Śāntarakṣita

Indian Masters Śāntarakṣita

Texts by and about the eighth-century master Śāntarakṣita (zhi ba 'tsho), who, as the first abbot of Samyé Monastery, played a major role in the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet:

Praise

Gentle Splendour: Praises to the Great Abbot Śāntarakṣita

by Mipham Rinpoche

This praise to the Abbot Śāntarakṣita is part of a set of three praises commemorating the lives of the so-called Abbot, Master and Dharma-King (Khen Lob Chö Sum), i.e., Śāntarakṣita, Guru Padmasambhava and Tri Songdetsen.

Praise 4 Aug 2018

Prayers

The Tree of Awakening: A Prayer to the Great Abbot Śāntarakṣita

by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Jamyang Khyentse composed this prayer as part of a series of supplications addressed to the Dharma King Tri Songdetsen, Guru Padmasambhava, and Abbot Śāntarakṣita (mkhan slob chos gsum) as well as the future king of Shambhala, Raudracakrin, all written at the behest of the Sixth Dzogchen Rinpoche and a lama from Dzogchen Monastery called Pema Düdül.

Prayers 30 Apr 2021

Quotations

Just as gold...

from the Words of the Buddha

There are many versions of these famous four lines on the need to examine the Buddha's words rather than simply accepting them out of respect. The version here is taken from Śāntarakṣita’s Tattvasaṃgraha (Toh 4266).

Quotations 8 Oct 2025

Popular Quotations from The Ornament for the Middle Way

A selection of frequently cited verses from Śāntarakṣita’s The Ornament for the Middle Way (Madhyamakālaṅkāra, Toh 3884).

Quotations Middle Way Emptiness 24 Sep 2025

Śāntarakṣita

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