Tsongkhapa

In the vast history of Buddhism, few figures have shown a mastery of previous thought so wide and deep as Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the founder of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsongkhapa’s work spanned from advocating for strict adherence to Buddhist ethics and monastic discipline to carefully analyzing tantric texts and practices. Along the way, he synthesized philosophical ideas from the greatest minds of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. Nonetheless, he remains largely unknown outside the worlds of Tibetan Buddhist scholarship and Geluk practitioners.

The new edited volume, Tsongkhapa: The Legacy of Tibet’s Great Philosopher-Saint, seeks to remedy that, offering readers a comprehensive exploration of Tsongkhapa’s teachings and showing their relevance in the modern world. The book was begun soon after His Holiness the Dalai Lama convened a conference at Ganden Monastery in 2019, drawing together leading thinkers worldwide and marking the 600th anniversary of his death.

The book is carefully organized into sections devoted to Madhyamaka philosophy, tantric practices, and Tsongkhapa’s legacy and impact. Each section unpacks these different facets of his teachings, weaving together scholarly analysis with practical insights that will benefit readers from across Buddhist traditions.

Tsongkhapa: The Legacy of Tibet’s Great Philosopher-Saint
Edited by David B. Gray, introduction by Donald S. Lopez Jr.
Wisdom Publications, 2024, 264 pp., $34.95, paper

Readers seeking to enrich their understanding of Tibetan Buddhism or seeking insights applicable to contemporary life will find this book a treasure trove. Through its pages, Tsongkhapa’s voice, which has guided the Geluk tradition for centuries, comes alive—a guiding presence that encourages us to think critically, live ethically, and cultivate compassion in all aspects of our lives.

In his introduction, scholar Donald S. Lopez Jr. suggests that Western readers might look to the great figures of the Catholic Church to understand the enormity of Tsongkhapa’s legacy. There, we would need to draw from not one or two but three seminal thinkers—Thomas Aquinas, Thomas à Kempis, and Benedict of Nursia—to offer a comparison to Tsongkhapa’s impact on his tradition.

Guy Newland, a professor of religion at Central Michigan University, provides an excellent primer on Tsongkhapa’s approach to Madhyamaka (Middle Way) philosophy in his chapter “Start Making Sense: Finding Tsongkhapa’s Middle Way.” Newland demonstrates Tsongkhapa’s skillful reconciliation of emptiness with dependent arising, arguing that while things lack inherent existence, they aren’t mere illusions—they function reliably in our conventional reality. Synthesizing the epistemological insights of great Indian thinkers, including Dharmakirti and Candrakirti, Tsongkhapa emphasized the integration of philosophy and practice. Put simply, we know through Buddhist teachings that our perceptions and ideas are often tainted by ignorance. However, we also know we can use analytic meditation to see and break down misunderstandings and misconceptions. Through this, we can see conventionally true things as they really are—revealing the importance of ethical practice and cultivation. More importantly, Tsongkhapa argues that this process of study, analysis, and philosophical debate is a profound form of Buddhist practice, drawing us out of our ignorant perceptions and toward a fluid and expansive reality. This argument appears repeatedly in this book: No matter how complex an idea or powerful a technique might be, it is still connected to the fundamental practices of living ethically and generating the thought of awakening rooted in compassion (bodhicitta).

In her chapter “Tsongkhapa and Candrakirti on Uprooting: The Twofold Object of the Identity View,” scholar and translator Dechen Rochard highlights Tsongkhapa’s contribution to the Buddhist project of confronting the identity view, which is at the root of our clinging to ourselves as real and permanent beings. Rochard presents an impressive breadth of primary and scholarly material devoted to the illusory nature of the self and our mistaken view of its existence. Once again, the path toward overcoming this false view comes through reading, analyzing, and meditating upon how our idea of a permanent self is a mental projection or imputation of a collection of impermanent parts.

Jay Garfield, a professor of philosophy, logic, and Buddhist studies at Smith College, follows with a detailed account of Tsongkhapa’s careful understanding of how we can cognize ultimate truth, tackling the longstanding conundrum of how ultimate truth can be known if it transcends all concepts. The first way is conceptual, and it comes about when ordinary beings recognize reality as constructed and lacking inherent existence. The second way of cognizing ultimate truth is directly and free of concepts, as buddhas and bodhisattvas cognize it: In laying out this schema and defending it from Nyingma critiques, Tsongkhapa maintains the primacy of reason as part of one’s practice toward liberation.

Thupten Jinpa, former monk and principal English translator for the Dalai Lama, authored the chapter “Tsongkhapa on the Importance of Ascertainment in Meditation on Emptiness,” which sheds further light on the critical role of achieving cognitive certainty through analytical meditation. Tsongkhapa cautions against jumping straight into nondiscursive meditation without the kind of study that offers a clear understanding of emptiness. He emphasizes a balanced approach, combining analytical reasoning with tranquil abiding, to internalize and experience emptiness fully. This careful work sets the stage for the direct realization of emptiness and the tantric “completion stage,” uniting unparalleled bliss with emptiness.

