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[ xxxv ] The Gelug tradition of Tibetan B uddhism was founded by the great scholar Tsongkhapa Lozang Dragpa (1367–1419 ce ). In early life Tsongkhapa studied with masters of all the major Tibetan lineages, and received extensive training in philosophical and meditational teachings. Subsequently he attracted many disciples and founded the monastery of Ganden, which became one of the three principal seats of the Gelug tradition. The chief characteristics of the tradition are its strict adherence to the V inaya rules of monastic discipline and its emphasis on the ‘graded path’ ( lam-rim ) to enlightenment, which was inherited from the K adam school [23; 25]. In philosophy the Gelugs have upheld the viewpoint of the Prasangika M adhyamika as interpreted by Tsongkhaa, in which emptiness is referred to as ‘the negation of all predicates’ ( med-gag ). Although the hierarch of the Ganden monastery is officially the head of the Gelug school, the office of the D alai lama , hierarch of the Drepung monastery, has attained preeminence. This is due to the Dalai Lama's position as head of the Tibetan state, a position attained in the lifetime of the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lozang Gyamtsho (1617–82), who unified the country under the authority of the Gelug sect [18]. The title Dalai Lama (‘oceanlike guru’) was conferred by the Mongol, Altan Khan, on his G uru Sonam Gyamtsho (1543–88), ... log in or subscribe to read full text