Khedrub Jey's Five Visions of Lama Tsongkhapa

Click to see all five Visions

Llama Tsongkhapa, who lived in Tibet in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, was sometimes known to his followers as the "second Buddha." He was the founder of the Gelukpa School of Tibetan Buddhism, or "yellow hat school."

According to the legend, after Tsongkhapa passed away in 1419, his disciple Khedrub Jey on five occasions met with him in mystical states. His five visionary meetings became favorite subjects of artists throughout Central Asia. Each of the five reveals a different aspect of Tsongkhapa's persona and life's work. This set of paintings dates to the late 1800s and belonged to the previous Dalai Lama.

Kedrub Jey is most remembered for his charisma as a teacher, as well as for the many excellent commentaries that he wrote on the tantric lineages which Tsongkhapa gathered together and elucidated. He played an important role in the education of the First Dalai Lama, who was the youngest of Tsongkhapa's five chief disciples.

Text excerpted from the exhibition catalog written by Glenn Mullin and Andy Weber.

First Vision

Second Vision

Third Vision

Fourth Vision

Fifth Vision

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