The Life of Lama Tsongkhapa Through Stories
Sunday, December 14
2:00pm – 4:00pm PST (Pacific Standard Time)
in-person and online
Program Category: Dharma Education — Introductory
This is a hybrid event, and we are using the
Zoom video conferencing system
for online participants.
Please register below to receive your online access information.
By registering for this event, you understand that the
sessions may be recorded and published in the public
domain (such as YouTube), and consent to this process.
When you step into Ocean of Compassion Buddhist Center, you
will see a series of fifteen images lining the
wall—each one depicting a moment from the
extraordinary life of Lama Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the
revered founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.
This year, December 14 marks
Lama Tsongkhapa Day, also known as
Ganden Ngamchoe—a special occasion to honor his profound
contributions to the Tibetan lineage of Buddhism.
As Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche beautifully said, “Celebrating
Lama Tsongkhapa in this way can make those who have studied
his teachings feel unbelievably fortunate to have this
opportunity.”
In this special program, Geshe Tenzin Legtsok will share
inspiring stories from Lama Tsongkhapa’s life—his unwavering
dedication to study, meditation, and realization—and bring
his journey vividly to life.
Whether you are new to Buddhism, curious about Tibetan
history, or a longtime practitioner in the Gelug tradition,
you are warmly invited to join us. Let his example
illuminate your own path of spiritual growth and practice.
Geshe Tenzin Legtsok has been ordained as
a Buddhist monk since 2001 and is the first American to
complete the twenty-year Geshe Studies Program in classic
Indian Buddhist treatises and their Tibetan commentaries at
Sera Jey Monastic University
in South India, following
the tradition of ancient Nalanda University. In 2025, he
completed the traditional study of tantra at
Gyudmed Tantric Monastery.
With over two decades of study and practice under the
guidance of great masters, including His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Geshe Legtsok
brings profound insights into the application of Buddhist
teachings. Born in Virginia, USA in 1973, he earned a
Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College in 1995. His quest to
answer the question, “What makes for the most happy and
meaningful life,” led him to major in philosophy,
eventually guiding him to study meditation and philosophy
with teachers among the exiled Tibetan communities in
India and Nepal since 1999.
Dedicated to studying and teaching Buddhist philosophy,
Geshe Legtsok seamlessly blends ancient wisdom with
modern-day relevance. His teachings emphasize
understanding and transforming the mind through practice,
and he is committed to helping others navigate the
spiritual path with clarity and patience.
Registration
Suggested Donation: $80
Registration is required to receive your online access information.
All our Dharma teachings and events are offered on a
dana (generosity) basis
— in the spirit of giving freely, just
as the Buddha taught. This is a beautiful opportunity to support
the teachings and open your heart through generosity.
There is no charge to attend, and no one is turned away. While
teachings are free, your support helps keep the Center running
and makes these precious teachings available to others. We have
included suggested donation amounts to help guide your offering.
Ordained sangha are warmly welcome to attend free of charge.
If you are not able to donate at this time, please email
office@oceanofcompassion.org.
Thank you for joining in this shared act of support. We rejoice for you.