His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama, Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, born Lhamo Dondrub on 6 July 1935, is the 14th and current Dalai Lama, as well as the longest lived incumbent. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, and is also well known for his lifelong advocacy for Tibetans inside and outside Tibet.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. His life is guided by three major commitments: the promotion of basic human values, the fostering of inter-religious harmony and the welfare of the Tibetan people.
Hi Holiness is The Supreme Spiritual Head of Sera Jey Monastery, where Geshe Lama Konchok studied in for twenty over years.
Lamo Chitum
Born in 1889, who is the founder and grand teacher of Tibetan Astrology. During his time, Lamo Chitum was considered the Royal Astrologer to the royalty of China and Mongolia. He was a very famous Geshe and was also a very highly respected buddhist practitioner.
Geshe Jamyong Nigma
Geshe Jamyong Nigma was a student of Lamo Chitum in the Art of Tibetan Astrology. Today, almost all books written on Tibetan Astrology can be accredited to Geshe Jamyong Nigma.
He is the root guru of our Geshe Lama Konchok, whom he took refuge from at the age of 12 yrs and became Lama ‘s first teacher in the early 1980s at Labrang Tashi Khyil Monastery.
Khensur Lobsang Tsering
Khensur Lobsang Tsering was appointed by His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama to serve on the committee of Sera Jey Monastic University for over 10 years; over-seeing more than 4500 students.
The Committee is the guardian & advisory body for Philosophical Committee of Sera Jey. The members of the committee constitutes of former – Abbots, Disciplinarian and Members of the Philosophical Committee, with the serving Abbot as the Chairman.
When Geshe Lama Konchok enrolled into Sera Jey Monastery in the 1990s, Lama became one of his students which make up almost 66% of the total enrolled population.
Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche
In 1937, Venerable Lobsang Tenzin was born to an average farmer-couple of Mr.Tatsok and Mrs. Choetso of Sesha clan at Yara village under Dechen District in Eastern Tibet, lying southeast to the Yagra Tsem monastery. At the tender age of 9, he joined Tsem monastery where he received his primary and basic knowledge from Warden Geshe Tsultrim. He received his novice vow from Lamrim Lama Lobsang Rinchen and re-christened as Lobsang Tenzin.
Also had the privilege to attend many sacred teachings by Venerable Yagra Khangsar Rinpoche.
In 1959, at 16, he along-with many companions treaded on foot for several months to Lhasa (Land of Gods) to join Drepung Loseling Monastic University for higher advanced studies after years of learning at the above mentioned native monastery.
In 1982, he was awarded the coveted Geshe Lharampa Degree (Equivalent to PhD, Doctorate of Metaphysics) after successfully passing Karam, Lopon and Lharam Examinations of 7 years all in distinctions at the Grand All Gelug Monastic University Examinations pitted against best of all the major Gelug monasteries.
At 1982 Spring Monlam Chenmo Festival, he was on debating Rounds and impressed the whole Sangha of SeDreGa-soom with his knowledge on all Five Major Texts proving worthy of his newfound Title – Geshe Lharampa.
In 1983, he joined Gyutoe Tantric Monastery for his advanced Tantric studies. He had shouldered the heavy responsibility of Chief disciplinarian of Drepung Tsokchen and Loseling monastery for two years from 1987 and everyone appreciated his contribution in upgrading a genuine discipline and harmonious environment in and around the monastery.
In May 1990, His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed him as the Lama Uze (Assistant Abbot equivalent) of Gyutoe Monastery and promoted to the post of 119th abbot of Gyutoe monastery in 1993.
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsan Delek
Born in Dhabdo village of Tehor Kardze region of Eastern Tibet, Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Delek was born to Tsewang Phuntsok, father, and Dhondub Lhamo, mother, on January 1, 1939. He was reverently and affectionately addressed as ‘Gen Uma Jugpa’ for his mastery of Madhyamaka, the quintessence of Buddhist philosophy. He received his name ‘Lobsang Delek’ from Trungsar Lobsang Palden Rinpoche.
