When I first discovered the Buddhist world, I was confused about all the personalities and famous teachers that everyone seems to know about. Here is a short introduction to some of the main teachers in Buddhism, by chronological order.

Ancient teachers

Buddha (6^th century BCE)

The enlightened teacher who taught the path to awakening, also known as Siddhartha Gautama or Shakyamuni.

Nāgārjuna (1^st and 2^nd century)

Indian monk and Mahāyāna Buddhist philosopher who founded the Madhyamaka school.

Chandrakirti (7^th century)

Buddhist scholar of the Madhyamaka school and a noted commentator on the works of Nagarjuna.

Shantideva (8^th century)

Indian philosopher, Buddhist monk, poet, scholar at Nālandā Monastic University, adherent of the Mādhyamaka philosophy. He is known for his work A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.

Atisha (982 - 1054)

The renowned Indian Buddhist master who came to Tibet to help in the revival of Buddhism and established the Kadam tradition. His text “Lamp on the Path to Enlightenment” was the first Lam Rim text.

Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava (8^th century)

Indian Buddhist mystic who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet and established the first Buddhist monastery there. Famous for his teachings on emptiness.

Yumo Mikyo Dorje (11th century)

Kalachakra master and founder of the Jonang tradition.

Khön Könchok Gyalpo (1034 - 1102)

Founder of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism

Milarepa (1052 - 1135)

Famous poet and spiritual teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, master of the Kagyu tradition.

Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen (1292 - 1361)

Influential member of the Jonang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Lama Tsongkhapa (1357 - 1419)

Tibetan Buddhist monk, philosopher and tantric yogi, whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He wrote the Lam Rim.

Changkya Rölpé Dorjé (1717 - 1786)

Tibetan Buddhist teacher in the Qing court.

Modern teachers

Ledi Sayadaw (1846 – 1923)

Burmese monk who revived and transmitted the practice of Vipassana.

Saya Thetgyi (1873 – 1945)

Ledi Sayadaw’s student.

Webu Sayadaw (1896 - 1977)

Saya Thetgyi’s student.

Sayagyi U Ba Khin (1899 - 1971)

Burmese teacher of Vipassana meditation, Webu Sayadaw’s student, and Goenka’s teacher.

S.N. Goenka (1924 - 2013)

Indian teacher of Vipassana meditation.

William Hart

One of the first assistant teachers appointed by S.N. Goenka.

Thich Nhat Hanh (1926 – 2022)

Vietnamese buddhist monk, father of mindfulness and Zen buddhism, founded the Plum village in France.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (1935 - present)

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

Lama Yeshe (1935 - 1984)

Co-founder of Kopan monastery in Kathmandu and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945 – 2023)

Co-founder of Kopan monastery in Kathmandu and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).

Pema Chödrön (1936 - present)

American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun, disciple of Chögyam Trungpa.

Chögyam Trungpa (1939 - 1987)

Tibetan Buddist meditation master, founder of Shambhala buddhism, holder of both Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tenzin Palmo (1943 - present)

English-born nun, best known for having spent twelve years living in a remote cave in the Himalayas, three of those years in strict meditation retreat.

Thubten Chödrön (1950 - present)

American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun, author, teacher, and the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, the only Tibetan Buddhist training monastery for Western nuns and monks in the United States.

Thupten Jinpa (1958 - present)

Tibetan Buddhist scholar known for his work on Compassion, former monk and academic of religious studies, founder of the Compassion Institute. He is the author of the courses Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) and Building Compassion From the Inside Out.

Khyentse Norbu (1961 - present)

Tibetan/Bhutanese lama, filmmaker, and writer.

Bhikkhu Anālayo (1962 - present)

German Theravada monk, scholar, and meditation teacher.

Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche (1967 - present)

Tibetan Lama and nun.

Ani Chöying Drölma (1971 - present)

Nepalese Buddhist nun of Tibetan origin and musician.

Lama Rinchen Gyaltsen (1972 - present)

Director of the Sakya Buddhist centre in Spain.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (1975 - present)

Tibetan teacher and master of the Karma Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. He integrates Buddhist practice and science.

Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu (1979 - present)

Canadian-born Theravada Buddhist monk.

Gueshe Dorji Damdul

Director of Tibet House in New Delhi.

Notable FPMT teachers

• Kabir Saxena : founder of Root institute in Bodhgaya
• Ven. Tenzin Choden : teacher at Kopan monastery
• Ven. Tenzin Thegchog : teacher at Tushita meditation centre
• Ven. Thubten Wangdu : teacher at Tushita meditation centre

DISCLAIMER : The information shared in this article are based on my personal experience from various Buddhist courses I attended in India and Nepal. I am not by any means an expert on the subject. If you notice any inaccuracies, please feel free to contact me or mention them in the comments.