5th Dalai Lama

Ngawang Lobsang Gyatsho (* 1617, † 1682) was the 5th Dalai Lama of Tibet, in addition to its religious significance within the Gelug school also an able statesman.

Ruler of Tibet

At the time of political decline of Phagmodru government in Tibet by the 5th Dalai Lama secured the political supremacy of the Gelug school through an alliance with the Mongols Gushri Khan, the leader of the Khoshuud. Gushri Khan struck a revolt of the King of Tsang Tenkyong Wangpo (1606-1642), a follower of the 10th Karmapa, militarily down and assured the Dalai Lama on May 3, 1642 secular power over Tibet. In this way, the 5th Dalai Lama for the amazingly long time won by almost 250 years of political stability and peace in Tibet. The person involved in the conflict Karma Kagyu school was severely persecuted in the province of Tsang. The School of Jonangpa was persecuted and banned by the 5th Dalai Lama in the central provinces of Tibet as heretical. Officially, this was done due to a false philosophical view of " emptiness " ( shunyata ), one of the cornerstones of Buddhist teachings, but possibly also political reasons played a role. 1653 attended the 5th Dalai Lama Beijing, the capital of the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Shunzhi granted to him on February 9 an audience. In the audience hall Ngawang Lobsang Gyatsho sat right next to the nearly 15 -year-old emperor on a throne. This gave him the title of "Outstanding, existing by itself Buddha of the West" and a golden seal of office and presented him with an album of gold. In return, the Dalai Lama gave the Emperor on a golden tablet to the title of " Great Master, Most High, God of heaven and Bodhisattva ".

More important spiritual teachers of different traditions

However, the 5th Dalai Lama was not only an important Gelug lineage holder and an able statesman, but also lineage holder of some Nyingma transmissions, especially of the " Northern Treasures " and Tertön. Tertöns are "treasure finder" of hidden teachings, ritual objects and relics that Padmasambhava - and his closest disciples had hidden in the 9th century - the founder of the Nyingma. From the "treasure teachings " ( terma ) of the 5th Dalai Lama in particular the Dzogchen teachings of a revelation in pure vision of Gyachen Nyer Nga ( " twenty-five sealed teachings " ) are known. Also known is the empowerment of Padmasambhava and his eight manifestations which he has received, according to legend as a vision directly from Padmasambhava. At the behest of the 5th Dalai Lama some of his students founded several monasteries of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan province of Kham.

Potala Palace and the Monastery Nechung

In 1645 the construction of the Potala Palace, which was completed in 1693 after the death of the fifth Dalai Lama began. Also, the Nechung Monastery was built, because the deity Pekar, formerly the main protective deity of Samye Monastery, moved to Nechung according to a legend. There they should since that time as " Nechung oracle ", while " state oracle of the Tibetan government " reveal.

Awarded the title Penchen Lama

As an important spiritual representatives of the Gelugpa his teacher Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltshen (1570-1662) was awarded the title " Penchen Lama." The Penchen Lama applies since that time as the second- highest Trülku within the hierarchy of the Gelug Order, though he be an incarnation of Amitabha - is seen - so as a spiritual " foster father " Avalokiteshvara.