Gedun Truppa, the First Dalai Lama

Gedun Truppa (1391-1474) occupies an important position in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. He founded the Zhaxilhunbo Monastery and became its first abbot. He wrote several books, including Commentary to the Sutra of Commandment, Collection of Primary and Secondary Causes, and Commentary to On Logic. One of his books is the textbook used by the Yellow Sect.

At the age of 15, Gedun Truppa became a monk, after taking his vows as a getsul before Dondrub Kedrup at the Nathang Monastery. On becoming a full ordained monk at age 20, he began to study On Logic. He had ability, and soon made his own contribution to Buddhist theory. At age 25, he traveled extensively in Central and Western Tibet. Whilst at the Dradrug Monastery, he studied Cause and logic and The Middle Way under the tutorship of Kunzanpa. At the time, Tsongkhapa had already achieved recognition as founder of the Yellow Sect (the Gelugpa Sect), and in 1414 Drappa Gyaltsen invited Tsongkhapa to teach in Drashi Dokha The Middle Way, Cause and Logic, The Order of Bodhi and Entry into Perfection, tenets of the Yellow Sect. In 1415 Tsongkhapa began giving sermons to monks and laymen in Drashi Dokha. Inspired by Tsongkhapa's sermons, Gedun Truppa began to study the doctrine of the Yellow Sect under his tutelage.

After the death of Tsongkhapa, Gedun Truppa continued his study of exoteric and esoteric Buddhism under Gyaltsub Je, the second abbot of Ganden, and proclaimed Gyaltsub Je as the best tutor he had khown on exoteric Buddhism. When, following the death of Gyaltsub Je, Khedrub Je (the first Panchen Lama) was unanimously chosen as Ganden's third abbot by its monks, Gedun Truppa became Khedrub Je's disciple, and studied many essential theories under his guidance. Later, when he returned to western Tibet, Gedun Truppa traveled widely to preach, and his disciples grew in number.

In 1447, Gedun Truppa founded the Zhaxilhunbo Monastery, the largest monastery of the Yellow Sect in the Xigaze area, and one of the four great monasteries of the Yellow Sect, the other three being Drepung, Ganden, and Sera. It initially had three sections for studying exoteric Buddhism, and a section or the study of exoteric Buddhism was later added. Monks at this monastery amounted to 3,800.

In 1474, Gedun Truppa died at the Zhaxilhunbo Monastery at the age of 84, after presiding over the monastery for more than 20 years. Later, he was posthumously given the title of the First Dalai Lama.

Welcoming Qamba Buddha, an important activity for the Grand Prayer Meeting of Jokhang Monastery.