1st Dalai Lama

Gendun Drup ( Tib: dge 'dun grub, * 1391, † January 15, 1475 ) was a Buddhist monk from Tibet. He founded the monastery Trashilhünpo, was its first abbot, and was declared posthumously for the first Dalai Lama.

Life

Gendun Drup came near the Sakya Monastery, the third of five children of a nomadic family to the world and was named Pema Dorje. It is reported that the family was attacked on the night of his birth by robbers and the mother of the baby hidden in a crevice before they fled. Until the parents returned, a vulture had guarded the child who understood as the embodiment of Mahakala and then Gendun Drubs personal protective deity.

The young boy had to because of the poverty of his parents hire a herdsman with a neighbor, and he was only seven years old when his father died. He then sought refuge in Narthang Kadampa monastery. Under the supervision of the abbot, he learned the recitation, reading and writing, dominated the Indian, Tibetan and Mongolian script recently and was a good calligrapher, accordingly, was also "Master of the magazine" titled.

In 1405 he received the monastic name Gendun Drubpa Pelzango, 1410 he was ordained a full monk. He taught already during his undergraduate studies in Narthang. His name is often prefixed epithets as omniscient, Penchen ( scholar ), Chaste, benefactors, and a special Geshe testify to his reputation. Presumably, he was already regarded during his lifetime as an emanation of Avalokiteshvara.

Instruction and initiations he received in major monasteries, including Ganden, of around 60 high lamas of different schools of thought; From 1415 he studied for almost 12 years as one of the seven closest disciples with his uncle Tsongkhapa, the founder and director of the Gelug Order. Tsongkhapa sat Gendun Drup ultimately one as his lineage holder.

From 1426 to 1438 Gendun Drup was together with his teacher and friend The Sherab Sengge on tour to major monasteries. They wore thereby significantly to the dissemination of the teachings of Tsongkhapa. From the age of 40 he began to write treatises. In addition to the work of Tsongkhapa and two other of his main students ( Gyeltshab more and more Khedrub ) apply Gendun Drubs writings as the most important of the first epoch of the Gelugpa. These are his works on logic, on the monastic discipline ( Vinayapitaka ) and about the secret writings of Atisha. The invitation to become abbot of Ganden, Gendun Drup refused twice, to devote himself entirely to his studies and teaching can. From 1438 he held the rank of Gyelwa, was thus the highest lama of the Gelugpa and was thus even Ganden Thripa, the abbot of Ganden Monastery. According to tradition, he also introduced the yellow headgear that the term " Yellow Hat school " both earned Gelugpa.

Suppose also that the introduction of Trülku system returns to the Gelug school on Gendun Drup. Soon after his death Gendun Gyatsho was recognized as his incarnation, as the reincarnation of Sonam Gyatsho was later confirmed that the title of Dalai Lama was awarded for the first time. Thus Gendun Drup regarded as the first Dalai Lama.

1447 prompted the establishment of the monastery Gendun Drup Trashilhünpo in Shigatse, which he inaugurated in 1463. The monastery was later the seat of the Penchen Lamas.

Works

• Gendun Drup, Glenn H. Mullin ( translator's ): Training the Mind in the Great Way. 2nd edition. Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, 1993, ISBN 0-937938-96-3