Gelugpa Tradition in Buddhism

The Gelugpa (དགེ་ལུགས་པ་, Gelug) tradition is one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also known simply as Gelug or the “Yellow Hat” tradition.

Origin and Founder

The Gelugpa school was founded in the late 14th century by the great Tibetan scholar and yogi Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419).

The word Gelug literally means “Tradition of Virtue” (dge = virtue, lugs = tradition).

Tsongkhapa revitalized the Nalanda University tradition of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy and monastic discipline.

Main Characteristics
Emphasis on Study and Philosophy
The Gelugpa school is sometimes called the “scholastic tradition.”

It focuses strongly on Madhyamaka (Middle Way) philosophy of Nagarjuna and the path of the bodhisattva.
Strict Monastic Discipline
Rigorous adherence to monastic vows (Vinaya).

The foundation of practice is discipline, meditation, study, and the cultivation of bodhicitta (the altruistic mind of awakening).
Principal Practices
Lamrim (ལམ་རིམ་) – the “Stages of the Path to Enlightenment.”

Lojong (བློ་སྦྱོང་) – mind training.

Highest Yoga Tantra practices, particularly Guhyasamāja, Yamāntaka, and Kālacakra.

Historical Significance

In the 15th century, great monasteries such as Ganden, Sera, and Drepung were established, leading to the rapid spread of Gelugpa teachings.

The most famous leaders of this tradition are the Dalai Lamas.

In the 17th century, the Fifth Dalai Lama united both political and religious authority in Tibet, making Gelugpa the dominant school.

Present Day

Today, Gelugpa remains the largest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

It has a strong influence in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, and many Western countries.

The tradition’s supreme spiritual leader is His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

In short, the Gelugpa tradition is the school of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Je Tsongkhapa, rooted in monastic discipline, deep study, philosophy, and compassion, which has played a major role in spreading Buddhism across the world.