The Nalanda tradition refers to a scholarly and intellectual tradition rooted in the ancient Nalanda Monastic University, which flourished in India from around the 5th to the 12th centuries CE. Nalanda was one of the first great centres of higher learning in the world, attracting scholars from across Asia. The university was particularly renowned for its deep exploration of Buddhist philosophy, logic, and ethics, but it also offered teachings in a wide range of subjects, including medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.

At the heart of the Nalanda tradition is a commitment to the systematic study of sacred texts, intellectual rigor, and debate. This tradition emphasizes the cultivation of wisdom through reasoned analysis, a practice that involves not only memorization but critical engagement with Buddhist scriptures. Key figures associated with the Nalanda tradition include Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Chandrakirti, Dharmakirti, Dignaga, and Shantideva, whose works continue to be central to Buddhist scholarship.

One of the defining features of the Nalanda tradition is its integration of both sutra and tantra. While it places great emphasis on the teachings of the Mahayana sutras, it also includes practices and teachings from tantric Buddhism. This dual focus distinguishes the tradition as a comprehensive system of study and practice.

In particular, the Tibetan Buddhist schools—such as Gelug, Kagyu, Sakya, and Nyingma—are considered the direct heirs of the Nalanda tradition. These schools preserve and continue the intellectual and contemplative methods developed at Nalanda, with many of the great Tibetan scholars, including Tsongkhapa, having drawn deeply from the tradition’s texts and teachings.

Through its rigorous academic approach and its commitment to the integration of theoretical wisdom and practical meditation, the Nalanda tradition remains a cornerstone of Tibetan Buddhism and continues to shape Buddhist scholarship and practice to this day.