Meet Our Resident Lama

Geshe Yeshi Gawa

Geshe Yeshi Gawa, the spiritual director of Tibet Open House, was born in Tibet. At the age of 10 he fled to India to become a monk. He began his academic career at the prestigious Drepung Loseling Monastery in southern India, where he studied for more than 10 years. Afterwards, he continued his studies at the Sara Tibetan College of Higher Tibetan Studies in Dharamsala, India for two years. He continued his studies further in Dharmasala for eight additional years at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectic which was founded by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1973. Following two decades of studying, he was awarded the venerable Geshe degree from Drepung Loseling Monastery.

Before moving to Europe, Yeshi wrote three books. His first book, "History of Bathang Tibet, was published by Tibet Express News Agency and inaugurated by the Minister of Culture and Religion of the Tibetan Government in Exhile (CTA). After his first book was released to the public he was appointed as a biographer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama from 2008-2016. During this time, he was also elected two terms as a local assembly member in Dharmasala from 2011-2016.

Yeshi has received many teachings and initiations from H. H. Dalai Lama, H. H. 10th Panchen Lama, H. H. Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, Denma Lochoe Rinpoche, Gaden Tripas and many other Tibetan Buddhist masters. After graduation of his intensive studies, he has served as a teacher for many years for Tibetans, Himalayans, and foreign visitors in Dharamsala.

From 2011 until present, Geshe Yeshi Gawa has traveled to USA, UK, Russia, and many European and Asian countries to give teachings, lectures and participate in many conferences and workshops.

In February 2017, Geshe Yeshi Gawa arrived to the Czech Republic where he, in collaboration with the Linhart Foundation, founded and formally opened Tibet Open House.

If you would like to arrange a meeting with Geshe Yeshi Gawa please write to us, or you may stop by during his open meeting hours.