Jonang
A distinct tradition founded by Kunpang Thukje Tsondru, named after the location where it established itself, the valley of Jomonang in Central Tibet. It produced such outstanding masters as Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen, Jonang Chogle Namgyal, Jetsun Kunga Drolchog and Jonang Taranatha, as well as many others.
Certainly THE online resource on the Jonang tradition is the website of the Jonang Foundation and their Blog. It contains most of the information in these pages, as well as much information that is not found here. See also the external links below.
In many places one finds the erroneous information, that Yumowa Mikyo Dorje was the founder of the Jonangpa. In fact he wasn't and it is doubtful that he even heard the word "Jonang" in his life. However, Yumowa is an important early forefather of this school insofar as he expressed much the same views about emptiness and ultimate reality as did Dolpopa considerably later. In Yumowa's few remaining writings however the term zhentong is not found at all. It was Dolpopa who was to formulate this doctrinal view explicitly.
After the passing away of Jetsun Taranatha in the mid-17th century, the Jonangpa became a target for political and territorial power-struggles in U-Tsang, Central Tibet. With surmounting factional rivalries and divided allegiances amongst Jonang and Geluk patrons and the Mongol Army's solidifying of Geluk power, Jonang political and territorial influence began to wane. As Mongol military might enthroned and endorsed the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682), and the Geluk political administration ruled, the Jonang were forced out of Central Tibet.
In the year 1650, the 5th Dalai Lama sealed and banned the study of zhentong, prohibiting the printing of Jonang zhentong texts throughout Tibet. Then in 1658, the 5th Dalai Lama forcibly converted Jonang Takten Damcho Ling (Phuntsok Choling) Monastery into a Geluk Monastery — officially initiating the demise of the Jonangpa in U-Tsang.
Although the sphere of Geluk political and military influence reached to the borders of Central Tibet, it did not penetrate the far northeastern domain of Amdo, Tibet. Here, in the remote valleys and vast countrysides of the Dzamthang, Golok and Ngawa regions, the Jonangpa took refuge and made their home.
Beginning in the year 1425 with the establishment of Choje Monastery by Jonang Chogle Namgyal's disciple Ratnashri (1350-1435), the Jonangpa have lived in the Dzamthang and surrounding counties of Amdo. Under the imperial patronage of the Ming Court of China, the Jonangpa were able to thrive. In fact, by the mid-16th century, the Jonangpa had consolidated their monastic complexes within the Dzamthang area in Amdo to the extent that they were the local imperial regents. This is where the Jonangpa later gathered during their 17th century Geluk persecution. Surviving outside the range of Geluk influence, the Jonangpa have been building monasteries and transmitting their vital teachings on zhentong and the Kalachakra Tantra ever since.
In the 18th century two masters, Kathok Rigdzin Tsewang Norbu (1698-1755) and the 8th Tai Situpa Chokyi Jungne (1700-1774), became instrumental in reviving the interest in and spread of Jonangpa practices and teachings, particularly those of the zhentong view, both in Central Tibet as well as in Kham. With the late 19th century luminaries such as Jamgon Kongtrul (1813-1899) and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892), the Rime or eclectic movement was born in Kham, Eastern Tibet. Sparked by the writings and compilations of these figures, including Kongtrul's Five Treasures, there was the occasion for a re-kindling of interest in the Jonang tradition and zhentong literature.
Inspiring many of the great masters from Kham at this time such as Dza Patrul Rinpoche and Jamgon Mipham, the Jonang Kalachakra perfection process practices and distinctive zhentong view gained attention from other traditions as well. Meanwhile this period continued to produce some of the greatest masters of contemporary Jonang thought up through the late 20th century, including Bamda Thubten Gelek Gyatso (1844-1904) and Khenpo Ngawang Lodro Drakpa (1920-1975).
In the 1960's, many of the great living exemplars of the Jonang were forced out of their monasteries, and they fled into the countryside of Amdo where they wandered as nomads or took shelter in caves as yogis. Over the next two decades, the Jonangpa lived without homes in their homeland, gathering during the summer for their annual rains-retreat in order to continue to transmit their lineage. After the Cultural Revolution in 1976, the Jonangpa began returning to their monasteries where they have been rebuilding monasteries and reviving their unique spiritual tradition up to today.
Presently there are more than 40 Jonang monasteries in the Amdo and Golok regions of northeastern Tibet, and many more small mountain retreats.
The Jonangpa have just begun to make an appearance outside of Tibet. There is a small Jonang monastery in Shimla, northern India, and another one just recently established in Kathmandu, Nepal near the great Boudanath stupa. Apart from that, there are a few centers in the west, mainly the "Dorje Ling" centers in the U.S. as well as the "Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute" in Australia.
