Our Resident Teachers & Staff 

The centre is home to three resident monks, all from Tibet originally and Sera Je Monastery in Southern India more recently: 
 
Ven. Geshe Sangey Thinley (Geshe-la), our resident spiritual teacher,  
Ven. Karma Gyaltsen, Geshe-las attendant, and  
Ven. Geshe Jamyang Sherab, master sand mandala artist and cultural director of the centre. 

In addition to the monks, the Centre is also home to: 
Ven. Ani Jampa Tsekyi (Seki,) an English Tibetan Buddhist nun, and  
Mr Tenzin Thubwang, our resident Tibetan translator and teacher. 
 

Venerable Geshe Sangey Thinley is Jam Tse Dhargyey Ling’s resident Spiritual teacher.  
Fondly known as Geshe- la. “Geshe” is a title equivalent to English “professor” and “la” is a term of respect and endearment.

Geshe-la is a highly skilled teacher who has attained the highest level of education in the Tibetan monastic system. Geshe-la was born in the Kham Province of eastern Tibet on March 17, 1941. When he was seven he was enrolled in the Dhargyey Monastery to begin his studies. In 1957 he went to the great Monastic University of Sera, near Lhasa, a 3-month walk at the time. In 1959, at the Norbu Lingka Palace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he took novice monks’ vows from the incomparably kind Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang and continued studying, but immediately had to leave because of the military action by the Communist Chinese.

With many others Geshe-la fled to India and Buxa where three monasteries had been set up. He studied Madhyamaka, Prajnyaparamita and Pamana there for ten years until 1969 when, in accordance with His Holiness’s wishes, he moved to South India to help build the new Sera Monastery. For three years, there was little opportunity to study until the new Sera was completed. In 1973 he again began to study, until 1985 when he entered the Lharam class, the highest class in the monastery. He was awarded first-class in the 1989 examinations. He then sat through final Geshe debates before the whole monastery, gaining his Geshe degree in 1990. From 1991 onwards he taught logic, Buddhist philosophy and practice to the monks at Sera Je School. At the same time, in his house at the monastery, he looked after the needs of 80 students to ensure their adequate food and shelter, and advise them on conduct. “In 1998 I had the good fortune to be able to go to Tibet and visit my home country and Dhargyey Monastery, as well as other places of pilgrimage. I then quickly returned to Sera Monastery.” He then received the invitation to come to New Zealand. And now he is here...

It is truly a great blessing for Jam Tse Dhargyey Ling, Whangarei and New Zealand to have such a wonderful teacher here.  It really is such a rare and precious thing.  We encourage anyone who is interested in learning about Tibetan Buddhism to come to Geshe-las weekly classes, weekend workshops and Practice Retreats.

For beginners, we have to recommend Geshe-la's Sunday classes at 10am as a good place to start.  Come along and check it out, listen to Geshe-la's talk and enjoy a cup of tea and biscuits with whoever else turned up on the day.  

Ven. Geshe Jamyang Sherab, master sand mandala artist  
Spiritual and Cultural director of the centre.

Venerable Geshe Jamyang Sherab was born in Kham in eastern Tibet,  
After both his parents passed away he entered the Dhargyey Monastery at age 16. He remained in the monastery for 2 years and then had a strong wish to study the dharma seriously at the great Sera Monastery in Southern India and leave Tibet, his homeland.

With a bag of tsampa (roasted and ground barley) as provision he walked for 13 days to Lhasa.  It took another 19 days, mostly walking at night, to arrive in Nepal. Near the border of Nepal a Chinese patrol tried to stop him, but he managed to escape in the cover of the dark night. Bruised, hungry but happy he arrived in Nepal.  Jamyang worked in Nepal for a month making carpets to earn his enough money to get himself to Sera Monastery in South India.  
He was accepted in House Nr. 2 at Sera Je Monastery and Geshe Sangey Thinley became his teacher. In addition to his studies to become a Geshe, Jamyang was instructed by Lharampa Geshe Lobsang Kalden from the tantric Gyume Monastery in the cultural art of sand mandalas.   His skill and talent led him to teaching this artform at the monastery. 

Ven. Geshe Jamyang Sherab came to New Zealand in 1999 for a few months to construct Chenrezig Sand Mandalas in Whangarei, Auckland and Dunedin for the New Millennium celebrations.  He came again in 2003 and did a year-long tour constructing the Chenrezig Sand Mandala in 15 places in New Zealand.  In March 2004 he received his Geshe (equivalent to a doctorate) degree, and since June 2004 he has lived at Jam Tse Dhargyey Ling, overseeing the construction of the Enlightenment Stupa that was officially consecrated and opened at 24th February 2008.

Ven. Geshe Jamyang Sherab is the centre’s Spiritual and Cultural Director – and is available to construct Sand Mandalas or Sand paintings of auspicious symbols by request.  He also teaches ‘Tools for Teenagers’ at the centre – an extra-ordinary opportunity for our youth.  
 

Ven. Karma Gyaltsen, Geshe-la's attendant and more… 
Karma was born in Kham in eastern Tibet in a village near the Dhargyey Monastery where both the centre’s Geshe-las have studied.  
When he is 18 years old he decided to go to Sera Monastery in India to become monk. Together with 3 friends and a bag of tsampa (roast and ground barley) he set out for this journey. Near the border of Nepal he was stopped and caught by a Chinese border patrol who didn’t believe his story about making a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and sent him back to Lhasa.

In Lhasa he met a truck driver who was willing to hide him under the goods and sheep he transported.  Unseen by the Chinese border patrol, his escape from Tibet was successful, and he arrived in Nepal safely. In Nepal he received a little money from the Tibetan Refugee Commission. He asked some Tibetan families for support to get to Sera Monastery and finally he had enough money for the trip to South India.

On arrival at Sera Monastery, he became a monk and entered House Nr. 2. After a while he became the attendant of his teacher Geshe Sangey Thinley before Geshe-la left to live in New Zealand. When Geshe-la requested for an attendant in New Zealand, after a meeting in House nr. 2 it was decided that Venerable Karma was the one to go.

The centre has had the privilege of Karma’s company since June 2003.  He is a wonderful man and a joy to work with.  Seemingly eternally happy – Karma works diligently to look after Geshe-la and the centre, and works part time in the centre shop, Himalayan Trading Post. 

He has also become a student of Ven. Geshe Jamyang Sherab in learning the culturural artform of Sand Mandala Construction. 
 

Ven. Ani Jampa Tsekyi (Seki), our resident English Tibetan Buddhist nun 
Formally known as Judy Clark, Ani Tsekyi has been a part of the centre right from the very beginning.    She attended the very first teachings by Ven. Thupten Rinpoche on his first visit to Whangarei.  These teachings were held at the founding directors Paul Currie and Kaari Schlebach’s home.  She was a regular visitor to the fledgling centre in Paul and Kaari’s home – and played a major role in the acquiring of the centre’s present property.    With years of study and practice, Judy Clark became ordained in 2003 and became Ven. Ani Jampa Tsekyi.  Ani is a term used for nuns.  We call her either Ani-la, or Tsekyi. 

Ani Tsekyi continues to play a vital role at the centre, and offers regular guided meditations and practice days for families.   
Feel free to contact Ani Tsekyi on 435 4401should you wish to find out more or attend any of her courses.  
 

Mr Tenzin Thubwang, the centre’s valued translator, amongst many other things! 
Info coming soon...