We have concentrated on the entire tradition of ideas that took their birth in ancient India and culminated in the best-known figures in Tibetan history: the Dalai Lamas and their teachers.
The following very general chart then gives you a good picture of the CD-ROM in terms of one unbroken, exquisite continuation of thought from antiquity up to the present day.
500 BC
Original Sanskrit sutras
on subjects like ethics, human perception, the perfection of wisdom,
and the subjective nature of reality;
these are source texts for the great philosophical traditions of Tibet,
especially that of the Dalai Lamas
author represented in the database:
Gautama Buddha
200 AD
first wave of sanskrit Treatises
on ideas like the perfection of generosity, an ethical life, overcoming anger,
developing contemplation and meditation; important
early Indian sources for
the traditions of Tibet
representative authors in the database:
Masters Nagarjuna, Aryadeva
350 AD
second wave of sanskrit Treatises
expanding on ideas such as human psychology, the beginnings of the world,
the measurement of time and space, and the question of life after death;
important sources for textbooks of the Tibetan monasteries
in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
Masters Asanga, Vasubandhu
500 AD
third wave of sanskrit Treatises
refinement of the principles of ethical living
and the birth of the great logic traditions;
further important sources for textbooks of the Tibetan monasteries
in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
Masters Gunaprabha, Dignaga
700 AD
Fourth wave of sanskrit Treatises
further clarifications of the role of the mind in perception
and reality itself; great spread of the bodhisattva ideal
of putting the concerns of others above our own;
final early sources for the textbooks of the monasteries
in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
MasterS Chandrakirti, Dharmakirti, and Shantideva
1000 AD
final wave of sanskrit Treatises
birth of the native Tibetan philosophical traditions,
flowering of the great Tibetan lineages of intense spiritual practice,
in brief manuals of instruction;
"grandfathers" of the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
Master Atisha, Geshe Drolungpa,
and Kadampas such as Chekawa and Dorje Sengge
1250 AD
early tibetan classics of advanced philosophy
on subjects such as vowed morality, epistemology, psychology and cosmology;
philosophical refinement of those to become the teachers
of the teachers of the first Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
Kunkyen Tsonawa, Chim Jampeyang
1400 AD
Great renaissance of advanced intellectual inquiry
and monastic commentary on the entire range of Sanskrit classics;
the era of the teachers of the first Dalai Lamas,
and of these Lamas themselves
representative authors in the database:
nearly the entire collected works (over 300 separate titles in about 15,000 pages)
of Je Tsongkapa, teacher of His Holiness the First Dalai Lama
a major portion (3,700 pages) of the collected works of Gyaltsab Je,
first holder of the throne of Je Tsongkapa
a major portion (3,300 pages) of the collected works of Kedrup Je,
another principal disciple of Je Tsongkapa
over 800 pages of important material by the First Dalai Lama
1550 AD
First flowering of the great monastic textbooks
in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet, covering subjects such as
the perfection of wisdom, the philosophy of the Middle Way,
perceptual theory, the art of logical reasoning,
vowed morality, psychology, and the categories of existing things
representative authors in the database:
nearly all the works (28 titles in over 2,500 pages) of Kedrup Tenpa Dargye,
principal textbook writer for the Mey college of Sera Monastery, founded by a student of the teacher of the First Dalai Lama, and one of the largest monastic institutions in history
most of the works (30 titles in over 3,500 pages) of Sera Jetsun Chukyi Gyeltsen, principal textbook writer for the Jey college of Sera Monastery
the Rato logic compendium of Chok-hla U-ser, the grandfather of the Buddhist logic lineages in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
1650 AD
Wave of secondary Monastic Textbooks
refined manuals for advanced spiritual practice
representative authors in the database:
essentially the entire collected works (265 titles in 5,200 pages) of the First Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chukyi Gyeltsen (the Panchen Lamas became the resident heads of the monastery founded by the First Dalai Lama)
important works from Choney Lama Drakpa Shedrup, another major author of text-books for Sera Mey Monastery
