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.
In 1959, when the political situation in Tibet changed, he was in the new course/class on the Middle Way Philosophy and upon his escape to India he continued his monastic education at the Gaden Monastic University re-established in South India. He stood for his board debate examination on Vinaya in the new Assembly Hall of Gaden University. In 1976 he successfully completed his board examination for Masters Title organized by the High Level Gaden Education Board. Having diligently studied Buddhism for 30 years, he earned his Geshe Lharampa Degree (the Highest Degree equivalent to Ph.D in Divinity in USA) in 1979. During the course of his Geshe study he also served his monastic college in the capacities of Manager and Treasurer for 6 years. In 1980 he moved to Namgyal Monastery in Dharamshala as His Holiness had appointed him on the Teaching Faculty of the monastery. He taught the Namgyal monks for seven years until 1987. In 1987 His Holiness appointed him on the Teaching Faculty of Buddhism at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives for Western Students and taught there for 18 years. During this time he also taught Buddhism to the monks of Nechung (State Oracle) Monastery. In 2004 His Holiness appointed him to be the sixth abbot of Namgyal Monastery where he took upon himself the responsibility of teaching Buddhism and overseeing monastic discipline. In 2009 he pleaded His Holiness for his permission to resign from the post of the abbot in order to visit his family and relatives in Tibet. His Holiness praised him for his marked contribution in teaching Buddhism and overseeing discipline at the Namgyal Monastery and happily granted him permission for resignation. Presently, he resides at the Kongpo House of Gaden Jangtse College of Gaden Monastic University, South India. H.E. Khensur Rinpoche also taught and led retreats at the Namgyal Institute in Ithaca, NY, and various Tibetan Buddhist Centers in U.S.A. He had also taught in South Korea. He has many Western and Eastern students.
