The new standard work and definitive biography of Tsongkhapa, one of the principle founders of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism--the school of the Dalai Lamas.
THUPTEN JINPA is a former monk and holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, where he also worked as a research fellow. Among other books, he is the author of Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Philosophy- Tsongkhapa's Quest for the Middle Way. Jinpa has been the principal English translator to H. H. the Dalai Lama for more than twenty-five years and has translated and edited numerous books by the Dalai Lama. Jinpa is an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Religious Studies at McGill University, Montreal, and Chairman of the Mind and Life Institute, which is dedicated to promoting dialogues and collaborations between the sciences and contemplative knowledge, especially Buddhism.
“Geshe Dr. Thupten Jinpa deserves the highest praise for this
wonderful, groundbreaking biography of one of the greatest polymath
geniuses of Tibet, the spiritual science master and social
innovator Tsong Khapa Losang Drakpa (1357–1419). Jinpa’s
scholarship in original sources is thorough and critical, yet not
begrudging; his insight into the character and genius of this
remarkable individual is penetrating; and his appreciation of the
complex surrounding web of historical factors, personal
relationships, and enduring institutions is revelatory. He
transports us imaginatively into the unique and globally relevant
world of Renaissance Tibet and grants us a vivid vision of the
roots of the archetypically Buddhist civilization Tibet eventually
attained. No one interested in understanding Buddhism, Tibet, and a
previously little-known exemplary genius of the global renaissance
of the fifteenth century should miss this pioneering work.”—Robert
A. F. Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa Professor Emeritus of Indo-Tibetan
Buddhology, Columbia University
“In a most lively, yet highly informative and eye-opening manner,
Thupten Jinpa offers us a definitive biography of one of the giants
of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsongkhapa: A Buddha in the Land of Snows will
be cherished as a classic in the world of biographies of great
Tibetan masters.”—Matthieu Ricard, author of Enlightened Vagabond:
The Life and Teachings of Patrul Rinpoche
“After the Buddha, no historical figure is more frequently
represented in Tibetan art than Tsongkhapa. Yet, despite his fame,
for centuries he has remained a two-dimensional figure on a Tibetan
thangka. Until now. Drawing on a wealth of previously unstudied
materials, many dating from Tsongkhapa’s own lifetime, Thupten
Jinpa transforms Tsongkhapa from a static icon into a complex and
fascinating human being, his genius only heightened by his
humanity.”—Donald Lopez, Distinguished University Professor of
Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, University of Michigan
“This extraordinary biography of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the
Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism, is a treasure house of history,
as well as Tibetan thought and culture. Thupten Jinpa has made the
life of this great master transparent to the contemporary reader
and has brought into high relief Tsongkhapa’s great teachings that
have shown through the Geluk school for so many centuries.”—Joan
Halifax, author of Being with Dying and Standing at the Edge
“Tsongkhapa’s extraordinary life made readable and inspiring. In
these pages some of the most important roots of Tibetan Buddhism
come alive, inviting our own wonder, learning, and
appreciation.”—Jack Kornfield, author of The Wise Heart: A Guide to
the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology
“As a practitioner who has been deeply touched and influenced by
Tsongkhapa’s teachings, it is uplifting and comforting to read a
reliable biography, not a hagiography, that portrays this
remarkable teacher as a human being like us—someone who questions
accepted views and seeks the truth, someone who changes their ideas
and actions when presented with good reasons. Tsongkhapa was a true
nonsectarian who learned from all great masters, no matter their
affiliation. He was a genuine practitioner who succeeded in a
challenge many of us face today: how to balance study, reflection,
meditation practice, teaching, and activities that directly benefit
others. He had a brilliant intellect but was humble, kind, and
respectful. His open-mindedness and compassion are models for our
behavior. Thupten Jinpa’s respect and reverence for Tsongkhapa
shine throughout the book, especially in his brilliant translations
of portions of Tsongkhapa’s texts and poetry.”—Thubten Chodron,
author of Guided Buddhist Meditations and How to Free Your Mind
“Thupten Jinpa draws on his rigorous Tibetan scholarly training as
well as his Cambridge education to offer an unprecedently human
depiction of one of the greatest figures in Tibetan Buddhist
literature. In a considerable departure from Tibetan tradition,
Jinpa gives us a Tsongkhapa who is not an immutable icon but rather
a person who developed through effort as well as favorable life
circumstances. The story unfolds by intertwining Tsongkhapa’s
remarkable literary innovations with the political ups and downs
that colored his life. Jinpa rightly describes his unique
presentation as midway between Carlyle’s “great man” theory and
Spencer’s sense of Zeitgeist. He succeeds brilliantly in creating a
truly modern biography, without diluting the rich flavor that comes
from a cultural lens glowing with classic rigor and devotional
regard. Everyone curious about Tibetan culture will delight in it.
Scholars will make good use of the extensive notation,
bibliography, and appendix.”—Anne Carolyn Klein, translator of
Strand of Jewels: My Teacher’s Essential Guidance on Dzogchen by
Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche
“The ever erudite Jinpa has an unparalleled ability to
simultaneously wield a plethora of primary sources, provide
exposition on Tsongkhapa’s most difficult ideas, and remain attuned
to the expectations of contemporary scholarship. This volume is
both a well synthesized account of Tsongkhapa and, with its useful
appendices and extensive bibliography, a valuable new resource for
academics.”—Buddhadharma
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