Venerable Geshe Tenzing Tamding
Geshe Tenzing Tamding was born in the Tibetan Wooden Snake Year, in August 1965 in the village Chedam, Province of Dagyab (Kham), in Tibet. His scholar father Tamding Sönam and his mother Tamdin Yangzom both came from wealthy farmer families. After six years of Chinese oppression in Tibet his mother gave birth to her fourth child Tenzing Tamding under very poor conditions in her own animal stable. She lived there with his oldest brother and two sisters. By the time of Geshe Tenzing’s birth his father was in the Chinese prisons because of his devotion to the Dalai Lama and his Buddhist religion and of defending the Tibetan Constitution.
Geshe-La was already 4 years old and visited the Chinese local school, when his father was released from prison. His father who spent in total 7 years in prison was mistreated, his legs were crippled and he was not able to walk anymore. So he stayed at home, meanwhile his wife and his older three children worked on the fields. Tamding Sönam was a very scholarly man, he had high Buddhist knowledge because he and his brother, the well known Khem Rimpoche Geshe Tamding Gyatso grew up and was taught by their uncle who was a great realized Geshe Larampa named Kelsang Puntsok. Geshe Kelsang Puntsok studied in Je Tsongkhapas Mahayana monastic mother university Ganden in Tibet and completed his degree; as well he accomplished his teachings in the Gyuto Tantra Monastery. He became abbot of the local monastery Magön and was the root guru of Dagyab Rimpoche who now resides in Germany.
His father used to teach Geshe-La and the other family members every day very strictly in their little home, hiding the dharma texts from the Chinese. In his early years Geshe Tenzing was capable to memorize the 21 Tara alabanza, several Gelugpa texts, like refuge texts and different mantras and he also learned Tibetan language.
His father passed away, when Geshe Tenzing Tamding was only 11 years old. The teachings were so profound that they would influence his entire life. A few months after her husband’s death, Geshe-la’s mother decided to become a nun, hiding her habits in public.
Only 11 years old, Geshe-La deeply touched by his father’s teachings and knowing that his uncle Khem Rimpoche was already in India, made the decision to go there and follow his footsteps. It was there that he decided that studying the dharma was really the most beneficial thing to do and set his mind on becoming a Geshe.
Together with a group of people he fled from the Himalayan Mountains to Nepal in 1977. After a trip of 2 months he arrived in India. It was a very dangerous trip where he gambled between life and death.
Once in Darjeeling where his uncle, a very recognized Geshe monk was teaching dharma in a Buddhist College, he had a very nice time, studying hard and serving his uncle. Happy that his young nephew wanted to follow in his footsteps his uncle took him to Bodhgaya to receive the monk’s ordination by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. After taking the monk vows His Holiness gave Geshe Tenzing Tamding, who also spoke Chinese the permission to start his studies in the Institute of Buddhist Philosophy in Dharamsala. Entering in an advanced class after some effort, Geshe-La became the first in his class and finished the 10 year study program in only 5 years.
During this time Geshe-la translated His Holiness´teachings for Chinese disciples and taught dharma in Chinese to a Taiwanese Monk, a personal disciple of his Holiness.
As Geshe Tenzing was very keen on finishing his Geshe Degree, he applied to His Holiness The Dalai Lama to be enrolled in Ganden Monastery. In 1982 after passing all exams Geshe-la continued his studies in the Ganden Monastery and entered in the 10th class.
After 10 years in 1992 he finished his Geshe studies. Again it was His Holiness personally who gave him permission to promote for his Geshe Larampa degree immediately which he passed with excellence and became one of the youngest Geshe Larampa in the monastery.
In 1993 just after his examination His Holiness sent him to Taiwan where he assisted the Taiwanese Monk who meanwhile had built up many Centers and Monasteries in the world. Geshe Tenzing emphasis was the teachings of Lamrim to his peer and disciples. Geshe-La traveled and taught also in his Centers in Hong Kong and the United States of America.
This Taiwanese monk made very generous donations to the Ganden Shartse Monastery, to Ganden Tsok Chen and Ganden Nyagre Kangsten and as well to Sera and Drepung Monastery.
Geshe Tenzing was active in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and mainly in California introducing dharma teachings. He founded Centers in Singapore and Malaysia and hosted high lamas like Lati Rimpoche and his guru Jampa Yeshe Rimpoche.
In 1995 Geshe Tenzing Tamding came first to Spain to visit his uncle Khem Rimpoche and teach in his Center in Menorca. In 1999 he made another trip and gave several courses in Spain, England and Germany.
In 2002 when his uncle Khem Rimpoche, the abbot of Ganden Monastery, passed away he went back to his monastery for one year to clear all his papers and help in the monastery’s administration. His uncle appointed him as successor of the 5 Buddhist Centers in Spain, where Geshe Tenzing Tamding started his deed in 2003. Since then he built up 13 more Buddhist Centers and meditation groups in Spain. His main residence is in Menorca and he regularly visits all his Centers in Spain, Asia and America to introduce teachings, give private sessions and public talks.
In 2008 Geshe Tenzing started a 10 years teaching program in Spain which includes the authentic Sutra and Tantra teachings of the 5 major texts taught in the Ganden Monastery, this course includes as well the famous debate method, which most of his disciples perceive as essential to understand dharma. In the same year Geshe-La´s family, who now reside in California and one disciple from Taiwan made donations to acquire property in Galicia (Ourense). The rebuilding into a monastic retreat centre is in progress, a hands on job by Geshe-La and his devoted disciples. In August 2009 the first course took place in this place and more than 70 disciples participated.
Fulfilling his uncles Khem Rimpoche Tamding Gyatso´s wish, who he considers his rot guru, he also achieved to merge his 18 centers into federation which is called: ”Federación budista Tibetana Thubten Thinley”.
