Well, we have two pieces of evidence— Tsongkhapa’s own writing, and Pabhongkha’s confirmation of that position.tobes wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 3:06 amI said "different Gelug masters/scholars have different opinions on the question." Pabhongka is one - and only one - such master.Malcolm wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 2:26 amWell we don’t really, since Pabhongkha clearly states that Tsongkhapa rejected direct introduction. Are you suggesting that there is some secret teaching in Geluk Pabhongkha didn’t hold?tobes wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 1:25 am There is an ambiguity about what Tsong Khapa thought/practiced/transmitted with respect to DI-mahamudra.
i.e. we have to make inferences based on what was written, but some things may have been transmitted as (unwritten) secret teachings. Different Gelug masters/scholars have different opinions on the question.
So yes, it is quite possible that there were ear whispered transmissions from TK to close disciples which were intentionally not written down/kept from wider circulation.
It is also quite possible that there weren't, and later Gelug Mahamudra masters (such as CG) moved a little from TK's explicit position.
At the end of the day, this is something no one today can really answer with much evidence.
There is a third piece as well, Gorampa’s refutation of Tsongkhapa’s position…