We welcome Geshe Thubten Sherab back to our centre as part of his Australian tour.
Geshe-la teaches in fluent English with a clarity and wisdom that allows the teachings to ‘just slide in’ to our minds and settle well.
For those unfamiliar with the term – Geshe is a title given to highly educated Tibetan Buddhist scholars who have completed a long and rigorous course of study and training in the tradition. The title is used within the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, and it is equivalent to the title of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Western academic systems.
To earn the title of Geshe, individuals typically study for many years at one of the major monastic universities in the Tibetan tradition, such as Sera, Drepung, or Ganden Monasteries. The curriculum covers a wide range of subjects, including Buddhist philosophy, logic, ethics, metaphysics, and meditation, and students must demonstrate a high level of mastery in these areas through written and oral exams.
In addition to their scholarly achievements, Geshes are also expected to embody the qualities of a fully ordained Buddhist monk, such as ethics, compassion, and wisdom.
Geshes are highly respected members of the Tibetan Buddhist community. The title of Geshe is specific to the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and there are equivalent titles in other Tibetan Buddhist traditions, such as Khenpo in the Nyingma tradition.