His Holiness

The Dalai Lama

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.

The Dalai Lamas are the manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who chose to reincarnate to serve the people. Lhamo Dhondrub was, as Dalai Lama, renamed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso - Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom. Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as Yeshe Norbu, the Wishfulfilling Gem or simply Kundun - The Presence.

This biography of His Holiness is from the Govenment of Tibet in Exile website.

Lama Thubten Yeshe

Founder of FPMT

Lama Thubten Yeshe was born in Tibet in 1935. At the age of six, he entered the great Sera Monastic University, Lhasa, where he studied until 1959, when the Chinese invasion of Tibet forced him into exile in India.

Lama Yeshe continued to study and meditate in India until 1967, when, with his chief disciple, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, he went to Nepal. Two years later he established Kopan Monastery, near Kathmandu, in order to teach Buddhism to Westerners. In 1974, the Lamas began making annual teaching tours to the West, and as a result of these travels a worldwide network of Buddhist teaching and meditation centers-the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition-began to develop.

In 1984, after an intense decade of imparting a wide variety of incredible teachings and establishing one FPMT activity after another, at the age of forty-nine, Lama Yeshe passed away. He was reborn as Ösel Hita Torres in Spain in 1985, recognized as the incarnation of Lama Yeshe by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1986, and, as the monk Lama Tenzin Osel Rinpoche, began studying for his geshe degree in 1992 at the reconstituted Sera Monastery in South India.

Lama's remarkable story is told in Vicki Mackenzie's book, Reincarnation: The Boy Lama (Wisdom Publications, 1996).

This biography of Lama Yeshe is from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Spiritual Director of FPMT

Rinpoche was born in Thami, Nepal, in 1946. At the age of three he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, who had lived nearby at Lawudo, within sight of Rinpoche's Thami home.

Rinpoche's own description of his early years may be found in his book, The Door to Satisfaction (Wisdom Publications).

At the age of ten, Rinpoche went to Tibet and studied and meditated at Domo Geshe Rinpoche's monasterynear Pagri, until the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959 forced him to forsake Tibet for the safety of Bhutan.

Rinpoche then went to the Tibetan refugee camp at Buxa Duar, West Bengal, India, where he met Lama Yeshe, who became his closest teacher. The Lamas went to Nepal in 1967, and over the next few years built Kopan and Lawudo Monasteries.

In 1971 Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave the first of his famous annual lam-rim retreat courses, which continue at Kopan to this day. In 1974, with Lama eshe, Rinpoche began traveling the world to teach and establish centers of Dharma.

When Lama Yeshe passed away in 1984, Rinpoche took over as spiritual head of the FPMT, which has continued to flourish under his peerless leadership.

This biography of Lama Zopa Rinpoche is from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website.

Geshe Konchog Kyab

Resident Teacher, TKC

Geshe Konchog Kyab was born in 1961 in Sikkim in the Himalayan region of East India, where his parents had sought asylum after fleeing Tibet to escape the Chinese occupation in 1959.

When he was 12 years old, Geshe Konchog joined the Sera-Je Monastery located in the Karnataka State of South India. The original Sera was one of the three Great Monasteries in Tibet.

A few years after entering Sera-Je, Geshe Konchog became a Novice monk. He followed his teachings carefully by memorizing, studying and debating the five major texts of Tibetan Buddhism. When he was 22 years old, he took full ordination.

In 1993, Geshe Konchog passed his Geshe Examination from Sera-Je Monastery University. The degree of Geshe is the highest monastery degree, equivalent to a Doctorate in Philosophy from Western Universities. After that, Geshe la went to Gyumed Tantric College studying the precepts of Tantra.

In 1994, Geshe Konchog returned to Sera-Je Monastery where he taught his disciples.

In 1996, he was elected as Discipline Master of Tehore Khamtsen House of Sera-Je, which has 1300 monks.

In 1998, Geshe la left his Monastery and traveled to Switzerland, Germany and Austria for one year.

Geshe La was invited to Tubten Kunga Center by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 2000.

Tony Spatarella

Resident Teacher, TKC

“I was born in New York City and moved to Florida in 1991.  I began seeking spirituality in 1987 and by 1989 the Buddha Dharma had become my path.  I began a regular meditation practice and read a lot of Zen teachings as well as teachings by the Dalai Lama and Chogyam Trugpa.  I continued studying Buddhist teachings and meditating on my own. 

In 2002, I attended a teaching at Tubten Kunga Center and this has been a great support for my practice.  I quickly became a member and never turned back.  In 2005, Geshe Konchog Kyab asked me to teach Beginner’s Buddhism.  I accepted, and was honored to be a teacher at TKC.  In September 2007, I began to teach open meditation on Thursday evenings as well.

I continue to meditate and contemplate the Buddha Dharma on a daily basis and the integration of the teachings into my mind-stream is one of my goals.  The ultimate goal is, of course, awakening.”    

Ronnie Chase

Resident Teacher, TKC

“I became interested in Buddhism, about twenty years ago. My son Lorne introduced me to Dharma teachings. I believe that these teachings have changed my life for the better.

I lived near Kadampa center in North Carolina, and had the opportunity to get many teachings from wonderful teachers.

Geshe la, asked me to do meditation on Friday mornings. We focus on Medicine Buddha practice. We also have topics, that include impermanence, love, compassion, and purification. We have discussions, dealing with suffering and self-cherishing attitudes.

I have met many wonderful people at Tubten Kunga Center. I pray that my efforts help the center, to benefit all sentient beings.”

Brian Burns

Resident Teacher, TKC

My Mom was a devout life-long Ethical Vegetarian, as well as an "out-spoken" animal rights and Anti-War activist. So, you might say my Karma was thrown into a climate that would unavoidably point me to the ethics of Engaged Buddhism. Perhaps not typical in a traditional Irish Catholic family!

I received a Masters in World Literature from LIU, Long Island University, where I studied Cultural Anthropology for almost twenty years. I have hosted and managed, "Sachem Poets", Long Island's largest poetry workshop, along with presenting many artistic and cultural events and motivational programs for Handicapped people.

As a physically Handicapped person myself, I know that the wonderful tools of Buddhist teachings and Meditation really do work in creating a life that is centered, peaceful and joyous. Kwan Yin practice is my Buddhist Path, which is the attempt to manifest the Bodhisattva Ideal in everyday life.

Ultimately, it all just boils down to Poetry.

Jane Worley

Resident Teacher, TKC

“I have a degree in Astronomy (Mathematics) and Fine Arts and worked in the computer industry, from which I retired early in 1994.  Since my husband has passed, I have moved to Florida with my handicapped (blind) son.
 
During the 60's, I was led a study group for the local chapter of the AAUW (American Association of University Women), consisting of studies of Asian art, religions and literature.  My study of Asian art led me to an interest in Buddhist thought. 

Since that time, have traveled to Japan as well as India, and continue to study and read widely about Buddhism.  In 1992, I became a member of the Sakya Phuntsok Ling, a Buddhist teaching center of the Sakya lineage in the Washington, DC area, where I studied with Lama Kalsang Gyaltsen, and Ani Kunga Chodron.  Since moving to Florida in 2004, I have joined the Tubten Kunga Center, where I am librarian.

I am very excited at the possibility of having group discussions about some of the very marvelous literature that is available written for those interested in Buddhism, and the Buddhist way of life.  There is a lot out there that is entertaining as well as enlightening, truly relevant, and helpful to us in dealing with the various crises and disturbances of life.”