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Lives that Matter
An incomplete list of great individuals who made significant contributions to the study, practice, and propagation of Buddhism, Vedanta, and other Indian spiritual traditions. Their lives continue to inspire spiritual seekers around the world.
Diagram showing the year of birth and life span. From 1931 to 1935, thirty-five of them were alive. Some of them may have crossed paths.
• Nāgārjuna (Tibetan: mGon-po kLu-grub) is widely considered one of the most important Buddhist philosophers. Along with his disciple Āryadeva, he is considered the founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Nāgārjuna is also credited with developing the philosophy of the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras and, by some sources, with having revealed these scriptures to the world after recovering them from the nāgas. He is traditionally thought to have written many treatises on rasayana, as well as serving a term as the head of Nālandā.
• Gauḍapāda was an ancient Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher who is known for his work "Māṇḍūkya Kārikā," a commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad. He is considered one of the early exponents of Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hindu philosophy that emphasizes the non-dual nature of reality, and his teachings had a significant influence on the development of Advaita Vedanta.
• Adi Shankara, also known as Śaṅkarācārya, was an 8th-century Indian philosopher, theologian, and teacher who is considered the exponent of Advaita Vedanta. He authored numerous commentaries on the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras, and his works are considered foundational texts of Advaita Vedanta. He is also known for his efforts in reviving and reforming Hinduism during his time.
• Rāmānujā was a 12th-century Indian philosopher and theologian who is known for his contributions to the Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, a school of Hindu philosophy that emphasizes the qualified non-dualism of reality. He authored several works on Vedanta, including commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, and his teachings had a significant impact on the development of Vaishnavism, a tradition of Hinduism centered on the worship of Vishnu.
• Śrīharṣa was a 12th century CE Indian philosopher and poet. Although he didn’t affiliate himself explicitly to any philosophical tradition, he has been often interpreted as promoting Advaita Vedānta in Khaṇḍanakhaṇḍanakhādya. This interpretation remains, however, controversial among modern scholars. Śrīharṣa's thought was influential for both Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika and Advaita Vedānta traditions. Only two works of Śrīharsha’s were preserved: Naiṣadhacarita and Khaṇḍanakhaṇḍakhādya.
• Gampopa Sönam Rinchen: The principal Kagyu lineages existing today as independent schools are those which stem from Milarepa's disciple, Gampopa, a monk who merged the Kagyu lineage with the Kadam tradition. He authored several important texts on meditation and spiritual practice.
• Rechungpa Dorje Drakpa was a prominent disciple of Milarepa and a key figure in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He was known for his exceptional meditation and yogic practices and is considered one of the great adepts, of the Kagyu tradition.
• Düsum Khyenpa was the first Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a renowned meditation master and teacher and is considered to be the founder of the Karma Kagyu lineage.
• Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo was a Tibetan Buddhist master and the founder of the Phagdru Kagyu lineage. He was known for his deep meditation practice and profound teachings on Mahamudra, a form of meditation that leads to direct realization of the nature of mind.
• Vedānta Deśika, also known as Swami Desikar, was a 13th-century Indian philosopher, poet, and teacher who is considered one of the most prominent figures in the Sri Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. He authored numerous works on Vedanta, grammar, and poetry, and his teachings emphasized the importance of devotion, surrender, and knowledge in the path of spiritual realization.
• Longchen Rabjampa Drimé Özer, also known as Longchenpa, was a Tibetan Buddhist master and one of the most celebrated scholars and poets in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. He authored numerous texts on Dzogchen, a profound practice of meditation and realization.
• Dampa Sönam Gyaltsen was a Tibetan Buddhist master considered the greatest Sakya scholar of the 14th century.
• Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa: Tsongkhapa was a famous Tibetan Buddhist scholar and the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is considered one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism and authored many influential texts on Buddhist philosophy and practice.
• Gendun Drup was a student of Tsongkhapa and the first in the line of the Dalai Lamas, who are considered to be the emanations of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. He was known for his scholarly achievements and his teachings on Buddhist philosophy and practice.
• Gedun Gyatso was a Tibetan Buddhist master and the second in the line of the Dalai Lamas. He was a renowned scholar and composer of mystical poetry, who traveled widely to extend Gelugpa influence, and became abbot of the largest Gelugpa monastery, Drepung.
• Jigme Lingpa was a famous Tibetan Nyingma master and tertön, a revealer of hidden treasure teachings. He was known for his profound meditation practices and his revelations of important texts on Dzogchen and other Nyingma teachings.
• Patrul Rinpoche, also known as Orgyen Jigme Chökyi Wangpo, was a celebrated master of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was known for his simplicity, humility, and his teachings on Dzogchen.
