Sonam Gyatso, 3rd Dalai Lama

Infobox_Philosopher
region = Sonam Gyatso, 3rd Dalai Lama
era = 1543-1588

color = #E52B50
name = His Holiness Sonam Gyatso,
the 3rd Dalai Lama


birth = Tibet
school_tradition = Gelug
main_interests =
influences =
influenced =
notable_ideas =

Sonam Gyatso (bo|t=བསོད་ནམས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་|w=Bsod-nams Rgya-mtsho|z=Soinam Gyaco) (1543–1588) was the first officially recognized Dalai Lama, although the title was retrospectively given to his two predecessors.

He was born near Lhasa in 1543 and was recognised as the reincarnation of Gendun Gyatso. He studied at Drepung Monastery and became its abbot. His reputation spread quickly and the monks at Sera Monastery also recognised him as their abbot. [Laird, Thomas (2006). "The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama", p. 139. Grove Press, N.Y. ISBN 978-0-8021-827-1.]

According to Sumpa Khenpo, the great Gelug scholar, he also studied some Nyingmapa tantric doctrines. [Stein, R. A. (1972). "Tibetan Civilization", pp. 171-172. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. ISBN 0-8047-0806-1 (cloth); ISBN 0-8047-0901-7 (paper).]

When one of Tibet's kings, who had been supported by the Kagyupa, died in 1564, Sonam Gyatso presided over his funeral. His political power, and that of the Gelugpas, became dominant in Tibet by the 1570s. [Laird, Thomas (2006). "The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama", p. 139. Grove Press, N.Y. ISBN 978-0-8021-827-1.]

The origin of the title "Dalai Lama"

It has been commonly claimed that the title "Dalai Lama" was first bestowed by the Mongolian ruler Altan Khan upon Sonam Gyatso in 1578. This, however, is not true. Sonam Gyatso, "was invited to Mongolia by the famous conqueror Altan Khan, and on his arrival at the latter's camp the Khan addressed him in Mongol by the name of Dalai lama, the Tibetan word "gyatso", "ocean," being the equivalent of "dalai" in Mongol. Altan, knowing that the lama's predecessor had also the word "gyatso" in his name, took it for a family name; and this mistake has been the origin of the name of Dalai Lama since given to all the reincarnations of the Grand Lama." [Das, Sarat Chandra. (1902). "Lhasa and Central Tibet". Reprint: (1988). Mehra Offset Press, Delhi, p. 172.] This interpretation of the name Dalai Lama has been confirmed by Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: "So I don't really agree that the Mongols actually conferred a title. It was just a translation." [Laird, Thomas (2006). "The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama", p. 143. Grove Press, N.Y. ISBN 978-0-8021-827-1.]

Altan Khan and the conversion of Mongolia

Sonam Gyatso, a monk of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) school of Buddhism, was responsible for finding a foreign patron for Gelugpa institutions. He found this patron in the Altan Khan.

Altan Khan first invited the 3rd Dalai Lama to Mongolia in 1569, but apparently the Dalai Lama refused to go and sent a disciple again, who reported back to the Dalai Lama about the great opportunity to spread Buddhist teachings throughout Mongolia. [Norbu, Thubten Jigme and Turnbull, Colin M. (1968). "Tibet: An account of the history, religion and the people of Tibet", p. 218. Touchstone Books, New York. ISBN 0-671-20099-2 (hbk); ISBN 0-671-20559-5 (pbk).] In 1573 Altan Khan took some Tibetan Buddhist monks prisoner. [Stein, R. A. (1972). Tibetan Civilization, p. 81. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. ISBN 0-8047-0806-1 (cloth); ISBN 0-8047-0901-7 (paper).]

Altan Khan invited the 3rd Dalai Lama to Mongolia again in 1571 and embraced Tibetan Buddhism. After some hesitation, with followers begging him not to go, Sonam Gyatso's party set out and was met at Ahrik Karpatang in Mongolia where a specially prepared camp had been set up to receive them. Thousands of animals were given to him as offerings and five hundred horsemen had been sent to escort him to Altan Khan's court. When they arrived there, they were greeted by over ten thousand people including Altan Khan dressed in a white robe to symbolize his devotion to the Dharma. [Mullin, Glen H. (2001). "The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation", pp. 143-145. Clear Light Publishers, Santa Fe, New Mexico. ISBN 1-57416-092-3.]

