In Praise of Dependent Emergence
Lama Tsongkhapa 
Texts to Recite and Contemplate 
Mar 13, 2026 
Translated by Geshe Dadul Namgyal with assistance from Dr. Monica H. Halka. They consulted a draft translation of In Praise of Dependent Origination by Geshe Thupten Jinpa.
- He who teaches dependent emergence based on seeing
Is a knower and teacher unexcelled.
I bow to you, O Conqueror, who saw
Dependent emergence and taught it. - Whatever degenerations there are in the world,
The root of all these is ignorance.
You taught dependent emergence,
The seeing of which will undo this ignorance. - So how can an intelligent person
Not comprehend that this path
Of dependent emergence is
The essential point of your teaching? - This being so, O Liberator, who will find
A better reason to praise you
Than for having taught
Emergence through dependence? - Whatsoever depends on conditions
Is devoid of intrinsic existence.
What excellent instruction can be
More astute than this proclamation? - The notion which strengthens
The realists’ bondage to extreme views
Is the very notion which equips the wise
To cut completely free from the net of fabrication. - Since this teaching is not seen elsewhere,
You alone may be called the Teacher,
A term which would flatter even a master Tirthika,
Like calling a fox a lion. - Wondrous tutor! Wondrous refuge!
Wondrous liberator! Wondrous speaker!
I pay homage to you, oh Teacher,
Who taught dependent emergence so well. - In order to heal sentient beings,
You have shown, O Benefactor,
The way of dependent emergence—
The peerless reason to ascertain - Emptiness, the heart of the teaching.
How can those who perceive this
As contradictory or inapplicable
Ever comprehend your system? - This you maintain: When one sees emptiness
In terms of dependent emergence,
It is no contradiction to be devoid of intrinsic existence
While possessing valid functions. - Whereas when one sees the opposite,
In which there can be no function in emptiness
Nor emptiness in what has function,
One falls into a dreadful abyss. - Therefore, in your teaching,
Seeing dependent emergence
Neither as implying nonexistence
Nor intrinsic existence is highly praised. - The non-contingent would be like a flower blooming in midair.
There is nothing that is not dependent.
If things existed through their own agency,
It would contradict the reality of cause and effect. - Therefore, you taught: Since no phenomena exist
Except by dependent emergence,
Thus, no phenomena exist
Unless devoid of intrinsic existence. - You taught: Intrinsic nature could never be altered.
So, if things did possess some intrinsic nature,
Attaining Nirvana would become impossible,
And embellishments could not cease. - Thus, who could possibly challenge
What you repeatedly proclaimed with a lion’s roar
In the assembly of learned ones,
That everything is utterly free of intrinsic nature? - Each of these two concepts is valid:
There is no intrinsic nature at all. And in all systems,
The arising of this depends on that.
Without question, the two converge without conflict. - Through the reasoning of dependent emergence,
One does not lean towards extreme views.
That you’ve excellently declared this is the reason,
O Teacher, that you are a speaker unexcelled. - Nothing exists through its own agency,
And all effects arise from their causes.
These two insights complement
Each other without contradiction. - What is more wonderful than this?
What is more marvellous than this?
If one praises you in this manner,
It is real praise. Otherwise, it is not. - Being enslaved by ignorance,
It is not so astonishing that
Those who fiercely oppose you
Cannot bear the mention of no intrinsic existence. - But those who have accepted dependent emergence—
The precious treasure of your speech—
Yet still don’t tolerate the roar of emptiness.
This I find surprising indeed! - The doorway that leads to negation of intrinsic existence
Is the unexcelled dependent emergence.
But if the very notion of dependent emergence
Invokes one to grasp at intrinsic existence, - Then he misses the incomparable entryway,
Well-traversed by the esteemed Noble Ones.
How could such a person possibly be guided
To the excellent path that pleases you? - Intrinsic nature, being unalterable and independent;
Dependent emergence, being alterable and interdependent;
How could these two abide
Upon a single base without contradiction? - However, all that originates dependently,
While naturally free of intrinsic existence,
Somehow appears as if it were not.
Therefore, you taught all this to be illusory. - Through this, I understand well
The declaration: Those opponents
Who challenge what you have taught
Cannot present any reasonable argument. - How so? Through explanation of this teaching,
The opportunities for over- and under-estimation
Of things seen and unseen
Are made most remote. - The approach of dependent emergence—
The rationale for this teaching’s peerlessness—
Gives rise to the conviction in me
That your other words are also valid. - Because you speak wisely from seeing the truth,
For those who follow in your footsteps,
All degenerations will be cast away;
For the root of all faults will be dispelled. - But for those who turn away from your teaching,
Though they may strive long and with great effort,
They continuously strengthen the notion of selfhood,
And hardships will ever increase, as if invited. - Aha! When the wise comprehend
The difference between these two [prospects],
How could they not revere you
From the marrow of their being? - Just understanding a small part of your teaching,
Even if in only a cursory way,
Brings supreme joy.
