Je Tsongkhapa Anniversary

Monday December 26, 2005 is the Anniversary of Je Tsongkapa, (Tsong-Kha-Pa)1357 - 1419 AD. This holiday is celebrated on the 25th day in the tenth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar.

Tsongkhapa (also known as Je Rinpoche, The Precious Lord), is one of the most holy ancient Tibetan masters, known for his true spiritual insight and realization of Buddha's teachings. As founder of the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism, (the same order as H.H. Dalai Lama) Tsongkhapa’s presence went beyond preservation of the dharma to thoroughly refining the teachings. To this day, his life and work profoundly inspire millions of people around the world.

Tsongkhapa founded Ganden Monastery – one of the greatest monasteries in Tibet – and his popular Gelugpa tradition gave rise to many others following in this same order. (These continue to be studied and practiced at Drepung, Sera, the Upper and Lower Tantric monasteries, as well as Namgyal Monastery.) The Gelugpa tradition spread not only throughout Tibet, but also into Mongolia and the Himalayan regions of Lhadak, Spiti, Kinnaur and so on. Lama Tsongkhapa is also referred to as Shar Tsong-khapa Lobsang Dragpa; simply meaning that he was born in the eastern part of Tibet, in the Tsong-kha area. His given name at birth was Lobsang Drakpa, meaning one who is goodhearted and famous.