Geshe Lobsang Sonam
Most Venerable Geshe Lobsang Sonam was born to a family of Samye Tsering and Dolma on the 25th October in 1927. Since he was born to nomad family he started his life as nomad till the age of ten. One day, while switching the troop of herds to another place on hills he met an aged ordained monk. On seeing that enlightening monk he felt of unique happiness and peace throughout his body. So under the consultation from the venerable he certainly took decision to become an ordained. Finally with permission from his parents he took refuge under Triple Gems: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha by donning the monastery robes and taking the ordination vows at Great Gaden Monastery in Tibet. Under the guidance of some of the foremost masters, he studied from the basics to all five major Buddhist Su-tric treaties for almost one and half decade. But near the completion of his Su-tric studies, Chinese took over Tibet in 1959. So in the fall of the same year he followed in the footsteps of His Holiness Dalai Lama with many other Tibetans to asylum in India.
There under the guidance of both India and Tibetan Exile Governments, around fifty Rinpoches, masters, Geshe's and learned monks were specially requested to restore the lost sacred scriptures at a place called Baksa in North India. With restoration he continue his Su-tric studies and also received many initiation and empowerment like Thirteen Deities of Yamantaka, Lokeshwara, Tsitama Tara, Arya Zambala, Hayagriwa and its secret practices, Vajra Yogini etc from His Holiness Dalai Lama, and his foremost tutors His Eminence Ling Rinpoche and H.E. Trijang Rinpoche, H.E. Zong Rinpoche, H.E. Phakongpa Rinpoche and so on.
By the age of forty-two, he practiced and studied so vigorously that he earned himself the highest Geshe degree of Lharampa (equivalent to a PhD in Buddhist Studies). Geshe-la has been tirelessly and constantly engaged in various spiritual activities. In spite of having deep spiritual knowledge, Geshe-la has been keeping a low profile and continues to dedicate most of his time to austere spiritual practice. He is fully devoted to guiding and training young monks and masters on spiritual and ritual performance at Gaden Shartse Monastery. From February of this year he been flourishing the heritage teachings of Gaden Shartse Monastery and helping the Singaporeans with unique spiritual power at Gaden Shartse Dro-Phen Ling, Singapore.
Geshe Lobsang Sonam has visited Switzerland, England, USA, Singapore and Taiwan giving teachings, performing initiations and empowerment rituals.
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