As well he accomplished the creation of the foundation “Cho Tsup Tsang”, for the preservation of Tibetan culture, art and Buddhist religion. The main aim of this foundation is the recreation of the main Gelugpa monastic universities Ganden, Sera and Drepung as in Tibet and India for monks and nuns and as well a section for lay people, in Spain
Geshe-La was already 4 years old and visited the Chinese local school, when his father was released from prison. His father who spent in total 7 years in prison was mistreated, his legs were crippled and he was not able to walk anymore. So he stayed at home, meanwhile his wife and his older three children worked on the fields. Tamding Sönam was a very scholarly man, he had high Buddhist knowledge because he and his brother, the well known Khem Rimpoche Geshe Tamding Gyatso grew up and was taught by their uncle who was a great realized Geshe Larampa named Kelsang Puntsok. Geshe Kelsang Puntsok studied in Je Tsongkhapas Mahayana monastic mother university Ganden in Tibet and completed his degree; as well he accomplished his teachings in the Gyuto Tantra Monastery. He became abbot of the local monastery Magön and was the root guru of Dagyab Rimpoche who now resides in Germany.
His father used to teach Geshe-La and the other family members every day very strictly in their little home, hiding the dharma texts from the Chinese. In his early years Geshe Tenzing was capable to memorize the 21 Tara alabanza, several Gelugpa texts, like refuge texts and different mantras and he also learned Tibetan language.
His father passed away, when Geshe Tenzing Tamding was only 11 years old. The teachings were so profound that they would influence his entire life. A few months after her husband’s death, Geshe-la’s mother decided to become a nun, hiding her habits in public.
Only 11 years old, Geshe-La deeply touched by his father’s teachings and knowing that his uncle Khem Rimpoche was already in India, made the decision to go there and follow his footsteps. It was there that he decided that studying the dharma was really the most beneficial thing to do and set his mind on becoming a Geshe.
Together with a group of people he fled from the Himalayan Mountains to Nepal in 1977. After a trip of 2 months he arrived in India. It was a very dangerous trip where he gambled between life and death.
Once in Darjeeling where his uncle, a very recognized Geshe monk was teaching dharma in a Buddhist College, he had a very nice time, studying hard and serving his uncle. Happy that his young nephew wanted to follow in his footsteps his uncle took him to Bodhgaya to receive the monk’s ordination by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. After taking the monk vows His Holiness gave Geshe Tenzing Tamding, who also spoke Chinese the permission to start his studies in the Institute of Buddhist Philosophy in Dharamsala. Entering in an advanced class after some effort, Geshe-La became the first in his class and finished the 10 year study program in only 5 years.
During this time Geshe-la translated His Holiness´teachings for Chinese disciples and taught dharma in Chinese to a Taiwanese Monk, a personal disciple of his Holiness.
As Geshe Tenzing was very keen on finishing his Geshe Degree, he applied to His Holiness The Dalai Lama to be enrolled in Ganden Monastery. In 1982 after passing all exams Geshe-la continued his studies in the Ganden Monastery and entered in the 10th class.
After 10 years in 1992 he finished his Geshe studies. Again it was His Holiness personally who gave him permission to promote for his Geshe Larampa degree immediately which he passed with excellence and became one of the youngest Geshe Larampa in the monastery.
In 1993 just after his examination His Holiness sent him to Taiwan where he assisted the Taiwanese Monk who meanwhile had built up many Centers and Monasteries in the world. Geshe Tenzing emphasis was the teachings of Lamrim to his peer and disciples. Geshe-La traveled and taught also in his Centers in Hong Kong and the United States of America.
This Taiwanese monk made very generous donations to the Ganden Shartse Monastery, to Ganden Tsok Chen and Ganden Nyagre Kangsten and as well to Sera and Drepung Monastery.
Geshe Tenzing was active in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and mainly in California introducing dharma teachings. He founded Centers in Singapore and Malaysia and hosted high lamas like Lati Rimpoche and his guru Jampa Yeshe Rimpoche.
In 1995 Geshe Tenzing Tamding came first to Spain to visit his uncle Khem Rimpoche and teach in his Center in Menorca. In 1999 he made another trip and gave several courses in Spain, England and Germany.
In 2002 when his uncle Khem Rimpoche, the abbot of Ganden Monastery, passed away he went back to his monastery for one year to clear all his papers and help in the monastery’s administration. His uncle appointed him as successor of the 5 Buddhist Centers in Spain, where Geshe Tenzing Tamding started his deed in 2003. Since then he built up 13 more Buddhist Centers and meditation groups in Spain. His main residence is in Menorca and he regularly visits all his Centers in Spain, Asia and America to introduce teachings, give private sessions and public talks.
In 2008 Geshe Tenzing started a 10 years teaching program in Spain which includes the authentic Sutra and Tantra teachings of the 5 major texts taught in the Ganden Monastery, this course includes as well the famous debate method, which most of his disciples perceive as essential to understand dharma. In the same year Geshe-La´s family, who now reside in California and one disciple from Taiwan made donations to acquire property in Galicia (Ourense). The rebuilding into a monastic retreat centre is in progress, a hands on job by Geshe-La and his devoted disciples. In August 2009 the first course took place in this place and more than 70 disciples participated.
Fulfilling his uncles Khem Rimpoche Tamding Gyatso´s wish, who he considers his rot guru, he also achieved to merge his 18 centers into federation which is called: ”Federación budista Tibetana Thubten Thinley”.
As well he accomplished the creation of the foundation “Cho Tsup Tsang”, for the preservation of Tibetan culture, art and Buddhist religion. The main aim of this foundation is the recreation of the main Gelugpa monastic universities Ganden, Sera and Drepung as in Tibet and India for monks and nuns and as well a section for lay people, in Spain