Shantarakshita

Shantarakshita, also spelled Shantaraksha, was an Indian Buddhist monk and scholar who lived in the 8th century CE. He is traditionally regarded as a principal figure in the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet and in launching the early Tibetan translation movement. Invited by King Trisong Detsen, he traveled to Tibet to establish a formal monastic education and to supervise the translation of Indian Buddhist scriptures into Tibetan. He founded Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, and laid the groundwork for a structured Tibetan Buddhist curriculum and scholastic culture.

In line with the Indian Buddhist scholastic tradition, Shantarakshita was associated with a Madhyamaka-influenced and logician’s approach, and he authored Sanskrit treatises and commentaries on Buddhist philosophy and logic that influenced later Tibetan scholars. According to Tibetan sources, he worked alongside Padmasambhava, who was invited to Tibet to subdue local obstacles and to facilitate the spread of Buddhist practice; together they established the doctrinal and ritual basis for Buddhism in Tibet, though Padmasambhava’s role is typically emphasized in tantric practice.

Details of Shantarakshita’s later life and death are unclear; traditional accounts place him in Tibet during the late 8th century, while other sources suggest he returned to India. His lasting contribution lies in initiating the Tibetan translation project and the scholastic framework that enabled subsequent Tibetan Buddhist schools to flourish.