsong kha pa | 1st Ganden Tripa | Reformer of Tibetan Buddhism, founder of the New Kadampa, Gelug |
Gyaltsab Je | 1364–1432 | rgyal tshab rje | Gyaltsab Dharma Rinchen, 2nd Ganden Tripa | Wrote a well-known commentary on Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara |
Khedrup Je | 1385–1438 | mkhas grub rje | 3rd Ganden Tripa, 1st Panchen Lama | - |
Gendun Drub | 1391–1474 | dge 'dun grub pa | 1st Dalai Lama | Among other works, Training the Mind in the Great Way |
Gö Lotsawa Zhönnu-pel | 1392–1481 | 'gos lo tsa ba gzhon nu dpal | - | Author of the Blue Annals |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gorampa Sönam Senge | 1429–1489 | go rams pa bsod nams seng ge | - | - |
Pema Lingpa | 1450–1521 | padma gling pa | Tertön | - |
Chödrak Gyatso | 1454–1506 | chos grags rgya mtsho | 7th Karmapa | Commentary on Abhisamayalamkara (Mahayana sutras), and The Ocean of Reasoning, a commentary on Pramana literature |
Gendun Gyatso | 1475–1542 | dge 'dun rgya mtsho | 2nd Dalai Lama | Mystical verse and visions |
Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrup | 1497–1557 | ngor chen dkon mchog lhun grub | 10th Abbot of Ngor Monastery | Author of Three Visions (foundational work of Sakya) |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mikyö Dorje | 1507–1554 | mi bskyod rdo rje | 8th Karmapa | Many works on Sutrayana, instructions on tantra |
Pema Karpo | 1527–1592 | padma dkar po | - | Master of the Drukpa Kagyü |
Sonam Gyatso | 1543–1588 | bsod nams rgya mtsho | 3rd Dalai Lama | Stages of the Path: Refined Gold, Lamrim |
Wangchuk Dorje | 1556–1603 | dbang phyug rdo rje | 9th Karmapa | Wrote three Mahamudra texts |
Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen | 1570–1662 | blo bzang chos kyi rgyal mtshan | 4th Panchen Lama | Wrote a famous lamrim |
Taranatha | 1575–1634 | tA ra nA tha | Jonang | Historian of Indian Buddhism and author of Five Teachings of Maitreya |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kelden Gyatso | 1607–1677 | skal ldan rgya mtsho | Kelden Repa | "Mgur Bum", poetry and songs in the style of Milarepa |
Tsele Natsok Rangdröl | 1608–? | rtse le sna tshogs rang grol | Tsele Gotsangpa | - |
Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso | 1617–1682 | ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho | 5th Dalai Lama | Twenty-five Sealed Teachings |
Desi Sangye Gyatso | 1653–1705 | sangs rgyas rgya mtsho | Desi | Wrote Vaidurya-Karpo and Vaidurya sNgon-po |
Tsangyang Gyatso | 1682–1706 | tshangs dbyangs rgya mtsho | 6th Dalai Lama | Many great poems with often worldly subjects are ascribed to him |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chokyi Jungne, Situ Panchen | 1700–1774 | chos kyi 'byung gnas | 8th Tai Situpa | Grammarian |
Kelsang Gyatso | 1708–1757 | skal bzang rgya mtsho | 7th Dalai Lama | Explication of the Mandala rituals of Vajra Akshobhya Guhyasamaja |
Jigme Lingpa | 1729–1798 | 'jigs med gling pa | Rigzin, Tertön | - |
Jamphel Gyatso | 1758–1804 | 'jam dpal rgya mtsho | 8th Dalai Lama | - |
Getse Mahapandita | 1761–1829 | dge rtse pan chen | Tsewang Chokdrub | - |
Palden Tenpai Nyima | 1782–1853 | bstan pa'i nyi ma | 7th Panchen Lama | Author of Rinjung Lhantab |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jigme Chökyi Wangpo | 1808–1887 | 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po | Patrul Rinpoche | - |
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye | 1813–1899 | 'jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas | Padma Tennyi Yungdrung Lingpa | Treasury of Rediscovered Teachings |
Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | 1820–1892 | 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse’i dbang po | - | - |
Chokgyur Lingpa | 1829–1870 | mchog gyur gling pa | Tertön | - |
Dudjom Lingpa | 1835–1904 | bdud 'joms gling pa | Tertön | - |
Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso | 1846–1912 | mi pham 'jam dbyangs rnam rgyal | Mipham Rinpoche | - |
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen | 1859–1935 | shar rdza bkra shis rgyal mtshan | - | See also Bön |
Thubten Gyatso | 1876–1933 | thub bstan rgya mtsho | 13th Dalai Lama | - |
Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo | 1878–1941 | pha bong kha pa bde chen snying po | - | - |
Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö | 1893–1959 | 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse chos kyi blo gros | - | Rime movement |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso | 1901–1981 | blo bzang ye shes bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho | 3rd Trijang Rinpoche | Wrote on Gyallu |
Gendün Chöpel | 1903 or 1905–1951 | dge 'dun chos 'phel | - | Author of the White Annals and The Tibetan Art of Love |
Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje | 1904–1987 | 'jigs bral ye shes rdo rje | 2nd Dudjom Rinpoche, 1st leader of the Nyingma | See also Terma |
Karma Rangjung Kunchap | 1905–1989 | kar ma ran byung kun khyab | Kalu Rinpoche | Shangpa Kagyu |
Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa | 1908–1989 | - | Tsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa | Historian |
Dilgo Khyentse | 1910–1991 | dil mgo mkhyen brtse | From 1987 to 1991, led the Nyingma School | - |
Chatral Sangye Dorje | born 1913 | bya bral sangs rgyas rdo rje | Chatral Rinpoche | - |
Geshe Rabten | 1920–1986 | dge bshes rab brtan | - | Author on Buddhism |
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche | 1920–1996 | sprul sku o rgyan | - | - |
Thubten Jigme Norbu | 1922–2008 | thub bstan 'jigs med nor bu | Taktser Rinpoche | - |
Tenzin Choedrak | 1922–2001 | bstan 'dzin chos grags | - | Former doctor of the 14th Dalai Lama |
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche | born 1924 | - | Abt des Karma Triyana Dharmachakra | - |
Lopön Tenzin Namdak | born 1926 | bstan 'dzin rnam-dag | Lopön | See also Bön |
Lobsang Gyatso (monk) | 1928–1997 | blo bzang rgya mtsho | Geshe | Founder of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics Dharmshala, murdered in 1997 |
Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche | 1930–2002 | - | Rinpoche | - |
Kelsang Gyatso | born 1931 | bskal bzang rgya mtsho | Geshe | Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition |
Thinley Norbu | born c. 1931 | phrin las nor bu | Dungsé Thinley Norbu Rinpoche | son of Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje, 2nd Dudjom Rinpoche |
Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche | 1932–1999 | - | Nyoshul Khenpo | - |
Ani Pachen | 1933–2002 | - | - | Autobiography |
9th Thrangu Rinpoche | born 1933 | - | Khenchen | - |
Palden Gyatso | born 1933 | dpal ldan rgya mtsho | - | Autobiography |
Tarthang Tulku | born 1934 | - | - | - |
Tenzin Gyatso | born 1935 | bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho | 14th Dalai Lama, Geshe | Wide range of works on Buddhism |
Thubten Yeshe | 1935–1984 | thub bstan ye shes | - | Founder of the FPMT |
Tashi Tsering | born 1937 | bkra shis tshe ring | Geshe | - |
Namkhai Norbu | born 1938 | nam mkha'i nor bu | Chögyal | Writings on Dzogchen |
Lobsang Tenzin | born 1939 | blo bzang bstan 'dzin | 5th Samdhong Rinpoche, Kalon Tripa of the 13th Kashag of the Tibetan government-in-exile | |
Akong Rinpoche | born 1939 | - | - | - |
Loden Sherab Dagyab | born 1940 | - | - | - |
Bokar Rinpoche | 1940–2004 | - | - | Contributions on Bardo |
Chögyam Trungpa | 1940–1987 | chos rgya drung pa | 11th Trungpa Tulku from Surmang | - |
Khenchen Palden Sherab | 1941–2010 | mkhan chen dpal ldan shes rab | - | Several Nyingma translations in English |
Thubten Zopa Rinpoche | born 1946 | - | Lama | Founder of the FPMT |
Sogyal Rinpoche | born 1948 | bsod rgyal rin po che | - | Author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying |
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche | born 1951 | chos kyi nyi ma | - | Son of Tulku Urgyen, contributions on Bardo |
Mipham Chökyi Lodrö | born 1952 | mi pham chos kyi blo gros | 14th Shamarpa | - |
Dhondup Gyal | 1953–1985 | don grub rgyal | - | A founder of modern Tibetan literature |
Tashi Tsering (London) | born 1958 | bkra shis tshe ring | Geshe | - |
Alai (author) | born 1959 | - | - | Chinese writer |
