President of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics
Geshe Samten Gyatso is a Buddhist scholar and educator currently serving as the President of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and its branch, the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, in Dharamsala, India.
His educational journey in Buddhist Philosophy began with the 6-year program in Prajnaparamita (The Perfection of Wisdom) at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, which he finished in 1989. Continuing his studies, he completed the 3-year course in Madhyamika (Middle Way) in 1992, along with specialized training in Pramana (Valid Cognition of Mind).
Geshe Samten Gyatso further expanded his horizons by studying English in the United Kingdom for six months in 1994. Upon his return to India, he took on the role of Principal at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies. Seeking to deepen his knowledge, he then completed the 2-year Abhidharma Course (Treasure of Knowledge) and the 2-year course of Vinaya (Monastic Discipline) at Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India in 1999.
In 2004, Geshe Samten Gyatso achieved the rigorous Geshe Lharampa degree, equivalent to a PhD, from Drepung Gomang Monastery. He continued his pursuit of knowledge and was awarded the Geshe Ngarampa degree in 2005 at Gyumed Tantric College in South India.
Recognized for his leadership capabilities, Geshe Samten Gyatso served as the Chief Administrator of Drepung Gomang Monastic University in Mundgod from 2011 to 2014, where he fostered an enriching educational environment for the monks. Subsequently, he held the position of Director of the Drepung Gomang Planning Committee in Mundgod, South India, contributing to the institution’s growth and development.
Since 2006, Geshe Samten Gyatso has been actively sharing the wisdom of Buddhism with a global audience. He has delivered Dharma talks, offering insights and guidance to spiritual seekers in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Additionally, he has volunteered as a teacher of Tibetan language and grammar to nuns in Dharamsala.
In 2019, he was a participant at the International Symposium on Scholarship for Studying Buddhism in New Delhi.
Geshe Samten Gyatso remains devoted to actively advancing Tibetan Buddhist education and research, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of the profound teachings of Buddhism.