Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal

Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal

Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal was one of 15th century Tibet’s most eminent scholars, a myriad-minded philosopher, littérateur, poet, dramatist, biographer, physician, painter, architect, astrologer and spiritual mentor.

He composed over hundred and thirty-five volumes of scripture, covering all aspects of field of study. The title of Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal’s major work is De-nyid due-pa. It comprises one hundred and thirty-three volumes having 500 folios each: The extensive version contains one hundred and ten volumes, the medium version, twenty volumes, the condensed version, two volumes and the extremely condensed version, one volume. This inconceivable work as the foundation, the tradition was named after him as Bodong Tradition.

Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal was one of the teachers of the first Dalai Lama, Gyedun Drup, who received many teachings and empowerments from him. It was because of Gyedun Drup’s outstanding answers to questions on Buddhist philosophy that Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal conferred the title ‘Tham-che Khyen-pa’ (Omniscient One) on him. This title has been carried by all of the Dalai Lamas. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama also mentioned this connection during our audience with him in October 2002. He also told us that this is one of the reasons why he feels a strong responsibility to reconstruct and support the tradition.