LINEAGE-TEST

Since the Tibetan yogi Kunpang Thukje Tsondru (1243-1313) synthesized seventeen transmission lines of the Kalachakra in the mid-13th century, the Jonang tradition has specialized in this unique tantra, its philosophical and cosmological thought, and the ritual life associated with the tantra. In a simultaneous and parallel continuum from the historical Buddha and then on through Maitreyanatha and his disciples is the Great Madhyamaka (dbu ma chen po) meditative tradition and system of sutra zhentong (“shentong,” gzhan stong).

Synthesizing sutra and tantra, the Jonang luminary Kunkhyen Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen (1292-1361) brought these seemingly disparate systems of Indian Buddhist thought together, intersecting the Kalachakra transmission lineages with the Zhentong Great Madhyamaka. Interpreting sutras by means of tantras and vice versa, Dolpopa’s interfusion of the technical tantric vocabulary found within the Kalachakra Tantra with the philosophical language and thinking of Great Madhyamaka consequently redefined the contemplative, intellectual, and literary heritage of the Jonang.

What follows are the lines of transmission or “lineage trees,” depicting the prominent masters from both the Zhentong Great Madhyamaka and the Dro Kalachakra traditions as they are revered by the Jonangpa today:

Zhentong Great Madhyamaka
Dro Kalachakra
1. Shakyamuni Buddha     
                                               2. Maitreya
3. Asanga
4. Vasubandhu
5. Gangameti
6. Gawa Drakpa
7. Jungnay Zhiwa
8. Brahma Sajna
9. Lotsawa Gaway Dorje
10. Tsen Kawoche, Drimey Sherab
11. Dharma Tsondru
12. Yeshe Jungnay
13. Changchub Kyab
14. Changchub the Younger
15. Monlam Tsultrim
*16. Chomden Ripay Raldri
*17. Kyiton Jamyang		    2b.Dharma Kings of Shambhala
3b.Kalachakrapada the Elder
4b. Kalachakrapada the Younger
5b. Nalendrapa, Bodhibhadra
6b. Somanatha
7b. Dro Lotsawa Sherab Drakpa
8b. Lhaje Gompa
9b. Droton Namseg
10b. Yumo Mikyo Dorje
11b. Dharmeshvara
12b. Namkha Odzer
13b. Machig Tulku Jobum
14b. Sechen Namkha Gyaltsen
15b. Jamyang Sarma
16b. Choku Odzer
17b. Kunpang Thukje Tsondru
18b. Changsem Gyalwa Yeshe
19b. Yontan Gyatso
      18. Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen 20b           
                               19. Nyawon Kunga Pal
20. Chopal Gonpo
21. Lodro Zangpo
22. Jamgon Nyipa Drag
*23. Shakya Chogden
*24. Donyod Drubpa
25. Jamgon Drubpa
26. Kunga Gyaltsen
27. Dragdan Drubpa Chog		   21b. Chogle Namgyal
22b. Nyawon Kunga Pal
23b. Kunga Lodro
24b. Jamyang Konchog Zangpo
25b. Namkhai Tsenchan
26b. Namkha Palzang
27b. Lochen Ratnabhadra
28b. Jamgon Drupay Pawo
29b. Kunga Dolchog
30b. Gyatso Deje
31b. Khadrup Namtsol
      28. Taranatha 32b           
                                  29. Thinley Wangmo                                     30. Kunga Palzang
31. Dedak Kunla Gupa
32. Kunga Yontan Gyatso
33. Palden Namnang Dorje
34. Kunga Odzer
35. Palden Lama Chog
36. Lama Kunzang 		  33b. Gyaltsen Palzang
34b. Drolway Gonpo
35b. Ngonjang Rinchen Gyatso
36b. Lodro Namgyal
37b. Ngawang Thinley
38b. Ngawang Tenzin Namgyal
39b. Ngawang Khatsun Dargyay
40b. Kunzang Thinley Namgyal
41b. Nudan Lhundrup Gyatso
42b. Konchog Jigmed Namgyal
43b. Ngawang Chopel Gyatso
44b. Ngawang Chokyi Phakpa
45b. Ngawang Chozin Gyatso
46b. Ngawang Chokyi Naljor
47b. Ngawang Kunga Palden
48b. Kunga Khadrup Wangchuk
49b. Kunga Tenpa Salje
50b. Ngawang Dorje Zangpo
51b. Ngawang Konchok Dargyay
52b. Ngawang Lodro Drakpa
53b. Ngawang Yontan Zangpo
   Present day lineage masters      

*Non-Jonang Tibetan masters of the Zhentong Madhyamaka lineage.