Welcome to Khacholing Center

Khacholing’s Resident Teacher:

Venerable Geshe Lharampa Ahten

Gen Ahten, as he is affectionately called, belongs that very rare generation of Tibetans masters trained in old pre-1959 Tibet. These monks are responsible for establishing the Monastic learning in India after many Tibetans escaped to India after the Chinese invasion in 1959. Thus they enjoy a special respect among the Tibetan community as guardian protectors of the sublime dharma.

Geshe Ahten was born in 1938, in place called Markham Dongdrag in Eastern Tibet. At the age of 11 he became a novice monk at Dzindu Monastery, the monastery headed and run by Gankar Tulku Rinpoche.

At the age of 16 he entered Gaden Shartse monastery in central Tibet. He competed all the foundational monastic courses like Buddhist logic, debate and began to study perfection of wisdom teachings.

Geshe-la was 21 years old when he escaped to India.

In 1966 at the age of 26 Geshela received full ordination as a monk (gelong) from His Holiness the 14 th Dalai Lama. In 1981 I completed three terms of traditional Gelugpa examination and was awarded the degree in first division for these studies. Geshe la then had to wait, as was the tradition, to be awarded the degree of geshe Lharamapa until he reached the age of 48.

Geshe has also received all the major tantric generations from His Holiness the 14 th Dalai Lama, the late senior teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Ling Rinpoche, the late junior teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Trijang Rinpoche and many other masters of that time. Since then Geshe Ahten has taught extensively at Geshe Shartse Monastery where is loved and respected as a great teacher.

At the request of Gankar Tulku Rinpoche Geshe Ahten has came to Khacholing Center to teach. It is important that we make the best use of such a rare opportunity by attending his teachings and asking him questions.

Venerable Geshe Lharampa Ahten

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