Thubten Kunga Ling

Yangsi Rinpoche

Yangsi Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of Geshe Ngawang Gendun, a renowned scholar and practitioner from Western Tibet, at the age of six. Rinpoche trained in the traditional monastic system for over twenty-five years, and in 1995 graduated with the highest degree of Geshe Lharampa from Sera Je Monastery in South India. He then completed his studies at Gyume Tantric College, and in 1998, having the particular wish to benefit Western students of the Buddhadharma, Rinpoche came to the West to teach and travel extensively throughout America and Europe. Rinpoche is currently President of Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, and the Spiritual Director of Ganden Shedrup Ling Buddhist Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico,  Dharma Friendship Foundation in Seattle, Washington  and Tara Buddhist Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Rinpoche teaches in English and is admired wherever he travels for his unique presentation of the Dharma, his interest in and enthusiasm for Western culture, and his evident embodiment of the wisdom and compassion of the Buddhist path. Read more about Yangsi Rinpoche...

Osel Hita

The recognized incarnation of FPMT's founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe, was in his early life known as Lama Osel.  Today he prefers to be simply called Osel.  Tenzin Osel Hita is a 21st century radical freethinker, humanitarian, documentary filmmaker, musician, father, friend, life-long student and former Buddhist monk.

In 1986, when Osel was just over one year old, His Holiness the Dalai Lama confirmed Lama Zopa Rinpoche's observations that Osel was the unmistaken reincarnation of FPMT's founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe.  Osel was enthroned in March 1987 at Tushita Retreat Center in Dharamsala, India.

In 1991 at the age of seven, Osel began his monastic education at Sera Je Monastery in Southern India.  He continued his studies there until 2003, when he relocated to Victoria, British Columbia to engage in a traditional Western education.  Since 2010, he has been offering talks at various FPMT centers around the world, and in May 2020, he was appointed Director of Tushita Retreat Center in Spain.   You can read about more about Osel here.

Geshe Thubten Sherab

Geshe Sherab was born in Nepal in 1967, entered Kopan monastery at the age of 9 and was ordained by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.  After 10 years of study in Kopan, he went to Sera Je Monastery for further studies in 1987, and graduated as Geshe at the end of 1999. After that he joined Gyume Tantric College for a year. Then he taught young monks at Kopan for a year. In 2001 he was sent by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to New Mexico to serve at the International Office of FPMT as well as teach at Thubten Norbu Ling in Santa Fe and Ksiti Garba Center in Taos as resident teacher. He also served as Board member of FPMT for 2 years during that period. He is currently resident teacher at TNL in Sante Fe.   You can read more about Geshe-la here.

Venerable Robina Courtin

Ordained since the late 1970s, Venerable Robina has worked full time since then for Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche's FPMT. Over the years she has served as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala Magazine, executive director of Liberation Prison Project, and as a touring teacher of Buddhism. Her life and work with prisoners has been featured in the documentary films Chasing Buddha and Key to Freedom.   You can visit Venerable Robina's website here.

Venerable Amy Miller

Venerable Amy was ordained as a Buddhist nun in June 2000 by the great Tibetan master, Venerable Choden Rinpoche, and has been teaching extensively since 1992. Her teaching style emphasizes a practical approach to integrating Buddhist philosophy into everyday life. She is happy to help people connect with meditation and mindfulness in an effort to gain a refreshing perspective on normally stressful living.   You can visit Venerable Amy's website here.

Don Handrick

At the beginning of 1998, Don left the Bay Area to attend the FPMT’s Masters Program of Buddhist Studies. in Sutra and Tantra, a full-time seven-year residential study program in Tuscany, Italy, taught by the incomparable scholar and kind Spiritual Friend, Geshe Jampa Gyatso. By 2004, he successfully completed all five subjects of the program and received an FPMT final certificate with high honors. Soon after, Don moved to Santa Fe and served as the Spiritual Program Coordinator for TNL, and in 2006 he was appointed Resident Teacher. Read more about Don here.