As a sign of his previous Karma, he was very warm-natured and showed interest for education and spirituality from a very young age. He always expressed his wishes to becoming a good monk. As a child, when his father shaved his head with regular blades and the irritation made Rinpoche cry, his father would poke fun, saying: “You can’t become a monk; better become a layman.” Rinpoche would instantly respond, “My dear father, please let me become a monk. I will endure all pain”, and endured the pain caused by the blunt blade. He remembered praying in front of the Buddha many times that he make him a good monk.
At the age of 7, Rinpoche went all by himself to an elderly monk Tagyam and requested that he be accepted to the monastery. Then with the consent of his teacher Ngawang Tenzin and Khenpo Yontan Rinpoche, he joined the college for dialectics at Shedurp Norbu Ling at Karze. At the age of eight, he received the novice shramanera vows from Trungsar Lobsang Palden Rinpoche and was named ‘Ngawang Zoepa’. At 17, in 1956, his strong urge to pursue higher education motivated him to undertake a long journey with a local master Kachu Konchog to Lhasa in Central Tibet. After offering formal prayers at the feet of the historical statue of Buddha Shakyamuni in the central Buddhist cathedral in Lhasa, he joined Sera Monastery, one of the three traditional monastic seats of Gelukpa tradition. He then studied under teachers including Jetsun Dorje Tashi, a former abbot of Gyumey Tantric Monastery.
In 1959, he followed His Holiness the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans into exile in India. Like all Tibetans, he endured great hardship in the initial years when everyone, was overcome by the loss and suffering. He first studied at a rehabilitation center at Buxar, where monks from all different Tibetan Buddhist schools have gathered to restore and revive lost tradition. He studied Buddhist philosophy under masters including Jetsun Lobsang Wangchuk and Jetsun Dorje Tashi, former abbots of Sera and Gyumey monasteries.
Having sought formal consent of his master Jetsun Lobsang Wangchuk at the age of 26 in 1965, he received his Bikshu vows from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In December 1969, at the behest of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rinpoche and other thousands of monks from Buxar moved to South India. For the few initial years, Rinpoche participated in all manual works ranging from lumbering to farming and construction of monastic buildings. At the same time, he continued with his monastic studies and practice.
In 1982, Rinpoche sat for Gelukpa graduate examination for the degrees of Karampa and Lobpon. In 1988, he stood for a debate exam in the presence of His Holiness in Varanasi. In 1989, he appeared for his final exam for Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree in Gelukpa monastic academia. In 1994, he was appointed the Chief Disciplinarian of Gyumey Tantric Monastery, and later as the Chief Disciplinarian of Sera Jey Monastery. In 1997, he journeyed to Tibet in an effort to revive Buddhism after the inconceivable destruction and damages caused by the decade-long Cultural Revolution. His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed him as the Chief Chant Master and abbot of Gyumey Monastery in 2002 and 2005 respectively.
He had taught extensively on all fields of Buddhist studies ranging from logic to philosophy, soteriology to ritual, and monasticism to Higher Tantra. Texts he had taught include Pramanavartika, Abhidharmakosha, Pratimokshasutra, Prajnaparamita and Madhyamakakarika. Even during the early years of his career, his disciples included scores of reincarnate Tulkus and hundreds of monks. On a typical day, he conducted as many as seven lecture sessions. Teachings conferred at major public congregations include Guhyasamaja Tantra, Chakrasamvara Tantra, Vajrabhairava Tantra, Hayagriva Tantra, Tsongkhapa’s Great Exposition on the Stages of Path, and others.
In 2011, he was appointed as the abbot of Sera Jey Monastery by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to oversee the entire administrative and educational affairs of the monastery. He has traveled and taught in various countries including Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Hongkong, US, Italy, and others. He currently holds the position of abbot of Sera Jey Monastery in South India.