Light of Enlightenment: The Story of His Holiness Gedun Drupa (vegetarian), the First Dalai Lama, Part 1 of 2

His Holiness Gedun Drupa (vegetarian) was a Venerated Tibetan Buddhist Enlightened Master and scholar, best known as the first Dalai Lama. Born in 1391 in central Tibet, He dedicated His life to the study and practice of Buddhism, becoming a prominent disciple of Venerated Enlightened Master Je Tsongkhapa (vegetarian), the founder of the Gelug school.

There is a well-known legend about the birth of Gedun Drupa, telling how on the night of His birth, His family’s nomadic camp was attacked by bandits. His mother, fearing for His safety, hurriedly wrapped the newborn in blankets and hid Him among the rocks before fleeing for her own life. When she returned at dawn, she found Him resting serenely amidst the rocks with a large black raven-person standing guard. The raven-person is believed to have been an emanation of the Glorious Mahākāla, the fierce Dharma Protector Who later became Master Gedun Drupa’s personal guardian Deity.

Gedun Drupa displayed a strong interest in Buddhist texts from a young age, despite being a shepherd boy with no formal scholarly background. His deep spiritual curiosity set Him apart, and by the age of seven, He expressed a desire to become a monk. After the passing of His father, His mother took Him to His uncle, a monk at Narthang Monastery near Shigatse. There, He received His early education and primary instruction in reading and writing Tibetan scripts under the guidance of Gya-ton Tsenda Pa-La. In 1405, when He was 14, He took His upasaka (layperson) vows from the abbot of Narthang Monastery, Khenchen Drupa Sherab. At age 15, He took His novice vows and was given the religious name of Gendun Drubpa Pal.

At the age of 25, Gedun Drupa traveled to attend a lecture with His teacher. It was there that He first met Master Tsongkhapa and became His devoted disciple. Later, He journeyed to Ganden Monastery, the principal seat of the Gelug school, founded in 1409 by Master Tsongkhapa. When Gedun Drupa arrived at Ganden Monastery, Lama Tsongkhapa gave Him a piece of His own monastic robe, an auspicious sign of future greatness.

In 1419, Beloved Master Je Tsongkhapa passed away, only four years after Gedun Drupa arrived at Ganden. After His Master’s passing, Gedun Drupa remained at Ganden, dedicating Himself to further study and teaching.