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A probably incomplete list of present-day Jonangpa monasteries in Amdo and Golok and their main masters in charge
01. jo nang ri khrod chen mo nges gsang bstan pa'i 'byung gnas
- grub pa'i dbang phyug rdo rje slob dpon ye shes mthar phyin
02. jo nang 'dzam thang dgon bsam 'grub nor bu'i gling - the main present-day seat of the Jonangpa, not far from the town of Ngaba in Amdo. It consists of three faculties or "grwa tshang", of which the chos rje grwa tshang is the oldest, gtsang chen grwa tshang the largest and tshes bcu grwa tshang the smallest.
chos rje grwa tshang
- skyab rje kun dga' mi pham 'jigs med bshad sgrub bstan pa'i nyi ma
- rdo rje slob dpon chen po rje dbon kun dga' 'jigs med rgya mtsho
gtsang chen (or gtsang ba) grwa tshang
- dpal jo nang pa'i byin rlabs don brgyud kyi 'dzin zhe drug pa skyab rje ngag dbang yon tan bzang po
- sgrub brgyud bstan pa'i ded dpon gtsang chen sku 'phreng drug pa rdo rje slob dpon ngag dbang 'jigs med rdo rje
- dpal jo nang pa'i dbang phyug byin rlabs don kyi brgyud rim zhe bdun pa rdo rje 'chang mchog sprul ngag dbang kun dga' 'jam dbyangs blo gros mchog
tshes bcu grwa tshang
- snyigs dus bstan pa'i gsal byed mchog sprul rin chen grags pa
- tshes bcu sku 'phreng gsum pa ngag dbang bsod nams bzang po
03. jo nang bkra shis chos thang nor bu'i gling
- grub pa'i gtsug rgyan rdo rje slob dpon ngag dbang rin chen dpal bzang
- gzhung brgya smra ba'i dbang phyug mkhan chen blo bzang 'phrin las
04. jo nang bkra shis lha khang dgon
- gsang chen bstan pa'i sgron me rdo rje slob dpon ngag dbang skal ldan rgya mtsho
05. jo nang bya yul dgon
- rim gnyis zab mo'i mdzod 'chang rdo rje slob dpon bla ma ngag blos
06. jo nang dmar dpal rtse dgon
- mngon mkhyen mnga' ba rdo rje slob dpon rin chen brtson 'grus
07. jo nang 'dzi srib dgon bkra shis chos gling
- rtogs pa'i dbang phyug rdo rje slob dpon ngag dbang kun dga' dpal bzang
08. jo nang ka thog dar thang dgon
- 'chad rtsod rtsom gyi gter mdzod bla ma theg mchog
09. jo nang thub bstan gshad sgrub gling
- zab mo'i nyid mngon gzigs rdo rje slob dpon bla ma bstan dar
10. jo nang dza 'go dgon nges don dar rgyas gling
- rdo rje slob dpon mchog sprul dkon mchog kun dga' rgya mtsho
11. jo nang bee ro'i dgon - situated right at the retreat cave of Vairocana the translator, where he practiced when he was exiled from Central Tibet. In the inner recesses of the rather large cave is a stupa that supposedly contains the bow and arrows of Lhalung Palgyi Dorje who assassinated King Lang Darma.
- nges don bstan pa'i gsal byed rdo rje slob dpon mchog sprul rdo rje dgra 'dul
12. jo nang pa la dgon bshad sgrub phun tshogs gling
- nges don bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan rdo rje slob dpon bla ma bstan gsal
- mchog sprul kun dga' blo gros
13. jo nang bse don thub bstan phyogs las rnam rgyal gling
- nges don bstan pa'i khyu mchog rdo rje slob dpon kun dga' thugs rje dpal
- rdo rje 'chang chen thub bstan chos kyi 'od zer
14. jo nang rsi nang dgon mi 'gyur nges don bde chen gling
- spyan gzigs rnam rol rdo rje slob dpon bla ma mkhas bzang
- mchog sprul ngag dbang byang chub dpal
15. jo nang lcam mda' thub bstan nges don chos 'khor gling
- nges don pa'i sgron me mkhan chen kun dga' shes rab gsal byed
- mchog sprul blo bzang bsam gtan grags pa
16. jo nang 'brog dge dgon nges don bsam 'grub gling
- nges don bstan pa'i mchog sprul kun dga' yon tan lhun 'grub
- rdo rje 'chang chen mkhan kun dga' dpal ldan rgya mtsho
17. jo nang cha yul dgon nges don bsam 'grub gling
- rdo rje 'dzin pa chen po skyabs rje gtsang sprul blo gros rnam rgyal
18. jo nang nyin yos dgon nges don theg mchog chos 'khor gling
- nyam med zab mo'i rgyud 'chang rdo rje slob dpon ngag dbang shes rab bzang po
19. jo nang lhar yag dgon nges don lhun grub gling
