Jonang

Jonangpa ( Tib: jo nang ) denotes a sub- school of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism ( Vajrayana ), which to a large extent - is more like a wholly separate orders developed - at least from a political and historical reasons. The Sakya tradition is one of the four major Buddhist traditions ( Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug ) in Tibet.

Development and teaching

The Jonangpa Kalachakra lineage goes on Yumo Mikyö Dorje (Tibetan: rdo rje yu mo mi bskyod, 11th century ) a highly realized Siddha and Kalachakra master back. His son and chief disciple Dharmeshvara continued the line. Later ( in 1294 ) founded Künpang Thugje Tsöndrü ( Tib: kun spangs thugs rje brtson ' grus, 1243-1313 ), a descendant of the line Yumo the Jonang monastery, which became a major center for Kalachakra. Künpang Thugje Tsöndrüs student named Dölpopa Sherab Gyeltshen ( Dölpopa; 1292-1361 ) constituted the Jonangpa tradition with the decline of the political influence of the Sakya school in the 14th century to an independent school. He wrote the well-known magazine " ocean of clear importance " and a font for Shentong ( Tib: gzhan stong ), a teaching on emptiness ( Shunyata ). Dolpopa was known for his achievement and learning, and brought together over 1,000 students who practiced his teachings. One of his students taught Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug School the various aspects of the Kalachakra Tantra. The Jonang school was of Jonang Chogle Namgyel ( Tib. rnam rgyal las jo nang phyogs; 1306-1386 ), a pupil Dolpopas continued. The well-known master Jonang Taranatha (1575-1634) wrote an important reference work on the history of Buddhism in India and a unique work of the " five teachings of Maitreya ".

Decline of the school

However, the Jonang school differed in their teachings of the other schools of Tibetan Buddhism, as they interpreted the concept of emptiness otherwise. It existed in Tibet in the form of monastic communities until the 17th century, when the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatsho let ban as heretical the school because of their different perspective. Maybe played at these events as well as political and religio-political motivations play a role. He transformed the monasteries of Jonangpa to the Central Provinces in Gelugpa monasteries. A few Jonangklöster in the eastern provinces remained of this intervention spared because they were outside the sphere of influence of the Gelugpa administration of Lhasa. Especially in southern and northern Amdo Gyarong - in today's circles Dzamthang, Ngawa (Sichuan ) and Pema ( Qinghai ) took over the tradition up to the present time and was able to expand its presence to 40 monasteries in this region. They continue the tradition of Kalachakra practice.