The Bodong Tradition

Buddhism first came to Tibet in the 7th century, during the reign of Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king of Tibet. The history of the spread of Buddhism in Tibet can be divided into two periods, before and after the reign of Langdharma, the 42nd King of Tibet. The Bodong tradition thrived during the latter period.

Bodong E monastery was established by Kadampa Geshe Mudra Chenpo in 1049 AD. After Nyan Lotsawa Dharma Drakpa returned from India, where he had studied Buddhism and Sanskrit and other languages, he invited the great Pandita Sthirapala, also known as Trilaksa (Bum-khrag Sum-pa) to Tibet. Geshe Mudra Chenpo was so impressed and fascinated by Sthirapala that he offered the monastery to him. At that time, Bodong E and Sangphu were the two greatest Buddhist learning centres in Tibet.

The tradition itself goes back to Bodong Rinchen Tsemo, who received all the profound teachings from Drubthob Semo Chewa. Drubthob Semo Chewa was also the teacher of Tagdepa Senge Gyaltsen (1212-1294) and his famous disciple Shongton Dorjee Gyaltsen, who in turn was the teacher of Pang Lotsawa Lodoe Tenpa (1276-1342). Pang Lotsawa, Lama Dampa Sonam Gyaltsen (1312-1375), Lochen Jangchup Tsemo (1303-1385), Lochen Dakpa Gyaltsen (1352-1405) and Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal (1376-1451) were among the eminent scholars associated with Bodong E monastery.