Ganden Tripa Explained

Religion:Tibetan Buddhism

The Ganden Tripa, also spelled Gaden Tripa ("Holder of the Ganden Throne"), is the title of the spiritual leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, the school that controlled central Tibet from the mid-17th century until the 1950s. The 103rd Ganden Tripa, Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin, died in office on 21 April 2017.[1] Currently, Jangtse Choejey Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo is the 104th Ganden Tripa.

The head of the Gelugpa order is the Ganden Tripa and not, as is often misunderstood, the Dalai Lama.[2] [3] It is also often misunderstood that the Ganden Tripa is the same person as the abbot of Ganden monastery. Ganden has two abbots, the abbot of Ganden Shartse and the abbot of Ganden Jangtse, and neither of them can be the Ganden Tripa unless they have also served as abbot of Gyumay or Gyuto tantric colleges. See 'Mode of Appointment' below.

The Ganden Tripa is an appointed office directly by Lama Tsongkhapa to Gyaltsab Je, not a reincarnation lineage. It is awarded on the basis of merit which is the basis of his hierarchical progression. Since the position is held for only a 7-year term,[4] there have been many more Ganden Tripas than Dalai Lamas to date (104 as against 14).

Je Tsongkhapa (1357 - 1419), who founded the Gelug, is the first Ganden Tripa. After Tsongkhapa's death, his teachings were held and kept by Gyaltsab Je and Khedrub Je who were the next abbots of Ganden monastery. The lineage has been held by the Ganden Tripas.

In January 2003, the Central Tibetan Administration announced the nomination of the 101st Ganden Tripa. An excerpt from that press release gives his background:

The 100th Ganden Tripa, Lobsang Nyima Rinpoche,[5] retired and lived at Drepung Loselling Monastery with his labrang (office staff) until his death in 2008.[6]

Mode of appointment

The Ganden Tripa is nominated or appointed on the basis of a hierarchical progression based on merit,[7] and the appointee does not necessarily have to have any direct connection with Ganden Monastery, although if he started as a Ganden monk he could have obtained his higher Geshe degree there and risen to be its abbot.[8]

There is a traditional Tibetan saying: “If a beggar’s child has the ability, there is no stopping him becoming the Throne Holder of Ganden.” It means the post is obtained on merit alone, rather than by recognition as the incarnation of a teacher, or other means.[7]

This, and the hierarchy through which any Gelugpa monk can rise up through the ranks on merit to become the Ganden Tripa is briefly described in the November 2011 edition of Me-Long,[7] a journal published by the Norbulingka Institute, which is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan culture, and in full detail on "Study Buddhism". The progression can be summarised as follows: first of all, a monk of any Gelugpa monastery, who, after usually 15 to 20 years of study, achieves a Tsorampa or Lharampa (higher) Geshe degree, is obliged to enter either the Gyuto Tantric College or the Gyume Tantric College, depending on his place of origin in Tibet, to continue his studies. If, after one or two years further study he then qualifies as Ngagrampa Geshe, he can rise on merit to become a Geko or disciplinarian, then to become vice-abbot (tenure 3 years); then he can be chosen and appointed by the Dalai Lama as abbot of his respective college, with a tenure of a further 3 years.

On retirement as Abbot of Gyume or Gyuto, he becomes eligible to become, eventually, for former Gyume abbots the Jangtsey Chojey ("Dharma Master of the Northern Peak of Ganden Hill"), or for former Gyuto abbots the Sharpa Chojey ("Dharma Master of the Eastern Peak of Ganden Hill"). These are more elevated positions, above abbots and retired abbots, which are automatically accorded only to the senior-most surviving retired abbot, one from each respective college, with a tenure of 7 years.

The Ganden Tripa is an automatic appointment occurring once every 7 years, from one or the other of these two Chojeys or Dharma Masters, on an alternating basis. The incumbent Ganden Tripa stands down, and one of the two Chojeys is elevated. If the retiring Ganden Tripa is a former abbot of Gyume Tantric College, and thus a former Jangtsey Chojey, his replacement will be a former abbot of Gyuto Tantric College and thus the current Sharpa Chojey (and vice versa).

