ABOUT
Venerable Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden
Born in 1924, Geshe-la become a monk at the age of seven. Completing his study of all divisions of Buddhist philosophy, he was awarded the highest possible degree, the Geshe Lharampa. Among the candidates examined he was graded first. Geshe-la was one of the few Geshes selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to study for the Acharya (Master’s) degree at Varanasi’s Sanskrit university in India. He then went on to gain a Master’s qualification in Vajrayana Buddhism after six years’ study at Gyudmed Tantric College.
Geshe-la’s passing will be felt deeply by thousands of people in Australia, India, Tibet and throughout the world. For all those whose lives have been enriched by attending his peerless Dharma teachings, reading his nine precious Dharma books, his personal advice and guidance and his innumerable forms of generosity, it is difficult to express how much Geshe-la will be missed.
Geshe-la’s life has deeply inspired us: he has shown us what it really means in practical terms to practice the Dharma. To receive the precious teachings on bodhichitta, and on the perfections of generosity, ethics, patience, energetic perseverance, concentration and wisdom is one thing; but to see Geshe-la continuously putting them into practice in his daily activities has been something else altogether.
Geshe-la’s repeated message to his students over many years has been, above all, to care for others, support others, love others, avoid harming others, to look after others more than oneself. He recently said, “If we spend our time on this earth in developing the special human qualities of kindness, compassion and in looking after others then our life will be useful and meaningful.” By this, and any, measure Geshe-la’s life has been supremely useful and meaningful.
We pray that he will return to us very quickly and continue to give us teachings and inspire our Dharma practice.
OUR TEACHERS
Rod Lee
Rod Lee has studied under Venerable Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden since 1978 and has been teaching meditation and Buddhist philosophy for over 30 years. He has been involved in health care management and education for the past 35 years.
Nancy Carlisle
Nancy Carlisle was a teacher and psychologist in her working life. She has studied under Venerable Geshe Achayra Thubten Loden since 1991 and has taught at the Tibetan Buddhist Society Sydney Centre since 1996. She taught introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and advanced classes at the Mosman Community College in the early 2000s. Since then Nancy has taught private Dharma classes for students
BECOME A MEMBER
A number of benefits are gained through membership of the Tibetan Buddhist Society Supporters Association, Sydney. In addition to assisting the Tibetan Buddhist Society to fulfill its main goal to develop and preserve the pure Mahayana Buddhist teachings as taught by Venerable Geshe Archarya Thubten Loden, members are entitled to membership of our library of Mahayana teachings, and are invited to an annual afternoon tea, held to provide our members with an opportunity to hear about centre developments in regards to its direction and growth.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
The maintenance of the Centre and all its activities are run by volunteers and the Sangha community. Volunteering is a good way to get to know other community members, learn about the Centre and Tibetan Buddhism, contribute a skill or talent and at the same time increase your merit. If you would like to volunteer please let us know when you are next at the Centre. There are many activities to choose from.
* The Tibetan Buddhist Society Supporters Association is an unincorporated body affiliated with the Tibetan Buddhist Society.