Tsongkhapa’s work spanned from advocating for strict adherence to Buddhist ethics and monastic discipline to carefully analyzing tantric texts and practices.

In “Tsongkhapa’s Masterful Exegesis of Cakrasamvara Tantra,” David B. Gray, a professor of religious studies at Santa Clara University and general editor of the book, showcases Tsongkhapa’s ability to navigate the complex world of tantric texts with scholarly precision. Gray both translates and interprets the texts, matching faithfulness to the received tradition with skillful assimilation into a vibrant and evolving Tibetan culture. What’s particularly impressive is Tsongkhapa’s ecumenical approach. He references multiple tantric traditions, promoting an inclusive understanding that avoids narrow sectarian views. This openness enriches the tantric practices and makes them more accessible to practitioners from various backgrounds.

Translator Gavin Kilty describes how Tsongkhapa worked to rehabilitate the Guhyasamaja Tantra in Tibet, once again bridging the need for thorough training and study and the transformative power of the “King of Tantras.” Echoing the philosophical and practical insights of the previous chapters, Kilty leads the reader through Tsongkhapa’s guide to awakening by means of tantric teachings. Each stage is carefully described, again stressing the importance of sutra study as foundational for these advanced practices.

Author and scholar Roger R. Jackson’s chapter, “The Shadow of Heshang: Tsongkhapa on Chan, Dzokchen, and Mahamudra Meditation,” explores Tsongkhapa’s interactions with competing contemplative traditions. Tsongkhapa offered careful criticism of approaches that neglected ethical conduct and analytical rigor, such as specific interpretations of Chan and Mahamudra. However, he wasn’t dismissive. Indeed, he wrote positively of Mahamudra in his system and may have been a practitioner (while his relationship to Dzogchen remains unclear). He saw the potential pitfall of nihilism and the devaluing of ethical discipline in both meditative styles.

The book’s final three chapters zoom out from the philosophical debates and advanced practices of the preceding chapters to examine Tsongkhapa’s skill in interpretation, his impact on Mongolian Buddhism, and how his life and work continue to benefit people across the world.

Monk and scholar Geshe Ngawang Samten and former monk, author, and translator Gareth Sparham cover Tsongkhapa’s strategies for interpreting seemingly contradictory scriptures in two chapters. Samten covers Tsongkhapa’s contribution to Buddhist interpretation of texts, while Sparham focuses on the perfection of wisdom teachings. Tsongkhapa was a master at navigating the intricate web of Buddhist teachings, drawing together once disparate schools of thought into a clear hierarchy. His work cleared a path for future scholars, ensuring that Indian Buddhist thought remained coherent and accessible to future students of Tibetan Buddhism.

Beyond Tibet, the chairperson at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Bataa Mishig-Ish, wrote a chapter on Tsongkhapa’s influence in Mongolia that is a testament to the extensive reach of his teachings. Despite political upheavals and periods of repression, Mongolia saw the meticulous translation of Tsongkhapa’s works, which became foundational texts for Mongolian Buddhism. This cross-cultural transmission highlights the universal appeal and adaptability of his teachings.

Finally, Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron’s “Learning, Living, and Teaching Bodhicitta” brings Tsongkhapa’s teachings on compassion into a contemporary context. She addresses common Western misconceptions about compassion—such as viewing it as a weakness or associating it with personal suffering—and counters them with Tsongkhapa’s wisdom. As Tsongkhapa teaches, genuine compassion requires inner strength and leads to joy, not burnout.

We can use analytic meditation to see and break down misunderstandings and misconceptions.

Chodron’s reflections show Tsongkhapa’s relevance in today’s often chaotic world. In a time when individualism overshadows empathy, his emphasis on caring for oneself and others offers a balanced approach that can foster genuine well-being and societal harmony.

The contributors dissect Tsongkhapa’s teachings and bring them to life, showing how these centuries-old philosophies can apply to modern challenges.

Tsongkhapa’s insistence on integrating study with practice resonates with anyone striving for personal growth in a world where spiritual shortcuts and instant gratification are always available. It’s a reminder that intellectual understanding and practical application go hand in hand. That logical analysis, which might appear to be “mere navel-gazing,” helps loosen our deep roots of ignorance and suffering. Whether you’re exploring mindfulness, ethical living, or personal development, this holistic approach can lead to more profound and lasting change.

Tsongkhapa: The Legacy of Tibet’s Great Philosopher-Saint is more than a collection of essays—it’s an invitation to engage deeply with the life and teachings of a sagacious Buddhist philosopher whose ideas remain deeply relevant.