How much more will come with the whole! - Alas! My mind had been defeated by ignorance.
Though I had long sought refuge
In you, the embodiment of excellence,
I hadn’t seen a fraction of your teaching’s qualities. - Nonetheless, before the course of this life
moving toward death has come to cease,
I have at least been able to garner faith in you.
Even this I feel is fortunate. - Just as you are supreme among beings in the worlds,
So, among teachers, are those who teach dependent emergence,
And among wisdoms, those which recognize it.
This you, not others, know perfectly well. - All that you have taught
Is built from the basis of dependent emergence,
Precisely for leading [others] to nirvana.
Thus, all your efforts bring peace. - How wonderful!
All whose ears your teaching reaches
Will attain peace.
Who would not be honored to uphold this teaching? - It overcomes all opposition.
It is free from internal contradictions.
It benefits beings in both [the short and long term].
For this system of yours, my joy ever increases. - For its sake you have sacrificed
Sometimes your body, at other times your life,
Your loving kin, and personal possessions.
Again and again over countless eons. - Seeing the qualities of this teaching
Tugged at your heart
Just as a hook pulls on a fish.
It is misfortune not to have heard it directly from you. - The intensity of this sorrow
Does not leave my mind,
Like the mind of a mother
Always stays on her dear child. - Here, as I reflect on your words, I muse,
Blazing with the glory of noble marks
And enfolded in a network of light,
This teacher, in a pristine and melodious voice, - Spoke in such a [profound] way.
The instant such a vision of the Sage
Appears in my mind, it soothes me,
Like moonlight eases the oppression of heat. - Some individuals who are not so learned
Have entangled in utter confusion
[The meaning of] this superb system,
Twisting it like snarled balbazagrass. - Seeing that, in the past I strove
Over and over, using all possible means,
To seek the learned ones
So that I might discover your intention. - At such times as I studied the numerous works
Of our own and other schools,
My mind became increasingly tormented
By a network of constant doubt. - Just as predicted in the prophecies you made,
The way of your unexcelled vehicle was freed
From the extremes of existence and nonexistence
Through the lily-garden of Nagarjuna’s brilliant works. - That was illuminated by the bright moonlight
Of the eloquent insights of Chandra[kirti],
Whose stainless wisdom orb is full,
Which glides freely across scriptures’ space - And dispels the darkness from extremist hearts
And outshines the galaxy of false speakers.
Finally, through my teacher’s kindness,
I saw all this and my mind found rest at last. - Of all your actions, your speech is supreme.
Of all your speech, this teaching stands out.
6Therefore, the wise should remember the Buddha
Through the [wisdom of dependent emergence]. - Having followed you and become ordained,
Having not too poorly studied the Conqueror’s (your) words,
Having put this into constant, well-balanced practice—
This monk has found his profound reverence to [you], O Great Seer! - As I have met with your teaching, O unexcelled Buddha,
Through my own teacher’s kindness,
Likewise, I dedicate the virtue of this [work] so that
All beings may be guided by sublime spiritual mentors. - Until the world ends, may the teaching of the Beneficent One
Be unshaken by the winds of evil thoughts.
May the world always be filled with those who hold faith
In the teacher by understanding the truth of the teaching. - To uphold the excellent way of the Sage,
Which illumines the ultimate essence of dependent emergence,
May I never falter for an instant, through all my births,
Even if it means sacrificing my body and life. - May I spend day and night carefully reflecting
On how I may spread this teaching
Achieved by the supreme advisor
Through strenuous efforts over countless eons. - As I strive for this with pure intention,
May Brahma, Indra, and the world’s guardians
And protectors, such as Mahakala,
Unswervingly, always assist me.
Lama Tsongkhapa
Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) is an important master of Tibetan Buddhism and founder of the Gelug school. He is also known by his ordained name, Lobsang Drakpa, or simply as Je Rinpoche. Lama Tsongkhapa heard the Buddha’s teachings from masters of all Tibetan Buddhist traditions and received lineage transmission in the major schools. His main source of inspiration was the Kadampa tradition, the legacy of Atiśa. He expanded on the points of Lama Atisha's text and wrote The Great Exposition on The Gradual Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Chenmo), which sets out in a clear manner the steps to realizing enlightenment. Based on Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings, the two distinguishing characteristics of the Gelug tradition are the union of Sutra and Tantra, and emphasis on the Lamrim along the three principal aspects of the path (a genuine wish for renunciation, generation of bodhicitta, and insight into emptiness). In his two main treatises, Lama Tsongkhapa meticulously set forth this graduated way and how one establishes oneself in the paths of Sutra and Tantra. (Source: Wikipedia)
