Altan Khan    Arjia Gegeen    Ashoka    Buddhaghosa    Channa    Chogyam Trungpa    Dalai Lama Vth    Dalai Lama VIIth    Dalai Lama XIIIth    Dalai Lama XIVth    Dekyi Tsering    Devadatta    Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche    Dombhipa    Edward Conze    Evans-Wentz    Gampopa    Gautama    Gendun Choephel    Geshe Thupten Jinpa    Guru Rinpoche    Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo    Jemsa    Je-tsun Pema    Kalsang Gyatso    Karma    Khion Konchog Gyalpo    Krishnamurti    Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche    (Geshe) Langri Thangpa    Lhamo Thondup    Lha-tho Tho-Ri Nyen-Tsen    Lobsang Thamcho Nyima    Lobsang Tragpa    Lozang Chosgyan    Manchu Emperor    Marpa    Maya    Milarepa    Nagarjuna    Naropa    Ngawang Lozong Gyatso    Orgyen Trodul (Karmapa)    Padmasambhava    Paltrul    Rahula    Sakya Pandit    Santideva    Songtsen Gampo    Suddhodana    Tenzin Choegyal    Tenzin Gyatso    Thubten Gyatso    Thubten Jigme Norbu    Trisong Detsen    Tsang Nyön    Tsering Dolma    Tsongkhapa    Yasodhara   
Altan Khan 16th c. CE Mongolia Mongolian emperor. Under the special priest/patron relationship between Tibet and Mongolia, initiated the institution of Dalai Lamas in Tibet. Appointed the Third Dalai Lama, and retroactively the First and Second.
Arjia Gegeen 20th c. CE Mongolia Mongolian rinpoche (gegeen) and abbot of Kumbum Monastery in Tibet. He was also a vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China and deputy chairman of the Qinghai People's Political Consultative Conference. One of the most important religious leaders to leave Tibet. On a visit to America in 1998, he decided to stay, much to the chagrin of the Chinese government, who took two years before they finally officially removed him from his post. Arjia Gegeen now lives in Mill Valley California, from where he teaches Buddhism through America. history
Ashoka 3rd Century BCE India Indian emperor. Also, "Ashoka". Erected pillars all over India. A committed buddhist; sent people to Syria and Egypt to teach dharma.
Towards the end of his reign a great Buddhist council was held in Pataliputra (now called Patna).
Buddhaghosa ~400 CD Sri Lanka Buddhist scholar who compiled the Theravada in Pali from scattered older traditions.
Channa 6th c. BC India Charioteer of Gautama the Buddha, when Gautama was a Prince, before his enlightenment. Channa taught Prince Gautama many useful things, and was the person who explained the universal nature of the old, sick, and dead persons, which led Gautama to undertake his life of meditation which led to his enlightenment.
Chögyam Trungpa 1939-1987 CE Tibet, US Eleventh Trungpa Tulku, of the Karma-ka-gyu school. Abbot of Surmang.
Born in Geje, Nyishu-tza-nga, in Eastern Tibet (Amdo)
Wrote biography, Born in Tibet; books on meditation; a book for westerners, The Way of the Warrior.
Dalai Lama Vth 17th c. CE Tibet The Vth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lozong Gyatso, "The Great Fifth" History: [1]
Dalai Lama VIIth 18th c. CE Tibet The VIIth Dalai Lama, Kalsang Gyatso.
His period is marked by power struggles among Mongols, Ambans, Tibetans, and Chinese. He restores order, establishes the temporal authority of the Dalai Lama, builds the Norbulingka Palace. and establishes the Tse School. History: [1]
Dalai Lama XIIIth 19th c. CE Tibet The XIIIth Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.
History: [1]
Dalai Lama XIVth 20th c. CE Tibet, India The XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.
History: [1] [2] [3] [4]
Dekyi Tsering 1900-1981 CE Tibet, India Mother of His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama. She was of farmer family. Raised 11 children in Tibet and escaped to India with her son the Dalai Lama, and her daughter Tsering Dolma.
Devadatta 6th c. BC India A cousin and lifelong enemy of Gautama the Buddha. He wounded a swan being watched by the Buddha, who refused to give it to him. By this the Buddha formulated the Principle of Property: 'A living being belongs to the one who loves it.'
The name has the same meaning as the Latin Deodatus - god-given. [ ref ]
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche 20th c. CE Bhutan Lama and Master of Vajrayana Buddhism. Incarnation of 19th c. Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.
b. 1910 in Kham, 'as fourth son of the Dilgo family, which traced its descent from the great ninth-century king of Tibet, Trisong Detsen.' [ ref ] His monastery in Tibet is Shechen Monastery.
Principal instructor in Nyingma to His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama
Biography.
Dombhipa ?? ?? A great Buddhist siddha. [ref]
Edward Conze ?? ?? Western scholar and writer on Buddhism
Evans-Wentz ?? ?? Western scholar and writer on Buddhism
Gampopa 11th c. CE Tibet Founded the monastic tradition of the Ka-gyü school. A pupil of Milarepa. Wrote the classical work, The Ornament of Precious Liberation, which is still a leading manual of this school.