- rdo rje 'dzin pa chen po dkon mchog yon tan rgya mtsho
- mchog sprul bkra shis 'od zer
20. jo nang lung skya dgon nges don mi 'gyur bde chen gling
- rtogs pa'i dbang phyug rdo rje slob dpon skyabs rje padma rnam rgyal
- mkhan chen tshul khrims dar gyas
21. jo nang mkhar brag dkar dgon bde ldan phun tshogs gling
- nges don bstan pa'i gsal byed mchog sprul rin po che ye shes chos kyi nyi ma
- mchog sprul ngag dbang thub bstan shes rab
22. jo nang mdo li'i rdo kha dgon thub bstan nges don chos 'khor gling
- chos nyid zab mo'i mdzod 'chang rdo rje slob dpon ngag dbang gsal ldan rgya mtsho
- mkhan rin po che rig pa'i rdo rje
23. jo nang gtsang zhol ma dgon nges don bkra shis chos 'khor gling
- cha lung sku 'phreng lnga pa skyabs rje ngag dbang 'jigs med phyogs las rnam rgyal
- gtsang lcags mdud mchog sprul kun dga' dkon mchog bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan
24. jo nang bkra shis lha ri dgon
- nges don bstan pa'i mdzes rgyan chen po rdo rje slob dpon bya bral chos dbyings rin po che
25. jo nang sna 'dus dgon byang chub chos 'khor gling
- rim gnyis lam gyis phyug pa rdo rje slob dpon kun dga' mthar phyin rgya mtsho
26. jo nang bkra shis lha lung dgon
- khyab bdag 'khor lo'i mgon po khra bla rdo rje bzang po
27. jo nang ya blo'i dgon nges don dga' ba'i tshal
- rnal 'byor gyi dbang phyug rdo rje slob dpon bla ma blo gros rgya mtsho
28. jo nang a skyong yar thang dgon nges don bshad sgrub gling
- jo nang bstan pa'i gsal byed mchog sprul ngag dbang bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho
- nyams rtogs zan mo'i gter gyur rdo rje slob dpon bla ma bshad sgrub dpal
29. jo nang gling 'bud dgon mdo sngags bshad sgrub gling
- bslab gsum nyams len 'dzin pa rdo rje slob dpon ngag dbang yon tan rin chen
- mchog sprul ngag dbang 'jigs med brtson 'grus go cha
30. jo nang bkra shis sgang nges don dam chos nor bu'i gling
- mdo sngags bstan pa'i mdzod 'chang bla ma rgyal mtshan rin po che
- rig pa smra ba'i mchog sprul ratna bstan pa
31. jo nang sa ra dgon nges don bshad sgrub gling
- nges don bstan pa'i gsal byed mchog sprul kun dga' rin po che
32. jo nang rta dkar dgon nges don dga' tshal gling
- gdul bya'i pad tshal skyong mkhas mchog sprul sangs rgyas 'od zer rin po che
33. jo nang dkar lha dgon nges don bstan rgyas gling
- mdo sngags bstan pa'i mdzes rgyan bla ma bsod nams rgyal mtshan
34. jo nang gshom sde dgon nges don dar rgyas gling
- nges gsang mdzod 'chang bla ma tshe lha rin po che
35. jo nang khang gsar dgon bde chen chos gling
- rim gnyis rnal 'byor pa rdo rje slob dpon bla ma shing thar rin po che
36. jo nang yongs 'dus dgon nges don 'phel rgyas gling
- rtogs pa'i dbang phyug bla ma blo gros rin po che
37. jo nang yum mda' dgon nges don thos bsam gling
- snyen sgrub mhar phyin dbon kun dga' dkon mchog
38. jo nang kyang sgang dgon nges don bkra shis chos gling
- grub pa'i brtul zhugs 'dzin pa bla ma zab gsal
39. jo nang tsag dgon nges don byang chub chos gling
- grub rig 'dzin bla ma kun dga' don 'grub rgya mtsho
40. jo nang dar skud dgon nges don bsam sgrub chos 'khor gling
- nges don zab mo'i de nyid mngon gzigs bla ma kun grol
- nges don dbu ma chen po mdzes rgyan mchog sprul chos 'dzin rin po che
41. jo nang a dpa' dgon nges don bsam gtam gling
- mchog sprul kun dga' bkra shis brtan pa rin po che
42. jo nang thar mo dgon nges don byang chub gling
- nges don bstan pa'i brgyud 'dzin kun dga' chis sku 'od zer
In India
jo nang ma dgon rtag brtan phun tshogs chos gling
- mdo sngags bstan 'dzin mdzod 'chang khyab bdag rdo rje 'dzin pa mkhan rin po che chos kyi snang ba
- 'brog dge spru sku kun dga' chos spel
- mchog sprul mdo sngags rgya mtsho
In Nepal
jo nang rtag brtan bshad sgrub chos 'khor gling
- rim gnyis zab mo'i mdzod 'chang mchog sprul bkra shis rgyal mtshan
See also Jonang Masters & Jonang Literature