Geshe Thupten Palsang

Geshe Thupten Palsang was born in 1965 to a Tibetan family in Nyeshang, Manang District, Annapurna, Nepal. At the age of ten, his brother, Geshe Thupten Wangyal, brought him to the Dip Tse-Chok-Ling Monastery in India, where he received novice [Tibetan, Getsul] monk vows.

At Tse-Chok-Ling, Ven. Kelsang Norbu, Geshe-la’s first spiritual teacher, played a decisive role in his life. Ven. Norbu was both a demanding teacher and a loving father figure. He repeatedly urged Geshe-la ‘to really learn and to comprehend the Lam Rim (stages of the path to enlightenment) by studying the five major [Indian] commentaries’ which are the core Geshe curriculum in monastic universities.

In 1980, at age 15, Geshe-la began those studies at Drepung Loseling Monastery under the mentorship of the retired abbot, Khensur Yeshe Thupten, and Geshe Losang Dorje [later abbot of Gyuto Tantric Monastery]. He received the Bhikshu [Tibetan Gelong] vows of a fully ordained monk from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1985. He continued his studies at Drepung Loseling until 1997, when he received a Geshe degree after completing the Uma [Middle Way] course.

Geshe-la’s Loseling teachers opened his eyes to the world of Buddhist philosophy as they developed his reasoning capabilities and critical analytical skills. With his teachers’ guidance, Geshe-la developed the inspiration and great joy to become wholly dedicated to Buddhist study and debate. In addition to earning excellent grades, he became renown for his eloquent and brilliant reasoning on the debate ground.

Around age 21, he was struck by seriously debilitating and persistent illness that abruptly derailed his academic pursuits. As his health deteriorated severely, he found it excruciatingly difficult to study.

This crisis triggered a doubt in his mind, “Given that studying Buddhism is so difficult, why am I doing it? Is Buddhism truly essential and beneficial in order to live a meaningful life?” To answer this qualm, Geshe-la felt compelled to cast aside traditional religious preferences in order to impartially and objectively examine the real purpose and relevance of Dharma study. Geshe-la’s illness marked a turning point in his life. He turned his devotion and focus toward in-depth exploration and contemplation of Buddha Dharma and the inner self. Year after year, the deeper he probed, the more firmly he became convinced that Buddhist studies and practices were the only path for his life. Even though Geshe-la has never actually been cured of his debilitating health condition, he continues moving forward on the path and never turns back.

While living and studying in monasteries, Geshe-la only associated with Tibetan Buddhist teachers and monks. After receiving the Geshe degree, he travelled around India and Nepal encountering people from varied backgrounds, philosophies, occupations, and witnessing various facets of secular life. Reflecting on these, his appreciation of the value of Dharma teachings, particularly those of Bodhicitta and Selflessness, increased.

Three years after graduation, Geshe-la returned to Dip Tse-Chok-Ling Monastery as a resident lama. He has continuously attended a great number of Dharma teachings given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Ganden Trisur Rizong Rinpoche, Denma Locho Rinpoche, et cetera. As Geshe-la says “I am really blessed to live in Dharamsala and can thereby attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings frequently, which is indeed my most noteworthy blessing in this life.”

Geshe-la continues his practice, studies, research and writing. His publications and teachings express profound understanding of Buddhist philosophy and practice for which he is respected as one of the outstanding Tibetan Buddhist monastic scholar-practitioners of his generation.