ta la'i bla ma;Dalai Lama;dalai lama;The lineage of Dalai Lamas dates back to Gendun Drub (1391-1474), one of the closest disciples of Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), who initiated the Gelug school. Gendun Drub founded Tashi Lhunpo monastery at Shigatse. His work was continued by Gendun Drub, followed by Sönam Gyatso, who received from the Mongol emperor Altan Khan the title "Dde Lama" (ta la'i bla ma), or Dalai Lama, signifying "ocean" with reference to his wisdom. The title was applied retroactively to his two predecessors. A grandson of Altan Khan, Yönten Gyatso, was the fourth Dalai Lama. His successor, Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682), known as the Great Fifth, relied on his Mongol allies to emerge victorious in power struggles between provinces and Tibetan schools. They established him as the supreme authority of all Tibet, of which he was in great part the unifier and organizer. It was he who had the Potala palace built at Lhasa. The lineage of Dalai Lamas has continued without interruption up to the present fourteenth holder of the title: His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, born in July 1935. The Dalai Lamas are emanations of Chenrezig, the buddha of compassion, who is the patron and protector of Tibet. +
kha rag sgom chung;Kharak Gomchung;kharak gomchung;Kadampa master of the eleventh century, he was the disciple of Gönpapa (aranyaka), abbot of Radreng monastery, and of Potowa (po to ba, 1031-1105), the famous yogi. He received the dzogchen teachings and attained the rainbow body. +