20 Facts About Kelsang Gyatso

Kelsang Gyatso was born in 1931 on the 4th day of the 6th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, in Yangcho Tang, Tibet and named Lobsang Chuponpa.

Kelsang Gyatso continued his studies at Sera Monastery near Lhasa.

At that time Kelsang Gyatso was, as David Kay puts it, "by all accounts, a very well respected scholar and meditator" within the Tibetan exile community.

In 1976, at the suggestion of the Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso was invited by Lama Thubten Yeshe through their mutual spiritual guide to become the resident teacher at the main FPMT center, Manjushri Institute in Ulverston, Cumbria in England.

Kelsang Gyatso retired as General Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU in August 2009 but continued to write books and practice materials.

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Kelsang Gyatso arrived in August 1977 and gave his first teaching on Lamrim on September 10.

In 1979, Kelsang Gyatso opened a Buddhist teaching centre under the spiritual direction of his teacher Venerable Dorjechang Trijang Rinpoche.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso was give permission to update the presentation of the dharma to be clear and accessible to western students.

In 1987, Kelsang Gyatso entered a 3-year retreat at Tharpaland International Retreat Centre in Dumfries, Scotland.

Kelsang Gyatso's teachings have a practical emphasis on teachings based on Lamrim, Lojong and Mahamudra.

Kelsang Gyatso is an endearing character to look at; petite with slightly downcast eyes which look about him as he walks or teaches his devoted students.

Kelsang Gyatso taught extensively on all aspects of Buddha's Sutras and Tantras in light of the teachings and tradition of Je Tsongkhapa.

Kelsang Gyatso's first book published in 1980 was a commentary to Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life called Meaningful to Behold.

Kelsang Gyatso's books include titles for beginners such as Introduction to Buddhism, Transform Your Life and How to Solve Our Human Problems, books about the Mahayana path like Universal Compassion, The New Heart of Wisdom and Joyful Path of Good Fortune, and books on Vajrayana like Mahamudra Tantra, Guide to Dakini Land and Essence of Vajrayana.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso was known as an exponent of Dorje Shugden practices, which brought him into conflict with the Tibetan political establishment.

Kelsang Gyatso founded the New Kadampa Tradition "to bring pure Buddhist teachings to the west, " where he would train equally four types of teacher: monks, nuns, lay men and lay women.

Kelsang Gyatso promoted the development of local teachers in their own language.

Kelsang Gyatso engaged in meditation retreat and continued to write Dharma books to preserve and promote the Kadampa Buddhism of Je Tsongkhapa, in accordance with the instructions of Trijang Rinpoche.

Kelsang Gyatso did not made any public appearances between October 2013 and his death in September 2022.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso was the spiritual father to tens of thousands around the world.