About Geshe Wangdu

Geshe Wangdu joined Sera Mey Thosam Norling College of Sera Monastery at the age of 13. Geshe Tenzin Dawa nurtured him in leading a proper monastic life and instructed him in prayer and ritual texts. At 16, Geshe Wangdu received novice monastic vows from His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. He received full monastic ordination from His Holiness at the age of 25.

After enrolling in debate class, Geshe Wangdu began dialectical and debating studies, and completed his studies in Perfection of Wisdom and Epistemology with great results. Because of that, Geshe-la was selected to participate in the major debating ceremonies on these topics by his college and subsequently participated along with other top Geshes of the three major Gelug monasteries to debate on these subjects every year while he was continuing with his Geshe studies. He went on to study Madhyamaka, Vinaya, and Abhidharmakosha, completing his studies with excellent results.

During Geshe Wangdu’s time at Sera Mey, he studied with Khensur Ngawang Thekchog, Khensur Trinley Togyal, Geshe Thupten Tenzin, and Geshe Thupten Rinchen. Thanks to these teachers’ great kindness and guidance, Geshe Wangdu received the Geshe Lharampa Degree in 1997, and went on to study Tantra at Gyume Tantra College. There, he studied with Master Lobsang Jampa Thekchog and the great yogi Master Jampa Choedrak on the Guhyasamajia Tantra, the general tantric path and many other tantric topics.

Having completed his tantric studies, Geshe Wangdu returned to Sera Mey Monastery to serve. Geshe Lobsang Dhargye and Geshe Wangdu took charge of the College’s educational curriculum under the great master Khensur Ngawang Thekchog’s guidance, adding new courses on Tibetan grammar and writing. These courses offered to this day, helping the new generation of monks to enhance their monastic education. Geshe Wangdu also taught dialectics and debating courses at Zankar Choede Monastery in Kalimpong, north India.

Geshe Wangdu also received many teachings on Lam Rim or the Stages of the Path, Lojong or Mind Training, and Bodhisattva practices, as well as many tantric empowerments from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, His Eminence the late Yongdzin Ling Rinpoche, His Eminence the late Yongdzin Trijang Rinpoche, and the Great Khensur Lobsang Jampa Rinpoche.

Geshe Wangdu came to the USA in 2005 and has been teaching Buddhism to Tibetan and American students. He is making a special effort to make the study of the great treatises such as the the great Candrakirti’s Madhyamakavatara accessible to western and Tibetan students. Geshe Wangdu’s main purpose is to benefit as many sentient beings as possible in through teaching the Buddha Dharma.