Biographies

Ven. Abbot Geshe Phuntsok Tashi

The Ven. fourth Abbot, Geshe Phuntsok Tashi, Gelug, was born into the old family Dragdong Shabtsang in 1936. He began his monastic education in Dargye Monastery at the age of ten. From 1954 onwards he continued his education in Drepung Monastery where he studied scriptures. In 1959 he left Tibet and went to Buxar in Indian exile, where he spent ten years living and studying together with a thousand other monks. He then joined Drepung Monastery in South India, where the monks have to earn their living by farm work, and took his Geshe examination in 1984. As Master of Ceremonies in the Protector’s Temple he was responsible for rituals and could undertake retreats on various deities. He was especially dedicated to the upbringing and education of young monks and tulkus’. Upon the wish of H.H. the Dalai Lama, he went to Switzerland in 1996 as the fourth Abbot of the monastic Tibet Institute. Here he guides the monks’ community, ensures that the rules of the order are abided by, carries out the annual summer retreat, the ritual of confession and the Buddhist festivities and gives teachings to the Tibetans.

Ven. Geshe Jampel Senge

The Ven. Geshe Jampel Senge, Gelug, was born in Nyanang/West Tibet in 1951. After the Chinese invasion he and his family fled to Nepal and from there to India. He acquired his school education at various English medium schools and completed it in 1971 with the Indian School Certificate from Cambrian Hall in Dehra Dun. In 1973 he joined the re-established Sera Monastery in South India where he studied the five treasures (Prajnaparamita, Madhyamika, Vinaya Sutra, Abhidharma Kosa and Pramana). He received his full monk’s ordination from H.H. the Dalai Lama in 1977. In 1991 he completed his studies at Sera Je College with the Geshe Lharampa degree and then joined Gyumed Tantric College to complete his education in tantras. In 1996 he was invited to Australia and founded the Tashi Choeling Centre for Tibetan Philosophy and Culture in Coolbellup/Perth, which he presides as spiritual leader and teacher. Upon the wish of H.H. he joined the monastic Tibet Institute Rikon as assistant to the Abbot In June 2004.

Ven. Lama Tenzin Jottotshang

The Ven. Lama Tenzin Jottotshang, Gelug, was born in Lhasa in 1942. During his years of schooling he was educated in Tibetan script and calligraphy. Afterwards he joined Sera Monastery and studied Buddhist philosophy. In 1959 he left Tibet and went into exile in Buxar/North India, where he continued his studies and taught Tibetan script and grammar to the monks. Together with three other monks and upon the wish of the Dalai Lama, he accompanied the first Abbot of the monastic Tibet Institute, Geshe Ugyen Tseten to Switzerland in 1967. He acts as representative of the monastic community in the Tibetan community of Switzerland since its foundation in 1973. From 1980 to 1982 he was director of the Tibet Office in Switzerland and in 1990 he was part of the election commission for Tibetan Members of Parliament in Europe. Since 2001 he represents the monastic community in the foundation committee. For 37 years he taught Tibetan language, script, religion and history in the Tibetan school in Rikon. He is author of the modern German-Tibetan textbook, which appeared in its 3rd edition in 2003 and is very popular. Up until today he continues teaching Buddhism and Tibetan language to Tibetan and Western students.

Ven. Lama Gendün Gyatso

The Ven. Lama Gendün Gyatso, Sakya, was born in Markham/East Tibet. As a child he learnt to read and write with a Lama living in retreat. At the age of eleven he joined Dechen Tenphel Ling Monastery where he learnt Buddhist scriptures by heart and received an education in rituals and Buddhist chants. Five years later he was sent to the main Sakya Monastery. Under the guidance of the Abbot of Sakya he studied the dialectic scriptures Rigter, Prajna Paramita, Domsum and the writings of Sakya Pandita until he had to flee from Tibet to India after the invasion of the Chinese in 1959. He continued his studies with a thousand other monks of all four traditions in Buxor/North India. In 1969 he went to the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, where he received the degree of Acharya (spiritual master) with distinction. He then joined the Sakya Centre in Rajpur as a teacher. Upon the wish of H.H. Sakya Trizin he went to Switzerland in 1979 and became member of the monks’ community of the monastic Tibet Institute, where he continues living today, giving teachings to Tibetans and interested western people.