Gautama ~563 - ~480 BC India, Tibet The prince who became the Buddha.
Born at Lumbini, near the capital Kapilavastu, as the son of Suddhodana the king of Sakya, and the queen Maya. Left his royal life for a life of solitude and meditation at the age of 29. After six years of asceticism, came to the conclusion that that was not the Way. Determined to remain seated under the bodhi, fig, tree at Bodh Gaya until he reached enlightenment. There he attained enlightenment and perceived the Four Noble Truths. He determined to remain in the world and teach others out of compassion for humanity.
He first walked to Varanasi where he preached his first sermon in the deer-park Isipatana at Sarnath. He then wandered all over north-central India with his followers, teaching.
He entered Paranirvana at the age of 80, at ???.
Praise-names are Sakyamuni, Siddartha, Tathagata, Dharmaketu.
Also Gautama Buddha, Gotama.
Gendun Choephel ?? Tibet Amdo nyönpa - crazy monk. Also lived in Kalimpong. Criticized Buddhism and government in Tibet, and said that Sri Lanka had the true Buddhism.
(Geshe) Thupten Jinpa 20th c. CE Tibet, India Translator for the XIVth Dalai Lama. Translated The World of Tibetan Buddhism.
Guru Rinpoche 8th c. BCE Tibet, India Padmasambhava
Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo 20th c. CE Tibet 1820 - 1892. Previous incarnation of Khyentse Rinpoche
Jemsa 2001 CE United States Brought the teachings of web-building, Open Source and Perl from the West to the Tibetan community at Dharamsala, India. His chelas little know how much more he has learned from them.
Je-tsun Pema 1940- CE Tibet, India Je-tsun Pema is youngest sister of His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama. She has played a major part in the education of refugee Tibetan children, taking over management of the Tibetan Children's Villages after the death of her sister Tsering Dolma.
She grew up in Tibet, was educated in Sikkim and Europe. She has spent her life in Dharamsala serving Tibet. She was first woman minister of the Tibetan government in exile, and was awared the title "Mother of Tibet" by its National Assembly (kashag).
Kalsang Gyatso 18th c. CE Tibet The VIIth Dalai Lama.
Karma ?? Tibet The founder of the Karma-ka-gyu, or kagyud, school of Buddhism. (?)
Khion Konchog Gyalpo 11th c. CE Tibet The founder of the Sakyapa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. [ ref ]
Krishnamurti 1895-1986 CE India, England, USA A teacher of self-knowledge through individual effort. "In 1909, when he was just fourteen, Krishnamurti. was proclaimed the world teacher-to-be in whom Maitrreya, the Bodhisattva of compassion, would manifest. The proclamation was made by Annie Besant, then president of the Theosophical Society, a movement that combined Western occult philosophy with Buddhist and Hindu teachings. Besant trained Krishnamurti in his role as the chosen one, but twenty years later he chose to disband the order he was the head of and set out alone on his endless journey." [ ref ]
Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche 20th c. CE Tibet Junior Tutor to His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama
Gave His Holiness transmission and teachings of the Eight Verses for Training the Mind
(Geshe) Langri Thangpa ?? Tibet Kadampa master.
Composer of Eight Verses for Training the Mind
Lhamo Thondup 20th c CE Tibet Previous name of Tenzin Gyatso, The XIVth Dalai Lama.
Lha-tho Tho-Ri Nyen-Tsen ~ 1000 CE Tibet King of Tibet. Introduced Buddhism into Tibet.
(Lama) Lobsang Thamcho Nyima 20 c. CE Tibet, India "was born in the small village of Shiwa, Ngabha, in Amdo province of Tibet. He entered a Bonpo monastery at the age of eleven, but was soon recognized as a 'tulku' of the Gelugpa tradition and moved to Archok Monastery, where he started his formal education in buddhism. Later he moved to Lobrfang Monastery for studying Tibetan Medicine. At the age of seventeen, Lobsang Thamcho Nyima came to India, to continue his studies in Gaden Monastery in South India. In 1996 he came to Dharamsala with the aim of spreading his tantric knkowledge of Tibetan Medicine, through teaching it to students from around the world." [ ref ]
Lobsang Tragpa 15 c. CE Tibet Surnamed Tsong Khapa.
Lozang Chosgyan 16th c. CE Tibet Of Tashilhunpo. Taught Yonten Gyatso, the fourth Dalai Lama, at Drepung. Was recognized as the first Panchen Lama. His reincarnations inherited this title.
Manchu Emperor   China Seen as the reincarnation of Manjushri, Buddha of wisdom,
Mattieu Ricard 20th c. CE U.S., Nepal Buddhist monk, orginally from France. Student of Khyentse Rinpoche, personal assistant for the last 14 years of his life, and wrote a biography of him. Has translated and edited numerous books on Tibetan Buddhism, also was a biologist and photographer among other skills. As of 1996, had been a monk for 18 years, and lives in Nepal at Shechen Monastery.
Marpa 11th c. CE Tibet "Marpa the Translator", "Marpa the Adept".
