Haribhadra

Haribhadra, also known as Shizi Xian or Sengge Zangpo (; both names mean "righteous lion") was an 8th-century CE Buddhist philosopher and commentator. He was one of the founding monks of the Vikramashila monastery in modern-day Bihar, India and he was also the preceptor of the Pala Emperor, Dharmapala.

A notable student of his was the monk Buddhajñānapāda who also played a role in founding Vikramashila.

Life Details of Haribhadra's life are known both through his writings and through the writings of later Tibetan writers including Taranatha and Buton Rinchen Drub. Most scholars place Haribhadra in the second half of the 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century but Mano Laohavanich places him around 735–795 CE. What is known for certain is that he was active during the reign of Emperor Dharmapala as Taranatha noted that he died 20 years after the ascension of Dharmapala to the throne. Haribhadra's position was in turn challenged by Ratnākaraśānti and Abhayakaragupta. In Tibet the debate continued, with Je Tsongkhapa championing Haribhadra's position and Gorampa of the Sakya school promoting the other.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Haribhadra is not associated with any popular practice of Tantra during this period. He does however reference the tantric text, Vajrapāṇyabhiṣekamahātantra, in his Ālokā.

Legacy Haribhdra's works were popular in Tibet where he held an almost "uncontested" status. His commentaries were translated into Tibetan relatively early by the 11th century and one of these translators was Rngog Blo ldan shes rab.