Tashi Dawa | born 1959 | bkra shis zla ba | - | Author of A Soul Knotted on a Leather Thong |
Khyentse Norbu | born 1961 | mkhyen brtse nor bu | Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse | - |
Tenzin Wangyal | born 1961 | bstan 'dzin dbang rgyal | - | See also Bön |
Sakyong Mipham | born 1963 | - | - | Son of Chögyam Trungpa |
Sungrap Ngedon Tenpa Gyaltsen | born 1965 | - | 7th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Abbot of Dzogchen Monastery | - |
Ngawang Tsoknyi Gyatso | born 1966 | ngag dbang tshogs gnyis rgya mtsho | 3rd Tsoknyi Rinpoche | Son of Tulku Urgyen |
Tsering Woeser | born 1966 | - | - | - |
Khandro Rinpoche | born 1967 | mkha' 'gro rin po che | - | Daughter of Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal |
Tsering Wangmo Dhompa | born 1969 | tshe ring dbang mo sdom pa | - | Female poet |
Tenzin Tsundue | born 1975 | - | - | - |
7th Yongey Mingyur | born 1975 | yongs dge mi 'gyur | Dorje Rinpoche | Youngest son of Tulku Urgyen |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jamyang Norbu | - | 'jam dbyangs nor bu | - | - |
Tsering Döndrub | - | tshe ring don grub | Ancestor, ra lo | Novelist |
Tsering Namgyal | - | tshe ring rnam rgyal | - | Writer of Little Lhasa and other different articles in various newspaper |
Tsering Shakya | - | tshe ring sha kya | Tsering Wangdu Shakya | Historian |
Tsoltim Ngima Shakabpa | - | - | - | poet and writer |
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Original name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Erik Pema Kunsang | - | Erik pad ma kun bzang | Erik Hein Schmidt | Translator and author, founder of Rangjung Yeshe Translations and Publications |
Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo | born 1939 | - | Alyce Zeoli | Enthroned 1988, Palyul |
Lama Chökyi Nyima | - | bla ma chos kyi nyi ma | Richard Barron | - |
Pema Chödrön | born 1936 | pad ma chos sgron | Deirdre Blomfield-Brown | - |
Gyurme Dorje | - | 'gyur med rdo rje | - | - |
Geshe Ngawang Wangyal | 1901–1983 | ngag dbang dbang rgyal | - | - |
Thubten Chodron | born 1950 | thub bstan chos sgron | Cherry Greene | - |
Tsultrim Allione | born 1947 | tshul khrims Allione | Joan Rousmanière Ewing | - |
The Kagyu school, also transliterated as Kagyü, or Kagyud, which translates to "Oral Lineage" or "Whispered Transmission" school, is one of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Kagyu lineages trace themselves back to the 11th century Indian Mahasiddhas Naropa, Maitripa and the yogini Niguma, via their student Marpa Lotsawa (1012–1097), who brought their teachings to Tibet. Marpa's student Milarepa was also an influential poet and teacher.
Drikung Kagyü or Drigung Kagyü is one of the eight "minor" lineages of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. "Major" here refers to those Kagyü lineages founded by the immediate disciples of Gampopa (1079-1153), while "minor" refers to all the lineages founded by disciples of Gampopa's main disciple, Phagmo Drupa (1110-1170). One of these disciples, Jigten Sumgön (1143-1217), is the founder of Drikung.
Karma Kagyu, or Kamtsang Kagyu, is a widely practiced and probably the second-largest lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in Tibet, China, Russia, Mongolia, India, Nepal and Bhutan, with current centres in over 60 countries. The spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu is the Gyalwa Karmapa; the 2nd among the 10 Karmapas had been the principal spiritual advisors to successive emperors of China. The Karma Kagyu are sometimes called the "Black Hat" lamas, in reference to the Black Crown worn by the Karmapa.
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It was built by the first Dharma Raja, who also founded the Lho-drukpa sect of Buddhism, which has remained the distinctive sect of Bhutan. The correct transliteration of the vernacular name—Bkrashis-chhos-rdzong, meaning "the fortress of auspicious doctrine"—is, according to Graham Sandberg, Tashichhoidzong.
Buddhism in Scotland is a relatively recent phenomenon. In Scotland Buddhists represent 0.24% of the population or around 13,000 people.
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