The Jamyang Zhepas () are a lineage of

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s of the Gelug school of

Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, D ...

. They have traditionally been the most prestigious teachers at Labrang Monastery in Amdo,

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(modern

Gansu Gansu is a provinces of China, province in Northwestern China. Its capital and largest city is Lanzhou, in the southeastern part of the province. The seventh-largest administrative district by area at , Gansu lies between the Tibetan Plateau, Ti ...

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).Grooming a ‘patriotic’ religious leader – Seventh Gungthang Rinpoche to be enthroned
from Tibet Info Net

1st Jamyang Zhepa

The first Jamyang Zhepa, Ngawang Tsöndrü (1648–1721), was a native of Amdo and, after studying at Drepung Monastery near

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, was invited by the local Mongol king to return and teach Buddhism there. There, Ngawang Tsöndrü later founded Labrang, one of the two great monasteries of Amdo. As the first Jamyang Zhepa was educated at Drepung, the lineage has subsequently belonged the Gelug. Ngawang Tsöndrü was a great scholar. He wrote ''Roar of the Five-Faced ion'' a series of verses on tenets'','' along with a massive commentary to the root text (around 530 folios), called ''Great Exposition on Tenets''. According to Daniel Cozort, Jamyang's works "are the most comprehensive of the tenets texts" (in Tibetan Buddhism).Blo-bzaṅ-dkon-mchog, Daniel Cozort, Craig Preston (2003). ''Buddhist Philosophy: Losang Gönchok's Short Commentary to Jamyang Shayba's Root Text on Tenets,'' pp. xi-xii. Snow Lion Publications. He also wrote various textbooks which are used today in numerous Gelug colleges. According to Tibetan legends, Jamyang Zhepa harbored strong animosity towards the Nyingma tradition and its scholars, such as Lochen Dharmashri of Minling Monastery, because of their influence on the 5th Dalai Lama, the 6th Dalai Lama, and the 5th Dalai Lama's

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. The 5th Dalai Lama showed more respect to Minling Lochen than Jamyang Zhepa, which fueled his resentment and desire for revenge. During one instance, while in his homeland of Amdo, Jamyang Zhepa conspired with the Mongol Dzungar, leading Dzungar troops to attack Mindroling and Dorje Drak monasteries. Upon reaching Nagqu (Nagchu), he pretended no involvement in the atrocities and continued to Tashi Lhunpo in Tsang. Meanwhile, Dzungar troops proceeded to Lhokkha, destroying two more monasteries and executing Minling Lochen
Dodrak Rinzin Pema Trinly
and eight hundred monks. This legend of the massacre is believed to be true and linked to Jamyang Zhepa. His close followe
Ngawang Tashi
documented his intense hatred and resentment towards Minling Lochen in his biography titled "n''amthar tsenpoma''" or "''rje btsun dam pa mtshan brjod par dka' ba 'jam dbyang bzhed pa'i rdo rje'i rnam par thar pa yongs su brjod pa'i gtam du bya ba dad pa'i sgo 'byed kai ta ka''" (The Biography of the Lordly and Precious Guru, Jamyang Zhepa: A Record of His Life and Accomplishments with a Compendium of Instructions on the Conduct of the Spiritually Accomplished Ones).

2nd Jamyang Zhepa

Gönchok Jikmé Ongpo (1728–1791), is also known for his shorter tenets text called ''Precious Garland of Tenets'' as well as other works on the bodhisattva path, the ''Presentation of the Grounds and Paths, Beautiful Ornament of the Three Vehicles.''Powers, John (2007), ''Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism'', p. 476.

6th Jamyang Zhepa

The current Jamyang Zhepa is the 6th, Lobsang Jigme Thubten Chökyi Nyima (born 1948). During the

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, he became a layman and married with Muslim woman. Tibetan Buddhist teachers may be either laypersons or monks, but the Jamyang Zhepas used to be traditionally monks. He lives in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu.

References

Tulkus {{Tibetan-Buddhism-stub