Ganden Tripa

The Ganden Tripa, also spelled Gaden Tripa (Wylie: dga’ ldan khri pa "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.

Ganden Tripa
Personal
ReligionTibetan Buddhism
Ganden Tripa
Tibetan name
Tibetanདགའ་ལྡན་ཁྲི་པ་
2nd Ganden Tripa Gyaltsab Je (1364-1432)

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, 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 101st Ganden Tripa, Khensur Lungri Namgyel Rinpoche was born in 1927 in Kham (eastern Tibet). Ordained at eight years old, after fifty years of meditative practices and studies he was elevated by the Dalai-lama as successively abbot of Gyutö Tantric College (in 1983), and as abbot of Ganden Shartse Monastic University (in 1992). In 1986 he was the special envoy of the Dalai-lama to the ecumenical meetings of Assisi in Italy convened by Pope John Paul II. He is a French national and has been living in Paris, France, for more than 20 years. He transmits the Buddhist teachings of his lineage in a Dharma Center, Thar Deu Ling[5] which he founded in 1980.[6]

The 100th Ganden Tripa, Lobsang Nyima Rinpoche,[7] retired and lived at Drepung Loselling Monastery with his labrang (office staff) until his death in 2008.[8]

Mode of appointment
6th ganden tripa Chokyi Gyeltsen (1402–1473)

The Ganden Tripa is nominated or appointed on the basis of a hierarchical progression based on merit,[9] 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.[10]

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.[9]

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,[9] a journal published by the Norbulingka Institute, which is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan culture, and in full detail on "Study Buddhism".[10] 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.[10]

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.[10]

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).[10]

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.[11] 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
# name biographical data tenure Wylie transliteration further titles
1.Je Tsongkhapa, Lobsang Dragpa1357–14191409–1419tsong kha pa, blo bzang grags paJe Rinpoche (rje rin po che)
2.Dharma Rinchen (Gyaltsab Je)1364–14321419–1431dar ma rin chen
3.Khedrup Gelek Pelzang1385–14381431–1438mkhas grub rje dge legs dpal bzang1st Panchen Lama
4.Shalu Lochen Legpa Gyeltshen1375–14501438–1450zhwa lu lo chen legs pa rgyal mtshan–
5.Lodrö Chökyong1389–14631450–1463blo gros chos skyong–
6.Chökyi Gyeltshen1402–14731463–1473chos kyi rgyal mtshan1st Tatsak Rinpoche (rta tshag rin po che)
7.Lodrö Tenpa1402–14761473–1476(79)blo gros brtan pa–
8.Mönlam Legpa Lodrö1414–14911480–1489smon lam legs pa'i blo gros–
9.Lobsang Nyima1439–14921490–1492blo bzang nyi ma–
10.Yeshe Sangpo1415–14981492–1498ye shes bzang po–
11.Lobsang Dragpa1422/1429–15111499–1511blo bzang grags pa–
12.Jamyang Legpa Lodrö1450–15301511–1516jam dbyangs legs pa'i blo gros–
13.Chökyi Shenyen1453–15401516–1521chos kyi bshes gnyenAlso called Dharmamitra
14.Rinchen Öser1453–15401522–1528rin chen 'od zer–
15.Panchen Sonam Dragpa1478–15541529–1535pan chen bsod nams grags pa(gzims khang gong ma)
16.Chökyong Gyatsho1473–15391534–1539chos skyong rgya mtsho4th Lab Kyabgön (lab skyabs mgon)
17.Dorje Sangpo1491–15541539–1546rdo rje bzang po–
18.Gyeltshen Sangpo1497–15481546–1548rgyal mtshan bzang po–
19.Ngawang Chödrag1501–1551/15521548–1552ngag dbang chos grags–
20.Chödrag Sangpo1493–15591552–1559chos grags bzang po–
21.Geleg Pelsang1505–15671559–1565dge legs dpal bzang–
22.Gendün Tenpa Dargye1493–15681565–1568dge 'dun bstan pa dar rgyas–
23.Tsheten Gyatsho1520–15761568–1575tshe brtan rgya mtsho–
24.Champa Gyatsho1516–15901575–1582byams pa rgya mtsho–
25.Peljor Gyatsho1526–15991582–?dpal 'byor rgya mtsho–