Ven. Geshe Khedup Tokhang

The Ven. Geshe Khedup Tokhang, Gelug, was born in Lhasa in 1931. At the age of six his parents took him to the small Pasang Lung Ritrö Monastery where he received lessons in reading and writing and learned numerous prayer texts by heart. At the age of thirteen he started studying Lamrim and two years later, upon his own wish, joined Sera Monastic University. After receiving the degree of Geshe Lharampa from there in 1954, he returned to his monastery where he served as prayer leader. In 1959 he left Tibet and joined a monks’ community in Dalhousie/North India. In 1963 he was sent to Switzerland by H.H. the Dalai Lama to lead the Tibetan colony in Unterwasser. He there worked in a weaving mill and taught the Tibetan children. Since 1969 he lives within the monks’ community at the monastic Tibet Institute. From 1970 to 1993 he was also active in mentoring Tibetans on behalf of the Swiss Red Cross. Since his retirement he teaches Buddhism to Tibetan and western students. Lately he also increasingly carries out translation work and teaches German and religious education to Tibetans.

Ven. Geshe Lobsang Dhondup

The Ven. Geshe Lobsang Dhondup, Gelug, was born in Lithang in Eastern Tibet's Kham province in 1979. As a son of a farmer he received his primary and secondary school education in a public Chinese school. At the age of fifteen he became a monk and joined the Lithang Monastery. He studied the fundamentals of Buddhist philosophy as well as tantric scriptures and rituals. In 1998 he left Tibet and joined the Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India. He continued his Buddhist studies and received the degree of Geshe in 2009.

Furthermore, he has studied natural sciences within the project „Science meets Dharma“ since 2004. He joined the Tibet Institute Rikon in February 2010.

Ven. Acharya Pema Wangyal

The Ven. Acharya Pema Wangyal, Kagyu, was born in Orissa in 1976 and went to the Tibetan school in Mussoorie. In 1987 he became monk in Thubtan Sangag Choeling Monastery in Darjeeling, an education centre of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition, and there studied the basics of Buddhist philosophy. The famous Yogi Sherab introduced him to the teachings of Ngondro, which he then practiced in retreat. He received the full teachings and initiations of the line of H.H. Gyalwa Drukchen, as well as of his master Singdrak Rinpoche and was educated in Buddhist rituals, Buddhist chants and the making of mandalas. In addition, he attended classes in natural sciences, English and Hindi. From 1999 until his departure for Switzerland in September 2006 he studied the Indian and Tibetan classics of Buddhist philosophy, Sankrit and English at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi. He conducted the rituals for the Kagyud Relief Fund as chant leader. Since 2001 he is involved with the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Movement and does voluntary social work. At the Tibet Institute Rikon he is the representative of the Kagyu tradition.

Ven. Acharya Tenzin Choeden

The Ven. Acharya Tenzin Choeden, Nyingma, was born in Bir/North India in 1976. At the age of eight he joined Bir Palyul Choekhor Ling Monastery, where he went to school, received classes in Buddhist philosophy, sutra and tantra, and was assistant to his teacher for seven years. In addition he was educated in rituals and Buddhist chants, as well as in the ritual dances of his tradition. He then went to Nyingma Monastic University of Penor Rinpoche in Bylakuppe/South India to complete his education as a Lama. In 2003 he returned to his home monastery in Bir, where he taught Tibetan script and Buddhism to the young monks for four years. He studied the secret teachings of the Tertön (treasure discoverer) Migyur Dorje, received authorization for Ngondro, Tsalung and Dzogchen and went into retreat to practice these. He received the most important Nyingma translations from Penor Rinpoche. Upon request of the Ministry for Religion and Culture in Dharamsala he was selected by his monastery in 2006 to represent the Nyingma tradition at the Tibet Institute Rikon.

Ven. Geshe Tsondue Gyatso

The Ven. Geshe Tsondue Gyatso, Sakya, was born in July 1974. After completing his schooling, he joined Sakya Monastery where he studied the basics of Buddhism, was educated in rituals and Buddhist chants and had the opportunity to gain first experiences with tantra. He received the most important initiations and instructions of the Sakya tradition from the great master Jamyamg Losar Sangpo. From 1994 onwards he studied the Buddhist scriptures on philosophy, psychology and phenomenology at Sakya Centre and continued his studies at Sakya College in Dehra Dun. During this time he received teachings and initiations form S.H. Sakya Trizin. In 2004 he completed his education with the Kachupa degree. He attended a course for teachers of higher Tibetan culture and religion at Sarah College in Dharamsala. Afterwards he taught at the Tibetan Homes School Mussoorie/North India, where he directed the work group for culture and education. In May 2006 he joined the Tibet Institute Rikon.