Ven. Khen Rinpoche (Geshe Thubten Dawa). His Eminence Geshe Dawa, the Sixth Abbot of Namgyal Monastery

His Eminence Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Dawa (alias Geshe Sonam Sangye), a former abbot of Namgyal Monastery, Dharamshala, India, was born on January 1, 1931, into the family of Shabnang Nyangru in the Kongpo Gyada District, Tibet. His father was Alok and his mother was Lhamo.  He enjoyed his childhood until 11 years old. From age 11 to15 he went to school and later joined Kongpo House of Gaden Jangtse College of Gaden Monastic University, Lhasa. He received his ordination from His Eminence Sonam Namkha then abbot of Gaden Jangtse College and received the name Sonam Sangye. For the next four years he focused on memorizing ritual prayers and texts of the College and when he was 19 begun his study of Buddhist metaphysics, including the Basic Debate Form (Collected Topics), with many qualified teachers.  At 24 he stood for his board debate examination on the Second Level of the Perfection of Wisdom Studies and the following year (25 years old) he received full ordination from His Most Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, the Senior Tutor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who presided over his ordination ceremony consisting of required monastic faculty.

Ven. Geshe Lobsang Khenrab was born in 1932 in Tibet. In 1956 he joined Drepung Monastery. In 1992 Geshe-la achieved the title of Geshe Lharampa.