(1295-1369) Also known as Thogme Zangpo (thogs med bzang po) and Ngulchu Thogme (dngul chu thogs med). A great Sakya master and abbot of Bodong, celebrated by aU schools for his mind-training teachings, author of The Thirty-seven Practices of the Bodhisattvas (rgyal sras lag len). +
One of the greatest masters and scholars of Indian Buddhism. He went to Tibet in the ninth century where he taught and translated numerous Sanskrit texts. He was one of the principal sources, together with Guru Padmasambhava, of the Dzogchen teachings of Tibet. +
(1717-1786) A major scholar and prolific writer of the Gelugpa school. He had close connections with Mongolia and China, presiding over the translation of the Kangyur into Manchu and the translation and revision of the Tengyur into Mongolian. He composed the celebrated encyclopedic description of Buddhist teachings, The Presentation of the Tenets (grub mtha'i rnam par bzhag pa). +
(713-763) The principal disciple of Shantarakshita and an exponent with him of the Yogachara-Madhyamika school. He was invited to Tibet, where he successfully debated against the Chinese master Hoshang Mahayana, thereby establishing the gradual approach of the Indian tradition as normative for Tibetan Buddhism. +
(1759-1807) Also known as Ngawang Dargye; a Mongolian king living in the,Blue Lake (Kokonor) region who was a celebrated Nyingmapa master and disciple of the first Dodrupchen Rinpoche. +
The essence of buddhahood, the luminous and empty nature of the mind, which is present, albeit veiled, in all sentient beings. When the obscuring veils are removed and it is revealed, it is Tathagata, or buddhahood. +
(1040-1123) One of the greatest yogis and poets of Tibet. He was one of the foremost disciples of Marpa the Translator, founder of the Kagyu lineage. +
A Buddha who appeared in remote antiquity. During his lifetime the ascetic Sumedha (who was reborn many kalpas later as Shakyamuni Buddha) resolved to attain enlightenment. +
A "solitary Buddha," one who, without relying on a teacher, attains the cessation of suffering by meditating on the twelve links of dependent arising. Pratyekabuddhas realize the no-self of the person and go halfway to realizing the no-self of phenomena. In other words, they realize the no-self of perceived phenomena but not that of the perceiving mind. +