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Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2017, with Geshe Sherab, Gen Don Handrick and Rowena Mayer, former director of Thubten Norbu Ling. Photo courtesy of Thubten Norbu Ling.
For the majority of Thubten Norbu Ling’s twenty-five year history in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, Geshe Thubten Sherab has served as joint-resident teacher. After a world teaching tour, Geshe Sherab will enter three year retreat at the beginning of 2027. Here we share a short biography of Geshe Sherab, and some words of thanks and praise from the team at Thubten Norbu Ling:
Geshe Thubten Sherab was born in 1967 in a small village in the Manang province of western Nepal. His parents, hoping to bring merit to their family and all sentient beings, encouraged him to become a monk. He was welcomed to Kopan Monastery by Lama Yeshe, where his formal training began.
From 1987 to 2000, Geshe Sherab studied Buddhist philosophy at Sera Je Monastery, eventually earning his Geshe degree. During this time, he was deeply influenced by his teachers, including Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who taught him as much through their daily example as through formal instruction.
After completing his studies and spending a year studying tantra at Gyume Tantric College, Geshe Sherab came to the United States. He spent two and a half years supporting FPMT International Office and teaching in Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Geshe-la returned to Kopan Monastery to serve as headmaster and acting abbot, but came back to Santa Fe in 2014 as our resident teacher, where he’s been teaching the community ever since. For a good part of Thubten Norbu Ling’s 25-year history in Santa Fe, Geshe Sherab has been a pillar of our community and alongside Gen Don Handrick, a source of Dharma and inspiration in Santa Fe and around the world. Geshe-la’s teachings have touched thousands of lives, not because of eloquent words, but because of who Geshe-la is. There’s his ever-present smile, his humor, the way he treats everyone—students, animals, even insects—with an open heart and ever-present compassion.
Geshe Sherab with Thubten Norbu Ling SPC, Ven. Losang Dondrub, during Geshe-la’s farewell at Thubten Norbu Ling. Photo courtesy of TNL.
Don Handrick shares,“I will miss Geshe-la’s presence in the community and our occasional lunches together, but I am so happy that he finally has the chance to do the long retreat that he has wanted to do for so many years. I wish him all the best for his time in retreat, as well as for the teaching tour to FPMT centers that will precede that. Thank you, Geshe-la, for all your contributions to the Dharma at TNL and around the world. And thank you very much for your precious friendship over more than twenty years that I value so much!”
Yes, Geshe la’s teachings and philosophical depth has changed how we understand and practice Buddhism. But what truly inspired us was watching him live it. Geshe la’s unwavering compassion, wisdom and ethical discipline aren’t a practice – they are who Geshe la is. Anyone fortunate enough to know Geshe-la, carries his example with them. We try, every day, to live the way he showed us how.
Now, the next chapter in Geshe Sherab’s Dharma journey is beginning. Geshe-la has embarked on a world teaching tour to share the Dharma with students across the globe, after which he’ll fulfill a long-held dream of entering extended retreat at the beginning of 2027.
While we are deeply sad to lose Geshe-la’s kindness, and presence, we’re also genuinely thrilled for him. If you would like to learn how to support Geshe Thubten Sherab’s three year retreat, Thubten Norbu Ling has more information.
With grateful thanks to Thubten Norbu Ling for providing us with this moving tribute to Geshe Sherab.
Please watch this sweet video of Geshe Sherab and his brother Geshe Palden sharing stories from their time growing up in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. They both entered the monastic system as children and spent their formative years studying, debating, and practicing within these communities:
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.