Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, 4th Panchen Lama

When Losang Chö kyi Gyaltsen died in 1662, aged 91 or 92, the Fifth Dalai Lama began the tradition of recognising his reincarnation. He composed a special prayer asking his master to return and ordered the monks of the great monasteries to recite it. He also reserved the title of Panchen (short for Pandita chen po or 'Great Scholar'), which had previously been a courtesy title for all learned lamas, exclusively for him, and this title has continued to be given to his successors and, posthumously, to his predecessors starting with Khedrup Gelek Pelzang, 1st Panchen Lama. The 4th Panchen Lama was a prolific writer and teacher, composing more than three hundred works. He wrote a root Mahamudra text on the "Highway of the Conquerors: Root Verses for the Precious Geden [Gelug] Kagyu [Oral] Transmission of Mahāmudrā" (dGe-ldan bka'-brgyud rin-po-che'i phyag-chen rtsa-ba rgyal-ba'i gzhung-lam) and its auto commentary (the Yang gsal sgron me, "Lamp re-illuminating Mahamudra"), which is still widely taught and commented upon. Before this work, Gelug writings on Mahamudra tended to follow orthodox Kagyu teachings. This text and its auto commentary have become a central work on Mahamudra in the Gelug school. The current 14th Dalai Lama and Lama Yeshe are some of the modern Gelug figures which have written commentaries on this key Gelug Mahamudra text.

Training under Gyü Chen Sangye Gyatso, Penchen Damchö Yar Pel and Gom Dewa Namkha Gyaltsen is recorded. Ta Nakpa Gendün Lozang, Lobzang Tendzin Gyaltsen and Drungpa Tsöndrü Gyaltsen are recorded as having studied under Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, 4th Panchen Lama. The recorded working language is Tibetan. The field of work recorded is Tibetan Buddhism. Positions recorded include Panchen Lama.

• Name — Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen • Born — 1570 • Died — 1662