26–50
# name biographical data tenure Wylie transliteration further titles
26.Damchö Pelbar1523/1546–15991589–1596dam chos dpal 'bar–
27.Sangye Rinchen1540–16121596–1603sangs rgyas rin chen–
28.Gendün Gyeltshen1532–1605/16071603–?dge 'dun rgyal mtshan–
29.Shenyen Dragpa1545–16151607–1615bshes gnyen grags pa–
30.Lodrö Gyatsho1546–16181615–1618blo gros rgya mtsho5th Lab Kyabgön
31.Damchö Pelsang1546–16201618–1620dam chos dpal bzang–
32.Tshülthrim Chöphel1561–16231620–1623tshul khrims chos 'phel–
33.Dragpa Gyatsho1555–16271623–1627grags pa rgya mtsho–
34.Ngawang Chökyi Gyeltshen1571/1575–1625/16291623, 1627/1628(?)ngag dbang chos kyi rgyal mtshan–
35.Könchog Chöphel1573–16441626–1637dkon mchog chos 'phel–
36.Tendzin Legshe ?–16641638?bstan 'dzin legs bshad–
37.Gendün Rinchen Gyeltshen1571–16421638–1642dge 'dun rin chen rgyal mtshan–
38.Tenpa Gyeltshen ?–16471643–1647bstan pa rgyal mtshan–
39.Könchog Chösang ?–1672/16731644(?)/1648–1654dkon mchog chos bzang–
40.Pelden Gyeltshen1601–16741651/1654/1655–1662dpal ldan rgyal mtshan–
41.Lobsang Gyeltshen1599/1600–16721658/1662–1668blo bzang rgyal mtshan–
42.Lobsang Dönyö1602–16781668–1675blo bzang don yodNamdak Dorje
43.Champa Trashi1618–16841675–1681byams pa bkra shis–
44.Ngawang Lodrö Gyatsho1635–16881682–1685ngag dbang blo gros rgya mtsho–
45.Tshülthrim Dargye1632–?1685/1695–1692/1699tshul khrims dar rgyas–
46.Ngawang Pelsang1629–1695 ?ngag dbang dpal bzangChinpa Gyatsho
47.Lobsang Chöphel* 17th century1699–1701blo bzang chos 'phel–
48.Döndrub Gyatsho* 17th century1702–1708don grub rgya mtshoThe 1st Ling Rinpoche
49.Lobsang Dargye* 17th century1708–1715blo bzang dar rgyas–
50.Gendün Phüntshog ?–17241715–1722dge 'dun phun tshogs–

51–75
# name biographical data tenure Wylie transliteration further titles
51.Pelden Dragpa ?–17291722–1729dpal ldan grags pa1st Hortsang Sertri (hor tshang gser khri)
52.Ngawang Tshephel1668–17341730–1732ngag dbang tshe 'phel–
53.Gyeltshen Sengge1678–17561732–1739rgyal mtshan seng ge1st Tsötritrül (gtsos khri sprul)
54.Ngawang Chogden1677–17511739–1746ngag dbang mchog ldan1st Reting Rinpoche (rwa sgreng)
55.Ngawang Namkha Sangpo1690–1749/17501746–1749/1750ngag dbang nam mkha' bzang po1st Shingsa Rinpoche (shing bza' )
56.Lobsang Drimed1683–?1750–1757blo bzang dri med–
57.Samten Phüntshog1703–17701757–1764bsam gtan phun tshogs–
58.Chakyung Ngawang Chödrag1707–17781764–1778?bya khyung ngag dbang chos grags–
59.Chusang Ngawang Chödrag1710–17721771–1772?chu bzang ngag dbang chos grags–
60.Lobsang Tenpa1725–?6 Jahreblo bzang bstan pa–
61.Ngawang Tshülthrim1721–17911778–1785ngag dbang tshul khrims1st Tshemon Ling Rinpoche (tshe smon gling)
62.Lobsang Mönlam1729–17981785–1793blo bzang smon lam–
63.Lobsang Khechog1736–17921792 (6 months)blo bzang mkhas mchog–
64.Lobsang Trashi1739–18011794–1801blo bzang bkra shis–
65.Gendün Tshülthrim1744–1807 ?dge 'dun tshul khrims–
66.Ngawang Nyandrag1746–18241807–1814ngag dbang snyan grags–
67.Jamyang Mönlam1750–1814/18171814 (3 months) 'jam dbyangs smon lam–
68.Lobsang Geleg1757–18161815–1816blo bzang dge legs–
69.Changchub Chöphel1756–18381816–1822byang chub chos 'phelYongzin Trijang Dorje Chang
70.Ngawang Chöphel1760–18391822–1828ngag dbang chos 'phel
71.Yeshe Thardo1756–1829/18301829–1830ye shes thar 'dod–
72.Jampel Tshülthrim* 19th century1831–1837 'jam dpal tshul khrims1st Khamlung Rinpoche khams lung
73.Ngawang Jampel Tshülthrim Gyatsho1792–1862/18641837–1843ngag dbang 'jam dpal tshul khrims rgya mtsho 2nd Tshemon Ling
74.Lobsang Lhündrub* 18th century ?blo bzang lhun grub–
75.Ngawang Lungtog Yönten Gyatsho* 19 century–1853?1850–1853ngag dbang lung rtogs yon tan rgya mtshoThe 4th Ling Rinpoche