This appointment is automatic but is apparently confirmed by the Dalai Lama who, being the pre-eminent spiritual leader, publicly announces the appointment or nomination at the time of changeover.[9] The Rizong Sre Rinpoche was the 102nd Ganden Tripa, he previously served as the abbot of both Gyume Tantric College and Drepung Loseling Monastery.

List of Ganden Tripas

1–25

namebiographical datatenureWylie transliterationfurther titles
1. Je Tsongkhapa, Lobsang Dragpa 1357–1419 1409–1419 tsong kha pa, blo bzang grags pa Je Rinpoche (rje rin po che)
2. Dharma Rinchen (Gyaltsab Je) 1364–1432 1419–1431 dar ma rin chen
3. 1385–1438 1431–1438 mkhas grub rje dge legs dpal bzang 1st Panchen Lama
4. 1375–1450 1438–1450 zhwa lu lo chen legs pa rgyal mtshan –
5. 1389–1463 1450–1463 blo gros chos skyong –
6. 1402–1473 1463–1473 chos kyi rgyal mtshan 1st Tatsak Rinpoche (rta tshag rin po che)
7. 1402–1476 1473–1476(79) blo gros brtan pa –
8. 1414–1491 1480–1489 smon lam legs pa'i blo gros –
9. 1439–1492 1490–1492 blo bzang nyi ma–
10. 1415–1498 1492–1498 ye shes bzang po –
11. 1422/1429–1511 1499–1511 blo bzang grags pa –
12. 1450–1530 1511–1516 jam dbyangs legs pa'i blo gros –
13. 1453–1540 1516–1521 chos kyi bshes gnyen Also called Dharmamitra
14. 1453–1540 1522–1528 rin chen 'od zer –
15. 1478–1554 1529–1535 pan chen bsod nams grags pa (gzims khang gong ma)
16. 1473–1539 1534–1539 chos skyong rgya mtsho 4th Lab Kyabgön (lab skyabs mgon)
17. 1491–1554 1539–1546 rdo rje bzang po –
18. 1497–1548 1546–1548 rgyal mtshan bzang po –
19. 1501–1551/1552 1548–1552 ngag dbang chos grags –
20. 1493–1559 1552–1559 chos grags bzang po –
21. 1505–1567 1559–1565 dge legs dpal bzang –
22. 1493–1568 1565–1568 dge 'dun bstan pa dar rgyas –
23. 1520–1576 1568–1575 tshe brtan rgya mtsho –
24. 1516–1590 1575–1582 byams pa rgya mtsho –
25. 1526–1599 1582–? dpal 'byor rgya mtsho –

26–50

namebiographical datatenureWylie transliterationfurther titles
26. 1523/1546–1599 1589–1596 dam chos dpal 'bar –
27. 1540–1612 1596–1603 sangs rgyas rin chen –
28. 1532–1605/1607 1603–? dge 'dun rgyal mtshan –
29. 1545–1615 1607–1615 bshes gnyen grags pa –
30. 1546–1618 1615–1618 blo gros rgya mtsho 5th Lab Kyabgön
31. 1546–1620 1618–1620 dam chos dpal bzang –
32. 1561–1623 1620–1623 tshul khrims chos 'phel –
33. 1555–1627 1623–1627 grags pa rgya mtsho –
34. 1571/1575–1625/1629 1623, 1627/1628(?) ngag dbang chos kyi rgyal mtshan –
35. 1573–1644 1626–1637 dkon mchog chos 'phel –
36. ?–1664 1638? bstan 'dzin legs bshad –
37. 1571–1642 1638–1642 dge 'dun rin chen rgyal mtshan –
38. ?–1647 1643–1647 bstan pa rgyal mtshan –
39. ?–1672/1673 1644(?)/1648–1654 dkon mchog chos bzang –
40. 1601–1674 1651/1654/1655–1662 dpal ldan rgyal mtshan –
41. 1599/1600–1672 1658/1662–1668 blo bzang rgyal mtshan –
42. 1602–1678 1668–1675 blo bzang don yod Namdak Dorje
43. 1618–1684 1675–1681 byams pa bkra shis –
44. 1635–1688 1682–1685 ngag dbang blo gros rgya mtsho –
45. 1632–? 1685/1695–1692/1699 tshul khrims dar rgyas –
46. 1629–1695 ? ngag dbang dpal bzang Chinpa Gyatsho
47.
  • 17th century
1699–1701 blo bzang chos 'phel –
48.
  • 17th century
1702–1708 don grub rgya mtsho The 1st Ling Rinpoche
49.
  • 17th century
1708–1715 blo bzang dar rgyas –
50. ?–1724 1715–1722 dge 'dun phun tshogs –

