Jonang School

Overview

The Jonang school takes its name from a valley (Jong) in the Tsang region of Tibet where its main monastery was established. The tradition is distinguished by two hallmarks: its specialisation in the Kalachakra (Wheel of Time) Tantra and its unique philosophical position known as Zhentong (gzhan stong — Extrinsic Emptiness), which asserts that ultimate reality (Buddha-nature) is empty of all extrinsic, adventitious defilements but is itself luminous, aware, and inherently self-existent. This contrasts with the Rangtong (rang stong — Intrinsic Emptiness) position of most other schools. The Jonang were historically suppressed in Central Tibet by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century but survived in Amdo (northeastern Tibet) and have been revived in exile. The school has close ties to the Kalachakra Six-Branch Yoga (Kye-Rim and Dzog-Rim) and to the Shambhala mythology.

Transmission Lineage 傳承

Yumo Mikyo Dorje → Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen (the 'Buddha from Dolpo') → Taranatha → continuing line in Amdo

Principal Texts 要典

• ▸Kalachakra Tantra (Condensed / Stainless Light commentary)
• ▸Mountain Dharma: Ocean of Definitive Meaning (Dolpopa)
• ▸Jonang Gongchen (Great Commentary of Jonang)
• ▸Autobiography of Taranatha
• ▸History of Buddhism in India (Taranatha)

Core Practices 修行法門