Lhundub Sopa
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Lama Thubten Zöpa Rinpoche
, Geshe Tenzin Zopa
, Lama Zopa Tharchin (Albany Karma Thegsum Choling), and Geshe Lobsang Zopa (Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery)
Lhundub Sopa (born Tsang
, Tibet
, 1923) is a Tibetan monk.
Sopa became a novice monk and entered Gaden Chokor Monastery in 1932. In 1941, he joined Sera Monastery
in Lhasa
.
He was considered a remarkable scholar from a young age, and even before completing his own geshe
degree examinations, he was chosen as one of the Dalai Lama
's debate examiners during the annual Prayer Festival in 1959.
Geshe Sopa sought political asylum in India in 1959. In 1962, he was awarded the degree of Lharampa Geshe. At the request of Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, he moved to the USA with three other monks that same year to learn English and to study American culture.
In 1967, Sopa was invited by Richard Robinson to join the faculty of the pioneer Buddhist Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. In 1985, he became Emeritus Professor in the Department of South Asian Studies. Sopa was the first Tibetan to be tenured at an American university. He taught Modern and Literary Tibetan as well as courses in Tibetan Literature, the History of Buddhist Thought, Buddhist Epistemology, Buddhist Logic, and Buddhist doctrinal systems. During that time, Sopa trained many of the first generation of respected Buddhist scholars and translators in the USA, including Jeffrey Hopkins
, José Cabezón, John Makransky
and Zorba Paster
. Sopa has retired since from his professorship.
To meet the request of students for Buddhist teachings, Sopa founded the Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon, Wisconsin
in 1975. The Kalachakra
Tantra initiation was given in the West for the first time at Deer Park July, 1981.
Sopa is a trustee on the International Committee for Peace Council.
Thubten Zopa Rinpoche
Not to be confused with Geshe Lhundub Sopa Rinpoche, Geshe Tenzin Zopa, Lama Zopa Tharchin , and Geshe Lobsang Zopa ...
, Geshe Tenzin Zopa
Tenzin Zopa
Not to be confused with Lama Thubten Zöpa Rinpoche, Geshe Lhundub Sopa Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Tharchin , and Geshe Lobsang Zopa ...
, Lama Zopa Tharchin (Albany Karma Thegsum Choling), and Geshe Lobsang Zopa (Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery)
Lhundub Sopa (born Tsang
Ü-Tsang
Ü-Tsang , or Tsang-Ü, is one of the three traditional provinces of Tibet, the other two being Amdo and Kham. Geographically Ü-Tsang covered the central and western portions of the Tibetan cultural area, including the Tsang-po watershed, the western districts surrounding and extending past Mount...
, Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, 1923) is a Tibetan monk.
Sopa became a novice monk and entered Gaden Chokor Monastery in 1932. In 1941, he joined Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located north of Lhasa. The other two are Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery. The origin of the name 'Sera' is attributed to a fact that the site where the monastery was built was surrounded by wild roses in...
in Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
.
He was considered a remarkable scholar from a young age, and even before completing his own geshe
Geshe
Geshe is a Tibetan Buddhist academic degree for monks...
degree examinations, he was chosen as one of the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
's debate examiners during the annual Prayer Festival in 1959.
Geshe Sopa sought political asylum in India in 1959. In 1962, he was awarded the degree of Lharampa Geshe. At the request of Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, he moved to the USA with three other monks that same year to learn English and to study American culture.
In 1967, Sopa was invited by Richard Robinson to join the faculty of the pioneer Buddhist Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. In 1985, he became Emeritus Professor in the Department of South Asian Studies. Sopa was the first Tibetan to be tenured at an American university. He taught Modern and Literary Tibetan as well as courses in Tibetan Literature, the History of Buddhist Thought, Buddhist Epistemology, Buddhist Logic, and Buddhist doctrinal systems. During that time, Sopa trained many of the first generation of respected Buddhist scholars and translators in the USA, including Jeffrey Hopkins
Jeffrey Hopkins (Tibetologist)
Jeffrey Hopkins is a distinguished American Tibetologist. He is Emeritus of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Virginia, where he taught for more than three decades since 1973...
, José Cabezón, John Makransky
John Makransky
John Makransky combines an academic career as a professor of Buddhism and comparative theology at Boston College with his role as a meditation teacher within the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism...
and Zorba Paster
Zorba Paster
Robert Zorba Paster, MD is a physician and radio show host.Paster was born and raised in Chicago. He hosts a weekly radio call-in show on personal health issues called Zorba Paster on Your Health. The show is produced by Wisconsin Public Radio, sponsored by Public Radio International, and is...
. Sopa has retired since from his professorship.
To meet the request of students for Buddhist teachings, Sopa founded the Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon, Wisconsin
Oregon, Wisconsin
Oregon is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The current population of Oregon is 9498. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area and is a suburb of Madison. The village is located mostly within the Town of Oregon....
in 1975. The Kalachakra
Kalachakra
Kalachakra is a Sanskrit term used in Tantric Buddhism that literally means "time-wheel" or "time-cycles".The spelling Kalacakra is also correct....
Tantra initiation was given in the West for the first time at Deer Park July, 1981.
Sopa is a trustee on the International Committee for Peace Council.