51–75

namebiographical datatenureWylie transliterationfurther titles
51. ?–1729 1722–1729 dpal ldan grags pa 1st Hortsang Sertri (hor tshang gser khri)
52. 1668–1734 1730–1732 ngag dbang tshe 'phel –
53. 1678–1756 1732–1739 rgyal mtshan seng ge 1st Tsötritrül (gtsos khri sprul)
54. 1677–1751 1739–1746 ngag dbang mchog ldan 1st Reting Rinpoche (rwa sgreng)
55. 1690–1749/1750 1746–1749/1750 ngag dbang nam mkha' bzang po 1st Shingsa Rinpoche (shing bza' )
56. 1683–? 1750–1757 blo bzang dri med –
57. 1703–1770 1757–1764 bsam gtan phun tshogs –
58. 1707–1778 1764–1778? bya khyung ngag dbang chos grags –
59. 1710–1772 1771–1772? chu bzang ngag dbang chos grags –
60. 1725–? 6 Jahre blo bzang bstan pa –
61. 1721–1791 1778–1785 ngag dbang tshul khrims 1st Tshemon Ling Rinpoche (tshe smon gling)
62. 1729–1798 1785–1793 blo bzang smon lam –
63. 1736–1792 1792 (6 months) blo bzang mkhas mchog –
64. 1739–1801 1794–1801 blo bzang bkra shis –
65. 1744–1807 ? dge 'dun tshul khrims –
66. 1746–1824 1807–1814 ngag dbang snyan grags –
67. 1750–1814/1817 1814 (3 months) 'jam dbyangs smon lam –
68. 1757–1816 1815–1816 blo bzang dge legs –
69. 1756–1838 1816–1822 byang chub chos 'phel Yongzin Trijang Dorje Chang
70. 1760–1839 1822–1828 ngag dbang chos 'phel
71. 1756–1829/1830 1829–1830 ye shes thar 'dod –
72.
  • 19th century
1831–1837 'jam dpal tshul khrims 1st Khamlung Rinpoche khams lung
73. 1792–1862/1864 1837–1843 ngag dbang 'jam dpal tshul khrims rgya mtsho 2nd Tshemon Ling
74.
  • 18th century
? blo bzang lhun grub –
75.
  • 19 century–1853?
1850–1853 ngag dbang lung rtogs yon tan rgya mtsho The 4th Ling Rinpoche

76–102

namebiographical datatenureWylie transliterationfurther titles
76. ?–1872 1853–1870 blo bzang mkhyen rab dbang phyug –
77. Tshülthrim Dargye? 1859?–1864? tshul khrims dar rgyas –
78.
  • 19th century
1864?–1869? jam dbyangs dam chos –
79.
  • 19th century
1869?–1874? blo bzang sbyin pa –
80.
  • 19th century
1874?–1879? grags pa don grub –
81.
  • 19th century
1879?–1884? ngag dbang nor bu –
82.
  • 19th century
1884?–1889? ye shes chos 'phel –
83.
  • 19th century
1889?–1894? byang chub nam mkha' –
84.
  • 19th century
1894?–1899? blo bzang tshul khrims –
85. 1839–1899/1900 1896–1899/1900 blo bzang tshul khrims dpal ldan Yongzin Trijang Dorje Chang
86. 1840–? 1901–1907? blo bzang rgyal mtshan –
87. 1844–1919 1907–1914 ngag dbang blo bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan 3rd Tshemon Ling
88.
  • 19th century
1914?–1919 mkhyen rab yon tan rgya mtsho Drigungpa Khyenrab Yönten
89.
  • 19th century
1919?–1924? blo bzang snyan grags rgya mtsho –
90. 1876–1937/1947 1920/1921–1926 byams pa chos grags –
91. ?–1932 1927–1932 blo bzang rgyal mtshan –
92. ?–1933? 1933 thub bstan nyin byed 1st gtsang pa khri sprul
93.
  • 19th century
1933–1939 ye shes dbang ldan 1st mi nyag khri sprul
94. ?–1949 1940–1946 lhun grub brtson 'grus Shangpa Lhündrub Tsöndrü
95.
  • 19th century
1947–1953 bkra shis stong thun –
96. 1891–1964 1954/1958–1964 thub bstan kun dga –
97. 1903–1983 1965– thub bstan lung rtogs bstan 'dzin 'phrin las The 6th Ling Rinpoche[10]
98. 1919–1989 1984–1989 'jam dpal gzhan phan –
99. Yeshe Dönden[11] ?–1995 ? ye shes don ldan –
100.
  • 1928-2008
1995–2003 blo bzang nyi ma –
101.
  • 1927
2003–2009 lung rig rnam rgyal
102. 1928-2022 2009-2016 thub bstan nyi ma lung rtogs bstan 'dzin nor bu Rizong Sras Rinpoche (2nd ri rdzong sras sprul)
103. 1937-2017 2016-2017 rje btsun blo bzang bstan 'dzin To be advised
104. 1935- 2017-2023 skyabs rje rje btsun blo bzang bstan 'dzin dpal bzang po To be advised

