Venerable Choden Rinpoche is one of the greatest living masters of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in 1933 in eastern Tibet in a family of great practitioners and recognized at the age of 3 as an important reincarnate lama. From that age onwards, he began his studies in Buddhism. He took ordination with the great master Pabongka Rinpoche at the age of 6, and received many teachings from him.

At the age of 15, Rinpoche entered the monastery of Sera Je near Lhasa and over the next 14 years mastered all the philosophical teachings required for highest monastic title of Geshe Lharampa - a qualification that normally requires 30 years of study. When His Holiness the Dalai Lama completed his studies in 1959, Choden Rinpoche was one of the official examiners chosen from many thousands of monks to debate with His Holiness.

He is considered one of the last great masters - particularly famed for his pure moral conduct - and has traveled worldwide at the request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche to pass on his insights. In the West, he has inspired many Western students to ordain and follow his example. (Thanks to the FPMT Centre, Land of Medicine Buddha, in California, for these words.)