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In the image, Lama Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Dragpa surrounded by his two main students, Gyaltsab Je and Khedrub Je.

What is the Geluk tradition?

 

The term "Geluk" or "Gelugpa" comes from the Tibetan language and means "system of virtue". The great scholar and teacher Lama Tsongkhapa Lobsang Dragpa, along with his closest students - Gyaltsab Je and Khedrub Je, were responsible for spreading the tradition of this Buddhist school in Tibet. Its history is linked to the creation of “Ganden Monastery”, which was founded by Lama Tsongkhapa in 1409. Subsequently, such a school of meditation became one of the predominant schools in the spectrum of spiritual traditions of Tibet.

Lama Tsongkhapa obtained his spiritual training in majorly in two Tibetan lineages (namely, "Sakya" tradition and "Kagyu" tradition). He was also intensely inspired by the texts written by the famous teacher Atisha Dimpankara (who lived between the X and XI centuries). The Geluk School, in the context of its emergence, spawned what is known as the third period of transformation in Tibet and thus inculcated various reforms in Tibetan spiritual systems, particularly with regard to the interpretation of the Monastic Code of Conduct ("Vinaya" ) and to the Tantric Buddhism System called Vajrayana. The Geluk tradition was founded at the end of the fourteenth century and it was responsible for a reform movement that sought to restore various aspects of the immaculate practice of Dharma in order to renew and refresh the teachings of teacher and master Atisha Dipankara.

As for the aspects of this reform mentioned above, it is worth mentioning some guiding ideas: I. the strict observation of the monastic conduct code of "Vinaya"; II. the centrality in the systematic training of knowledge in religious life, with an strong emphasis on the importance of the development of scriptural knowledge, philosophical aspects and debate; III. the religious rites of Vajrayana Tantric Buddhism should be reserved for those who go through the whole cycle of intellectual training through systematic studies. Lama Tsongkhapa was deeply concerned about the issue of strictness and accuracy both in the studies and in moral discipline; for this reason, he wrote a well-known treatise called Lamrim ChenMo (The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Complete Awakening), which has become a great manual of practices and meditation and, because of its validity and actuality, is still studied to this day . 

2019 was declared the
year of Lama Tsongkhapa.

The year 2019 was declared the international commemorative year of the renowned teacher known as Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Geluk tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the tradition of the fourteenth Dalai Lama.

Know Why

Years of Geluk Tradition

How is the monastic system within the BUDA Association?

Os monges da Associação Buddha Dharma receberam seus votos dentro da tradição Geluk. Tanto a adoção dos votos quanto as explicações sobre eles vem de monastérios que estudam e vivem o código monástico de acordo com o que Lama Tsongkhapa propôs.

Os monges e monjas não recebem nenhuma doação por serem participantes da BUDA e possuem meios de subsistência própria. Trabalham como professores regulares de matérias seculares em instituições públicas e particulares. Aqueles que atuam junto ao ensino no Intituto Pramāṇa possuem titulação e prerrogativas específicas de ensino, de acordo com os requisitos do Instituto.

Meet Our Monks and Nuns

The life of a monk or nun allows more time and energy in the mind training, either through study or through practice. In this way, this monastic routine catalyses an accelerated advance in the path that leads to the liberation of suffering and, finally, the complete awakening in the long run. Furthermore, this way of life consequently allows the experience of greater and more profound mental states of peace and well-being. This naturally enables a greater dedication of time to teach others, just as the historical Buddha taught, who is our greatest example and inspiration.

Monk Jonathan

(Lobsang Chogni)

Born and raised in the USA, he has been a Buddhist monk for 20 years, and currently fully ordained (bhikṣu, gelong). He received the monastic ordination from Geshe Ācārya Jampa Gyatso in 1999 at the Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) in Pomaia, Italy. In 2005 he completed his master's and doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy at ILTK, after completing 8 years of full-time residential study. He holds a BA in Biology/Pre-Medicine with a specialization in Environmental Problems from Colorado College, in the United States. Since 2009 he has been a member of the BUDA faculty.

Nun Nirvana

(Lobsang Padma)

She started studying Buddhism in 2009 and became a nun in that same year. She is a fully ordained nun (bhikṣuṇī, gelongma) desde 2020. Graduada em Direito pela UNISAL em 2010, formada em Teologia Budista pelo Instituto Pramāṇa em 2018 e mestra em Ciências da Religião pela UMESP em 2020.  Faz parte do programa de mestrado livre em Teologia Budista pelo Instituto Pramāṇa e do programa de doutorado em Ciências da Religião pela Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, UMESP.

Nun Loyane

(Lobsang Drolma)

Started studying Buddhism in 2007 and became a nun in 2011. She is a fully ordained nun (bhikṣuṇī, gelongma) desde 2020. Possui graduação e mestrado em História pela UNICAMP, área na qual atua como professora universitária desde 2010. Formou-se em Teologia Budista pelo Instituto Pramāṇa em 2018. Faz parte do programa de mestrado livre em Teologia Budista pelo Instituto Pramāṇa e do programa de doutorado em Ciências da Religião pela Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, UMESP.

Nun Estela

(Lobsang Lhamo)

Conheceu o budismo em 2009 e tornou-se monja em 2011. É monja plenamente ordenada (bhikṣuṇī, gelongma) desde 2020. É graduada em Artes Plásticas pela UNICAMP em 2009 e leciona em escolas municipais de Campinas. Formou-se em Teologia Budista pelo ITCB em 2018. É mestra em Ciências da Religião pela Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, UMESP e faz parte do programa de mestrado livre em Teologia Budista pelo Instituto Pramāṇa da Associação Buddha Dharma.

Nun Thais

(Lobsang Tsering)

Started her Buddhist studies in 2017 and became a novice nun (śrāmaṇerī, rabjungma) em 2020. Graduada em Ciências Biológicas pela PUC de Campinas em 2016. Faz parte do programa de graduação livre em Teologia Budista pelo Instituto Pramāṇa e do programa de mestrado em Alimentos e Nutrição pela UNICAMP.

Nun Geovana

(Lobsang Sangmo)

Started her Buddhist studies in 2014 and was ordained as a novice nun (śrāmaṇerī, rabjungma) em 2020. É graduada, bacharela e licenciada em Geografia pela USP em 2020. Faz parte do programa de graduação livre em Teologia Budista pelo Instituto Pramāṇa.

Take part in the Meditation Meetings
along with the monks and nuns
at the BUDA Association headquarters

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Take part in the Meditation Meetings
along with the monks and nuns
at the BUDA Association headquarters

Join

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