Visiting Teachers

Gomo Tulku

A Tibetan, Canadian, American. Lama, musician, entrepreneur. Gomo Tulku’s philosophy towards living, learning and teaching Buddhism is one with a strong emphasis on authenticity, relevance and pragmatism – an approach that is evident in the young Rinpoche’s life and career choices so far as he traverses the universes of North America, Europe and Asia. Gomo Tulku’s life in his 23rd incarnation began in Montreal, Canada, on August 8th, 1988. He was recognized at the age of three by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, as the reincarnation of his maternal grandfather, the 22nd Gomo Tulku. Capturing the public’s interest, Gomo Tulku’s story was featured on multiple international media outlets, including the Oprah Winfrey Show in the US and major news agencies, such as Rai Italia.

Ordained as a monk by the Dalai Lama in 1995 at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute, in Pomaia, Italy, Gomo Tulku spent his following 12 years in traditional monastic education at Sera Jey Monastic University, India, where he studied Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist psychology. In August 2008, he graduated with honors following a ceremony called Rig-Chung, which involved a rigorous scholastic debate in front of thousands of monks.

Like the previous Gomo Tulku, who had the full Geluk lineage, and who was renowned for his expertise in Buddhist philosophy and tantra practice as well as traditional chants and ritual dance, Gomo Tulku discovered his parallel passion in music and dance at a young age. After completing his foundational education in Buddhism, Gomo Tulku left formal monastic life to pursue his musical career in Europe. His debut album was produced in collaboration with internationally reputed producers and musicians, including Deleterio and Jidenna, a compilation of original musical reflections on life and love as a young Tibetan. Highlights in his musical career include coverage by Time magazine, GQ Italia and Details magazine as well as appearances on US National Public Radio (NPR) and Italian television. His single, Photograph, won him recognition as Best Male Artist at the Tibetan Music Awards in 2011. 

Gomo Tulku’s conviction about the future of Buddhism is that it must marry traditional teachings with contemporary existence. Today, he continues to build on enriching his knowledge of being a traditional lama with the experience of living as a contemporary being in modern society. 

“In this millennia of distractions, it is harder than ever to practise Buddhism,
but never has it been more relevant than ever before.”

Geshe-la attained the highest level of education in the scholastic system of Tibetan Buddhism — after more than 20 years of an extremely demanding study at the Sera Je Monastic University, Geshe-la achieved the highest rank in Buddhist philosophy — the Lharampa Geshe degree. Afterwards he has entered the Tibetan Tantric monastery where he studied Tantric methods and rituals. Currently Geshe-la lives in his home town of Tawang, where he founded a society for animal welfare and a society which supports education of children from poor families. Geshe-la is currently working as Bhot Bhout Dharshan lecturer at the Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies (CIHCS), Dahung, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh.

Although his connection with Shenpen Rinpoche goes even further back, Geshe-la first visited us in 2004, then again in 2008 and lastly in 2019, and gave us many Teachings and Initiations. His style of teaching is very warm and open, as he always welcomes questions and discussion with the audience. By combining his vast knowledge, personal experience, examples and personal stories he presents the topics in a very clear and approachable way, showing us how Buddhist teachings are not a thing of the past, but a treasure which we can use in our daily life to improve our minds and lives for the benefit of both ourselves and others.

Ven. Tulku Gyatso Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1932 and became a monk at the age of 13. In 1960 he was imprisoned by the Chinese for 21 years. In 1982 he joined the new Sera Je Monastery in India and earned a title of Geshe in 1994. He has been in Italy since 2000 according to the S.S. the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche instruction. He was well known for his ability to explain the texts and to offer effective advice about the practice; his deep kindness, humbleness and wisdom succeeded in conquering the heart of numerous disciples all over Italy. He was the resident Lama of the Ewam Centre in Florence. He left His body on 1st December 2011 after ten days from his death in which he meditated steadily in the clear light. (adopted from http://www.kalachakraitalia.org)

Venerable Ontul Rinpoche was the 3rd incarnation and he was officially recognised at the age of five in Tibet. Rinpoche escaped from Tibet after the Chinese invasion with his teacher Kharnam and his followers, travelling overland he reached Nepal in 1960. On different occasions Ontul Rinpoche received Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, 3rd Kalu Rinpoche and others.

One of the first western Buddhist monks in the Tibetan tradition of Mahayana Buddhism, Jhampa met Ven. Lama Yeshe and became his one of his first male sangha members in 1971. From that time Jhampa studied mainly in Dharamsala, India, learning the Tibetan language. He studied under His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche (His Holiness’s senior tutor) and the Ven. Geshe Rabten and Geshe Dhargaye. He is one of the first western practitioners to be given permission by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to teach all levels of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. His talks are spiced with humorous and fascinating anecdotes of his experiences of transforming a western mind to grip the Buddhist perspective. Being born and raised in the west gives Jhampa’s way of sharing the insights of the East a uniquely relevant twist. (more on http://www.buddhistastrology.com/sbio.html)

Rinpoche was born in 1976 in the region of Zhongchu in northeastern Tibet. At the age of seven, he took the vows of a monk and entered the monastery of Ganden Choekorling. In 1993, Rinpoche went to southern India, where he entered the monastery of Gomang to continue his studies. At that time His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized him as the tulku of Trigane Rinpoche. In 2000 Rinpoche traveled to different countries including France, Switzerland, Italy, Holland. Today Trigane Rinpoche lives and teaches in France and responds to invitations to teach in different parts of Europe.

The present Lelung Rinpoche was born in 1970. He studied at the Drepung Monastery and was recognized as the 11th Lelung Rinpoche by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Rinpoche completed his studies at Drepung Monastery at the age of 24 when he received a Geshe degree. This is one of the highest degrees given in the Gelugpa tradition. It is rarely awarded to a student of such a young age. In 1993, Lelung Rinpoche met the only master alive who held the complete teachings of Dakini Sangwa Yeshe before they were forever lost. Rinpoche received the oral transmission from him. To carry on this precious lineage of teachings, he founded Lelung Dharma Trust in 2000. Rinpoche divides his time between London, where he teaches and directs the work of Lelung Dharma Trust and his office in Dharamsala where he oversees the work of the Lelung Lineage Preservation Centre. (more on http://www.lelung.org)