• James R. Ballantyne was a Scottish Orientalist. From 1832 to 1845 he was a master at the Scottish Naval and Military Academy in Edinburgh, teaching Persian Hindi and Arabic to prospective officers of the East India Company.
• Max Müller was a German-born philologist and Orientalist, who lived and studied in Britain for most of his life. He was one of the founders of the western academic field of Indian studies and the discipline of Study of religions (science of religion, Religionswissenschaft). Müller wrote both scholarly and popular works on the subject of Indology. The Sacred Books of the East, a 50-volume set of English translations, was prepared under his direction. He also promoted the idea of a Turanian family of languages.
• Ralph T. H. Griffith was an English Indologist, a member of the Indian education service and among the first Europeans to translate the Vedas into English. He lived in the UK (Oxford) and in India (Benares and Nilgiris). At Oxford he became a pupil of Professor Horace Hayman Wilson, and gaining the Boden Sanskrit scholarship in 1849, continued the study of Sanskrit to the end of his life.
• Lahiri Mahasaya, also known as Yogiraj Lahiri Mahasaya, was a 19th-century Indian yogi and spiritual teacher who is considered one of the most important figures in the tradition of Kriya Yoga, a technique for awakening spiritual consciousness through breath control and meditation. His disciples was Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, whose disciple, Paramahansa Yogananda, brought Kriya Yoga to the West.
• Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a 19th-century Indian mystic and spiritual teacher who is considered one of the most revered saints of modern India. He adhered to various religious practices from the Hindu traditions of Bhakti yoga, Tantra, and Advaita Vedanta as well as from Islam and Christianity. He is known for his intense spiritual practices, ecstatic states of consciousness, and his teachings on the harmony of religions. He had a profound impact on the spiritual and philosophical landscape of India during his time and his teachings continue to inspire people around the world.
• Georg Bühler was a scholar of ancient Indian languages and law. He attended grammar school in Hanover, where he mastered Greek and Latin, then university as a student of theology and philosophy at Göttingen, where he studied classical philology, Sanskrit, Zend, Persian, Armenian, and Arabic.
• Julius Eggeling was Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Edinburgh from 1875 to 1914, second holder of its Regius Chair of Sanskrit, and Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, London. Eggeling was translator and editor of the Satapatha Brahmana in 5 volumes of the monumental Sacred Books of the East series edited by Max Müller, author of the main article on Sanskrit in the Encyclopædia Britannica, and curator of the University Library from 1900 to 1913.
• Thomas William Rhys Davids was a British scholar who made significant contributions to the study and translation of Pali Buddhist texts and with the support of many distinguished scholars founded the Pali Text Society.
• Ledi Sayadaw was a Burmese monk and scholar who played a key role in the revival of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar, known for his scholarly writings and his efforts in spreading Buddhist teachings.
• George Thibaut was an Indologist notable for his contributions to the understanding of ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy. Thibaut was born in Germany, worked briefly in England, and then in 1875 was appointed Professor at the Government Sanskrit College, Varanasi in northern India. From 1888 to 1895 he was professor at Muir Central College in Allahabad.
• Hermann Oldenberg was a German scholar of Indology, and Professor at Kiel (1898) and Göttingen (1908). Oldenberg's 1881 study on Buddhism, entitled Buddha: Sein Leben, seine Lehre, seine Gemeinde, based on Pāli texts, popularized Buddhism and has remained continuously in print since its first publication.
• Swami Śri Yukteśwar Giri was a 19th-20th century Indian yogi and spiritual teacher who is known for his teachings on Kriya Yoga and the science of spirituality. He was a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya and was known for his deep insight, wisdom, and clarity in expounding the teachings of Kriya Yoga and Advaita Vedanta. He was also the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda, the famous author of "Autobiography of a Yogi."
• Caroline Rhys Davids, the wife of Thomas William Rhys Davids, made notable contributions to the study and translation of Pali Buddhist texts and was involved in the work of the Pali Text Society.
• Srisa Chandra Vasu was a 19th-20th century Indian Sanskrit scholar, judge, writer, and translator of numerous works. He translated major yoga texts such as The Ashtadhyayi of Panini, Siddhanta Kaumudi, Gheranda Samhita, and the Siva Samhita into English.
• Swami Vivekananda was a 19th-20th century Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, and social reformer who is known for his significant contributions to the revival of Hinduism and the spread of Vedanta philosophy in the West. He was a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and is considered one of the key figures in the introduction of Hinduism to the Western world. He is known for his powerful speeches, profound teachings on spirituality, and his emphasis on the unity of all religions.
