Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival: Honoring Tsongkhapa and the Gelug Tradition

Introduction

In 2024, the Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival (also known as Tsongkhapa Day) and Christmas fall on the same day—December 25th. This offers a unique opportunity to celebrate two powerful sources of light and blessings. Christmas, a global festival of love and giving, and the Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival, a day dedicated to honoring the great Tibetan Buddhist master Tsongkhapa, both symbolize illumination, wisdom, and spiritual growth. On this day, Tibetan Buddhists light butter lamps in remembrance of Tsongkhapa, expressing reverence for his teachings and wishing for inner peace and enlightenment for all beings.

Tsongkhapa and the Rise of the Gelug Tradition

The Gelug tradition is one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and is the most widespread and influential among them. The name "Gelug" is derived from its founding monastery, Ganden Monastery, and is often interpreted as the "School of Virtuous Discipline," emphasizing the importance of strict adherence to Buddhist precepts and the cultivation of compassion for all beings. The core teachings of the Gelug school are rooted in the Buddhist philosophy of Tsongkhapa, whose system emphasizes the integration of theoretical teachings and practical experience.

Core Teachings of the Gelug School

The Gelug tradition emphasizes the importance of the three baskets of teachings (Tripitaka) — sutra, vinaya, and abhidharma — while ensuring that the three trainings (morality, concentration, and wisdom) are practiced comprehensively. Tsongkhapa promoted the cultivation of great bodhicitta, the development of the ten bhumi (stages of the bodhisattva path), and the practice of the six perfections. His teachings emphasized using the exoteric path as the foundation, with the esoteric path of tantric practice as the result, ultimately leading to the realization of emptiness and the attainment of Buddhahood.

A central tenet of the Gelug school is the doctrine of dependent origination and emptiness (pratityasamutpada and sunyata). This philosophy posits that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence and arise dependently, negating the idea of an eternal, unchanging, or independently existing self. This teaching encourages practitioners to transcend attachment to the self and external phenomena, thereby ending the cycle of birth and death and attaining the state of nirvana.

The Origin and Meaning of Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival

The Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival is a significant day in Tibetan Buddhism, observed on the 25th day of the 10th month in the Tibetan calendar. This date marks the parinirvana (passing into ultimate liberation) of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug tradition. Following his passing, Tibetan Buddhists began the practice of lighting butter lamps to honor his memory and express their wishes for his swift return to continue spreading the Dharma.

The tradition has been carried on for centuries, and today, Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival has become an important religious observance across Tibet and the Tibetan Buddhist world. The lighting of butter lamps symbolizes the illumination of wisdom and the dispelling of ignorance. This day also represents the deep aspiration for world peace and the welfare of all sentient beings.

In 2024, the coincidence of Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival falling on Christmas adds an extra layer of significance to the celebration. Whether through the festive spirit of Christmas or the spiritual practices of the Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival, the lighting of lamps signifies the same universal message: the desire for peace, wisdom, and liberation for all beings. The combined observance of these two meaningful days offers an opportunity to reflect on light, compassion, and spiritual awakening.

The Gelug Tradition and Other Tibetan Buddhist Schools

Tibetan Buddhism consists of four main schools: Gelug, Nyingma, Sakya, and Kagyu. Among them, Gelug is the most widespread and influential, with Tsongkhapa's teachings serving as its foundation. While the Gelug tradition emphasizes comprehensive study and practice of the three trainings, each of the other schools has its own unique characteristics.

For instance, the Nyingma school is known for preserving the ancient teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, including Dzogchen and the Eighty-Four Mahasiddhas. The Sakya school places great importance on the study of Buddhist texts and logic, while the Kagyu school is focused on the practice of meditation and the transmission of Mahamudra teachings. Despite their differences, all four schools share a common goal of enlightenment and liberation for all beings. On Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival, practitioners from all schools unite in lighting lamps, showing their mutual respect and shared spiritual aspirations.

Conclusion

This year, the convergence of Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival and Christmas on the same day creates a special moment to reflect on the shared themes of light, wisdom, and compassion. Whether lighting butter lamps for Tsongkhapa or candles for Christmas, we can use this day to set our intentions for peace, healing, and spiritual growth. Just as Tsongkhapa's teachings have illuminated the minds of countless followers, may the light we kindle today bring peace and joy to all beings, guiding us toward the realization of ultimate wisdom and compassion.