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Lama Gyupa la leaving Tushita for Gyudmed Monastery in the south of India | July 2024
Gyudmed Ngarampa Venerable Thupten Dorje (Lama Gyupa la) passed away on the morning of March 11, 2026 at the age of 91.
The following words were issued by Gyudmed Tantric University in celebration of Gyudmed Ngarampa Venerable Thupten Dorje (Lama Gyupa-la) and his more than 50 years of service at FPMT Tushita Meditation Centre. Appointed directly by Lama Thubten Yeshe in the late 1970s, he has supported students and retreatants through rituals and practices over many decades.
Photo: Statement Issued by Gyudmed Tantric University Regarding Lama Gyupa’s Life, Deeds and Death, 2026 Credit: Tushita.info
We regret to inform that the venerable senior Ngagrampa (Tantric scholar) of Gyudmed Tantric University, the first on the seniority list, Geshe Thubten Dorje, had been in somewhat poor health for some time and has now peacefully passed away at the age of 91.
This occurred on the 23rd day of the 1st Tibetan month in the Tibetan year 2153, corresponding to March 11, 2026 (Wednesday), at 10:47 a.m. He passed away peacefully without any signs of illness or pain.
Notably, for one week following his passing (from the 11th), his holy body showed no signs of decay, retained its complexion, and remained as before.
Such signs were observed, and it was believed that he was abiding in thukdam (post-meditative absorption). Many devotees and followers came to pay their respects, and their faith and devotion increased greatly.
On the morning of March 18 at 5:30 a.m., sangha assembly performed the Guhyasamãja root tantra rituals and made offerings of cremation to his sacred remains.
The late master was born in Markham and entered monastic life at Özer Monastery. Prior to 1959, he went to Lhasa and joined Gyudmd Tantric University, where he studied the major tantric texts along with their four commentaries, as well as ritual practices and procedures in a proper manner.
In 1959, he traveled from Dalhousie to the Hunsur settlement together with the monastic community. There, he not only practiced the three higher trainings diligently, but also carried out many activities for the benefit of others in various places such as the Tushita Dharma center in Dharamsala, adapting his efforts to the needs of different beings.
This is a brief summary of his life and deeds.
– Issued by the General Office of Gyudmed Tantric University, March 18, 2026
Photo: Lama Gyupa (left) and Lama Zopa Rinpoche (right) | 1982. Picture by Nicholas Ribush
Please pray that Lama Gyupa la may never ever be reborn in the lower realms, may he be immediately born in a pure land where he can be enlightened or to receive a perfect human body, meet the Mahayana teachings and meet a perfectly qualified guru and by only pleasing the guru’s mind, achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible. More advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources (fpmt.org/death/).
To read more obituaries from the international FPMT mandala, and to find information on submission guidelines, please visit our new Obituaries page (fpmt.org/media/obituaries/).