Foremost Teachers from Drepung Monastary
Khensur Lobsang Tenpa​ Rinpoche
​
The current Drepung Tripa (The Throne Holder) and former Abbot of Drepung Monastery, Khensur Lobsang Tenpa Rinpoche, was born in the year 1938, in Amdo province of Eastern Tibet. He became a monk at the age of 11 and was ordained at Taktsang Lhamo monastery. At the age of 18, he travelled to the south of Lhasa where he joined Drepung Gomang monastery. In 1959, he fled Tibet when the Chinese invaded following H. H. the Dalai Lama into India. He stayed at a transit camp for ten years. In 1970, he entered Varanasi University, Central Institute of Higher Studies, where he obtained the Acharya degree with remarkable and excellent results. In 1973, he returned to Drepung Gomang Monastery where he studied the Abhidharma and the Vinaya. In 1982, he sat for the Gelug examination in which he ranked first out of all the candidates from the three great monasteries.
Rinpoche was chosen by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be the Head Abbot in 1989. Rinpoche has travelled to give teachings in Tibet, Russia and Mongolia and also to Europe as head of the Gomang European tour. Having attained great distinction in the Buddhist Sutra and Tantra doctrines, Rinpoche is an important inspiration to the people
He visited New Zealand in 2010 and gave teachings and initiations in Auckland and Wellington.
Geshe Yonten Gyatso
​
Geshe Yonten Gyatso has spent his life studying and teachings from an unbroken lineage of Buddhist masters. In 1959 while trying to escape Tibet he was captured and imprisoned in the harshest conditions for 3 years by the Chinese Communists.
After the Cultural Revolution he was freed and resumed his studies. He was chosen by the Panchen Lama, Tibet’s second greatest spiritual leader of the Gelugpa tradition, to be the resident teacher at his monastery.
​
A teacher of great heart and extraordinary wisdom, Geshe Yonten Gyatso is one of the foremost teachers at Drepung monastery. Originally from Amdo, Tibet Geshe Yonten Gyato is recognised as a treasure who holds many lineages and commentaries.
​
