His Holiness the 14th the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He was born Lhamo Dhondrub on 6 July 1935, in a small village called Taktser in northeastern Tibet. Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognized at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama, and thus an incarnation Avalokitesvara, the Buddha of Compassion.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama website

Lama Thubten Yeshe was born in Tibet in 1935. At the age of six, he entered Sera Monastic University in Tibet where he studied until 1959, when as Lama Yeshe himself has said, "In that year the Chinese kindly told us that it was time to leave Tibet and meet the outside world." Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, together as teacher and disciple since their exile in India, met their first Western students in 1965. By 1971 they settled at Kopan, a small hamlet near Kathmandu in Nepal. In 1974, the Lamas began touring and teaching in the West, which would eventually result in The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. Lama Yeshe died in 1984, his reincarnation Lama Osel Rinpoche was born to Spanish parents in 1985.

Venerable Lama Thubten Yeshe Biography

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FPMT's spiritual director, is the reincarnation of the Sherpa Nyingma yogi Kunsang Yeshe, the Lawudo Lama. Rinpoche was born in 1946 in Thami, not far from the cave Lawudo, in the Mount Everest region of Nepal, where his predecessor meditated for the last twenty years of his life. From time to time whilst giving teachings at various centers around the world, Rinpoche would tell stories of his childhood: in Thami, then in Tibet, where he went when he was ten, and finally India, where he first met Lama Thubten Yeshe, with whom he would remain as heart disciple until Lama passed a way in 1984.

Venerable Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche's Website

In 1984, Lama Yeshe passed away on the first day of The Tibetan New Year. In 1985, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche assumed leadership of the FPMT organization and began a search for Lama's reincarnation. A western child was born on 12 February 1985 in Bubion, Spain at O.Sel.Ling Dharma Center in the beautiful mountains of Granada. In 1986, after a series of tests and divinations, young Osel Hita, was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be the reincarnation of Lama Thubten Yeshe. He was then named Tenzin Osel.

Venerable Lama Osel Rinpoche's Website

Believing they would be happier and safer, Geshe Konchok Tsering's parents fled southern Tibet's Tsoe-Na district in 1959 to escape Chinese oppression and to be near His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Geshe-la was born on the 5th of May 1963 in Dawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Dawang straddles the border of Tibet, east of Bhutan. His father passed away in 1964, leaving Geshe-la's mother with the responsibility of raising the family.

Between the ages of 9 and 12, Geshe-la attended the Central School for Tibetan, in Dalahousie.

According to his mother, Geshe-la was interested in becoming a monk from the age of five. This became a reality when he reached the age of twelve and requested permission from his mother to become a monk. Following advice from a clairvoyant it was decided to consult Sharpa Choeje Tara Rinpoche the Abbot of Gyuto Monastery at that time. Rinpoche reassured his mother that there was a strong karmic reason for Geshe-la becoming a monk.

Following novice ordination, Geshe-la studied for four years under the very strict discipline of Gyuto Monastery near his birthplace, starting in the early hours and spending his days doing puja, memorising texts and training in tantric ritual.

At the age of sixteen he was interested in studying Buddhist Dialectics and Philosophy and was subsequently admitted to Drati Khamptsen, Sera Je Monastery in southern India's Karnataka state and has been there ever since. Geshe-la took full ordination vows from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1985 and in 1995 was awarded the Geshe degree after seventeen years of study.

In 1996 he returned to Gyuto Monastery to study Tantric Philosophy for one year. On the 25th of December 1998, he took on the responsibility of running the monastery's health care centre and guesthouse for three years.

Students regularly saw Geshe-la for teachings and advice.

Geshe-la was keen to faithfully follow the wishes of his teacher Geshe Gedhun Choephel who asked him on behalf of Lama Zopa Rinpoche if he would consider teaching overseas. Geshe-la said if there were a choice, he would like to go to an English speaking country.

Following further discussion between Geshe Gedhun Choephel and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Geshe-la chose to come to Australia. This was apparently also the opinion of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Geshe-la is happy to help spread the Dharma; he also appreciates the principles of the FPMT and is dedicated to following the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Geshe Konchok Tsering's Teachers of Empowerments and Initiations.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Master of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the late Ling Rinpoche.

Master of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the late Trijang Rinpoche.

The late Sharpa Choeje Tara Rinpoche.

The late Sharpa Choeje Lobsang Nyima.

Khensur Urgyen Tseten Rinpoche.

Khensur Lobsang Thubten Rinpoche.

Choedhen Rinpoche.

The late Pangnang Rinpoche.

Teachers of Philosophical Scriptures, Texts, Dialects and Debate.

The late Gyumed Khensur Dorjee Tashi.

Geshe Lobsang Palden.

The late Geshe Karma Sonam.

Geshe Gedhun Choephel.

The late Geshe Lobsang Gawa.

Personal interviews with Geshe Konchok Tsering are held on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. To arrange a time to see Geshe Konchok Tsering please call Venerable Lhundrup on 0407 979 639 between 10am and 8pm.