.en I am a fully ordained Buddhist monk (skt. Bhikshu, tib. Gelong). I was born in East Germany (Gotha, Thuringia) and I have studied Computer Science (Humboldt University) and later Theatre Studies (Hochschule der Künste, now known as Theatre Education/University of Arts) in Berlin. I have also worked in these fields. Being raised in the Christian tradition I had the wish to become a monk when I was five years old which changed at about ten to twelve years old to become a Catholic priest. I lost this wish mainly due to a lack of inspiration and my own adolescence. I was enthusiastic about the communist ideals but found them unable to accept constructive criticism... Searching for a spiritual path I tried Shamanism, Sufism and Hinduism. Nothing really worked for me. So I tried Buddhism when I was 29. I read a book on the Four Noble Truths and the wish to become a Buddhist monk awakened in me while reading it. So I searched for Buddhist teachings, a way to become a monk, and a Buddhist master. Going to a local book shop I found Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's 'Meditation Handbook' and a poster announcing teachings in a local Buddhist Center (a New Kadampa Tradition Center or Kadampa Meditation Center - KMC). So I met the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) in 1995/1996. Knowing nothing about Buddhism and being quite naive I visited the local NKT center and asked if I can become a Buddhist monk there, which was confirmed by the NKT teacher - who was also the NKT representative of Germany. In 1998 I received the NKT-ordination by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and received the name Kelsang Tashi. I was a participant of the Teacher Training Program (TTP) served as a NKT teacher and EPC and taught the Foundation Program (FP) of NKT in different towns (Hamburg, Leipzig, Braunschweig and Erfurt) in Germany. After disconnecting from NKT in summer 2000, I had studied more with the former NKT representative in Germany, Gen Kelsang Dechen (Carola D.). Gen Dechen was expelled by Kelsang Gyatso in the summer of 2000. She had the support of different Shugden Lamas duringe her affiliation with NKT and after her expulsion. Among those Shugden Lamas supporting Gen Dechen are Kundeling Lama (Bangalore, India), Lama Gangchen Rinpoche (Milan, Italy), Dagom Rinpoche (Nepal) and the Delhi-based International Dorje Shugden Society. (For more about this controversial background see: A former Dorje Shugden follower’s thoughts.) In February 2002 I received the Getsul (novice) ordination in Nepal by Dagom Rinpoche and received the name Losang Gelek. Two months later I disconnected also from Dechen. In summer 2002 I distanced myself from all the Shugden Lamas. I had to reboot my spiritual path and got much support and help by Alexander Berzin and Ven. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche and many different Lamas from all four Tibetan Buddhist schools. For four years I had to recover and I tried hard to understand all my experiences of those six and a half years with the NKT. According to the advice of Ven. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche I asked H.H. the Dalai Lama for the Gelong ordination (full ordination) in 2005. I am very happy that His Holiness agreed! His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the kind, powerful and compassionate protector of all beings, and the Sangha of his Namgyal monastery granted full ordination in March 2006 to 180 monks among them five Westerners including myself. My monk's name is Tenzin Peljor. After I had been asked and appointed by Ven. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche as a resident monk for the Bodhicharya Center in Berlin, Germany, I moved there in July 2007. However, lacking a proper Buddhist education, when the rare opportunity for a Buddhist study with an excellent master appeared in August 2007, I decided to use it and to move to Italy to study under Acharya Geshe Jampa Gyatso. Sadly he died in the same year! Finally in January 2008, with the blessings of Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, I've started to study in Italy some of the great Buddhist Mahayana texts which are usually studied in the Tibetan monasteries. The study will last for six years. The teacher for the Abhisamayalamkara class was the excellent Lharampa Geshe Tenzin Tenphel. From October 2009 onwards the Madhyamakavatara class and the other great texts are taught by Khensur Rinpoche Jampa Tegchok, who served for eight years as the abbot of Sera Je monastery, India. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche advised to do a Three-Year-Retreat afterwards. »Everybody, young or old, educated or not, lay or ordained, should study the five great treatises, reflect on them and put them into practice. And it is not enough to do it only once; you have to do it until you have transformed your mind according to their meaning.« His Holiness the Dalai Lama »The more we study and analyze Buddhism, the better it is for Buddha's teachings to flourish.« Jamyang Dzongzar Khyentse Rinpoche see also: May all be happy, May all be free from misery, May all find genuine spiritual guides; and May the supreme jewel bodhichitta That has not arisen, arise and grow, And may that which has arisen not diminish But increase more and more. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Karmapa, His Holiness Sakya Trizin, all genuine Buddhist teachers, and all holy beings from all religions have a very long life and may all their holy wishes and projects be fulfilled. Note: I am no member of FPMT, IMI or any Western organisation, I am just a Buddhist monk in the monastic order of the Buddha. The FPMT kindly and generously allows non-affiliated monks and nuns to use their structure. I am deeply in debt to FPMT and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. |