Venerable Geshe Palden Dakpa

A great spiritual master of many, Venerable Geshe Palden Dakpa was born on 4th June’1933 at Tehor Drango   of Dotoe Province, Tibet.  At the age of 13, he joined his native monastery Drango Gaden Rabten Namgyal Ling and received his novice vows from Venerable Kewo Tsang Tulku.  After studying for five years there, yearning for an advanced Buddhist studies; he came to Lahaska and joined the great Drepung Loseling Monastery –reputed to be the 2nd Melinda University—in 1951.

There, he, through both motivation and action submitted himself to the spiritual masters (sole source of all postivism and merits) in order to master all Sutra and Tantra studies encompassed by the three canons of Buddha’s teachings. Indeed, he was really fortunate to have great spiritual masters Geshe Lobsang Dhondup as the Root-guru and so many others of the caliber Toetsam Tulku Jampel Thinley Yonten Gyatso, Venerable Geshe Sonam Gonpo, Shakor Khen Rinpoche Nyima Gyaltsen, Tsulkhang Khensur Geshe Yeshi Thupten, Tehor khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Nyima and so on.

At 22, he received his Bhikshu (fully ordained) vows from Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche.

He spent days and nights studying though there was lack of basic facilities.
Coming into exile in 1959, he continued his extensive determined studies of Buddha Dharma through all ‘five major Texts’ (shungchen kapoi Nga) and many commentaries on them plus other sciences (Rignye, field of study) turning him into an outstanding scholar with great authority on all subjects.

He was conferred Geshe Lharampa Degree in 1975 and his fame as a great scholar further spread through his mesmerizing insightful replies at spring Monlam Chenmo debates for Geshe Lharampas.

He had been briefly at Tibet House, New Delhi as a Residence Professor and Researcher.

As per His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s kind guidance and direction, he returned Drepung Loseling Monastery to continue teaching Buddhist philosophy to thousands of aspirants from all around the globe.

He is really very committed to this, seeing it as  excellent means to serve Buddha Dharma and all sentient beings, Too engrossed and so much passion for his subject’s he very often do not hear loud ringing of bells, teaching 2-3 hors in a stretch. And he has been actively participating in all major congregational debates and discussions in order to pass on his invaluable knowledge to the posterity thus making the occasion meaningful for all.

There are three books to his credit apart from many other disjointed enlightening compositions on various subjects.

1. Lekshey Thepai Zegyen (Eloquence word – the beautifying ornament of faith)

2. Damchoe Nang woe Donmey (Bright Lamp of Supreme Dharma)

3. Simoom Thokchod Lekshe Lungrig Gatsal. (Doubt – dispellant of 3-basic rituals (Vinaya) – Garden of Eloquence words on both quotes and reason)