the entire collected works (over 100 titles in 2,200 pages) of the Lama to the Emperor of China, the First Changkya Rinpoche, Ngawang Lobsang Chunden (said to be a former life of Pabongka Rinpoche, the principal teacher of one of the two principal teachers of the present Dalai Lama, His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso)
1775 AD
Beginning of the modern era
of philosophical commentaries
derivative works from the monastic textbooks,
and practical manuals for a wide variety of spiritual practices
representative authors in the database:
the entire opus (600 pages) covering the schools of Asian philosophy by the Second Changkya Rinpoche, Rolpay Dorje
the entire collected works (over 600 items in 4,800 pages) of Ngulchu Dharma Bhadra, a major figure in the transmission of important teachings down to the principal teachers of the present Dalai Lama
selections from Panglung Lobsang Tukje, another author of textbooks for Sera Mey Monastery
1900 AD
final wave of classics before loss of tibet
highly refined derivative works on logic and philosophy,
modern evolution of manuals for the steps of a lifetime of spiritual practice (lam-rim),
great biographies and other documentation of the Tibetan tradition
representative authors in the database:
Gyalwang Trinley Namgyal, famed biographer of the teacher of the First Dalai Lama
a major portion (40 titles in 600 pages) of the collected works of Cheshu Rinpoche Lobsang Jangchub Tenpay Drunme,
the head of Kumbum, a major monastery located at the birthplace of the teacher of the First Dalai Lama
Yongdzin Purbuchok Jampa Tsultrim Gyatso, personal tutor to His Holiness the XIIIth Dalai Lama
a major portion (65 titles in 2,100 pages) of the collected works of Pabongka Rinpoche Dechen Nyingpo, principal teacher of one of two principal teachers of His Holiness, the present Dalai Lama
1970 AD
Heroic intellectual efforts by survivors of
the Tibetan Diaspora
representative authors in the database:
a major portion (55 titles in 1,600 pages) of the collected works of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, a principal teacher of the present Dalai Lama
pieces by Sermey Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin,
one of the principal students of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, and chief editor of the Asian Classics Input Project
modern philosophical classics of Geshe Yeshe Wangchuk
of Sera Mey, and KHensur Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Wangchuk of Sera Jey
Original Sanskrit sutras
on subjects like ethics, human perception, the perfection of wisdom,
and the subjective nature of reality;
these are source texts for the great philosophical traditions of Tibet,
especially that of the Dalai Lamas
author represented in the database:
Gautama Buddha
200 AD
first wave of sanskrit Treatises
on ideas like the perfection of generosity, an ethical life, overcoming anger,
developing contemplation and meditation; important
early Indian sources for
the traditions of Tibet
representative authors in the database:
Masters Nagarjuna, Aryadeva
350 AD
second wave of sanskrit Treatises
expanding on ideas such as human psychology, the beginnings of the world,
the measurement of time and space, and the question of life after death;
important sources for textbooks of the Tibetan monasteries
in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
Masters Asanga, Vasubandhu
500 AD
third wave of sanskrit Treatises
refinement of the principles of ethical living
and the birth of the great logic traditions;
further important sources for textbooks of the Tibetan monasteries
in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
Masters Gunaprabha, Dignaga
700 AD
Fourth wave of sanskrit Treatises
further clarifications of the role of the mind in perception
and reality itself; great spread of the bodhisattva ideal
of putting the concerns of others above our own;
final early sources for the textbooks of the monasteries
in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
MasterS Chandrakirti, Dharmakirti, and Shantideva
1000 AD
final wave of sanskrit Treatises
birth of the native Tibetan philosophical traditions,
flowering of the great Tibetan lineages of intense spiritual practice,
in brief manuals of instruction;
"grandfathers" of the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
Master Atisha, Geshe Drolungpa,
and Kadampas such as Chekawa and Dorje Sengge
1250 AD
early tibetan classics of advanced philosophy
on subjects such as vowed morality, epistemology, psychology and cosmology;
philosophical refinement of those to become the teachers
of the teachers of the first Dalai Lamas
representative authors in the database:
Kunkyen Tsonawa, Chim Jampeyang
1400 AD
Great renaissance of advanced intellectual inquiry
and monastic commentary on the entire range of Sanskrit classics;
the era of the teachers of the first Dalai Lamas,
and of these Lamas themselves
representative authors in the database:
nearly the entire collected works (over 300 separate titles in about 15,000 pages)
of Je Tsongkapa, teacher of His Holiness the First Dalai Lama
a major portion (3,700 pages) of the collected works of Gyaltsab Je,
first holder of the throne of Je Tsongkapa
a major portion (3,300 pages) of the collected works of Kedrup Je,
another principal disciple of Je Tsongkapa
over 800 pages of important material by the First Dalai Lama
1550 AD
First flowering of the great monastic textbooks
in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet, covering subjects such as
the perfection of wisdom, the philosophy of the Middle Way,
perceptual theory, the art of logical reasoning,
vowed morality, psychology, and the categories of existing things
representative authors in the database:
nearly all the works (28 titles in over 2,500 pages) of Kedrup Tenpa Dargye,
principal textbook writer for the Mey college of Sera Monastery, founded by a student of the teacher of the First Dalai Lama, and one of the largest monastic institutions in history
most of the works (30 titles in over 3,500 pages) of Sera Jetsun Chukyi Gyeltsen, principal textbook writer for the Jey college of Sera Monastery
the Rato logic compendium of Chok-hla U-ser, the grandfather of the Buddhist logic lineages in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas
1650 AD
Wave of secondary Monastic Textbooks
refined manuals for advanced spiritual practice
representative authors in the database:
essentially the entire collected works (265 titles in 5,200 pages) of the First Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chukyi Gyeltsen (the Panchen Lamas became the resident heads of the monastery founded by the First Dalai Lama)
important works from Choney Lama Drakpa Shedrup, another major author of text-books for Sera Mey Monastery
the entire collected works (over 100 titles in 2,200 pages) of the Lama to the Emperor of China, the First Changkya Rinpoche, Ngawang Lobsang Chunden (said to be a former life of Pabongka Rinpoche, the principal teacher of one of the two principal teachers of the present Dalai Lama, His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso)
1775 AD
Beginning of the modern era
of philosophical commentaries
derivative works from the monastic textbooks,
and practical manuals for a wide variety of spiritual practices
representative authors in the database:
the entire opus (600 pages) covering the schools of Asian philosophy by the Second Changkya Rinpoche, Rolpay Dorje
the entire collected works (over 600 items in 4,800 pages) of Ngulchu Dharma Bhadra, a major figure in the transmission of important teachings down to the principal teachers of the present Dalai Lama
selections from Panglung Lobsang Tukje, another author of textbooks for Sera Mey Monastery
1900 AD
final wave of classics before loss of tibet
highly refined derivative works on logic and philosophy,
modern evolution of manuals for the steps of a lifetime of spiritual practice (lam-rim),
great biographies and other documentation of the Tibetan tradition
representative authors in the database:
Gyalwang Trinley Namgyal, famed biographer of the teacher of the First Dalai Lama
a major portion (40 titles in 600 pages) of the collected works of Cheshu Rinpoche Lobsang Jangchub Tenpay Drunme,
the head of Kumbum, a major monastery located at the birthplace of the teacher of the First Dalai Lama
Yongdzin Purbuchok Jampa Tsultrim Gyatso, personal tutor to His Holiness the XIIIth Dalai Lama
a major portion (65 titles in 2,100 pages) of the collected works of Pabongka Rinpoche Dechen Nyingpo, principal teacher of one of two principal teachers of His Holiness, the present Dalai Lama
1970 AD
Heroic intellectual efforts by survivors of
the Tibetan Diaspora
representative authors in the database:
a major portion (55 titles in 1,600 pages) of the collected works of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, a principal teacher of the present Dalai Lama
pieces by Sermey Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin,
one of the principal students of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, and chief editor of the Asian Classics Input Project
modern philosophical classics of Geshe Yeshe Wangchuk
of Sera Mey, and KHensur Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Wangchuk of Sera Jey
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