Gelug

Gelug, also known as the Yellow Hat school, is one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in the 14th century by Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), a reformer who sought to restore strict monastic discipline and scholarly study. Tsongkhapa blended elements of the Kadampa tradition with new methods of debate and study, emphasizing Vinaya discipline, systematic philosophy, and rigorous logic. The name Gelug derives from the term meaning “virtuous” and is commonly associated with the distinctive yellow hats worn by its monks.

Key features of Gelug include a strong emphasis on monastic education and a centralized scholastic system. The three great Gelug monasteries of historical Tibet—Drepung, Sera, and Ganden—were centers of study and debate, with Ganden founded by Tsongkhapa himself. The school is renowned for the Lamrim (stages of the path) literature, especially Tsongkhapa’s Lamrim Chenmo, which systematizes the Buddhist path for practitioners. Philosophically, Gelug upholds Madhyamaka reasoning, often expressed through the Prasangika view, and combines rigorous scriptural study with logic and epistemology.

The Gelug tradition has produced the line of Dalai Lamas, who have served as spiritual leaders and, at times, political rulers of Tibet, and the Panchen Lamas, a parallel lineage. In the modern era, many Gelug monasteries and institutions operate in exile in India and maintain a global network of centers, continuing the tradition’s emphasis on monastic scholarship, meditation, and formal debate.