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 103rd Gaden Tripa Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche Passes Away. Central Tibetan Administration. April 22, 2017. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425215350/http://tibet.net/2017/04/103rd-gaden-tripa-h-e-jetsun-lobsang-tenzin-rinpoche-passes-away/. dead.
  2. Powers, John. "Gelukpa Tibetan Buddhism" entry in Melton, J. Gordon, and Martin Baumann. 2002. Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. p. 533.
  3. Web site: Dr Alexander Berzin. Special Features of the Gelug Tradition - para. on Administration. Study Buddhism. 6 June 2016. November 2014. The Dalai Lamas are not the heads of the Gelug tradition.
  4. Web site: Berzin . Alexander . Alexander Berzin (scholar) . Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche II . A Brief History of Ganden Monastery . Study Buddhism . September 2003 . 2016-06-06. Expanded with Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche II, September 2003. Original version published in"Gelug Monasteries." Chö-Yang, Year of Tibet Edition (Dharamsala, India, 1991).
  5. Web site: Staff . His Eminence Lobsang Nyima, the 100th Gaden Throne Holder . Drepung Loseling Monastery . 2010-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090829071850/http://www.loselingmonastery.org/index.php?id=47&type=p . 2009-08-29 . dead . Last updated 22 December 2007.
  6. News: Former Ganden Tripa Stays on 'Thukdam' for 18 Days . Phayul . 2008-10-07 . 2010-05-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110609195041/http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Former+Ganden+Tripa+Stays+on+'Thukdam'+for+18+Days&id=22935 . 2011-06-09 .
  7. Window on Tibetan Culture: Different ways to select a leader. Me-Long Published by Norbulingka Institute. November, 2011.
  8. Web site: Alexander Berzin. A Brief History of Gyumay and Gyuto Lower and Upper Tantric Colleges. Study Buddhism. September 2003. The Jangtsey and Shartsey Chojeys alternate in becoming the Ganden Tripa (dGa’-ldan Khri-pa, Ganden Throne-holder), the head of the Gelug Tradition..
  9. Web site: Nomination of the 101st Ganden Tripa, supreme head of the Gelugpa lineage . Phayul.com . Paris, France . January 23, 2003 . the Dalai-lama announced in BodhGaya at the conclusion of the Kalachakra empowerment the appointment of Khensur Lungri Namgyel Rinpoche as the 101st Ganden Tripa . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083014/http://www.phayul.com/mobile/?page=view&c=1&id=3663 . 2015-05-18 .
  10. Web site: Staff . Pabongkha Rinpoche . Buddhist International Alliance (BIA) . 2010-02-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100612195311/http://b-i-a.net/pabongkha%20rinpoche.htm . 2010-06-12 .
  11. Web site: Staff . Buddhism: The Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism . Kagyu Office of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa . 2010-02-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100404072502/http://www.kagyuoffice.org/buddhism.geluk.html . 2010-04-04.

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