Zhang Yudrakpa Tsondru Drakpa (b.1123 - d.1193). Zhang Yudrakpa Tsondru Drakpa, also popularly known as Lama Zhang was born in 1123 at Tsawadru in the valley of the Lhasa River south of Lhasa. Lama Zhang later became the founder of the Tsalpa Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and a prominent religious figure, but his extensive involvement in the political and military conflicts of Tibet was

Gampopa (1079-1153) PART ONE: Early Life, Finding the Guru. Gampopa, also known as Dagpo Rinpoche, is one of the most important figures in the Kagyu lineage: The foremost disciple of Jetsun Milarepa, he truly consolidated the Kagyu tradition by integrating its special teachings with those of the other main trends of Buddhism: Fulfilling his promise, and inwardly very happy to renounce worldly life, he took

Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) was born in the Tsongkha region of Amdo in 1357. Today the location of Tsongkhapa's birth is marked by Kumbum Monastery, founded in 1583 by the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588) on the spot of the original Stūpa. At the age of 16 the young Je Tsongkhapa travelled to U-Tsang, never to return to his homeland. Tsongkhapa died in 1419 at

Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) was born during a crucial period in the second development of Tibetan Buddhism, which had started at the end of the 10th century. One of the important questions debated during this period was the relation between monasticism and tantric practice. Je Tsongkhapa devoted much of his work to the continuation of this moral tradition, and wrote Lam rim (Extensive Stages of the

Geshe Chekawa (1102–1176) was a prolific Kadampa Buddhist meditation master who composed the text Training the Mind in Seven Points and spread the study and practice of training the mind throughout Tibet, the explanation of Buddha's instructions on Training the Mind or Lojong in Tibetan. These teachings reveal how sincere Buddhist practitioners can transform adverse conditions into the path to Enlightenment, by developing their own Compassion.

Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen was born in a village called Drukgya in the Lhang valley, in Tsang, in either 1567 or 1570. The boy was recognized as the reincarnation of Ensapa Lobsang Döndrup (1505-1566) and given the name Chokyi Gyaltsen. With Tsang forces out of Lhasa, in 1622 Chokyi Gyaltsen was able to enthrone the Fifth Dalai Lama at Drepung. Chokyi Gyaltsen was given the title

The Life of Atiśa | Full: in 4 parts. 1. Childhood and Renunciation of Princely Life. When Atiśa was 18 months old, his parents held his first public audience at the local temple. Without any instruction, he prostrated to the venerable objects inside. As Atiśa grew older, his wish to become a mendicant monk increased ever stronger, but his parents had different expectations. Atiśa left

Atiśa Dīpaṁkara Śrījñāna (982-1054) was a Buddhist Bengali religious leader and master. Atiśa was one of the major figures in the spread of 11th century Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna Buddhism in Asia and inspired Buddhist thought from Tibet to Sumatra. Atiśa is recognised as one of the greatest figures of classical Buddhism, and the founder of the Kadampa School, one of the New Translation schools of

Aśoka (Ashoka), the 3rd Ruler of the Indian Mauryan Empire, became a model of Kingship for Buddhists everywhere: Aśoka is known today for the Edicts he had inscribed on pillars and rock faces throughout his kingdom, and through the legends told about him in various Buddhist sources. Aśoka is said to purify the teaching by convening the Third Buddhist council, following which he sends missionary-monks