Je Tsongkapa Statue
Je Tsongkapa was a great Tibetan master, scholar, and saint who founded the Geluk tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Renowned for his profound wisdom, compassion, and pure discipline, Tsongkhapa is often depicted wearing the distinctive yellow pandit’s hat, symbolizing his mastery of both sutra and tantra.
In this statue, Tsongkhapa is shown in a serene meditation posture, with his hands in the teaching mudra while holding the stems of lotus flowers that support the sword of wisdom and the Perfection of Wisdom scripture. This imagery embodies his role as a supreme teacher who united scholarship, meditation, and ethical discipline.
Placing a Tsongkhapa statue in your home or shrine is believed to bring blessings of wisdom, compassion, clarity of mind, and success in Dharma study and practice. It is especially revered by practitioners of the Geluk tradition as a source of inspiration and protection.
A statue of Je Tsongkhapa is not only a sacred representation of one of Tibet’s greatest spiritual teachers but also a reminder of the transformative power of wisdom and compassion in daily life.
10cm/4 inches tall
For Buddhist practitioners, particularly those of the Gelug school (the tradition of the Dalai Lamas), Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) is a figure of immense importance. He was a brilliant scholar, yogi, and innovator who revitalized Tibetan Buddhism in the 14th and 15th centuries, emphasizing strict adherence to monastic discipline, thorough philosophical study, and profound meditation practice.
Practitioners connect with Je Tsongkhapa to:
- Seek Wisdom and Clarity: He is revered for his vast intellect and his ability to clarify the most profound and subtle points of Buddhist philosophy, especially concerning emptiness and dependent origination.
- Inspire Ethical Conduct: His life exemplifies pure monastic discipline and adherence to the Vinaya (moral code), serving as a powerful role model for ethical living.
- Deepen Meditation and Realization: His teachings integrate both the Sutra (scriptural) and Tantra (vajrayana) paths, providing a comprehensive framework for spiritual development leading to enlightenment.
- Strengthen Connection to the Gelug Lineage: He is the founder of the Ganden monastery and the Gelug school, and invoking him helps practitioners connect to this lineage's blessings and wisdom.
Je Tsongkhapa's Mantra (Migtsema):
The most common mantra associated with Je Tsongkhapa, often called the "Migtsema" mantra, is:
MIG MEY TSE WAI TER CHEN CHEN RE ZIG WANG CHEN DRI MED KHYEN PA’I CHEN RA ZIG JAM PAL YANG KI GÖN GANG CHEN KE PA’I TSUG GYEN TZONG KA PA LO ZANG TRAG PA LA SOL WA DEB SO CHIN GYI LAB TU SOL
- This mantra is a prayer of invocation that praises Tsongkhapa as a unique manifestation of the wisdom (Manjushri), compassion (Avalokiteshvara), and power (Vajrapani) of all Buddhas. It requests his blessings.
- MIG MEY TSE WAI TER CHEN: "Avalokiteshvara, great treasure of non-objectifying compassion,"
- CHEN RE ZIG WANG CHEN: "Great lord whose enlightened mind pervades all sentient beings" (referring to Avalokiteshvara),
- DRI MED KHYEN PA’I CHEN RA ZIG: "Manjushri, stainless supreme wisdom,"
- JAM PAL YANG KI GÖN: "Lord of Dharma, Manjushri,"
- GANG CHEN KE PA’I TSUG GYEN: "Crown ornament of the wise ones of the Land of Snows,"
- TZONG KA PA LO ZANG TRAG PA LA: "To the supreme master Tsongkhapa, Lobsang Dragpa,"
- SOL WA DEB SO CHIN GYI LAB TU SOL: "I supplicate you, please grant your blessings!"
Reciting this mantra is a powerful practice for receiving blessings for wisdom, compassion, and purity, and for deepening one's understanding and practice of the Dharma as taught by Je Tsongkhapa.