Brings Indian Buddhist teachings to Tibet. Introduced the basic teaching of the Kagyu school. [ref]
Made three difficult journeys into India from Tibet to study with Naropa and other Indian buddhist gurus and bring teachings back to Tibet. Also translated the teachings to Tibetan from Sanskrit. One of the leading scholars of the New Translation Period. One of his chief disciples was Milarepa. [ref]
His biography was written by Tsang Nyön.
Maya 6th c. BC Tibet Wife of Suddhodana the king of Sakya, and mother of Gautama the Buddha, whom she bore in Lumbini.
Milarepa c. 1052-c. 1135 CE Tibet One of Tibet's most famous yogis, poets, and Buddhist teachers. A student of Marpa Lotsawa (Marpa the Translator), and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. His biography was written by Tsang Nyön.
Nagarjuna 6th c. BCE (?) India Indian scholar; brought buddhist teachings to Tibet.
Ngawang Lozong Gyatso 19th c. CE Tibeet The "Great Fifth", Vth Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Orgyen Trodul Thinley Dorje, the XVIIth Karmapa Lama 20th c. CE Tibet The XVIIth Karmapa Lama, head of the Karma-ka-gyu school of Buddhism. His monastery was near Lhasa. He escaped from Tibet in 1998 (?) and came to the Dalai Lama in India, where he now lives.
His position is also called Gyalwa Karmapa.
Padmasambhava 8th c. BCE India Indian scholar, also known as Guru Rinpoche; brought Buddhist teachings to Tibet. He was invited to restore Buddhism in Tibet by King Trisong Detsen.
The Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism was based on these earliest teachings.
[ ref ]
"He was born in Uddiyana, in the north of India. Introduced Buddhism to Tibet by subduing local rebels. He also helped to build Samye, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet." [ ref ]
The lake Tso Pema in northern India is sacred to him.
Author of the Bardo Thödol (Tibetan Book of the Dead). [ ref ]
Considered the guardian of Tibet, and deity of wordly action. Tamed the eight hostile demons, Dharmapalas, who became the fiery defenders of Dharma.
One of the most common illustrations of him is a triptych which symbolizes the Three Vehicles, of which he is a personification of Tantrayana, the vehicle using worldly things as means to enlightenment. [ ref ]
Paltrul ?? Tibet Zapatrul Ugyen Jigme Choekyi Wangdue, author of Words of my Perfect Teacher.
Rahula 6th c. BC India Son of Gautama the Buddha, when Gautama was a Prince, before his enlightenment. Joined the Buddha when he came back to Kapilavastu.
Sakya Pandit 13 c. CE, d. 1251 Tibet Leader of the Sakya sect; became the religious tutor of the Mongol emperors. In exchange was given poltical rule over Tibet while acknowledging China's (i.e., Mongols') authority.
Santideva ?? Tibet Author of the Bodhicaryavatara.
Songtsen Gampo 617 - 650 CE Tibet The greatest among Tibetan kings. A great conqueror, able administrator, and reformer. Set down the ten moral pricniples and sixteen rules for the conduct of the people. Sent his minister to India to learn Sanskrit, for the purpose of developing a Tibetan script. Married Bhrikuti, daughter of Amsuvarman, the Nepalese ruler. (The Tsulakhang was built to house the images she brought.) Won many battles with neighboring countries, organized districts in the kingdom, appointed ministers to advise him. [ref]
Suddhodana 6th c. BC Tibet The king of Sakya. Husband of Maya, and father of Gautama the Buddha.
Tenzin Choegyal 20th c. CE Tibet, India Youngest brother of the XIVth Dalai Lama, and reincarnation of Ngari Rinpoche.
Tenzin Gyatso 20th c. CE Tibet, India "Ocean of Wisdom" - The XIVth Dalai Lama. His full formal name is Je-tsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshi Tenzin Gyatos.
Thogme Zangpo ཐོམག་མེ་ཟང་པོ་ ... Tibet Teacher; author of The Thirty-Seven Practices རྒྱལ་སྲས་ལག་ལེན་སོ་བདུན་མ༎
Thubten Gyatso 19th c. CE Tibet, India The XIIIth Dalai Lama.
Thubten Jigme Norbu 20th c. CE Tibet, India Oldest brother of the XIVth Dalai Lama, and reincarnation of Takster Rinpoche.
Trisong Detsen 9th c. CE Tibet A great king of Tibet.
Tsang Nyön 14th c. CE Tibet A famous nyonpa. Wrote biographies "The Life of Marpa the Translator" and another for Milarepa
Tsering Dolma 1920-1964 CE Tibet, India Oldest sister of His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama. She played a major part in the education of refugee Tibetan children, eventually founding and managing the Tibetan Children's Villages (TCV) in India. After her death, management of TCV was taken over by her youngest sister Je-tsun Pema.
She grew up in Tibet and escaped to India with her brother the Dalai Lama, and her mother Dekyi Tsering.
Tsongkhapa 15th c. CE Tibet A famous teacher, Lobsang Tragpa. Founded the Gelukpa School of Tibetan Buddhism [ref]
Yasodhara 6th c. BC India Wife of Gautama the Buddha, when Gautama was a Prince, before his enlightenment.