• Atal Bihari Ghose, also known by his pen name Arthur Avalon (shared with John Woodroffe), was a 19th-20th century Indian scholar, advocate, and writer who is known for his extensive work on Tantra and Hinduism. He was known for his deep understanding and research on Tantra, an esoteric form of Hinduism that emphasizes ritual practices, and his translations and commentaries have been widely regarded as influential in the field of Tantra studies.
• John George Woodroffe, also known by his pen name Arthur Avalon (shared with Atal Bihari Ghose), was a 19th-20th century British scholar, advocate, and writer who is known for his extensive work on Tantra and Hinduism. He was known for his deep understanding and research on Tantra, an esoteric form of Hinduism that emphasizes ritual practices, and his translations and commentaries have been widely regarded as influential in the field of Tantra studies. Woodroffe and Ghose are often mentioned together as they both used the pen name "Arthur Avalon" and are known for their contributions to the field of Tantra studies.
• Alexandra David-Néel, a French explorer, writer, and Buddhist practitioner traveled extensively in Asia, was most famous for being the first European woman to visit Lhasa in Tibet. She wrote extensively about her experiences and studies of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Lama Kazi Dawa Samdup was a Tibetan scholar and translator, instrumental in translating many important Tibetan Buddhist texts into English, best known for the translation of Bardo Thödol.
• Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki was a prominent Japanese scholar and writer who introduced Zen Buddhism to the Western world. He authored numerous books on Zen Buddhism, including "Essays in Zen Buddhism" and "Zen and Japanese Culture," which had a significant impact on the understanding and appreciation of Zen Buddhism in the West.
• Frank Lee Woodward was a British scholar and translator who specialized in Theravada Buddhism. He translated several important texts into English, including "The Book of the Kindred Sayings" and "The Book of the Gradual Sayings," which are important canonical texts in Theravada Buddhism.
• Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz was an American anthropologist and writer who is known for his work on Tibetan Buddhism. He edited the influential book "The Tibetan Book of the Dead," translated by Lama Kazi Dawa Samdup, which introduced Tibetan Buddhist teachings on death and dying to the Western world.
• Arthur Berriedale Keith was a Scottish constitutional lawyer, scholar of Sanskrit and Indologist. He became Regius Professor of Sanskrit and Lecturer in Constitutional History in the University of Edinburgh. He served in this role from 1914 to 1944.
• Ramana Maharshi, also known as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, was a 20th century Indian sage and spiritual teacher who is widely regarded as one of the most revered and influential sages of modern India. He is known for his teachings on self-inquiry and Advaita Vedanta, emphasizing the direct path to self-realization through self-inquiry, asking the question "Who am I?" to investigate the nature of the self. His teachings have had a profound impact on seekers of truth, and his ashram, Sri Ramana Ashram, located at the foot of the sacred mountain Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai, India, continues to attract devotees from around the world.
• Swami Kuvalayananda, was a 20th century Indian yogi and researcher who is known for his scientific research on yoga, particularly in the areas of yogic physiology, psychology, and therapeutics. He established the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute, a renowned institution for the scientific study of yoga, and his work has been instrumental in promoting the integration of yoga into mainstream healthcare and wellness practices.
• Gopinath Kaviraj was a prominent figure during the Indian Renaissance in the 19th century. In 1914, a shift occurred in Gopinath's focus towards mystical and esoteric literature. His association with Yogi Sivaramakinkara Yogatrayananda marked a turning point, leading to a deeper engagement with spiritual philosophy.
• Surendranath Dasgupta was a 20th century Indian philosopher, scholar, and author who is known for his extensive work on Indian philosophy, particularly on the classical systems of Hindu philosophy. He authored the acclaimed five-volume series "A History of Indian Philosophy," which provides a comprehensive overview of the major schools of Indian philosophy, their evolution, and their key concepts. His works are highly regarded for their scholarly rigor and deep understanding of Indian philosophical traditions.
• Swami Śivānanda Saraswati was a 20th century Indian spiritual teacher, author, and physician who is known for his teachings on Yoga, Vedanta, and spirituality. He founded the Divine Life Society, a spiritual organization that has spread the teachings of Yoga and Vedanta worldwide. He placed great emphasis on the synthesis of various yoga practices, including Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Jnana Yoga, as a means to attain spiritual realization. He authored numerous books on spirituality, yoga, and health, which are widely read and respected.
• Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, often referred to as the "Father of Modern Yoga," was a 20th century Indian yogi, scholar, and teacher, known for his pioneering efforts in the revival and modernization of Hatha Yoga. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the modern yoga world through his innovative approach to yoga practice, combining asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), mantra (chanting), and meditation in a holistic system of yoga. Krishnamacharya's teachings have influenced many modern styles of yoga, and he is regarded as a key figure in the transmission of yoga to the West.
• Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was a Tibetan Buddhist master and scholar, a major proponent of the Rimé movement within Tibetan Buddhism and had a profound influence on many of the Tibetan lamas teaching today.
• Paramahansa Yogananda, born as Mukunda Lal Ghosh, was a 20th century Indian yogi, guru, and author who is known for his teachings on Kriya Yoga and the science of spirituality. He is the author of the famous book "Autobiography of a Yogi," which has become a spiritual classic and has introduced millions of readers to the teachings of yoga and meditation. Yogananda founded the Self-Realization Fellowship, a spiritual organization that disseminates his teachings on the ancient science of Kriya Yoga. He is considered one of the pioneers of bringing yoga to the West and has had a profound impact on the spread of yoga and meditation practices worldwide.
• Thakur Jaideva Singh was an Indian musicologist, translator and philosopher. He was influenced by the theosophists Annie Besant and Bhagwan Das, and he became a vegetarian. In 1945, he became a lecturer of Philosophy and English at D.A.V. College in Kanpur, and later served as the Principal of Yuvarajadutta College in Lakhimpur-Khiri until 1956. He studied tantra and yoga under Pandit Gopinath Kaviraj.
• Giuseppe Tucci exhibited an early fascination with the cultures and languages of the East. Under the tutelage of prominent scholars like Carlo Formichi, he delved into classical studies and became fluent in several European languages, Sanskrit, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, Chinese and Tibetan.
• Jiddu Krishnamurti was a 20th century Indian philosopher, speaker, and writer who is known for his teachings on the nature of the mind, consciousness, and human spirituality. He was discovered as a young boy by Charles Webster Leadbeater of the Theosophical Society, which proclaimed him as the "World Teacher" and groomed him for a messianic role. However, Krishnamurti later dissolved the religious organization that was created around him and embarked on a lifelong journey of inquiry and exploration of the human mind and consciousness. He advocated for a direct, experiential approach to spirituality, emphasizing the importance of self-inquiry, meditation, and awareness in understanding the nature of the self and the mind. Krishnamurti's teachings have influenced many in the fields of philosophy, psychology, and spirituality.
• Isaline Blew Horner was an English Indologist and a leading scholar of Pāli literature responsible for translations of many Tipitaka texts, including the Majjhima Nikāya, the entire Vinaya Piṭaka and the Milinda Pañha. She was also president of the Pali Text Society between 1959 and 1981.
• Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje was the first master to be accorded the title of Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, the oldest school introduced into Tibet in the 8th century by Guru Padmasambhava.
• Mahasi Sayadaw, born as U Sobhana, was a 20th century Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk and meditation master who is known for his work in popularizing Vipassana meditation, a mindfulness-based meditation practice. Mahasi Sayadaw's method of Vipassana meditation emphasizes mindfulness and insight into the impermanent, unsatisfactory, and selfless nature of reality. His teachings and meditation techniques have had a significant impact on the spread of mindfulness meditation worldwide.
• Kalu Rinpoche, also known as Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, was a prominent Tibetan Buddhist master and the head of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He was known for his extensive meditation retreats, his teachings on meditation and compassion, and his efforts to spread Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
• Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu, also known as Ven. Ñāṇamoli Thera, was a British Theravada Buddhist monk and translator. He is known for his translations of important Pali texts, including "The Path of Purification" and "The Middle Length Discourses," which are widely used in the study and practice of Theravada Buddhism.
• Swami Lakshmanjoo was a 20th century Indian Kashmir Shaivism guru and scholar who is known for his teachings on the philosophy and practices of Kashmir Shaivism, a non-dualistic tradition of Hindu philosophy. He received direct teachings from his Guru Swami Bhagavan Gopinath Ji. Swami Lakshmanjoo's teachings and commentaries on the ancient texts of Kashmir Shaivism have provided valuable insights into the esoteric teachings of this profound philosophical and spiritual tradition.
• Mircea Eliade was a 20th century Romanian historian of religion, philosopher, and writer who is known for his extensive work on the history of religions and the comparative study of world religions. He authored numerous books on the history of religions, mythology, shamanism, and spirituality, which have been widely acclaimed for their scholarly depth and breadth. Eliade's work has had a significant impact on the academic study of religion and has contributed to the understanding of the diverse religious traditions and their cultural significance.
• Lilian Silburn was a French scholar and writer who specialized in Tantra and Kashmir Shaivism, which are esoteric traditions of Hinduism. She authored several influential works on Tantra, including "Kundalini: Energy of the Depths" and "Hymns to the Goddess."
• Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was a Vajrayana master, scholar, poet, teacher, and recognized by Buddhists as one of the greatest realized masters. Head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1988 to 1991, he is also considered an eminent proponent of the Rimé tradition.
• Herbert Vighnāntaka Günther (Guenther): Herbert Vighnāntaka Günther, also known as Herbert V. Guenther, was a German scholar and translator who specialized in Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan Buddhism. He was known for his pioneering work on translating and interpreting complex Buddhist texts, particularly in the areas of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. His works include "Philosophy and Psychology in the Abhidharma", "The Teachings of Padmasambhava", “The Life and Teaching of Naropa” and many other.
• Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar, or B.K.S. Iyengar, commonly known as Iyengar, was a 20th century Indian yoga teacher who is known for developing the Iyengar Yoga style, a form of hatha yoga that focuses on precision and alignment in asanas (postures) and pranayama (breath control). He is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world and has had a significant impact on the popularization of yoga internationally. Iyengar authored several books on yoga, including the classic "Light on Yoga," which has been widely used as a reference guide for yoga practitioners.
• Hsuan Hua also known as Ven. Master Hsuan Hua, was a Chinese Buddhist monk and teacher who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in bringing Chinese Buddhism to the West. He founded the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, a Buddhist community and monastery in California, USA, and established the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. He was known for his extensive teachings on the sutras, meditation, and moral conduct, and his efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and propagate Buddhism in the West.
• Nan Huai-Chin was a Chinese scholar, philosopher, and Chan (Zen) master who is considered one of the most influential figures in contemporary Chinese Buddhism. He authored numerous works on Chan Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, and his teachings emphasized the integration of Buddhist practices with traditional Chinese culture and philosophy. He was known for his profound insight, erudition, and his emphasis on meditation and direct experience of reality.
• Garma C. Chang, also known as Chang Chen-chi, was a Chinese Buddhist scholar, translator, and writer who is known for his pioneering efforts in introducing Tibetan Buddhism to the West. He authored several influential works on Tibetan Buddhism, including "The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa" and "The Practice of Zen." He was known for his deep understanding of Tibetan Buddhist teachings, his commitment to scholarly accuracy, and his efforts to bridge Eastern and Western cultures through his translations and writings.
• Sergiu Al-George was a 20th century Romanian philosopher, theologian, and writer who is known for his work on the intersection of philosophy, religion, and spirituality. He has written extensively on topics such as the philosophy of religion, the nature of God, metaphysics, and the relationship between science and religion. Sergiu Al-George's work reflects his deep engagement with both Western and Eastern philosophical and spiritual traditions, and he has contributed significantly to the field of philosophy of religion with his original insights and critical analysis.
• Swami Satyananda Saraswati was a 20th century Indian spiritual teacher and yogi who is known for his contributions to the field of yoga and Tantra. He was the founder of the Bihar School of Yoga, an internationally renowned yoga institution, and the author of numerous books on yoga, Tantra, and spirituality. Swami Satyananda Saraswati's teachings emphasized the integration of yoga into all aspects of life, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He also emphasized the importance of self-inquiry, meditation, and yogic practices for inner transformation and self-realization.
• The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje was born on August 14, 1924, in Denkhok, Derge province, in the Kham region of Tibet. He was recognized as the Karmapa, the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, at a very young age. The Karmapa lineage is one of the oldest reincarnate lineages in Tibetan Buddhism, dating back to the 12th century.
• Satya Narayana Goenka was a lay Indian teacher of vipassanā meditation.
• Lobsang Phuntsok Lhalungpa was a 20th century Tibetan translator, writer, and scholar who is known for his work in translating and disseminating Tibetan Buddhist texts in English. He was born in Tibet, moved to India and later to the United States, where he dedicated his life to the preservation and translation of Tibetan Buddhist teachings for a Western audience. Lhalungpa translated numerous texts from Tibetan into English, including the biographies of great Tibetan masters such as Milarepa and Gampopa.
• Swami Dayananda Saraswati, born as Natarajan, was a 20th and 21st century Indian Hindu philosopher, spiritual leader, and founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, a traditional Vedic learning institution. He was a prominent advocate of Advaita Vedanta, a non-dualistic school of Hindu philosophy, and his teachings focused on the understanding and application of Vedanta in modern life. Swami Dayananda Saraswati's teachings emphasized the importance of self-knowledge, discrimination, and moral values as essential aspects of spiritual growth. He also provided extensive commentaries and interpretations of traditional Hindu scriptures, making their teachings relevant and accessible to contemporary seekers.
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