Gelukpa: The Yellow Hat School of Tibet Buddhism

Gelukps is one of the four major schools of Buddhist tradition in Tibet. It was founded by Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419), one of Tibet’s most revered scholars, philosophers, and religious reformers. Formally headed by Gaden Tripa, its senior spiritual leaders include His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. Its central seat is at Gaden monastery, which was founded by Je Tsongkhapa in 1409. The monasteries of Gaden, Sera and Drepung remain the central seats for Gelukpa monastic intellectualism and practice.

Unlike many other schools, Gelukpa, as the school and tradition were called in Tibetan, laid enormous emphases on puritanical monasticism based on Vinaya teachings set forth by Buddha Shakyamuni. The importance stressed on morality and ethics, including those concerning celibacy, and for the reason of the unique yellow religious hat worn by its members, the school earned itself the names Geden (school of many virtues) and Zhaser (yellow hat school).

The central philosophy of Gelukpa tradition rests on the cultivation of two-fold views-interdependence (pratityasamutpada) and emptiness (shunyata). These and other practices are well delineated through the tradition of the Stages of Path (lamrim) and Mind-training (lojong), which are based on the teachings of early Kadampa masters including Atisha Dipankara. It is for this reason that the Gelukpa School is also called ‘New Kadampa’. The school also lays emphasis on combined higher classes of Tantras, especially those associated with Guhyasamaja, Chakrasamvara, Yamantaka, and Kalachakra. The teachings of Tsongkhapa and his two disciples-Gyaltsab Je and Khedrub Je-and their commentaries to the teachings of the Buddha and Indian masters remain the central texts in Gelukpa intellectualism.

Since the establishment of Gaden monastery, Gelukpa saw sudden rise in the establishment of other monasteries including Sera, Drepung, Gyutoe and Gyumey. Other major monasteries include Tashi Lhunpo, Ratoe, Labrang Tashi Khyi, Ba Choede Gon, and others. Most of these major monasteries have thousand of monks who embrace the monasticism and live as monastics in these monasteries for their entire life. A typical monastic education takes at least 25-30 years of rigorous curriculums to attain the highest degree of Geshe.

Gelukpa school rose in prominence and influence after the Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682) assumed political leadership of Tibet. Gradually, Gelukpa tradition became popular and spread in neighboring regions of Mongolia, China and India. Today, it remains the largest of the four main schools in Tibetan Buddhist tradition.