Founding Teachers of the Buddhist Traditions
This is a list of the most famous founding teachers of Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism. It is not definitive and not complete. For example, although Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal (1594-1651) is credited with the founding of the state of Bhutan, he did not necessarily introduce the Drugpa Kagyu Tradition to the region of Bhutan. Pajo Drugom Zhigpo (1208-1276) introduced Drugpa Kagyu to the region of Bhutan in the 13th century. For Shalu Monastery, Buton Tamche Khyenpa Rinchen Drub (1290-1364) was certainly the most famous teacher but he did not found the monastery, that was done in 1040 by Chetsun Sherab Jungne. It is also important to understand that founders of monasteries are not always founders of traditions of Buddhism, such as with Chetsun. It is difficult to find images for a number of the early founders of the various traditions, lineages and monasteries such as Pajo, Chetsun Sherab Jungne and others.