The Jonang pas and the Others: Intersectarian Relations in Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century A mdo and Khams

Blo bzang mchog grub rgya mtsho, the Dge bshes of Dza 'go (ca. 1840–1914) studied at 'Bras spungs Blo gsal gling in Central Tibet where he earned a highly prestigious dge bshes rab 'byams pa degree. Back home in A mdo, Dza 'go Dge bshes received the full-fledged Jo nang teachings from Sbyang pa Kun dga' nges don and established a retreat center for practicing the Jo nang ṣaḍaṅgayoga of the Kālacakratantra. Dza 'go dGe bshes strictly adheres to Dol po pa Shes rab rgyal mtshan’s (1292–1361) “uncommon way” of presenting gzhan stong as the ultimate underlying intent of all the Buddha’s teaching, while Dge lugs presentations are only accepted, in a form of hierarchical inclusivism, as a stepping stone to the final Jo nang viewpoint. Such self-assured hermeneutics were not only possible because of the region’s quasi-independence from the Dga' ldan pho brang government, but also because of the accomplished tantric’s charismatic reputation.