Altan Khan had Thegchen Chonkhor, Mongolia's first monastery, built and a massive program of translating Tibetan texts into Mongolian was commenced. Within 50 years most Mongols had become Buddhist, with tens of thousands of monks, who were members of the Gelug order, loyal to the Dalai Lama. [Laird, Thomas (2006). "The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama", p. 144. Grove Press, N.Y. ISBN 978-0-8021-827-1.]

Sonam Gyatso's message was that the time had come for Mongolia to embrace Buddhism, that from that time on there should be no more animal sacrifices, the images of the old gods were to be destroyed, there must be no taking of life, animal or human, military action must be given up and the immolation of women on the funeral pyres of their husbands must be abolished. [Norbu, Thubten Jigme and Turnbull, Colin M. (1968). "Tibet: An account of the history, religion and the people of Tibet", p. 219. Touchstone Books, New York. ISBN 0-671-20099-2 (hbk); ISBN 0-671-20559-5 (pbk).] He also secured an edict abolishing the Mongol custom of blood-sacrifices. [Stein, R. A. (1972). Tibetan Civilization, p. 82. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. ISBN 0-8047-0806-1 (cloth); ISBN 0-8047-0901-7 (paper).] "These and many other such laws were set forth by Gyalwa Sonam Gyatso and were instituted by Altan Khan." [Mullin, Glenn H. (2001). "The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation," p. 146. Clear Light Publishers, Santa Fe, New Mexico. ISBN 1-57416-092-3.]

The Third Dalai Lama publicly announced that he was a reincarnation of Phagpa, while the Altan Khan was a reincarnation of Kublai Khan and they had come together again to cooperate in propagating the Buddhist religion.Laird, Thomas (2006). "The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama", p. 146. Grove Press, N.Y. ISBN 978-0-8021-827-1.]

The alliance with the Mongols would later prove instrumental in establishing the Gelukpa as the rulers of Tibet during the reign of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama.

Altan Khan died in 1582, only four years after meeting with the Third Dalai Lama.

Altan Khan was succeeded by his son Sengge Düüreng who continued to diligently support Buddhism, and two years later the 3rd Dalai Lama made another visit to Mongolia. On his way, he founded the monastery of Kumbum at the birthplace of the great teacher and reformer, Tsongkhapa. By 1585 he was back in Mongolia and converted more Mongol princes and their tribes. The Dalai Lama was again invited to visit the Ming emperor and this time he accepted but fell ill and died in Mongolia while returning to Tibet. [Norbu, Thubten Jigme and Turnbull, Colin M. (1968). "Tibet: An account of the history, religion and the people of Tibet", p. 220. Touchstone Books, New York. ISBN 0-671-20099-2 (hbk); ISBN 0-671-20559-5 (pbk).] [Laird, Thomas (2006). "The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama", pp. 146-147. Grove Press, N.Y. ISBN 978-0-8021-827-1.]

Altan Khan's grandson, Yonten Gyatso, was selected as the 4th Dalai Lama.

"To others give the victory and the spoils; The loss and defeat, take upon oneself" — Sonam Gyatso. [Norbu, Thubten Jigme and Turnbull, Colin M. (1968). "Tibet: An account of the history, the religion and the people of Tibet". Reprint: Touchstone Books. New York. ISBN 0-671-20559-5, p. 321.]

Footnotes

References

* "Essence of Refined Gold by the Third Dalai Lama: with related texts by the Second and Seventh Dalai Lamas". (1978) Translated by Glenn H. Mullin. Tushita Books, Dharamsala, H.P., India.

Further reading

* Mullin, Glenn H. (2001). "The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation", pp. 129-163. Clear Light Publishers. Santa Fe, New Mexico. ISBN 1-57416-092-3.