Kushok Lobsang Dhamchoe
We are truly fortunate to have such a kind and knowledgeable teacher as Kushok Lobsang Dhamchöe in our midst. His warm heart and humorous teaching style attracts many new students from diverse backgrounds and cultures to join our Society’s classes and retreats. His teachings on meditation, cultivating a warm heart, practising patience and many other aspects of Buddhist philosophy are in demand in meditation groups, educational institutions, yoga studios, corporate offices and support groups across Alberta.
Kushok’s intention is to always offer Buddha’s Teachings wherever there is an interest. It is his life-long mission to honour his teachers and help preserve the culture, religion and philosophical traditions of Tibet. Kushok fulfills this personal commitment every day through his activities at Gaden Samten Ling the Society’s Alberta Centre for Peace and Meditation and beyond. Click here to learn more about Kushok.
Geshe Dawa
Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Dawa (1931-2020) held a Geshe Lharampa degree, which is a highly respected teacher within our Gelugpa lineage, and enjoyed a long career teaching Buddhist philosophy at both Namgyal Monastery and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, India. Khensur Rinpoche also served as the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery and has given teachings to western students at Dharma Centres around the world. We were greatly fortunate to receive teaching from Rinpoche in 2013 and 2019. Rinpoche passed away on July 27, 2020. Click here to view Geshe Dawa’s full biography.
Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche
Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche was born in 1951 in Lithang, eastern Tibet. When he was six he was recognized and reconfirmed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the tutor of His Holiness, Kyabje Trijyan Rinpoche, as the reincarnation of the XII° Thamthog, fondatore of the three biggest monasteries in Lithang. As a child he devoted himself to study at the monastery of Sera Jé in Tibet and, in exile, after 1959 he continued his studies at the monastic university of Sera Jé in the south of India. In 1982 he obtained the highest degree in Buddhist studies – Geshe Lharampa. Click here to learn more about Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche.
Dr. Yangdron Kalzang
Doctor Yangdron Kalzang is the Founder and Owner of Kunde Institute, a centre for Tibetan wellness and healing. Yangdron Kalzang earned the Tibetan Medicine degree from the Tibetan Medical University in Lhasa, Tibet, and her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University, Graduate School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in Santa Cruz, California. She is an Acupuncturist licensed by the state of California and an Acupuncturist and Herbalist certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
Lobsang Choephel
Lobsang Choephel is the Videographer and Film Editor behind Abugaga Entertainment.
Lobsang Choephel spent his youth as a monk, having studied alongside Kushok Lobsang Dhamchoe. In 1993, he moved to the United States where he took up videography and film editing. He considers himself a Videographer by passion and interest; he is also a professional Train Operator and Instructor at Metro Transit.
Visit: YouTube
Brad Hare
Brad Hare, artist philosopher, is one of the founding members of GSL. He is one of Geshe Kaldan’s original students.
As a long term supporter of GSL, he has endeavoured to utilize his skills, creativity, & life to benefit the transmission of the Buddha’s Dharma. Around the temple you can find several of the projects he created for GSL.
Sherap Wangmo Sangpo
Sherab Wangmo Sangpo is a world renowned Tibetan musician, classically trained in traditional Tibetan music, opera and dance at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. She has performed around the world at many venues including at Carnegie hall.
Dzongkar Choede Monastery
Zongkar Choede Monastery is historically one of the oldest monasteries in Tibet. It was established in western Tibet, Mang-yul upper Gung-thang region, in 1270 by the Tibetan king Tri-bum-de-gon, who was the last great scion of Tibet’s royal descendants. The king built the monastery facing opposite to his palace Phodrang Khunzong Karpo (“The White Nest of Eagles”). The monastery, through the time, became a thriving spiritual community in western Tibet and also became a focal point of Tibetan civilization. Over the time it emerged as one of the largest repositories of Tibetan folk and monastic art, music, dance, artefacts and spiritual training.
Please consider making a donation to support the Dzongkar Choede Monastery in providing care and education to young monks. Click here to learn more.
Gillian Patton, BSc., BEd.
Gillian Patton is a Teacher, Early Childhood Educator, and Mother of 3 who has been a longtime student of Kushok.
Gillian and Kushok co-teach the Children’s Program, and Gillian teaches the Teen Program with guidance from Kushok.
Our program teaches basic meditation techniques, with a focus on the cultivation of a loving and kind attitude. We base our program on “secular ethics” or aspects of positive character common to all humankind: kindness, compassion, patience, generosity, self control and love.