76–102
# name biographical data tenure Wylie transliteration further titles
76.Lobsang Khyenrab Wangchug ?–18721853–1870blo bzang mkhyen rab dbang phyug–
77.Tshülthrim Dargye ?1859?–1864?tshul khrims dar rgyas–
78.Jamyang Damchö* 19th century1864?–1869?jam dbyangs dam chos–
79.Lobsang Chinpa* 19th century1869?–1874?blo bzang sbyin pa–
80.Dragpa Döndrub* 19th century1874?–1879?grags pa don grub–
81.Ngawang Norbu* 19th century1879?–1884?ngag dbang nor bu–
82.Yeshe Chöphel* 19th century1884?–1889?ye shes chos 'phel–
83.Changchub Namkha* 19th century1889?–1894?byang chub nam mkha' –
84.Lobsang Tshülthrim* 19th century1894?–1899?blo bzang tshul khrims–
85.Lobsang Tshülthrim Pelden1839–1899/19001896–1899/1900blo bzang tshul khrims dpal ldanYongzin Trijang Dorje Chang
86.Lobsang Gyeltshen1840–?1901–1907?blo bzang rgyal mtshan–
87.Ngawang Lobsang Tenpe Gyeltshen1844–19191907–1914ngag dbang blo bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan3rd Tshemon Ling
88.Khyenrab Yönten Gyatsho* 19th century1914?–1919mkhyen rab yon tan rgya mtshoDrigungpa Khyenrab Yönten
89.Lobsang Nyandrag Gyatsho* 19th century1919?–1924?blo bzang snyan grags rgya mtsho–
90.Champa Chödrag1876–1937/19471920/1921–1926byams pa chos grags–
91.Lobsang Gyeltshen ?–19321927–1932blo bzang rgyal mtshan–
92.Thubten Nyinche ?–1933?1933thub bstan nyin byed1st gtsang pa khri sprul
93.Yeshe Wangden* 19th century1933–1939ye shes dbang ldan1st mi nyag khri sprul
94.Lhündrub Tsöndrü ?–19491940–1946lhun grub brtson 'grusShangpa Lhündrub Tsöndrü
95.Trashi Tongthün* 19th century1947–1953bkra shis stong thun–
96.Thubten Künga1891–19641954/1958–1964thub bstan kun dga–
97.Thubten Lungtog Tendzin Thrinle1903–19831965–thub bstan lung rtogs bstan 'dzin 'phrin lasThe 6th Ling Rinpoche[12]
98.Jampel Shenpen1919–19891984–1989 'jam dpal gzhan phan–
99.Yeshe Dönden[13] ?–1995 ?ye shes don ldan–
100.Lobsang Nyima Rinpoche* 1928-20081995–2003blo bzang nyi ma–
101.Khensur Lungri Namgyel* 19272003–2009lung rig rnam rgyal
102.Thubten Nyima Lungtok Tenzin Norbu1928-20222009-2016thub bstan nyi ma lung rtogs bstan 'dzin nor buRizong Sras Rinpoche (2nd ri rdzong sras sprul)
103.Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin1937-20172016-2017rje btsun blo bzang bstan 'dzinTo be advised
104.Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo1935-2017-2023skyabs rje rje btsun blo bzang bstan 'dzin dpal bzang poTo be advised

References
  1. "103rd Gaden Tripa Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche Passes Away". Central Tibetan Administration. April 22, 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  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. Dr Alexander Berzin (November 2014). "Special Features of the Gelug Tradition - para. on Administration". Study Buddhism. Retrieved 6 June 2016. The Dalai Lamas are not the heads of the Gelug tradition
  4. Berzin, Alexander; Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche II (September 2003). "A Brief History of Ganden Monastery". Study Buddhism. Retrieved 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. Staff (February 2010). "Thar Deu Ling". Thar Deu Ling. Retrieved 2010-02-04. Official web site. (in French)
  6. Nomination of the 101st Ganden Tripa, supreme head of the Gelugpa lineage, World Tibet Network News, Wednesday, January 22, 2003. Archived May 30, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Staff. "His Eminence Lobsang Nyima, the 100th Gaden Throne Holder". Drepung Loseling Monastery. Archived from the original on 2009-08-29. Retrieved 2010-02-04. Last updated 22 December 2007.
  8. "Former Ganden Tripa Stays on 'Thukdam' for 18 Days". Phayul. 2008-10-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  9. "Window on Tibetan Culture: Different ways to select a leader". Me-Long Published by Norbulingka Institute (November, 2011).
  10. Alexander Berzin (September 2003). "A Brief History of Gyumay and Gyuto Lower and Upper Tantric Colleges". Study Buddhism. The Jangtsey and Shartsey Chojeys alternate in becoming the Ganden Tripa (dGa'-ldan Khri-pa, Ganden Throne-holder), the head of the Gelug Tradition.
  11. "Nomination of the 101st Ganden Tripa, supreme head of the Gelugpa lineage". Paris, France: Phayul.com. January 23, 2003. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. 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
  12. Staff. "Pabongkha Rinpoche". Buddhist International Alliance (BIA). Archived from the original on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  13. Staff. "Buddhism: The Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism". Kagyu Office of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa. Archived from the original on 2010-04-04. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
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