Editing Dalai Lama (section)

=== 2nd Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|2nd Dalai Lama}}

After Gendun Drup died, a boy called Sangyey Pel, born to Nyngma adepts at Yolkar in [[Ü-Tsang|Tsang]],<ref name=shak91 /><ref>Mullin 2001, p. 89.</ref> declared himself at the age of three to be Gendun Drup and asked to be 'taken home' to Tashilhunpo. He spoke in mystical verses, quoted classical texts spontaneously,<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 90–93.</ref> and claimed to be [[Dromtönpa]], an earlier incarnation of the Dalai Lamas.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 90.</ref> When he saw monks from Tashilhunpo, he greeted the disciples of the late Gendun Drup by name.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 95.</ref> Convinced by the evidence, the Gelugpa elders broke with the traditions of their school and recognised him as Gendun Drup's ''tulku'' at the age of eight.<ref name=mull956 />

His father took him on teachings and retreats, training him in all the family [[Nyingma]] lineages.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 94.</ref> At twelve he was installed at Tashilhunpo as Gendun Drup's incarnation, ordained, enthroned, and renamed [[Gendun Gyatso Palzangpo]] (1475–1542).<ref name=mull956 />

Tutored personally by the abbot, he made rapid progress, and in 1492 at the age of seventeen he was requested to teach all over Tsang, where thousands gathered to listen and give obeisance, including senior scholars and abbots.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 97–8.</ref> Two years later, he met some opposition from the Tashilhunpo establishment when tensions arose over conflicts between advocates of the two types of succession: the traditional abbatial election through merit and incarnation. He therefore moved to central Tibet, where he was invited to Drepung and where his reputation as a brilliant young teacher quickly grew.<ref>Kapstein 2006, p. 129.</ref><ref>Mullin 2001, 99–100</ref> This move had the effect of shifting central Gelug authority back to Lhasa.

He was afforded all the loyalty and devotion that Gendun Drup had earned and the Gelug school remained as united as ever.<ref name=norb216 />  Under his leadership, the sect continued growing in size and influence<ref name=norb217 /> and its lamas were asked to mediate in disputes between other rivals.<ref>Snelling & Richardson 1986, pp. 182–3.</ref> Gendun Gyatso's popularity in Ü-Tsang grew as he went on pilgrimage, teaching and studying from masters such as the adept Khedrup Norzang Gyatso in the Olklha mountains.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 100–103.</ref> He also stayed in [[Kongpo]] and Dagpo<ref>[[:de:Dagpo (Region)]]{{Circular reference|date=July 2021}}</ref> and became known all over Tibet.<ref name="laird139" /> He spent his winters in Lhasa, writing commentaries, and spent the rest of the year travelling and teaching many thousands of monks and laypeople.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 105.</ref>

In 1509, he moved to southern Tibet to build Chokorgyel Monastery near the 'Oracle Lake', [[Lhamo Latso]],<ref name="laird139" /> completing it by 1511.<ref name=mull111>Mullin 2001, p. 111.</ref> That year he saw visions in the lake and 'empowered' it to impart clues to help identify incarnate lamas. All Dalai Lamas from the 3rd on were found with the help of such visions granted to regents.<ref name="laird139" /><ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 107–9.</ref> He was invited back to Tashilhunpo and given the residence built for Gendun Drup, to be occupied later by the [[Panchen Lamas]].<ref name=shak91 /> He was made abbot of Tashilhunpo<ref>Stein 1972, p. 84.</ref> and stayed there teaching in Tsang for nine months.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 109–110.</ref>

Gendun Gyatso continued to travel widely and teach while based at Tibet's largest monastery, Drepung and became known as 'Drepung Lama',<ref name=norb217>Norbu 1984, p. 217/</ref> his fame and influence spreading all over Central Asia as the best students from hundreds of lesser monasteries in Asia were sent to Drepung for education.<ref name=mull111 />

Throughout Gendun Gyatso's life, the Gelugpa were opposed and suppressed by older rivals, particularly the [[Karma Kagyu]] and their Ringpung clan patrons from Tsang, who felt threatened by their loss of influence.<ref name=dhon456>Dhondup 1984, pp. 4–6.</ref> In 1498, the Ringpung army captured Lhasa and banned the Gelugpa annual New Year [[Monlam Prayer Festival]].<ref name=dhon456 /><ref name=mull112>Mullin 2001, p. 112.</ref> Gendun Gyatso was promoted to abbot of Drepung in 1517<ref name=mull111 /> and that year Ringpung forces were forced to withdraw from Lhasa.<ref name=dhon456 /><ref>Shakabpa 1984, p. 90.</ref> Gendun Gyatso then went to the ''Gongma'' (King) [[Drakpa Jungne]]<ref>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 89–92.</ref> to obtain permission for the festival to be held again.<ref name="mull112" /> The next New Year, the ''Gongma'' was so impressed by Gendun Gyatso's performance leading the festival that he sponsored construction of a large new residence for him at Drepung, 'a monastery within a monastery'.<ref name="mull112" /> It was called the [[Ganden Phodrang]], a name later adopted by the Tibetan Government,<ref name="shak91" /> and it served as home for Dalai Lamas until the Fifth moved to the [[Potala Palace]] in 1645.

In 1525, already abbot of Chokhorgyel, Drepung and Tashilhunpo, he was made abbot of Sera monastery as well, and worked to increase the number of monks there. Based at Drepung in winter and Chokorgyel in summer, he spent his remaining years composing commentaries, making regional teaching tours, visiting Tashilhunpo, and acting as abbot of these four great monasteries.<ref name="mull113">Mullin 2001, p. 113.</ref> As abbot, he made Drepung the largest monastery in the whole of Tibet.<ref name="sr183">Snellgrove & Richardson 1986, p. 183.</ref> He attracted many students and disciples 'from Kashmir to China' as well as major patrons and disciples such as ''Gongma'' Nangso Donyopa of Droda who built a monastery at Zhekar Dzong in his honour and invited him to name it and be its spiritual guide.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 114–5.</ref><ref name="mull113" />

''Gongma'' Gyaltsen Palzangpo of Khyomorlungand and his Queen, Sangyey Paldzomma, became his favorite patrons and disciples and he visited their area to carry out rituals as 'he chose it for his next place of rebirth'.<ref name="mull1137">Mullin 2001, pp. 113, 117.</ref> He died in meditation at Drepung in 1542 at the age of 67 and his reliquary stupa was constructed at Khyomorlung.<ref name="mull120">Mullin 2001, p. 120.</ref> It was said that, by the time he died, through his disciples and their students, his personal influence covered the whole of Buddhist Central Asia where 'there was nobody of any consequence who did not know of him.'<ref name="mull120" /> The Dalai Lama title was posthumously granted to Gedun Gyatso after 1578.