Geshe Yeshi Choedup was born on Nov. 4, 1971 in Khagpo village in Eastern Tibet. His father is named Trinley and his mother is Apo. He began primary school in his village at the age of eight. At twelve (in 1982) he began his initial training as a monk under the auspices of Ven. Phagpa Losel Rinpoche. He continued his Dharma studies at Dzindu Monastery beginning in 1986. There he was trained in the monastic ritual activities including chanting, monastic dance, ritual music and instrumentation, and the ritual and artistic construction of sacred sand mandalas. At age 19, he journeyed to Lhasa with his brother who worked there as a truck driver. For two months he went on pilgrimage around Lhasa, in Central Tibet, and to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatze. He then headed westward and managed to escape across the border into Nepal. In Nepal, he proceeded to the Tibetan Refugee Reception Center in Katmandu.

Through the assistance of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, Gen Yeshi was provided the opportunity to continue on to India, and to receive an audience with and blessing from His Holiness in Daramsala,. In the autumn of 1990, he was admitted to Gaden Shartse Monastery in South India. He received the novice monk ordination from the Ganden Tripa, Ven. Lobsang Nyima at Drepung Loseling Monastery. After completing his novice training, he received the complete vows of Full Ordination from His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. He began his studies for the Geshe degree (equivalent to a PhD in Buddhist studies), which consists of mastering the five great Buddhist sciences at Gaden Shartse in 1990. He successfully completed the geshe program in 2002, receiving top honors (1st rank) in his examinations. He was awarded the Geshe degree in 2010 after further thorough practice and oral examinations.

Geshe Yeshi has been a resident monk and teacher at Khacholing Center since 2008, and serves on the Khacholing Center Board, and as a spiritual advisor and teacher.